Sonic CD, just a bit overhyped

Tiberious · Sep 30, 2006

So, 13 years after it's out, and I finally get a chance to play this game long hailed as best 2D Sonic game ever.

I've run through it, and even gone back to look at some of the smaller stuff, and here's my opinion:

It's not quite worthy of all the praise heaped upon it.

Let's really look at it outside its status as a 'classic' Sonic game, shall we?

- Time travel's a gimmick, when it comes right down to it, and in order to do so, you're generally forced to find a place where they placed two horizontal springs so your speed remains constant. Under normal gameplay circumstances, you're only really concerned with going to the Past as quickly as possible, so you can search for the badnik generator and waste it (the M.Sonic hologram, too, if you happen to come across it).

- With one MAJOR exception, the stage variations aren't really much to write home about.

- With, again, all but one exception, each Zone is just a rehashed version of a Sonic 1 Zone.
Palmtree Panic = Green Hill
Collision Chaos = Spring Yard
Tidal Tempest = Labyrinth (even has the same kind of static background, and the Past's BG gives off a definate HPZ vibe)
Stardust Speedway = Strange hybrid of Chemical Plant and Star Light.
Metallic Madness = Scrap Brain

- Wacky Workbench and Quartz Quadrant are reall the only two stand-out Zones this game has to offer. The former won't hardly let you walk for the most part, and so its differences aren't the greatest. QQZ, on the other hand, is quite nice (more later).

I'll say this now, so it can sink in. The US soundtrack is good.

It fits with the stage's theme (with one minor exception, where I think a mistake was made), and isn't too upbeat (this is, IMO, the biggest flaw I see with the JP/EU music).

Now, there IS good to be found in the game, and what would an unbiased review be without listing those points as well?

- The little touches. Enemies that show deterioration and suffer performance degradation as they age (taking extra programming, obviously), even some pre-damaged foes in the Present.

- The ability to earn the good ending even if you don't complete all the special stages. This is good, as after the first, oh, about two, they get downright insane in difficulty. This also rewards exploration, thought it generally means hitting the Past ASAP.

- Quartz Quadrant Zone. If you actually take the time to look at the area, it just blows you away. The fact they took the time to have two DIFFERENT backgrounds and BG deformations is quite nice. And that Bad Future... first thing you see in Act 1 is Eggman's mug. Once you get outside, you see how bad it really is; there's nothing but Eggman factories as far as the eye can see, with the sky literally on fire. Shows you just how hight he stakes are. And the music just FITS.

Overall, though, I still think the height of sonic's 16-bit age is Sonic 3 (the full game, AKA S3&K).

Guess Who · Sep 30, 2006

To be honest, almost every 2D Sonic game contains similar variations on the themes in Sonic 1.

RyogaMasaki · Sep 30, 2006

If you're judging a game you haven't played before 13 years past it's date, I think your expectations are going to be a bit too high. Of course alot of it's gameplay is 'gimmicky'; it's a platformer. As for looking like Sonic 1, isn't it a well known fact that Sonic CD is the 'true' sequel to Sonic 1, using most of its ideas and gameplay? (It's why looking at Sonic CD is a good way to see alot of they had ideas for with Sonic 1.)

I don't mind if you don't like the game, everyone has an opinion. I just think some of your arguments there aren't exactly justified. =P

Tiberious · Sep 30, 2006

guess_who: Oh you're quite right, but usually the reiterations aren't as transparent as they are here.

And TTZ-LZ is the worst offender, really.

Ryoga: I didn't say it wasn't a good game, nor that I didn't like it. It just seems the general consensus here is that it's the 'best Sonic game of all time'. I just don't feel that to be the case.

It also appears to be the general opinion that the US soundtrack is pure and utter trash. It isn't that, either. And the soundtrack from the other regions just isn't godly, no matter what you may think. The fairest thing is to say that for some Zones, the JP/EU is better, and for others, the US is more fitting.

Dracula · Sep 30, 2006

This game is so much fun.

stormislandgal · Sep 30, 2006

I just don't like it how people say that nothing can ever in a million years be compared to Sonic CD, and whoever doesn't like it is a gaywad fuckwit. Bullshit.

But, I can't have an opinion, as I've never played it. =P

Rarmander · Sep 30, 2006

I too didn't like it that much.

Heran Bago · Sep 30, 2006

BAGEL OPPINION ON MUSIC:

The US soundtrack is great, and fits quite well. The Japanese sound track is only slightly better, but some songs are just eww, like Boss music and level complete.

Sonic 1 < Sonic 2 = Sonic CD < Sonic 3 < Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Robjoe · Sep 30, 2006

I personally love the game, it's my second favorite (next to S3K). The levels may resemble S1 a lot, but most are still pretty fresh and new. PPZ and TTZ are the only two blatant ones, however. They are still really cool though, as I like the way they're beefed-up versions. Besides, the game is more heavily based off S1 than S2 was anyway. One of the things I like the most about it though are the level designs (minus WWZ1. Terribly frustrating. D=). They flow so well and are really fun. I always keep going back to the game because they are sheerly enjoyable, even after you memorize them inside-and-out. I will aggree that it gets a little monotonous constantly traveling to the past to find the UFO and Metal Sonic projecter, though. I wish they would've put them in present in one act, and past in another, to spice things up a bit. And don't whine about the special stages, they're good challenges and still aren't stupid as fuck *coughcoughsonic1cough*. =P The bosses are very innovative, too. SSZ's is my favorite, and for the record, the hardest boss I've ever faced in a video game.

As for the soundtracks, I actually aggree with you there. I prefer the US one, as it fits the levels better, and has some of the better songs. The JPN one is cool too, but most songs don't fit, and some are downright AWFUL. I swear, Stardust Speedway and the boss have GOT to be jokes or something. They totally ruin the levels they're on.

So yea, ignore me if ya want, but I felt like posting this anyway. =P

Guess Who · Sep 30, 2006

Excuse me, Palmtree Panic is different enough to be unique, or at least as unique as any other Sonic first-level-that-is-a-tropical-island.

Rockman Zero · Sep 30, 2006

In order to see how good a game is, you really ought to go back to it's originating time period, and review it from that point in time.

I really love the Japanese version better than the American version. It sounds more like Sonic to me.

Tiberious · Sep 30, 2006

The bosses were quite enjoyable, and not the same old 'hit him 8 times' bit that'd been done to death. Hell, the one didn't even need to be HIT to be defeated. You just ran him to death...

Besides, I thought I said I LIKED being able to get the good ending without the special stages.

The point I'm trying to address here is that all you ever hear outta this board is "zOMG! Sonic CD, Sonic CD, Sonic CD!" as if it's the be-all and end-all of the series.

It's not. Live with it.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles, only a year later (at the most) one-upped everything Sonic CD tried with the exception of the bosses.

Mr. Fox · Sep 30, 2006

Sonic CD rocked for me. It introduced 2 very cool characters: Amy and Metal Sonic. I really liked that epic race between Sonic and his metal rival. So cool. And graphics is much better than cartridge games, not even talking about music. It's awesome. Sonic CD may be considered as the MOST beatiful classic Sonic game (along with Chaotix, of course).

Lostgame · Sep 30, 2006

I made a topic like this, not so long ago, asking people to explain to me what exactly it was that made Sonic CD so great.

I was glad and suprised to find that not everyone worshipped Sonic CD and did not think it was the be-all-end-all of Sonic games.

IMO it was good, but Sonic 2 was better. And this is from someone who grew up with it.

Guess Who · Sep 30, 2006

Sonic 2 failed in comparison in graphics, music, and gameplay.

The Sonic CD camera in particular was excellent. Much better to focus on what is ahead without wasting screen real estate viewing what you have already passed.

Lostgame · Sep 30, 2006

I think if Sonic 2's music was CD quality it would've beaten the dogshit out of Sonic CD's...

No matter which version you choose, the music is still shitty at times, and, while beating the shit out of the music in the EUR/JAP version in generic quality, the music for the US version doesn't fit the game.

ICEknight · Sep 30, 2006

Tiberious said:

I'll say this now, so it can sink in. The US soundtrack is good.
Click to expand...

I suspect it all depends on which one you heard first while playing.

guess_who said:

The Sonic CD camera in particular was excellent. Much better to focus on what is ahead without wasting screen real estate viewing what you have already passed.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. I wonder if it can be ported to the Megadrive Sonics.

BadCopNoDonut · Sep 30, 2006

I personally thought Sonic CD was pretty good. I don't much care for the special stage, and maybe the badnik system should've been a bit closer to that of the other Sonic games(pop it, small animal comes out, break the metal container at the end, small animals come out). But the concept behind it was great and it would've been neat to see that concept implemented in more Sonic games. I think had Sonic 3&Knuckles had time travel, it could've put a whole new dimension on that game and made it better than it already is.

Tweaker · Sep 30, 2006

ICEknight said:

guess_who said:

The Sonic CD camera in particular was excellent. Much better to focus on what is ahead without wasting screen real estate viewing what you have already passed.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. I wonder if it can be ported to the Megadrive Sonics.
Click to expand...

It has... and more than once. That's all I'll tell you. ;P

Lostgame · Sep 30, 2006

*cough*stealth*cough*

Well, likely anyways. If he can "almost" port Sonic 1/2 to CD then he can do this. =P

Sonic CD, just a bit overhyped

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