"The best Sonic Game EVER, hands down."

So I've decided to write a review for GameFAQs. Righto. So, Sonic CD. Now, folks, I'm a massive Sonic the Hedgehog fan. I've grown up around this Hedgehog, and I've played every single one of his games - from the obscure (Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine) to the popular (Sonic Adventure 2), I know things that Sonic fans weren't even MENT to know. If you ask me, Sonic CD is the best Sonic experience any one could ever have; everything is so great about it that it simply overshadows every other Sonic game. Let's get started.

Graphics - 10/10

While some complain about color schemes and the like, I love Sonic CD's graphics. They feature the same great ''style'' that Sonic had through Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, while at the same time providing a slightly larger array of animations and range of movement. However, it should be noted that Sonic DOES use a largely unmodified Sonic 1 sprite -- colors and all. I honestly don't care, but some folks out there who like to nitpick do. Visuals are sharp, precice, and colorful, no matter what time period you're in.

Sound - 9/10

Wether it's the Original score or the USA score, Sonic CD's music is top-notch. A beautiful blend of electronica, techno, and whatever else is called for -- an audio experience not soon to be missed. Sound effects are alright - featuring higher quality (or slightly edited) versions of most of Sonic 1's sound effects in some shape or manor, they do give the game it's own distinct feel over previous Sonic titles. There are a couple that grate on your nerves, but the large majority fit in well with the atmosphere.

Gameplay - 10/10 (The meat!)

Thumbing through some of the other reviews on this site I've seen some strange descriptions of Sonic CD's stages; some folks claim that they're no more complex than a simple Mario Brothers stage -- I say they have never truely explored Sonic CD's stages. Palmtree Panic is vast, featuring piles of multiple paths at each new turn, as is Collision Chaos. Tidal Tempest features large, winding tunnels -- the game is very expansive, so big that only one game comes close to out-doing in terms of level-size -- Sonic 3 & Knuckles. But Sonic CD goes one step further with an innovative feature -- Time Travel. You start out in the Present -- through the use of special posts, once you accelerate up to a certain speed (a nice little Back to the Future throwback I'd assume) Sonic whips off to another time period -- either the Past, or the Future. And best of all, your actions in the Past effect the Future -- hidden in the past are two key items -- the Badnik Generator, and a Metal Sonic Hologram. Find and destroy these two items and the Present and Future will be Badnik-free -- and the Future will even alter drastically, to a ''Good Future'' -- usually a heavenly utopia full of a mass of rings. No other game has ever had something as innovative, and it's one of the main reasons I love Sonic CD so dearly.

Special Stages are equally a treat, however, they are somewhat easy -- you are presented with a Mode 7 Playfield, much like what the SNES does. Your objective is to run around this psuedo-3D arena and smash up UFO's -- there's a certain number in each arena. (Smashing one also nets you a powerup, wether it be more time, a dash, or rings) There's also some water in these arenas -- and touching the water sucks your timer down five times as fast. Smash them all and you get a Time Stone. (Collect all 7 Time Stones and you automatically make ''Good Future'' in each of the game's stages, reguardless of destroying the Badnik Generator or the Metal Sonic Hologram) They might appear hard at first, and control takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it and are able to develop patterns, you breeze through each special stage with no problem.

Another nice little innovative tidbit, and something that adds a nice challenge to the game (beware, this IS a spoiler, but the game is nearly 10 years old (as of Dec 8th 2002, it'll be 10 in January) so I doubt Spoilers are of an issue) -- the race. In the next to the last Zone, Stardust Speedway, on the final act, you are forced to showdown with your Metallic counterpart, the one who stole Amy Rose -- Metal Sonic. You must race him -- however, the stakes are made higher as Eggman is constantly on your tail if you're too slow, with a laser beam that spells INSTANT DEATH to those who touch it. It serves as one of the most difficult parts of the game, but at the same time -- one of the most exciting.

Replay - 8/10

Replay isn't that bad -- if you're getting ''Very Good Future''s the hard way, hunting out all the Metal Sonic Holograms and all the Badnik Generators can be quite a task that I gurantee you won't do on your first time through the game (barring having played it before and memorizing all the level layouts) -- as such, replay remains somewhat high. Beating all the special stages also provides addition replay -- and unlockable goodies (one of the first games with unlockable extras like this, might I add) for good times in Time Trials adds further to that. (You can even do Special Stage Time Trials! Rock!)

Overall

Overall I reccomend Sonic CD to anyone -- wether a hardcore Sonic fan like myself or even someone who just thought the Sonic Games were pretty good back in the day -- you'll end up getting a top notch game featuring some of the very best Sonic has to offer -- a game, that in my opinion, even does circles around the new 3D titles. Highly reccomended.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/08/02, Updated 12/08/02