The screen’s cold hum fills the room as I set up the new Sega Genesis. The box is wrapped in plastic, and inside it holds a cartridge with the hedgehog on it—a spiky blue one with a red-and-white stripe. It’s called Sonic the Hedgehog, and today is its day.

I plug in the console, and the familiar sound of the boot-up sequence plays. Then, it’s time for installation. I press buttons and wait for the game to load. The screen blinks white before it settles into a colorful world—blues and greens like the sky and grass mixed with vibrant oranges and yellows.

When the main menu appears, I can see six zones: Green Hill Zone, Spring Yard Zone, Marble Zone, Sky Chase Zone, Labyrinth Zone, and Scourge Invasion. Each one promises its own adventure. I choose to start at Green Hill Zone because it’s a smooth, rolling hill with a single path winding through the hillsides.

I select the controller—the new light gun that can change between different gauges. It’s surprisingly intuitive. I pick up the blue and white stick, pressing A to run as Sonic. The game responds almost instantly, the hedgehog darting across the screen at breakneck speed. He glides over green grass and jumps over gaps with ease.

The music starts—a fast-paced tune that keeps me engaged. The controller vibrates slightly when I hit a spike or collect a ring, adding to the excitement. I run through the level, avoiding obstacles while collecting as many rings as possible before reaching the flag pole at the end. I win in just over a minute.

Sonic is off the screen now, and the next zone is waiting. With each new level, the gameplay becomes more challenging but also more fun. It’s hours of playing ahead, and every moment seems like it’s stretching on forever.