Why Sonic the Hedgehog is 'incorrect' game design

Recently, hit-maker Max Martin referred to Lorde's track Green Light as 'incorrect song-writing'. His theory applies to game design - especially Sonic

In April, the pop musician Lorde gave an interview to the New York Times where she talked about a meeting with famed song writer Max Martin. The genius who helped create Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" and Taylor Swift's "Blank Space", referred to Lorde's song Green Light as "incorrect songwriting". He saw its early key change, weird melodics and the lack of drums until the chorus kicks in, as improper. "It wasn't an insult, just a statement of fact," said Lorde. "It's a strange piece of music."

Weirdly, as soon as I read the fascinating little snippet of song craft theory, I thought of Sonic the Hedgehog. The legendary platformer, in which a spiky creature sprints furiously through a series of multi-levelled environments is incorrect game design. It shouldn't work. It's wrong.