Sonic CD (Mega CD)

If you must own a version of this game, get the PAL or NTSC-J version as it has the better soundtrack. Sonic CD sees sonic trying to save a small plant from becoming Robotniks new base. Sonic has the ability to change the past by time traveling backwards and forewords though time (nothing like silvers boring story on 06 you will be happy to know) or by collecting the time stones.

In this game we are first introduce to Amy and Metal Sonic the latter being an evil robotic copy of sonic who kidnaps Amy Rose(also known as Rosy the Rascal), a hedgehog who is very much in love with sonic.

This is by far the best Mega CD game ever made, with 3D like bonus stages and inventive gameplay, as well as three anime cutscenes an intro and a bad ending or good ending providing you get all the time stones. if you own a Mega CD you must own this as well.

Sonic's evil nemesis Dr Robotnik has captured "little planet" (I think the name explains it all) and intends to use it as his new base from which to launch an army of robots. Not only that, but his latest creation (a robot version of Sonic) has kidnapped Amy, a hedgehog damsel. So it's up to you to run, jump and spin-attack through seven levels (each made up of two stages and a boss stage) to collect time stones in order to defeat Robotnik. You'll also need to use the time-travel posts to go back into the past and destroy Robotnik's creations, therefore creating a good future.

As Sonic games go, this looks and sounds fantastic. There are some great tunes and interesting backgrounds. However, when compared to the other four 16-bit 2D Sonic titles, this is most certainly the runt of the litter. The levels are short, pretty easy and lack the interesting gadgets and little touches of the other 2D games. There are a few new ideas here and there. but most of them (Sonic turning tiny in Metallic Madness) feel pretty pointless. Another problem involves collecting the time stones. You'll need to collect all of these to finish the game properly, and to do that you'll need fifty rings to make a 'giant ring' appear at the end of any given level. This is not easy, as one hit from an enemy or spikes will lose you all your rings, and the ways of getting you to lose rings in this game are unbelievably cheap. There are a few inventive bosses, but don't even get me started on that robot Sonic. It's hard in a frustrating way and soon becomes an utter chore. Plus this is the game which inflicted Amy Rose on us.

Overall it's good for a quick blast now and again, but this is a game about spectacle rather than substance.

Behold the "awesome" power of the Mega CD!

Sonic CD is regarded as the best game for Sega's disastrous early 90s system. Personally, I think the best Mega CD game was...um...there were none. The console was an enormous flop which hurt Sega badly. But if Sonic CD is supposed to represent the system at the apex of it's powers then just how bad were the truly bad games?

I'll answer that question in another review if I ever get to play them. But for the moment I'll focus on the abyss of disappointment that is Sonic CD.

Development began in 1992 before the release of Sonic 2, thus the general appearance and level design is very close to that of the original Sonic, which dates the game badly for those of you who are more used to the polished, slicker, quicker feel of the sequels. Sometimes you'll go slow you'll begin to wonder why it wasn't called Chronic CD.

The levels themselves (useless time-travel feature aside) and boring and unengaging, You just breeze through them with little effort and no admiration. There's nothing that stands out and nothing truly define each level with it's own personality or style. The boss battles are also so easy a blind gamer could do it no sweat. And don't even get me started on those awful, awful Special Stages.

Why this is regarded as being the Mega CD's "must have" is beyond my understanding and I'm a man of noble intelligence. For a system that charged the consumer £350 ($470) you'd expect to have your mind blown by the content, but Sonic CD rates even lower that Sonic 1.

Still, at least the music is pleasant.

Graphics D
Sound B
Gameplay D
Lasting Appeal F