Mike Burns, Co-Founder of CanMuseum.com, remembers Sega… as well as the star of this video game-oriented beverage can
I remember going to a friend's house in 1991 and playing this crazy new game on Sega Genesis called Sonic the Hedgehog. The main character, Sonic, was a blue hedgehog with white gloves and red sneakers and he would zip across the screen so fast that my brain couldn't even process what was going on… meaning, the background on the game was a complete blur and Sonic was completely out of control. Since then, Sonic has spawned many game sequels, an animated series, comic books, and yes, a can.
Sonic the Hedgehog
The aptly named Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Energy Drink is another from the Boston America Corp, just like our recent look at the Ghostbusters Ectoplasm Energy Drink. Not only is Sonic known for his speed, but the whole point of an energy drink is to give you wings, er, I mean speed, right?
Was "Speed" really the best name for this?
While it is great seeing Sonic on a can, I found the design to be very plain. There are so many colorful worlds in the Sonic games that they could have chosen any of them to make this can more exciting. However, all we get is light blue. OK, there is some pixilated grass near the bottom of the can.
Pixel Grass!
Don't let me forget to mention that the grass is on a layer of checkerboard dirt. Sonic himself looks good except for the fact that they left off his legs and feet. Wait a minute, they are represented by the black scribbles under him. I suppose Sonic is so speedy that his legs and feet are a blur and didn't need to be drawn.
Overall, the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Energy Drink Can is an awesome concept, but is lacking in design.
Photos used by permission of CanMuseum.com
So this is a review for…the can?
How's it taste? What is it comparable to as far as other energy drinks? The ingredients I see come close to a mix of Monster and Red Bull it looks like.
Yup, this is a can review! We periodically look at older can designs to evaluate their style, marketing, and positioning. It's part of our ongoing can review series that supplements our standard review coverage here on BevReview.
okay this so called "energy drink" looks like if I drink this and exercise then I will be burning what I just gained.170mg of sodium,28gs of sugar 0.O and red #40 is not recommended for kids like it says on the side…also says caffeine? they might as well say "here's a lot of sugar with some salt and some caffeine and its good for you!" to little kids who say "ooh!sonic the hedgehog drink!it makes you faster!" while sega is saying "thats right!were selling you caffeine and sugar and it wont make you fat it you dont exercise enough!" and the kids say "yay!!!"I will stick to either flavored water or regular water…I love to read sonic,draw sonic,listen to sonic songs,and make sonic fan characters.I basically love sonic and co. but i sure dont love his "energy drink"
There is something about a plastic wrapped can that just feels wrong. They have done so many of these – from Emily the Strange to Street Fighter, it is hard to keep track. It's a cool business idea, but coming from the standpoint of enjoying energy drink packaging, throwing a plastic throwaway label on a standard energy drink formula feels me feel like I have been cheated. The only time I really felt like they made something different is when they came out with Duff Energy Drink, which at least came out in an original printed can.