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RTTP: Sonic CD (and why i think it's overrated)
- Thread starter nkarafo
- Start date
sixteen-bit
Member
i like the sonic boom song
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I love this game. No matter how much I hate this IP as it's been for the past 20 years, Sonic CD will always be fun.
The focus on more abstract visual design in the level themes is what I like the most about the game. Palmtree Panic looks way better than Green Hill and Emerald Hill.
Having instant transitions between time periods would have helped the flow of the game immensely. Also game design that gives you better motivation to time travel. This is why I think the game flaws are moreso untapped potential that makes it deserving of a sequel.
Oh, and it reuses the Sonic 1 sprite because it was developed concurrently with Sonic 2. Sonic 2 was developed in the US while CD was all Japan.
Having instant transitions between time periods would have helped the flow of the game immensely. Also game design that gives you better motivation to time travel. This is why I think the game flaws are moreso untapped potential that makes it deserving of a sequel.
Oh, and it reuses the Sonic 1 sprite because it was developed concurrently with Sonic 2. Sonic 2 was developed in the US while CD was all Japan.
The Sega CD is a 1x drive; Of course those transitions are necessary.
The busy and haphazard level design is the worst part about the game. Combine that with the four objectives that need to be reached every level:
1) find a past sign
2) find an area that allows you to speed up enough to use it
3) find the Metal Sonic projector
4) find the enemy generator
and the game quickly becomes a slog unless you know all the levels inside out.
It's not a bad game but it's my least fave Sonic.
The busy and haphazard level design is the worst part about the game. Combine that with the four objectives that need to be reached every level:
1) find a past sign
2) find an area that allows you to speed up enough to use it
3) find the Metal Sonic projector
4) find the enemy generator
and the game quickly becomes a slog unless you know all the levels inside out.
It's not a bad game but it's my least fave Sonic.
Augemitbutter
Member
dunno, i always loved this game. the soundtrack and the intro vid played a big part. overall, i didn't play it less than any other sonic game i owned in the 16 bit days.
also got 100% trophies for the rerelease. it was enjoyable once more.
also got 100% trophies for the rerelease. it was enjoyable once more.
Yep. Sonic CD was this thing you always heard about but never got to play. I remember finally getting to play it in the Sonic Gems collection and thinking "That's what everyone hyped up?"
Had it been released on the Genesis instead of the CD I doubt the talk about the game would have been as positive as it was back before the game was widely available.
Is it a good game? Yes it is, but it does not compare to Sonic 2 or 3.
The Bankslammer
Member
I definitely bought into the "Sonic CD is the best Sonic game" hype around the time Gems Collection was coming out. I could always tell that the level design wasn't entirely there, but I was super into it aesthetically. Great intro animation, 2 excellent soundtracks, and cool visuals. Hell, I'm still really into those parts of it, but it's harder and harder to replay considering how much stronger other Sonic games are level design-wise.
oh and i'm in the camp of you can do anything over sonic boom
oh and i'm in the camp of you can do anything over sonic boom
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
The music and graphics are good and the special stages are kinda fun, but that's about it. The level design is a mess, the visual design looks like it was made by someone tripping balls on acid, the bosses suck (except Metal Sonic, love that one) and the time travel mechanic is really just annoying. Sonic 2 this isn't.
I always enjoyed Sonic CD. It was especially sweet back in its day because of the CD-powered Sonic Boom cartoon and song, back in the days of 90's cartridge tunes. Just an extra little nice thing. Racing Metal Sonic was very exciting back when the game debuted. However, I agree with others' opinions that the level designs aren't as satisfying or as Soniccy as the Genny games. I also don't like some of the music present or past, and I hate Wacky Workbench.
The time travel mechanism was designed to offer a new challenge to gamers. In some levels, it is challenging to located and touch a Past sign and to find a place to run or spin fast enough and long enough to activate it (and you lose it if you spin 3/4 of the necessary time then stop!). There are all kinds of neat little nooks & crannies to find rings and enemies. The platforming is more involving than what Sonic has become in either the Advance 2D games or the 3D games.
Also, I discovered that in the first level's Robotnik fight, Sonic starts off at the left of the level map and you run right to eventually fight and easily dispatch of Robotnik. There are exactly 100 rings -- can you get them all (and earn an extra Sonic) without passing the milepost which activates the boss Robotnik fight? I love when Sonic yells "YES!" when he gets a 1-up. That's all the voice Sonic ever needed, IMO. Anyway, what is the point to getting the 100 rings? It's fun. I never figured out if all the robotnik levels had exactly 100 rings you could snag.
Once you beat the game, you then opened up Time Trial mode -- this was something new back then and it was fun to try to simply get to the end as fast as possible.
The time travel mechanism was designed to offer a new challenge to gamers. In some levels, it is challenging to located and touch a Past sign and to find a place to run or spin fast enough and long enough to activate it (and you lose it if you spin 3/4 of the necessary time then stop!). There are all kinds of neat little nooks & crannies to find rings and enemies. The platforming is more involving than what Sonic has become in either the Advance 2D games or the 3D games.
Also, I discovered that in the first level's Robotnik fight, Sonic starts off at the left of the level map and you run right to eventually fight and easily dispatch of Robotnik. There are exactly 100 rings -- can you get them all (and earn an extra Sonic) without passing the milepost which activates the boss Robotnik fight? I love when Sonic yells "YES!" when he gets a 1-up. That's all the voice Sonic ever needed, IMO. Anyway, what is the point to getting the 100 rings? It's fun. I never figured out if all the robotnik levels had exactly 100 rings you could snag.
Once you beat the game, you then opened up Time Trial mode -- this was something new back then and it was fun to try to simply get to the end as fast as possible.
IronicSonic
Member
It'sa great game on its own merits
Sonic CD is the only classic Sonic game that I have not beaten, because of the poor level design.
The game wants you to build up speed but the level design aren't built with that in mind and something will always stop your momentum. And don't get me started on Wacky Work bench
On the flip side it gave us Metal Sonic one of the coolest Sonic Rival there is.
Honestly Sonic CD isn't bad but Sonic 2 and 3&Knuckles blow it out of the water.
The game wants you to build up speed but the level design aren't built with that in mind and something will always stop your momentum. And don't get me started on Wacky Work bench
On the flip side it gave us Metal Sonic one of the coolest Sonic Rival there is.
Honestly Sonic CD isn't bad but Sonic 2 and 3&Knuckles blow it out of the water.
But Sonic CD is the ones that makes you master the momentum the most. It encourages exploring, there's always a faster path, you just need to explore.
Yes, it's not the best game for a first run if you want to "gott go fast" but that doesn't mean the level design is random or kills the flow. On the contrary, is a game that flows better than most without abusing of straightforward paths, You need to master the levels though.
Yep, it's my fav. Sonic game.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Yep. Sonic 2 and 3 are great games, but I've played through them so many times that going through them at this point it feels like being on autodrive. There's just nothing to them at this point anymore, even if I do get a nostalgia buzz when I play them for a level or two before getting bored. Sonic CD is a lot more exploration and platformer-orented, and I find myself more entertained by that sort of thing. The later Sonic games are certainly more speed-focused, and that's probably what the majority of people want when they want to play a Sonic game. Personally, that novelty wore off a long, long time ago, so I gravitate more towards the early Sonics that involve more skill-based platforming and challenging you to get good at taking advantage of the physics and landscape. I find that sort of gameplay much more interesting, personally.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
With it being one of the few decent games to come out for the Sega CD, that I could actually get my hands on, this game gave me both a typical Sonic game (run fast to the end) and an exploration game (get the good future by destroying all the prison cells).
It had plenty of replay value and the music was great (at the time) because of the audio quality.
It hasn't aged well for a modern day audience, but for me it was great long lasting fun that felt like two games in one and that alone will always make it the most memorable Sonic game for me.
EDIT: Same here SonicMegaDrive
It had plenty of replay value and the music was great (at the time) because of the audio quality.
It hasn't aged well for a modern day audience, but for me it was great long lasting fun that felt like two games in one and that alone will always make it the most memorable Sonic game for me.
EDIT: Same here SonicMegaDrive
Beren the Empty-Handed
Member
I think it was overrated, but now it's been deflated and it's seen as a mixed bag. It's hard to disagree.
Not that it really matters. Everyone knows it gave birth to the greatest thing ever.
Not that it really matters. Everyone knows it gave birth to the greatest thing ever.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I wish they'd make another Sonic title that has the same basic physics and gameplay that the Genesis titles have, but design levels and scenarios that actually challenge you to get good at the game and do something more with the physics, much like Sonic CD does. I think that would go over about as well as a wet fart with a lot of Sonic fans, but I think it would be fun for seasoned players much the same way Super Mario Bros. 2 JP was for fans of those games.
It's a solid game with inconsistent level design. 2 & 3&K are unquestionably better, IMO.
Wacky Workbench, in my opinion, is like a textbook example of how not to do a Sonic level. In a series where momentum is key, here's a level where there's no way to get momentum because you're stopped every five seconds by having to jump over another series of bounce pads.
On the other hand, Stardust Speedway is a ton of fun and is basically the antithesis to WW. So it goes both ways.
Wacky Workbench, in my opinion, is like a textbook example of how not to do a Sonic level. In a series where momentum is key, here's a level where there's no way to get momentum because you're stopped every five seconds by having to jump over another series of bounce pads.
On the other hand, Stardust Speedway is a ton of fun and is basically the antithesis to WW. So it goes both ways.
I'd say Sonic CD is at least better than Sonic 1. Sonic 1 has really generic "lots of traps" style platformer design, and Sonic CD has a replacement stage for every sonic cd level except for Marble Zone. The HD version of Sonic CD is so amazing though.
I feel like "momentum is key" is an over-generalization. Sonic is designed around the idea of speed running. WWZ is pretty bad for that in a general sense, and you kind of have to fight your instincts to get a good route through the stage (not impossible, really)
I feel like "momentum is key" is an over-generalization. Sonic is designed around the idea of speed running. WWZ is pretty bad for that in a general sense, and you kind of have to fight your instincts to get a good route through the stage (not impossible, really)
Foxtastical
Member
I love how different CD looks and feels from everything else. I love how vertical the levels are. The world of CD will always be my favorite version of Sonic; and the introduction and ending FMVs really help establish that world and the game itself carries it throughout.
I don't really care for Sonic as much as I did when I was kid, but CD holds a place in my heart still.
I don't really care for Sonic as much as I did when I was kid, but CD holds a place in my heart still.
There are Sonic ROM Hacks with better level design than Sonic CD.
CD is pretty good. Not as great as 2 and 3 & Knuckles but it's better than 1. Great soundtrack and ideas but terrible special stages with no real incentive to beat them (there's no Super Sonic in this). The levels can mostly be beaten by holding right to win on top of that.
Still, it has some great moments like the race with Metal Sonic. Plus a soundtrack that rivals Sonic 3.
8 out of 10 with Sonic 2 getting a 9.5 and 3 & Knuckles getting a 10. Sonic 1 would get a 7.
Still, it has some great moments like the race with Metal Sonic. Plus a soundtrack that rivals Sonic 3.
8 out of 10 with Sonic 2 getting a 9.5 and 3 & Knuckles getting a 10. Sonic 1 would get a 7.
Crimsonclaw111
Member
I bought Sonic Gems Collection for this. I was a dumb kid.
Well at leaat it was cheap.
Well at leaat it was cheap.
At least you had other quality games to play like Sonic R and Sonic: The Fighters
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
However much Sonic: The Fighters sucked, I actually managed to wring some entertainment out of it. Sonic R, on the other hand, is just garbage.
OverBlood 3
Banned
I've never liked any of the Sonic games, the first one was okay but the speed aspect felt at odds with the platforming. Also I felt as if I'm missing a lot of the level design because I'm expected to be moving at speed at all times. The music has always been good though.
The Lamonster
Member
Big old-school Sonic fan here, but Sonic CD does nothing for me.
Everything is just...off (especially the music, both versions)
Everything is just...off (especially the music, both versions)
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Sonic games are best if you go slower and take time to appreciate the level design, IMO. They problem is the game doesn't give you a lot of incentive to do so besides the mere sake of doing it, outside of just collecting rings for the special stages. But if you make it a point to enjoy the games more and not zoom forward constantly, they're far more enjoyable.
TFRazorsaw
Banned
look, let's all just take comfort in the fact that it isn't Knuckles' Chaotix.
Yaphett Kotto
Member
The levels were design the way they were because of time travel. If they just made stages more linear and closer to traditional 2D Sonic stages, the time travel gimmick wouldn't be so pointless as it is easy to gain momentum in any non-CD stage. Because of this, they encouraged exploration by making you find half pipes or double springs to time travel on. Music and bad/good futures also encourage you to save zones from Eggman's robots taking over too.
I mean, they still leave you the freedom to complete the game however you feel is the best, but CD won't be totally enjoyable if you play it the same way you play Sonic 1-3. It's obviously not for everyone, but I still rate it as one of Sonic's better games in his history.
I mean, they still leave you the freedom to complete the game however you feel is the best, but CD won't be totally enjoyable if you play it the same way you play Sonic 1-3. It's obviously not for everyone, but I still rate it as one of Sonic's better games in his history.
AuthenticM
Member
Neff
Member
The game is pretty crap honestly, but it gets a pass for the visuals and JP/EU soundtrack alone.
Oh god yes. The Mega CD prestige was real.
Oh god yes. The Mega CD prestige was real.
It's a damn shame that the artwork is so good, the soundtrack (both of them) feel so unique and original, creating a really dark/weird atmosphere for the game...but most of the level designs are average at best. Even still, I love the bosses and special stages enough for it to still be my 2nd favorite of the classic Sonics, after Sonic 3 & Knuckles, which will most likely never be dethroned.
ienjoyrawfish
Member
Sonic CD has become one of the most underrated overrated games ever.
Arc Christelle
Member
For me to poop on!
That laundry list kinda reminds me of Shadow the Hedgehog.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
Probably mentioned in your old thread, but going into the past and finding the animal cells will get you the good ending. You know your on the right track when stage 3 boss takes place in the good future.
Timetravel is as simple as finding a ramp with a loop which is usually located a couple feet from it. Roll into a ball and let it do the work.