Retro Lookback: Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team (Original), The Taxman (2011 re-release)
System(s): Sega Mega CD, Windows PC, Gamecube, PS2 (Japan and Europe only), PSN, XBLA, Steam, iOS, Android
Released in US: November 19, 1993 (Mega CD), September 26, 1996 (PC), August 16, 2005 (GameCube), December 14, 2011 (XBLA), December 14, 2011 (Android), December 15, 2011 (iOS), December 20, 2011 (PSN), January 19, 2012 (Steam)
Genre: Action, Platformer

Ah, Sonic the Hedgehog CD (from now on will be referred to as Sonic CD), probably the more different game of the genesis line up, but it is still a solid entry in the series. I'll admit off the top, Sonic CD is a Like It or Don't Like It game, it is a classic Sonic game, but it is a bit different from the other Genesis titles.

There is a story like the other games. This time, Sonic decides to explore Little Planet that comes over the lake every so many years, but then Metal Sonic capture Amy Rose (who were both introduced in this game) and takes her onto Little Planet where Sonic finds that Dr. Robotnik has chained down the planes and is attempting to conquer it. Sonic must rescue Amy and stop Dr. Robotnik to save the planet.

The Gameplay is classic Sonic with some twists, which is where the Like It or Don't part comes in. There is the standard run and jump gameplay that makes the games great, but there are new mechanics. Sonic's new move in Sonic CD is the Super Peel-Out, you press up and the button and hold it to wind up and release. The Super Peel-Out is faster than the Spin Dash, but leaves you open to harm. The Time Travel mechanic is the most prominent. You start each Act 1 and Act 2 in the Present, and throughout the level you will see posts marked Past and Future. If you touch a post and start running, you will see stars flash behind you, keep the speed up and you will time travel to the time. For Acts 1 and 2, there is the Past, Present, Bad Future, and Good Future, while Act 3 only allows Bad Future or Good Future. Weather you travel to the Good Future or Bad Future depends on a couple factors. The number of Time Stones you have, with 0 being a definite Bad Future and 7 being a definite Good Future, if you travel to the future with 1-6 Time Stones, it is a gamble as to which Future you get. A sure fire way to get a Good Future is to go back to the Past and destroy a Robot Generator find in each Act 1 and Act 2, and also the Metal Sonic holograms as well in each Act 1 and Act 2 besides the final Zone. In Act 3, you get to play Good Future or Bad Future depending on what you did in Acts 1 and 2. If both Acts were a Good Future, Act 3 will be a Good Future, but if one or both of the Acts were a Bad Future, then you will play the Bad Future Act 3. Since each level has many versions, the levels are large and a lot to explore, with each time period having a different layout, look, and soundtrack and either harder or easier. The Act 3 Boss will be harder or easier if it is a Bad Future or Good Future especially. The Time Stones I was talking about earlier, those act like the Chaos Emeralds except you get no Super Form if all are collected, but you get the good ending at least. To get the Time Stones, you mist have 50 Rings at the end of the Act and hit the Giant Ring a la Sonic 1. The Special Stage tasks you with hitting 6 UFOs scattered throughout the stage within 100 seconds. 3 of the UFOs have Rings and the other 3 have Speed Shoes. If you touch the water, you get a time penalty for as long as you remain there. Different panels on the ground have different effects on you, from popping you in the air to chopping your feet and losing Rings. If there is 20 seconds or less remaining, a UFO will appear in the center with a Time Bonus, and will continue to appear every time 20 seconds left is hit. There are 7 Special Stages for 7 Time Stone, each one being harder than the last. If you fail a Special Stage, it goes to the next one and you will retry it when you loop back around the order. The Boss Fights are a bit different as well, while they usually take less hits the the bosses of the other Sonic games, the way you beat them is different. One fight is more of a Pinball machine like deal and you have to get to the top to beat the boss. One isn't really a fight, but a race, you race Metal Sonic while Dr. Robotnik is closing in with a death lazer with an automatic door at the end, the winner is safe, but the loser gets hot with the lazer. The gameplay may be different from the other Sonic games, but I find it to be really enjoyable. The levels allow for exploration or pure speed, and the unique Boss Fights are a change of pace form the rest.

The Graphics look good, like the Genesis titles, but the Mega CD gave it the extra power for what I think are slightly better graphics, and FMVs for an Intro and an Ending. The framrate on the original release would sometimes studder, but on the 2011 re-release, it has been fixed to allow a smooth and constant 60fps.

The Soundtrack is my favorite of the series. There are actually 2 different aoundtracks for Sonic CD. The Japanese Soundtrack and the US Soundtrack. When Sega was localizing Sonic CD for the US, somebody must have decided to change the music for the western audience. The 2 soundtracks are almost completely different, with only the Past versions of each Zone overlapping. Each Zone in the game has 4 different tracks for each Time Zone, with the Present theme being the "standard" and the Past, Bad Future, and Good Future being remixes to accompany it. The Intro and Ending FMVs have songs as well with lyrics, and the Boss Fight themes. Both the US and Japanese Soundtracks are enjoyable to listen to. In the 2011 re-release however, due to licensing issues, the lyrics from "You can do Anything" and "Cosmic Eternity" on the Japanese Soundtrack have been removed. The US "Sonic Boom" still retains it lyrics.

The 2011 Re-Release also adds Tails as a playable character when you beat the game once as Sonic. Tails has all the moves from Sonic 3, being able to fly to places Sonic can't. You can also toggle between the Sonic 2 Spin Dash or the Sonic CD Spin Dash. Also added are Online Leaderboards for Time Attacks on each Act and for Total Score for the main game.

Bottom Line: Sonic CD is a Like It or Don't entry, but I find it to be the best Sonic game in the series. The unique features Sonic CD has sets it apart from the other titles. I recommend Playing It, and for $5 for the 2011 Re-Release, it couldn't be any cheaper!

Author's Note: I have some pretty good times for Sonic CD and Sonic Generations, I am open for some competition if you are willing.