Sonic the Hedgehog was the reason I became a gamer. I did have games before that - in fact I started with an Amstrad CPC like Craig, but Sonic was in a league of his own. This series had everything: catchy music, wicked gameplay and generally just very clever platforming. I don't think I've ever played another game that made my heart race as much as when I thought I was going to drown Sonic in Labyrinth Zone, and the ominous countdown music played.