I'm looking into finally learning this game as a proper speedrun, and I was hoping to have some questions answered regarding the optimal version of this game to run.

For starters, why are all of the best times on emulator? Does it actually run faster than original hardware?

This one's a bit trickier... if I choose to run the game on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, is there any discernible difference between the PS3 and X-Box 360 versions to place one over the other? The only info I have regarding this is that the PC version is apparently best avoided.

Any and all information/answers would help. Thanks so much to anyone and everyone for their time!

there is a control input lag on the sonic's ultimate genesis collection from my experience.

So yeah it run faster, it profit of reduced lags, input eating compared to the original running on genesis and the reasons why the time differences are so big is simple, there is actually no run on genesis that are "good" runners are grinding it seriously on emu for now, galedog's run isn't on the board if i remember right he deleted it cause he thought it sucked, he did a 29min blaze normal and it was one of his first speedrun.

Any other versions that are used on consoles are ports, basically emulated version, some people even claim the 360 ver having differences too but i can't verify this, the so called pc steam version is played on a sega genesis emulator as well. There is no official PC sor game.

It reminded me i haven't changed this for SOR1 i must have forgot, i only did this for the third and second game... my bad, the previous mod just put all the different releases, the game gear got one page for its second installment i doubt people gonna try to run the terrible SMS and GG ports of the first sor haha.

Just read this and if I may add a few words, If the game was originally realease on Genesis like SoR and they have some port, we should pay attention a lots of this. Genesis must be the point of reference, if the console is less laggy or run a little faster, that should not be allowed OR put in a separated cathegorie (like some Disney's Games with Afternoon Collection). Another example, speedrunning game boy games on Super Game Boy 1 is not allowed because it run games a little faster.