To be completely honest, I like this game. Bad sounds? Please, I've heard worse from E.T. for the Atari. And you guys need to look past the graphics and sound and try to realize that it was a game boy they had to make it work SOMEHOW! So stop bashing on this game and bash on Sonic 06 or something!
Overall - 9
I thin k that even though this game is really just a copy of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, it's still a good game in its general aspect. And also SEGA tried their best on the small game boy screen. That and, weren't they rushed to make this game and Sonic 06? Since they were both released on, I think, the same day.
Graphics - 7 
I think these were actually pretty decent graphics, especially for the game boy. And once again, even though it's mainly just a copy of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, they still tried. They were also working on Sonic 06 as well and they were rushed! So don't go bashing at SEGA! Bash at the guys who rushed SEGA to finish these two games!
Sound - 10 
The music and sound effects hurt your ears huh? Weird how they didn't hurt mine. Oh wait of course it didn't because in my opinion, this game has a really great soundtrack. Again, way better then E.T. for the Atari, that game was worse than Sonic 06! Anyways the soundtrack is actually a great soundtrack, again my opinion. Why do I think it's a great soundtrack? It's because I've had the game over and special stage themes stuck in my head for a couple of months now, that's how catchy I think the soundtrack is!
 Addictiveness - 8
 I think this game is pretty addicting. Except for Labyrinth Zone. I always hated Labyrinth Zone.... Even though the slowdown makes the game move slower, I think that in some ways it actually helps you see where you're going to land after you jump. And if Sonic keeps running even though you want him to stop, all you have to do is jump he'll stop right where he's at in the air and then lands there and stays there until you get him to move again. It's that simple! No offense to any of you but, I think you guys complain a little too much, again no offense.
Story - 6
Same as the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In my opinion, they could have at least added something else like Tails or Knuckles or even Amy into the mix. So I think they could have spiced it up just a little along with the Spin Dash in the Anniversary Mode.
Depth - 5
Game is not that big. Again it's just a copy of the original Sonic the Hedgehog so there's not much I can say about it really. They could have at least added a bonus zone or something because in my opinion it feels like it has lots off things missing.
Difficulty - 3
The game really isn't that hard, especially if you can handle the controls and slowdown well. And if you play the Anniversary Mode and use the Spin Dash, it only makes the game a little more easy. So it's fine for people who like to time their jumps and play as the fastest thing alive, the blue blur himself, Sonic the Hedgehog.
If you guys seriously think the game is THAT bad, don't blame it on me. I'm just saying my opinion on this game and why I think it's pretty decent. So don't troll or bash on me or anything. That and this is my first review so please take it easy, I'm still a... *sigh* Newbie. 

The problem with the game to me is that they messed up almost everything that made the original good. The music is a butchering of the original. I honestly don't see why Sonic Team could not have just used the original music, which would be fine to me, and the sound effects in this game should have just been the normal sounds, the great crash sound when you hit robotnik which gives you that feeling of "BOOM you hit him hard!" is replaced with a pop. I may sound like I am going on too much about the sound, but I don't mind remixes of music, as long as it is actually good. Also there are remixes of the themes in the credits that are somewhat better, which begs the question, why make an inferior remix and then put it in the actual gameplay... The graphics are fine but the two biggest problems with the game is the frame rate which is constantly fluctuating from being at normal speed to slow and the size of the screen, or rather how little you can see. The frame rates constant failure to remain at the right speed can easily make you mess up jumps and other crucial moments as well as disorientate some people, when standing still is the only time when the game runs at the correct speed, you know there is a problem. The screen size just makes it harder to see whats in front of you, take note of scrap brain zone act 3 where you are supposed to go up these stair like platforms while avoiding a spike ball that moves in circles, due to the size of the screen, you can't see where the ball is until you are right up to it, where you will most likely have it in your face, it's trial and error that could be easily overcome if the screen was just bigger, even if the gba doesn't have the biggest screen in the world, you could still zoom it out and make it easier to see. Apparently, the game is running of the Sonic Advance engine which is why the frame rate is a mess, which just goes to show that Sonic Team where too lazy to create the game from scratch, and keep in mind, this is a port, it's not terribly hard to do a port of a game especially when the system its being run on is actually more powerful than what the original ran on. Also, you compare the music from this game to E.T. Well the Atari wasn't exactly able to make stunning music was it? And all it really consisted of is a decent rendition of the movie theme, and the beeps and boops that are typical of an Atari game. Sonic Genesis had the potential to have good music, or at least a decent rendition of the original music. E.T wasn't going to have spectacular music or sound effects to begin with, after all, it's Atari, it can't do that much in terms of sound. And as for the anniversary edition, it's incredibly pointless if all you add is just the spindash, and I don't see how it makes the game easier when you can't see what is in front of you. Lastly, it's not like Sonic Team could not have done the port well, there is a person that made a version of sonic 1 for gba from scratch and basically made it play just how it should, just like the original. The speed is constant, you can see what is ahead and the sounds are the original. If you like this game, fine. But I honestly don't see why anyone would like this port.

Yeah I completely understand what you're saying but I still like the game nonetheless. Sure the screen was small but here on this website the screen is normal size so I really can't say much. Also I know the Atari wasn't able to make good enough sound but people say it's way more garbage than this and Sonic 06, Atari or not.  Also I think the Spin dash made it easier because it actually made the game run a little faster, but it's true that even then, I don't use it often. And, in case you're wondering, I have played the original game on the PS3 that came with Sonic Generations so I know what the original is like compared to this. Hope you can understand that I think this game should deserve less hate but it was still on a Game Boy screen and they had to make it fit SOMEHOW. But I still understand, thank you