Why Ristar Should’ve Been The Genesis’s Mascot, Not Sonic

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30 years ago today, on February 16, 2025, it’s Ristar who’s turning heads and making waves as we celebrate his anniversary! Here’s my take on why I believe Ristar, not Sonic, should have been the one to truly embody Sega.

After all, who can forget those vibrant colors and catchy tunes that came with every level? Or the satisfaction of using Ristar’s tail whip to save helpless creatures and defeat pesky enemies? That’s right, I’m talking about my favorite purple space hero!

Ristar’s unique gameplay mechanics, combined with his charming personality, made for an unforgettable experience. From the way he swung through levels using his tail, to the adorable expressions on his face as he interacted with the world around him – it was clear that Ristar had something special.

Sure, Sonic may have stolen the spotlight with his speed and charisma, but let’s not forget that Sega has always been about innovation and pushing boundaries. And when it comes to originality and fun factor, I’d argue that Ristar truly embodies the spirit of Sega better than any other character.

So here’s to you, Ristar! May your legacy continue to inspire gamers for another 30 years and beyond. Happy anniversary, my purple hero!

It can be argued that Mario has been the undisputed king among video game mascots throughout history, but Sonic the Hedgehog came incredibly close in the ’90s. The charming attitude and lightning speed of Sonic earned him a significant cultural status during the era of the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. In fact, his signature speed became synonymous with the image of that Sega console for many gamers. However, it’s important to note that even on its own console, Sonic wasn’t the top platform character. That title goes to Ristar, who was unfairly overshadowed by Sonic decades ago, allowing him to continue churning out mediocre spin-offs with little substance or innovation.

It’s a bit tough on Sonic, really. Although he’s been let down by Sega’s game development since the start of the new millennium, with some exceptions, it’s not his fault. While Sonic’s speed and pastel visuals haven’t adapted well to 3D games, indie platformers like Ristar, which focus on mechanics, have maintained a fan base. For example, VVVVVV features gravity flips, while Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom doesn’t allow jumping. In essence, Ristar was a trailblazer for star-man characters, and it’s regrettable that Sega didn’t appreciate this earlier.

Back in 1995, I stumbled upon this charming platformer gem called Ristar, published by Sega during their final hurrah on the Genesis console. This little fellow with stretchable arms is your character, and you’ll use them to snatch enemies, climb ladders, swing across bars, and navigate through vibrant levels. The game offers a diverse range of inventive boss fights that ultimately lead to a showdown against the enigmatic Kaiser Greedy, who has abducted Ristar’s father and imprisoned him.

It’s only natural to expect that such a high-quality first-party Sega game like this one would have a sequel. However, Ristar’s main issue is its timing. When Sega was asking their team to create a character to rival Mario, Sonic emerged victorious, but many other ideas were left untouched. One of these unused concepts was “Feel the Rabbit,” an early prototype for Sonic that evolved into the quirky Ristar we know today. Unfortunately, by the time the game was released, the focus had shifted to the advanced Sega Saturn, leaving our agile star friend in the shadows.

Comparing classic titles such as the initial Sonic the Hedgehog series and Ristar, I find it enlightening to focus on the actions or “moves” that the player can perform within the game. In essence, what are the main activities you’re involved in while playing? It’s simple to appreciate the aesthetic and rhythm of the original Sonic trilogy, but when it comes to the variety of actions, they seem somewhat limited: every button is essentially for jumping, and rolling is nice, yet not overly beneficial. This is a key reason behind Sonic’s difficulties adapting to three-dimensional gameplay: beyond running and jumping, there aren’t many additional actions you can perform in his games.

Instead of Ristar relying heavily on just one unique mechanic (grab), it fully exploits this feature. The stretchy arms can extend in eight directions, leading to exciting battles and a wider range of enemies. One of the character’s fundamental moves involves scaling walls vertically with precise timing, making it challenging to learn but incredibly rewarding once mastered. Swinging around glowing poles to build momentum is another intriguing mechanic that allows you to choose your direction afterwards. While Ristar is invulnerable during acceleration, he becomes susceptible when slowing down, requiring careful aiming to dodge enemy attacks.

In terms of captivating stage design, both Sonic and Ristar excel, but I’d lean towards Ristar when it comes to innovation. The levels in Ristar are bursting with originality; from the rhythmic underwater adventures of Undertow to the musical brainteasers of Sonata’s planet, each stage offers fresh surprises and mechanics for you to grasp with your elastic limbs. What sets Ristar apart is its emphasis on hidden treasures that are truly worth finding. Each level contains a secret stash, which can be accessed via a teleport pole cleverly concealed within the environment. Given the intricate layouts of Ristar’s stages and their requirement for vertical thinking, it’s rare to uncover all the secrets on your initial playthrough.

Redefining Ristar’s misfortune with timing may have impacted its commercial achievement, yet it brought about a significant edge: It maximized the potential of its console. It offers the most comprehensive audiovisual experience on the Genesis, boasting an impressive orchestral soundtrack that matches the quality found on SNES, stunning spritework, and boss designs reminiscent of popular Saturday morning cartoons. It’s a sensory extravaganza you won’t soon forget, with its highly memorable level transition sequences being a standout feature where Ristar travels from planet to planet in an entrancing light show while one of my favorite video game tracks plays in the background.

The strongest point for choosing Ristar over Sonic might be the most apparent: Can you recall when you last truly enjoyed a Sonic game? Yes, Sonic was a successful marketing campaign, but within less than a decade, flaws in his presentation became evident. When contemplating what a 3D Ristar game could have been like, let’s ponder over the simple grappling hook, a gameplay mechanic that has been widely used for more than ten years now. It’s not hard to envision an exploration-focused Ristar with lots of climbing and grappling, much like Jusant or Sonic Frontiers.

However, in the current independent gaming market, it seems unlikely that Sega would revamp Ristar in the 2D plane at this time. Yet, remasters are currently trendy, and Ristar is certainly a strong candidate for Genesis fans looking for a nostalgic experience.

Reflecting on the ’90s, Sonic undeniably left a lasting impact on pop culture. However, it’s intriguing to ponder how things might have been different if Sega had invested more effort into developing a particular adorable character, instead of solely focusing on their cash cow. Whether Ristar could have achieved the same level of cultural penetration remains uncertain, but what truly matters is that one game clearly outshines the other in my opinion.

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2025-02-16 17:39