To this day Sonic the Hedgehog is without a doubt one of the most iconic characters in the gaming industry. Whether you loved him back in the 90s (the height of his success), or see him occasionally on recent console games that combine characters from different franchises, you might not be aware of why you love him.

Let’s think about it. He’s an older character that still popular 21 years after he was created. You still pause your partypoker and Angry Birds games and think “I want to play Sonic.” Let’s investigate why.

Nostalgia – People have a nostalgia for the characters they grew up with. In the case of Sonic, anyone who was a child during the 90s, and owned a Mega Drive or a Master System, will have a sense of fond nostalgia when they think of the blue hedgehog. Sonic will always hold a special place in the hearts of 90s children, in the same way that Nintendo fans will always love Mario, the fat plumber.

He’s a trademark – As SEGA needed a new mascot to rival the success, Sonic the Hedgehog is in the same league as Nintendo’s Mario. The blue hedgehog is an icon of SEGA, and therefore he’s a very recognisable character. Even if people don’t like Sonic, they can still identify him.

He’s fast – Back in the 90s especially, Sonic was one of the most animated games you could play. While other games had characters toddling along, Sonic would curl up in a ball and whiz around the level collecting rings. It was fun to watch him loop around all over the place. It was a nice change, and one we still appreciate today.

Hedgehog – What’s not to love about a blue hedgehog who goes around saving everyone from the super villain Dr Eggman? At the time of his creation he was a breath of fresh air in the gaming industry.