The history of the "blue hedgehog with an attitude" is a rich and varied one. In 1991, Sega’s 16-bit Genesis console was already 2 years old in the United States and enjoying moderate success. Finally, the industry juggernaut, Nintendo, brought forth their 16-bit offering, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, with gaming icon Mario in tow. Sega needed something to battle Super Mario World, a game character that would define the company and its newfound success. That character was Yuji Naka’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Naka-san is a talented man, up to that point responsible for the Sega Master System’s most memorable title, Phantasy Star. With Sonic, he brought incredible speed and intuitive gameplay to the platforming genre that differed from Mario. Shigeru Miyamoto’s definitive series involves exploration and gameplay that exercises every part of your gaming brain while Sonic allows you to sit back and enjoy the adrenaline-packed ride. A new era had arrived and Sega had done the unthinkable - taken industry leadership from under Nintendo’s feet.