Sonic CD

Sonic CD
"Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for others."
Protagonist(s): Sonic the Hedgehog Miles "Tails" Prower (2011 version) Genre(s): Platform Rating(s): VRC: GA ESRB: E Platform(s): Sega CD PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows Android iOS Apple TV Release: Sega CD JP: September 23, 1993 EU: October 1993 NA: November 1993 Microsoft Windows JP: August 9, 1996 NA: September 26, 1996 EU: October 3, 1996 Android, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 WW: December 14, 2011 iOS WW: December 15, 2011 Apple TV WW: March 31, 2016 Developer(s): Sega Publisher(s): Sega Country: Japan Series: Sonic the Hedgehog Predecessor: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (by release date) Successor: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (by release date)

Sonic CD is a platform game initially released on September 1993 for the Sega CD. Sonic CD is known for its time traveling mechanic and large soundtrack. This game was developed in Japan by the portion of Sonic Team that stayed in Japan led by Oshima.

Why It Can Do Anything

1. This game introduced time traveling, enabling Sonic to pass through a time travel post and traveling to the past or the future of the level if he is able to go fast with the effect for a while. It's a very awesome and clever concept.
   • It also introduces new characters to the cast, those being Amy Rose (initially known as Rosy the Rascal) and Metal Sonic, who's a very ingenious arch-rival for Sonic despite only appearing physically twice in the game.
   • If you destroy the Robot transporter in the past, you will get a good future in the level.
2. It also introduced the Super Peel Out, which lets Sonic take off at a higher speed after charging it for a while.
3. It is the first Sonic game to have a save feature, which allows players to continue where they left off without having to start over from Act 1.
4. Amazing and unforgettable soundtrack for both US and Japan versions.
5. Great and beautiful graphics that are similar to Sonic 1 and 2. Sonic CD also throws in some illusions like the first giant loop in Palmtree Panic Act 1.
6. The plot is more unique since it's a "Save the future" instead of a "Save the day" plot.
7. Excellent, solid intro and ending cutscenes, animated by Toei Animation.
8. The 2011 remake is an improvement with some fixes and a few additions like:
   • The music loops properly. The Japanese OST also used the beta music loops that were unused in the Sega CD version.
   • If you don't like using this game's Spin Dash, you are able to change it to the normal Spin Dash.
   • You can even play as Tails after you beat the game for the first time, even if you get the bad ending.
   • You can change between the US and Japanese soundtracks.
9. The Special Stages in the game are pretty fun to play: to get a Time Stone, you must destroy UFOs while running around a pseudo-3D area within a time limit.
10. There are two ways to get the good ending:
    • The first method involves making a good future in each level by going to the past of the first two acts and destroying the Robot transporters.
    • The second method involves collecting all 7 Time Stones via the Special Stages, which will automatically make a good future in every level.
11. In 2022, it will be re-released as part of the Sonic Origins compilation for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, which helps making the game even more easier to access. It will also be available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S via backwards compatibility.
    • Furthermore, Sonic Origins Plus lets you play as Knuckles or Amy in this game.

"I'm Outta Here!" Qualities

1. The Spin Dash in this game is somewhat awkward to use: You have to hold down on the D-pad and hold the jump button until Sonic revs up properly and let go of the button, unlike the other classic games' method of mashing the jump button and letting go of the D-pad to get Sonic to take off. Failing to do so will result in Sonic not taking off quickly or at all, just standing where he is. This was fixed in the 2011 remake, where you have the option of either using the original spin dash, or having it performed the same way as in other classic games.
2. The bosses in the game are too easy, especially the final boss. Compared to other Sonic games, they can be defeated in just 4 hits without any problems.
3. The collision detection in the original Sega CD version can get pretty wonky.
4. While the Japanese soundtrack is fantastic, there's some flaws with the music:
   • The Boss Battle and Game Over themes in the US version are quite infamous for being extremely nightmarish, even for older players, similar to the sound from the PlayStation 2's Red Screen of Death.
     • The boss theme is also used in an unnerving secret image in the sound test infamously known for Sonic's creepy look.
   • The music doesn't loop properly in the Sega CD, stopping for a while before it starts playing again. However, this is fixed in the 2011 remake.
   • Some songs don't fit the stage and/or its future condition very well, such as the JPN version of Palmtree Panic Bad Future or the US version of Metallic Madness Good Future.

Trivia

• This was the best-selling game on the Sega CD, selling over 1.5 million copies.
• Sonic CD is the only Sonic game released for the Sega CD.
• Sonic's sprites are from the first game instead of the second game due to the game being developed at the same time as Sonic 2. However, some of them were edited.
• The Japanese/PAL opening theme, "Sonic - You Can Do Anything", is a remixed version of the Green Hills Zone theme from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Game Gear and Sega Master System.
• This game was originally intended to be an enhanced version of Sonic 2 for the Sega CD, with improved music and new levels, but it was scrapped due to poor sales of the game in Japan.
• It's not confirmed, but this game possibly takes place between Sonic 1 and 2 due to Tails' absence (excluding the Sound Test Easter egg and being playable in the 2011 re-release), Sonic's sprites being nearly identical to his Sonic 1 sprites, and the more primitive-looking Spin Dash.
• If Sonic is not moved for 3 minutes and the game is not paused, he turns to the player and says "I'm outta here!", before he leaps off the screen, causing an automatic game over, regardless if you have any extra lives left. This does not happen with Tails in the 2011 re-release.
• Due to the dark art direction of the Bad Future levels and the creepy music in the US soundtrack, many fans have considered this game as one of the darkest Sonic games in the series.

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