Sonic the Hedgehog CD: Game Relations

CONCEPT: "MOBIUS" - Game Relations ~ Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Name: Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Other Names (Nicknames): Sonic CD, "The Best/Last Good Sonic Game"

Release Dates:
September 23rd, 1993 - Japan
October, 1993 - Europe
November 19th, 1993 - North America

Quality: 16-Bit, Side-Scrolling Platformer

Game System(s): Sega Mega CD

Also released on:
(1). PC - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (PC Version), Steam
(2). Nintendo GameCube - Sonic Gems Collection
(3). Microsoft Xbox 360 – Xbox Live Arcade
(4). Android OS
(5). Apple iOS
(6). Sony PlayStation 3 – PlayStation Network
(7). Microsoft Windows Phone 7

Developer(s): Sonic Team

Publisher(s): Sega

Credits:
Executive Producer: Hayao Nakayama
Producers: Minoru Kanari, Makoto Oshitani
Director: Naoto Oshima
Program Director: Keiichi Yamamoto
Art Director: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi
Sound Director: Yukifumi Makino
Game Designers: Hiroaki Chino, Kenichi Ono, Yuichiro Yokoyama, Takao Miyoshi, Akira Nishino
Character Designer: Kazuyuki Hoshino
Landscape Designers: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Takumi Miyake, Masahiro Sanpei, Masato Nishimura, Hideaki Kurata
Special Stage Designers: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Judy Totoya
Special Stage Progammer: Keiichi Yamamoto
Animation Programmers: Yuichiro Mine, Eiji Horita
Animation Visual Directors: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Masahiro Sanpei
Visual Design: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Takumi Miyake
Chief Programmer: Matsuhide Mizoguchi
Programmers: Yuichi Matsuoka, Hiroshi Takei, Tatsuya Satoh, Noritaka Yakita
Sound Effects: Yukifumi Makino
Sound Programmer: Yukifumi Makino
Development Support: Al Nilsen
Promoter: Hiroyuki Tanaka
Music (Original/JPN): Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata
Music (US): Spencer Nilsen, David Young

Character Introductions: Amy Rose (Rosy the Rascal) and Metal Sonic.

Region Game Takes Place On: Little Planet, the Planet of Miracles.

Concept Introductions: Sonic CD was the first and so far only Sonic game that completely revolved its gameplay and storyline around in-game time travel. You were able to travel into the past and future of each zone by passing past or future sign posts that were scattered about the board. The reason for this is that there are two things that affect the future of each stage: a robot generator (responsible for all the badniks) and a Metal Sonic projector (responsible for scaring away the animals), both of which hare in the past. If you manage to find and trash them, the animals will return and the badniks will cease to exist. If you don't, the future for that level will be a bad one under Eggman's rule.

If that sounds rather complicated to you (which is understandable, finding both machines can be a pain in the butt), just collect the 7 Time Stones (colors: green, orange, yellow, blue, aqua-green, purple, and red) which will also ensure the good ending. Sonic's new maneuver, the Super Peel Out is also introduced, where Sonic runs in place, revving up his legs into a figure 8 shape before he accelerates off at a high speed — virtually useless in comparison to the more offensively minded (but, in this case, nerfed) spin dash. Super Peel Out is meant entirely for looks.

Concept Deductions: Not a lot is deducted from Sonic CD, despite what many would think from its totally different style. Its gameplay is a lot like Sonic 1's. The powerups look the same (and have the same variety), special stage access is the same, and the checkpoint markers are also the same. Eggman's egg mobile looks different, and the spin dash does not take the shape of a diagonally-pivoted, revving oval like it's supposed to. It instead looks like Sonic's regular spinball form, gyrating in place.

Main Framework: Abstract level design. There's stuff all over the place, so it's very easy for new players to get lost.

Storyline:

On a certain month of every year, a tiny planet appears in the skies over the Never Lake. This small planet is none other than Little Planet, AKA the Planet of Miracles. Little Planet is home to 7 mysterious jewels that can altar the passage of time. If all of them are collected, miracles are sure to ensue: deserts turn to lush jungles, and murky waters purify! But of course, there is a very certain mad scientist who has other plans for these gems. Once the planet appeared, Dr. Robotnik immediately bounded the tiny world to a giant mountain with his face carved in it, linked by a huge chain. Dr. Robotnik then wasted no time in high-tailing his butt over there to take control of Little Planet's past so he will then have complete control over it in the future.

          Sonic was seen rushing through the plains before he would then spot the Little Planet chained up to the mountain. And upon seeing the wicked carving of Eggman's filthy mug along its surface, Sonic knew exactly who the perpetrator was. So the hedgehog immediately went dashing up the chain and to the planet to rip Eggman a new one. Problem was, Sonic didn't even know Eggman was up to this until that very point, so Eggman had quite a lot of time to prepare.

          Meanwhile, back on Sonic's world, a young hedgehog girl by the name of Amy Rose was using her tarot cards to predict her future. They tell her that she will meet her idol, Sonic, on the Little Planet. So needless to say, she packed up and hauled pink hedgehog fanny over to the Little Planet as well. However, once Eggman finds out she is there, he finds she is the perfect target, sending out his new metal duplicate of Sonic, Metal Sonic, to go out and catch her, and that it did. Metal Sonic captured Amy right before Sonic's very eyes, making off with its new hostage. Sonic then knew it was up to him to save her and stop Eggman at the same time!

Personal Criticism/Opinion (by Ryan the Game Master):

Sonic the Hedgehog CD, considered one of the best Sonic games ever, if not THE best. Frankly, I disagree, but I'll get to that in a bit.

A lot of work went into this game. That can't be denied. The level design was meant purely for exploration, a trait that would carry over to later games (albeit to a lesser extent). Add the time travel elements and you've got levels that are just begging to be explored. This is necessary, since you'll have to do a lot of exploring if you want the good ending.

Besides the fact that it's a classic game, the main reason this game is humped all the time is because of how fancy and out there it is. There's just so much to do and look at. Modern Sonic games do that all the time, but noooooo, here it's "special". Hmph. Look, anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not one to jump the bandwagon. While I understand all the fuss, I also disagree with most of it. This is indeed a great Sonic game...but I've also played much better Sonic games since this one.

Thankfully, overratedness doesn't contribute to a game's score here (nor will it), or I'd have to mark it lower than it deserves.

GAMER'S PERSPECTIVE:

Replay value?  There's a lot to do here. There's the machines to trash in the past, the Time Stones, Time Attacks (even for the Special Stages) and, of course, the D.A. Garden. You'll be busy with this one.

Graphics? Sonic Team went all out here. Everything is vivid, colorful and imaginative. Each time period is represented well and feels right. Just don't get too distracted or you'll run out of time or get wasted by a badnik. The sprites were good, too.

Music & Sound Effects?  And here's the most controversial part of Sonic CD, the part gamers just LOVE to argue over: the music. Honestly, both the Japanese and US tracks are awesome in their own ways. The Japanese soundtracks are funky, good to groove to and wouldn't sound out of place in a dance club. The US soundtrack is more grounded and tries to flow with the levels. All in all, they both suit the game just fine. While we're on the subject, Keiko Utoku and Casey Rankin do just as great as Pastiche (, Crush 40 and Cash Cash), thank you very much.

Storyline? Aside from the brief moments with Amy and Metal Sonic, and the anime cutscenes (by TOEI), the story is just as flat as any other tales told during the Classic Era.

*cue level completion jingle*

OVERALL RATING? I give Sonic the Hedgehog CD an A.