by CallieO on Wed Dec 12, 2018 6:39 am
It was the winter of 1992. For the last couple of years, the only video game system I had was the Sega Master System, which was a perfectly acceptable device, but it didn't hold a candle to the Nintendo Entertainment System. I used to go over to my best friend Craig's house across the street and play his NES all the time. In particular, I loved Super Mario Bros. 3, to the point where I bought the Nintendo Power Complete Strategy Guide for it. I sat awake at night with a flashlight, memorizing the layouts and the locations of all the 1-Ups and Special Suits. I loved it when I started getting much farther in that game than he ever could. He was at a complete loss to explain how I'd gotten so good, and I don't think I ever told him.
But in 1992, I had recently discovered Sonic the Hedgehog, thanks to a display at Toys R Us. If I recall correctly, the system reset every 15 minutes or so, so I couldn't get into the second Zone, but I must have played the complete Green Hill Zone several times through. When I saw they were coming out with a sequel, I bought a gaming magazine that showed the first couple of courses. (And yes, I was also enchanted by the idea that they debuted a two-tailed fox as Sonic's sidekick).
I had to have that game, and the system to play it on. So that's what I asked my parents for, for Christmas.
Mom and Dad never really had very much money, and *still* don't, but they were determined to get this system for me. On Christmas morning, 1992, I woke up and saw a HUGE box under the tree. But the smaller boxes were to be opened first.
One of them, which was in a box that vaguely resembled a VHS tape, was Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Genesis. Another one was Ms. Pac-Man, same system.
Of course, I started freaking out with excitement, but I look back on it now and laugh: My parents managed to spoil the ending for me! Now I knew that either that big box under the tree, which would be opened last, was the Genesis system itself, which came with the original Sonic the Hedgehog. That, or my parents were morons who didn't understand the most basic concept of a video-game system.
Naturally, the Genesis *was indeed* the big box, and my sister Laura and I had countless hours of enjoyment with those games, which continue to this day. I still occasionally pick up one of the original Sonic the Hedgehog games (though, these days, I play them on an emulator), and have a lovely time with them. I've gotten used to them, to the point where they're no longer as difficult as they used to be, but they're still a blast to play.
"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe."
--Dr. Beverly Crusher
Player of Callie Volopa, Viaa, Auric Lightwing, Brian Perano, Erin Tarcata and Aimee Sarasiné