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| Deleted: <p> | Added: <p><em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em> (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, <em>Sonikku za Hejjihoggu</em>) is a {yadawiki="video game"] franchise created by Japanese developers [yadawiki="Yuji Naka"], [[Naoto Ohshima]], and [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] for [[Sega]]. It is Sega’s flagship series and features the company’s mascot, [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], an anthropomorphic blue [[hedgehog]] with supersonic speed. The franchise spans video games, [[printed media]], [[animation]], films, and merchandise.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>The first game, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', debuted on June 21, 1991 for the [[Sega Mega Drive|Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]]. It was created to give Sega a rival mascot to compete with [[Nintendo]]'s ''Mario'' franchise, sparking a fierce industry rivalry throughout the 1990s. The game’s success helped establish Sega as a leading company during the fourth generation of video game consoles.</p> | Unchanged: <p>The first game, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', debuted on June 21, 1991 for the [[Sega Mega Drive|Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]]. It was created to give Sega a rival mascot to compete with [[Nintendo]]'s ''Mario'' franchise, sparking a fierce industry rivalry throughout the 1990s. The game’s success helped establish Sega as a leading company during the fourth generation of video game consoles.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>Following the original, Sega Technical Institute developed the next main entries, including ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'', ''Sonic & Knuckles'', and the spin-off ''Sonic Spinball''. Additional titles were released for the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Game Gear]]. After a hiatus during the [[Sega Saturn]] era, the first major 3D entry, ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', was released in 1998 on the [[Dreamcast]]. With the release of ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' in 2001, Sega exited the console hardware business and shifted to third-party development, continuing the franchise on Nintendo, [[Xbox]], and [[PlayStation]] platforms. Since 2010, [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] has served as the series’ producer.</p> | Unchanged: <p>Following the original, Sega Technical Institute developed the next main entries, including ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'', ''Sonic & Knuckles'', and the spin-off ''Sonic Spinball''. Additional titles were released for the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Game Gear]]. After a hiatus during the [[Sega Saturn]] era, the first major 3D entry, ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', was released in 1998 on the [[Dreamcast]]. With the release of ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' in 2001, Sega exited the console hardware business and shifted to third-party development, continuing the franchise on Nintendo, [[Xbox]], and [[PlayStation]] platforms. Since 2010, [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] has served as the series’ producer.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>The games are primarily platformers developed by [[Sonic Team]], though spin-offs encompass genres such as racing, fighting, puzzle, party, role-playing, and sports. Gameplay is typically fast-paced and incorporates rings as a health system, iconic zones such as [[Green Hill Zone]], and level design featuring springs, slopes, loops, and bottomless pits. Sonic often races to stop [[Doctor Eggman]] (Dr. Ivo Robotnik), a mad scientist who seeks world domination, usually by building robot armies or harnessing the mystical [[Chaos Emeralds]]. The Emeralds can grant immense power and enable characters to perform a [[super transformation]], a technique Sonic frequently uses to defeat Eggman.</p> | Unchanged: <p>The games are primarily platformers developed by [[Sonic Team]], though spin-offs encompass genres such as racing, fighting, puzzle, party, role-playing, and sports. Gameplay is typically fast-paced and incorporates rings as a health system, iconic zones such as [[Green Hill Zone]], and level design featuring springs, slopes, loops, and bottomless pits. Sonic often races to stop [[Doctor Eggman]] (Dr. Ivo Robotnik), a mad scientist who seeks world domination, usually by building robot armies or harnessing the mystical [[Chaos Emeralds]]. The Emeralds can grant immense power and enable characters to perform a [[super transformation]], a technique Sonic frequently uses to defeat Eggman.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>The franchise also emphasizes a growing cast of characters. Notable allies include [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]], and [[Amy Rose]], while recurring rivals include [[Shadow the Hedgehog]] and [[Metal Sonic]]. Over the years, some characters have headlined their own spin-offs.</p> | Unchanged: <p>The franchise also emphasizes a growing cast of characters. Notable allies include [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]], and [[Amy Rose]], while recurring rivals include [[Shadow the Hedgehog]] and [[Metal Sonic]]. Over the years, some characters have headlined their own spin-offs.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>Outside games, the series has been adapted into comic books by [[Archie Comics]], [[Fleetway Publications]], [[DC Comics]], and [[IDW Publishing]]. It has inspired several animated series, produced by [[DiC Entertainment]], [[TMS Entertainment]], [[Genao Productions]], and [[Netflix]], as well as a live-action film series by [[Paramount Pictures]]. Merchandise includes toys, figures, and a [[Lego Sonic the Hedgehog|Lego]] line.</p> | Unchanged: <p>Outside games, the series has been adapted into comic books by [[Archie Comics]], [[Fleetway Publications]], [[DC Comics]], and [[IDW Publishing]]. It has inspired several animated series, produced by [[DiC Entertainment]], [[TMS Entertainment]], [[Genao Productions]], and [[Netflix]], as well as a live-action film series by [[Paramount Pictures]]. Merchandise includes toys, figures, and a [[Lego Sonic the Hedgehog|Lego]] line.</p> |
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| Unchanged: <p>''Sonic'' has become one of the [[best-selling video game franchises]] and one of the [[highest-grossing media franchises]]. By 2025, series sales and free-to-play downloads had surpassed 1.77 billion units[ref]Sega Sammy Holdings, Integrated Reports (2022, 2024).[/ref]. The franchise’s early Genesis titles are regarded as cultural icons of the 1990s and consistently rank among the [[list of video games considered the best|greatest of all time]]. While later entries such as ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)]]'', ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', and ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' received mixed or poor reception, the series remains influential and is frequently referenced in popular culture. Its devoted [[Sonic the Hedgehog fandom|fandom]] actively creates [[fan art]], [[fan games]], and other unofficial works.</p> | Unchanged: <p>''Sonic'' has become one of the [[best-selling video game franchises]] and one of the [[highest-grossing media franchises]]. By 2025, series sales and free-to-play downloads had surpassed 1.77 billion units[ref]Sega Sammy Holdings, Integrated Reports (2022, 2024).[/ref]. The franchise’s early Genesis titles are regarded as cultural icons of the 1990s and consistently rank among the [[list of video games considered the best|greatest of all time]]. While later entries such as ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)]]'', ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', and ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' received mixed or poor reception, the series remains influential and is frequently referenced in popular culture. Its devoted [[Sonic the Hedgehog fandom|fandom]] actively creates [[fan art]], [[fan games]], and other unofficial works.</p> |
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