Sega's infamous 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog video game has returned to the Xbox Store. The platform game is well-known for its many glitches, unsteady camera, confusing plot, and overall unfinished impression. The game was considered to be such a disappointment that it tarnished the franchise's reputation, turning Sonic into a hated character.
Despite the game's poor reception, Sonic '06 has acquired an interesting legacy over the years. The game has been the subject of several popular "let's plays" and video game walkthroughs. Even publisher Sega has embraced the game's infamy by making Sonic '06 the butt of jokes via the official Sonic Twitter. Furthermore, the title introduced characters that have since made appearances in other games, including the Sonic's friend/rival Silver the Hedgehog. Most notably, some even see the poor reception of 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog as the catalyst to the Sonic development team shifting the overall direction of the franchise's games.
For no clear reason, Sega has relisted the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog back on the Xbox Store. However, unlike Sonic's better games, Sonic '06 will not be available on the Xbox X/S. As reported by Xbox Advisor, the platform game has mysteriously returned to the Xbox 360 store, making it only available to play on its original platform. Sonic the Hedgehog joins other games from that era including Sonic Adventure 2 and 2008's Sonic Unleashed. Xbox Advisor suggests that Sega could be gradually reinstating a back catalog of games, especially since the franchise's retro collection Sonic Origins is launching next month. Currently, Sega has not yet commented on its reasoning for relisting Sonic '06, but hopefully, more details will become available soon.
Despite the troubles with Sonic '06, there are still many dedicated Sonic fans, and some may even appreciate the game's terrible mechanics and gameplay. In fact, several of these fans have taken the time to develop a remake of the notoriously glitchy game, releasing demos over the last couple of years for other players to try. It is also possible past Sonic games are making a return due to the recent success of the Sonic live-action films, which have drawn estranged fans back into the series.
While it is likely the game's mechanics and overall playability haven't changed despite its return to the Xbox Store, those looking to relive the notoriously poor Sonic The Hedgehog experience may now find the outdated graphics and glitches endearing instead of frustrating. Because of this, it may be worth checking out, even if just for the nostalgia.
Source: Xbox Advisor