Sonic CD

"Man, how many Sonic games are there?"

I remember, in my youth, I used to be obsessed with side scrollers. One in particular I loved was the Sonic the Hedgehog series. I remember rushing out and buying the latest Sonic game when it hit the market back in the old Genesis days. I remember have the whole collection for Genesis, Game Gear and Sega CD (of course, for Sega CD there was only one). But, I'm a firm believer in the notion that 2D games should be left 2D. I hate them trying to make a platform from a side scroller, something gets lost.

Graphics - 10
It's not very hard to screw up a side scrollers graphics. It's not like the other Sonic games, its got a little more depth to it. There are more beautiful backgrounds and more backdrops in this version. On thing I absolutely love is the intro FMV, it is so cool. I think you can only get to it by entering the stage select cheat, I could be wrong though.

Sound - 7
I didn't really like what they did here. All the sound is good quality and all, but this game is not the catchy little tune that all other Sonic games features. This games background music was more punk then anything. It had the standard sound effects for any Sonic game. The sound of the rings, the spinning, the bopping your enemies on the head. If it weren't for that punk stuff, this'd be perfect.

Control - 10
Control is like any other Sonic game. Directional pad moves Sonic and the buttons make em spin/jump. In this game, Sonic's got a new trick though. In addition to the speed dash, he can do a move where his feet make kind of a figure 8 then you let go and let him fly. I don't know the benefit of this over the spin dash, looks cooler I guess.

Replay - 8
This is a fun game, but there are other Sonic games for the Genesis I'd rather be playing. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for the punk music. But, oh well. It's over and done with.

Overall - 8
Sega CD games are kind of a rarity to find nowadays, and the truly great ones are impossible. So, if you can find this game and you have a Sega CD. I would pick this up. Being it's Sega CD; it shouldn't cost you that much.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/03/01, Updated 08/03/01