The story begins on the fictional South Island, where the insane scientist Dr. An 8-bit Master System / Game Gear counterpart was also released in 1991. Released on Jfor the Sega Genesis, it marked the beginning of Sega's beloved Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and is one of the most iconic games of the 16-bit era. If you're looking for the 2006 game of the same name, go here.