There wasn’t a whole lot to do during the summer for an
11-year-old suburbanite with no money, so I spent my days the best way I could
imagine: finishing Sonic 3 on every save file the game offered. Sonic 3 wasn’t
my favorite Genesis game, but I had already played Streets of Rage 2,
Moonwalker, and Castlevania Bloodlines to death. Sonic 3 had some fun secrets
to discover and a snappy, oddly familiar soundtrack. And best of all, I had a
copy on-hand and ready to go.
Outside the pavement radiated heat and we didn’t have air
conditioning, so as Sonic splashed through HyrdoCity, I swam in a pool of my
own sweat. But as the day wore on, black clouds overtook the sunny summer sky.
I paused the game and watched as the heavens burst. Rain cascaded down my
streets as relief came in the form of an earthy scent and cool breeze.
It was one of those moments that defined the joy of
childhood for me. Back then, there was magic in video game a controller, and a
hot day, and an unexpected storm.
