is a
platform video game developed by
Sonic Team and published by
Sega for the
Sega Genesis console in 1991. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia on June 23, 1991, and in Japan the following month. It stars
Sonic the Hedgehog in a quest to defeat
Dr. Robotnik, an evil scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and stolen the magical
Chaos Emeralds.
Sonic the Hedgehogs gameplay involves collecting
rings as a form of
health and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.