Barp the Balldragon

A strange little side quest

Between one round of Barp the Balldragon and the next, this is worth knowing: Sonic the Hedgehog launched in 1991 and turned speed itself into a defining platform-game mechanic. And the history keeps stacking up: Early computer role-playing games helped turn rules, inventories, exploration and character progression into systems that could support long-form digital adventures. The screen is modern; the urge to test skill, pattern and timing definitely is not.