[NintendoBrad]

I have been looking everywhere for this game. Not eBay, not Amazon, not even PlayAsia has it. I think my reasons for wanting to import this are quite obvious. I'm trying to find it so I could ask for it as a Christmas gift. Any help locating this is highly appreciated.

Of all last-gen Sonic games, this has got to be the hardest to find a Japanese version of. I can blame the alternate Sonic CD soundtrack and extra games for its high demand.

Hopefully I won't have to saw off my leg for it.

[JDAdams]

Really? I have one, didn't realise it was that hard to find. You might want to look for UK sellers as quite a few of us were unhappy with the dual shafting of the US soundtrack and no 60Hz mode (amongst other things - see the comments at http://forums.sonicr...showtopic=5525).

I got mine from Play-Asia, though as you say they have none in stock right now. I may be willing to part with it as I'd really rather have the PS2 version. It isn't new (obviously) and would need to be shipped from the UK, but it is in very good condition as I haven't played it much. Contents are as new should you really like Japanese flyers :-) Let me know if you want it.

[Mendinso]

JDAdams, on Dec 10 2008, 05:15 AM, said:

I may be willing to part with it as I'd really rather have the PS2 version.

I will warn you. Unless your Playstation 2 can switch the language in the BIOS to Japanese, you're not going to be able to play Sonic CD with the Japanese soundtrack, unless you manually swap the music folder in the ISO and reburn it. It's one of Sega's games that respond to the system's language.

This post has been edited by ChibiGoku: 10 December 2008 - 05:56 AM

[Xilla]

^ Although you still get the Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle series and Bonanza Bros.

[P.P.A.]

NintendoBrad, on Dec 10 2008, 02:01 AM, said:

I have been looking everywhere for this game. Not eBay, not Amazon, not even PlayAsia has it. I think my reasons for wanting to import this are quite obvious. I'm trying to find it so I could ask for it as a Christmas gift. Any help locating this is highly appreciated.

Of all last-gen Sonic games, this has got to be the hardest to find a Japanese version of. I can blame the alternate Sonic CD soundtrack and extra games for its high demand.

Hopefully I won't have to saw off my leg for it.

Do not get Sonic Gems Collection for Sonic CD. The port is quite horrible, aside from the enhanced cinemas. There's a couple of sound and graphic errors (that I can list if you want) as well as actual gameplay bugs, for example the butterfly badniks in PP and the firefly ones in TT moving in straight lines as opposed to waving patterns. And you can't press start and the A/B/C anymore to kill yourself and easily return to the time attack menu when you're playing a level from there, requiring you to either return to the title screen and go back from there or commit suicide. Both of which get really annoying.

tl;dr get the Japanese Mega-CD version

This post has been edited by P.P.A.: 10 December 2008 - 11:24 AM

[Endri]

ChibiGoku, on Dec 10 2008, 08:54 AM, said:

JDAdams, on Dec 10 2008, 05:15 AM, said:

I may be willing to part with it as I'd really rather have the PS2 version.

I will warn you. Unless your Playstation 2 can switch the language in the BIOS to Japanese, you're not going to be able to play Sonic CD with the Japanese soundtrack, unless you manually swap the music folder in the ISO and reburn it. It's one of Sega's games that respond to the system's language.

Really? I didn't knew that. I aways had the JAP version of Gens Collection since the begining (so, I could play the original 'Sonic the Fighters' and Sonic CD with the JAP soundtrack, and not that 'Sonic Championship' bullshit and US soundcover =P) but Sonic CD aways played the US soundtrack no matter what. I guess I'll try to change the language to japanese and see what happens!

[NintendoBrad]

P.P.A., on Dec 10 2008, 04:24 PM, said:

NintendoBrad, on Dec 10 2008, 02:01 AM, said:

I have been looking everywhere for this game. Not eBay, not Amazon, not even PlayAsia has it. I think my reasons for wanting to import this are quite obvious. I'm trying to find it so I could ask for it as a Christmas gift. Any help locating this is highly appreciated.

Of all last-gen Sonic games, this has got to be the hardest to find a Japanese version of. I can blame the alternate Sonic CD soundtrack and extra games for its high demand.

Hopefully I won't have to saw off my leg for it.

Do not get Sonic Gems Collection for Sonic CD. The port is quite horrible, aside from the enhanced cinemas. There's a couple of sound and graphic errors (that I can list if you want) as well as actual gameplay bugs, for example the butterfly badniks in PP and the firefly ones in TT moving in straight lines as opposed to waving patterns. And you can't press start and the A/B/C anymore to kill yourself and easily return to the time attack menu when you're playing a level from there, requiring you to either return to the title screen and go back from there or commit suicide. Both of which get really annoying.

tl;dr get the Japanese Mega-CD version

I bought the U.S. Gems for Sonic CD and it plays just fine. I've not noticed any graphical or sound errors, and a difference between an enemy moving straight or in a wavy pattern doesn't matter to me at all. The JP Sonic CD is the "purest" version to play, but I'd have to buy a Genesis and a SEGA CD to play it, which I just can't do right now.

[JDAdams]

To add to what the others have said, the only reason I want a PS2 Sonic Gems is to play Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R at upscaled 60Hz HD on the PS3, since the EU copy won't run at 60Hz and the GC one can't be run in HD. Similarly for Tails Adventure, Triple Trouble and Tails Sky Patrol - JP PS2 Sonic Gems is the only way to play them in upscaled 60Hz HD. For Sonic CD I consider the best solution is the PC version with the JP soundtrack dubbed onto it. - that way you get the higher-quality FMVs, original soundtrack, higher res and the correct water in TT.

[P.P.A.]

^
Assuming you get it to run. Furthermore, if you're going to play it on a PC anyway 8which completely destroys the experience, at least for me), you could just emulate the Mega-CD version. Would be less of a hassle.

NintendoBrad, on Dec 10 2008, 08:58 PM, said:

I bought the U.S. Gems for Sonic CD and it plays just fine. I've not noticed any graphical or sound errors,

There are plenty. The most striking ones being that there is no palette change under water in Tidal Tempest and that the bg of Stardust Speedway bad future uses the flashing frame instead of the normal one. So it's basically a constant lightning.
As for the sound, a major error here is that when charging the peelout and spindash, the sound only plays for a very short time and not as long as you charge it. And I think there were some other such errors too.

Quote

and a difference between an enemy moving straight or in a wavy pattern doesn't matter to me at all.

what
Aside from that, there are other gameplay fuckups too. Like the roof of Metallic Madness' second Act being blocked so you can't run over it any more. Or the fact that charging the peelout a little longer while on speed shoes you don't speed off unusually fast.

Quote

The JP Sonic CD is the "purest" version to play, but I'd have to buy a Genesis and a SEGA CD to play it, which I just can't do right now.

No, you'd have to buy a Mega Drive and a Mega-CD. Duh.

This post has been edited by P.P.A.: 10 December 2008 - 03:16 PM

[NintendoBrad]

Honestly, the complaints you list are -for me, at least- negligible at best. A different background or sound effect or whatever isn't going to damage the game for me.

[P.P.A.]

Clearly you aren't insanely obsessed enough yet. Or a time attacker, concerning some of the points.

This post has been edited by P.P.A.: 10 December 2008 - 03:30 PM

[NintendoBrad]

P.P.A., on Dec 10 2008, 08:24 PM, said:

Then you aren't insanely obsessed enough. Or a time attacker, concerning some of the points.

I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed with Sonic CD to an extent, but maybe not as much as others.

I have time attacked all the levels - I must've spent hours trying to beat my times. But again, not on the same level as others, including yourself. I have seen some of your videos.

[Rika Chou]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sonic-Gems-Collection-...p3286.m20.l1116

[PC2]

...

Don't all regions of Gems Collection have the US Sonic CD soundtrack anyway? I honestly don't see what makes it any "purer" considering there is not much real difference to begin with, unless you're just doing it for collection's sake.

This post has been edited by PC2: 10 December 2008 - 08:29 PM

[NintendoBrad]

Rika Chou, on Dec 11 2008, 01:20 AM, said:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sonic-Gems-Collection-...p3286.m20.l1116

Ouch. There's no way I'm shelling that much, but thanks anyway.

Doesn't look like it'll be found any lower than that, though...

PC2, on Dec 11 2008, 01:26 AM, said:

...

Don't all regions of Gems Collection have the US Sonic CD soundtrack anyway? I honestly don't see what makes it any "purer" considering there is not much real difference to begin with, unless you're just doing it for collection's sake.

The Japanese version of Gems does include the original soundtrack for Sonic CD. The PAL version, unfortunately, got shafted in that regard.

But I do love the U.S. soundtrack, don't get me wrong.