Here's a breakdown:
* Classic Sonic Games (Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3, Sonic & Knuckles, etc.): These games generally do not have a pause function. You have to rely on the "continue" feature when you die or run out of time.
* Modern Sonic Games (Sonic Adventure onwards): Most of these games do offer a pause function. This is typically triggered by pressing the Start button on your controller.
If you're playing a classic Sonic game and need to take a break, you can:
* Press the "Reset" button: This will restart the level.
* Turn off your console or emulator: This will end your gameplay session.
Remember to save your progress if you're playing a game with a save feature before pausing or exiting.