Sonic CD

Sonic CD is a clear example of classic Sonic gaming. I mean, it was so good, it was even re-released in 2011! It also marks the first appearances of well known characters like Metal Sonic. It features classic game-play and it is easy to play if you are a beginner. If you're a Sonic fan, old or new, it is essential to have this title. Even the graphics themselves, although they are old compared to today's, are beautiful and a technological achievement for 1993. The game even looks polished today and provides a good retro service. The music is very catchy. I recommend the Japanese/European track but the American one is good too. The only possibly bad thing about this game is that sometimes, especially in the special stages, it is quite hard. But other than that, Sonic CD is a great game and is an essential title for any Sonic fan.

I think this is a good game, it's slightly better than Sonic 1, the pacing is better, I like Sonic being able to peel out, I definitely like the soundtrack and the music slaps hard in the Japanese soundtrack, I especially like Stardust speedway (though I think Palmtree panic or Collision chaos are better), the problems with this game are in the special stages I should've hit a UFO but then it's like it goes right through Sonic and not to mention his turn speed is slow, and when you go into the water, the timer drains quickly, really? And I despise wacky workbench, too much bouncing but over all Solid game!

This PC CD-ROM and Sega CD game is graphically like the Sega Genesis games, but it has an awesome CD soundtrack with "new fangled" music. If you're looking for a revolutionary Sonic game, try this (it's included with Sonic Gems Collection for GameCube). It was sorely overlooked. Your new enemy is Metal Sonic, as well as Dr. Robotnik/Eggman. The underwater-type zone is still there. It's called Tidal Tempest. One of the boss levels (in the Collison Chaos zone) is reminiscent of Sonic Spinball. The PC version doesn't work with any OS over Windows 98. But if your old junker still has got that, give this one a try. It's really worth it.

Playing Sonic CD on the iPad recalls the glory years of the Genesis releases; four great games that were effectively simple, yet complex to master. While this game may be unfairly segregated for originating on the ill-fated Sega CD, it is rightfully a part of the blue hedgehog's early legacy.

Animated cut scenes detail the opening and endings of the game (which differs based on whether Sonic collects the seven 'time stones'), which sets CD apart from others of its ilk. There is such a diverse palette here that each new area offers something new, yet all the Sonic staples - springs, spikes, item monitors - remain accounted for. Controls are replicated simply on the iPad via a D-Pad and Jump button on the bottom of your screen; these respond well, even to sloppy contact, and they never get in the way of the action (though there may be a small learning curve for those accustomed to a classic controller).

A charming blend of visuals from the original classic and gameplay advances from the sequel, CD's development history is surrounded by speculation and Sega's own corporate affairs at the time. What is noteworthy about CD now, in 2011, is that despite being an early entry in the franchise it features a gameplay mechanic that perhaps remains the series' most innovative. Utilising time travel, Sonic can move back and forth between past, present and future within each level and change the course of time. This results in differences that alter the challenge, for example increasing difficulty in a 'bad future' where neglected machinery presents a greater threat. This introduces the player to numerous variations on each and every zone, adding a tremendous amount of replay value. The boss battles are amongst the most memorable of the side-scrollers; there's a good reason why the climax of the penultimate level, a nerve-wracking race over slopes and spikes against Sonic's own doppleganger, was recreated in the recent 'Sonic Generations'.

Having been re-released across multiple platforms by a Sega promoting the game's events as a prequel to 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4', there is no excuse not to have played this terrific entry in Sega's flagship property.

9/10

Sonic CD was the fifth sonic game i ever played and remains one of my favorites to this day. I was introduced to sonic through my first game Sonic Heroes which i immediately fell in love with the characters, story and gameplay.

One thing I absolutely LOVE about this game is time travelling, which as the name implies, Sonic can travel through time to the past, present, and the future! This is a definitely a super creative and clever concept. The amount of effort put into the detailing and visuals as well as the decoration to really put the prehistoric feel of the past, or the toxic wasteland of the bad future is really incredible. A fun and clever mechanic of having to destroy the robot generator to affect the future is well thought out and adds to the fun factor!

Another very well thought out and executed concept is Sonic's new move, the Super Peel Out! Which lets the player go at amazing speeds after charging it for a few seconds, with the animation being quite cool especially for a Sega CD game.

The level design in most stages is actually quite good and I love the speed sections and the cool up ramps in Palmtree Panic, the little traps and pipes as well as the layout of the somewhat unique and beautiful Tidal Tempest, or the awesome speedway feel to Stardust Speedway and the many loops and boosts!

Another neat thing I liked is that this was the first Sonic game to introduce a save feature, allowing the person playing to continue where they left off without having to restart from Act 1. My favorite Classic sonic game, and the best in my opinion, Sonic 2 lacks this and I'm glad this game has it.

The soundtrack of this game is definitely AMAZING and unforgettable for the JP/EU soundtrack and arguably the US soundtrack too. Both go for their own unique feel with the US taking a more atmospheric and rock-like style, with the Japanese one taking a really groovy funky 90's pop music feel.

The graphics are stunning and beautiful especially for Sega CD standards, and really add to the overall beauty of this game.

The plot of saving an entire planet, and freeing it from the clutches of the evil Dr. Eggman, and restoring the natural beauty while also having to save fangirl Amy Rose and face off against a robotic doppelganger, Metal Sonic is really creative and a unique plot! Probably one of the more detailed of the classic games.

And the intro and ending are just so good, the aesthetic and artstyle are simply fantastic and were produced by Toei animation, this artstyle ended up influencing stuff like the cutscenes in Sonic Mania or the fantastic OVA from 1999, which I love so much to where I bought the film on DVD.

Really the last thing I can name thats good before I go into the flaws of the game are the 2011 Christian Whitehead remaster's fixes and additions. Such as how the music loops properly in this version with the Japanese OST using the beta music loops that went unused in the initial Sega CD version which makes the soundtrack sound that much better, and you can switch the awkward spindash of the original game to the Sonic 2 one. This version also has Tons of Collision fixes.

I also love the new characters introduced here, Amy Rose and Metal Sonic.

Onto the negatives of this game, here we go

I genuinely hate this games spindash. 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, which can take a while as opposed to mashing the jump button and letting go of the D-pad to get Sonic to take off like in Sonic 2 and 3. Failing to do so will result in Sonic not taking off at incredible speed and just standing where he is, which is clunky and annoying.

The boss fights are simply lackluster and lack any real difficulty, especially the final boss which is pretty weak especially comparing it with the other games of this era. Most can simply be defeated in 4 hits no problem. The Metal Sonic race though is pretty challenging and iconic.

The collision detection in the original Sega CD version can be pretty wonky and make no sense at times, and can lead to glitches sometimes and deaths.

The Special Stages controls are really hard to understand at times, and they are pretty annoying... personally I dislike the backgrounds distracting colors and the fact of how hard it is to predict the UFOs movement patterns.

Some songs don't fit the stage and its future condition very well, such as the JP version of Palmtree Panics Bad Future or the US version of Metallic Madness' Good Future. They are good songs but don't fit the atmosphere.

Some of the level designs and gimmicks like the pinball fight in Collision chaos are executed poorly and are annoying, or Wacky Workbench and the bouncing. I also personally dont like the conveyor belts of Quartz Quadrant.

Overall, In conclusion I believe Sonic CD is a fun and great game that I highly recommend with a fresh mindset!