So I beat Sonic CD

[Gunstar Green]

Well, I'll take the dissenting opinion here. Sonic 1 through Knuckles are some of my favorite 16-bit platform games.

Except I really don't like Sonic CD at all.

The level design is pretty preposterous, and due to the time travel mechanic it seems intent to slow you down instead of allow you to build speed like the other 16-bit titles. Beyond simply the mechanical design, the levels themselves are colorful, but not very interesting to look out. With the exception of maybe Wacky Workbench (which I still don't like as a level) none of them are terribly unique or memorable.

Sure this adds more exploration to the levels but when there's nothing to really explore except more boring, and at times garishly colored and badly tiled levels what's the point? I feel like Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles managed to add some decent stage exploration elements without needing to slow the games down or sacrifice level design in the process.

The time travel element is interesting and it's neat to see the levels change (however minor and inconsequential the change is) but it comes off as an unnecessary gimmick to me that makes the game less enjoyable in the end.

The boss battles are a mixed bag, some of them are interesting but none of them really stand out except Metal Sonic. The race-boss concept was an interesting idea that we didn't see again until post-Genesis games and it was arguably never done as well. The final boss is the worst offender of boss design. Not only is it pretty much impossible not to take a hit the first time you attack but it's a really, really lame looking and acting boss. It lacks the epic confrontations that Sonic 2 and 3 & Knuckles have.

I could harp on the goofy "Mode 7"-ish special stages as well but I'm not a fan of any of the Sonic special zones honestly. I also don't really care for either soundtrack but music is a subjective thing.

Sonic CD is a decent platformer, but that's as far as I can go with it. I think as a Sonic game it does a poor job of implementing exploration elements with the fun of blitzing through the levels. In fact it's a requirement that you don't simply blitz through the levels if you want to get any enjoyment at all out of Sonic CD because otherwise they're incredibly short and easy. While it's still fun to at times play through the other games without any concern about the Chaos Emeralds, it's pointless to play Sonic CD without getting the Time Stones or making good futures.

Which reminds me, if you do plan on making good futures some of the machines are placed in asinine areas that are difficult to find unless you already know exactly where they are and hunting for them isn't very fun to begin with because there's nothing else worth exploring the levels for.

It feels to me like Yuji Naka had a bunch of ideas for what direction the series should go in and set out to fix something that wasn't broken. While I think I can see the appeal of this game that cause some people to love it, it just never worked for me. I've tried too. I've played multiple versions from the original on up. I've gone in wanting the game to change my mind about it each time but it just doesn't work for me.

Game Sack also covered Sonic CD in its polarizing games episode here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX0cRztKrRs

[Xeogred]

I think everybody already covered most of the big things here. Sonic CD's development started before Sonic 2 and it shows, the Sonic 1 team did CD while others broke off to do 2. Sonic CD is definitely more in line with the original game than the rest that followed (levels seem to be more vertical in design). The lack of other characters outside of introducing Amy is also a huge plus to me. I always liked when Sonic was alone.

The level design is complex and there's a lot to do if you want and take your time. Collecting all the emeralds, finding all the Metal Sonic projectors and the robot maker things in the past, to make a good future.

Beyond simply the mechanical design, the levels themselves are colorful, but not very interesting to look out. With the exception of maybe Wacky Workbench (which I still don't like as a level) none of them are terribly unique or memorable.

I definitely cannot concur on this at all. I think the game is absolutely gorgeous and stands out very uniquely, with all the layers in the background. It's incredible to see how much moves around when you're high up in a level or low near the bottom. Just like the other Sonic's, but CD's look perfected it and again, the art direction to me feels more in line with the original than the rest that followed.

I played it at the end of last year and thought it was pretty good. One of the best Sonic games.

I'm a weirdo though and have the Win 95 version. Still need to get it on Sega CD.

That version used to delete anything and everything within the folder I'd install it in, haha. Not sure if I have it around anymore.

If this thread were about 3D Blast I'd give it more lax (though I'm a big fan of that one too), but yeah. Nobody messes with CD! I had a JVC back in the day, played this game to death and loved listening to the soundtrack all the time. Amazing memories. It was great playing through with the Japanese OST as well more recently.

Truly, I think Sonic 1, 2, 3, &K, and CD are all very very different games, and all very awesome in their own ways.

[Gunstar Green]

I definitely cannot concur on this at all. I think the game is absolutely gorgeous and stands out very uniquely, with all the layers in the background. It's incredible to see how much moves around when you're high up in a level or low near the bottom. Just like the other Sonic's, but CD's look perfected it and again, the art direction to me feels more in line with the original than the rest that followed.

I feel like the art direction is courtesy of of Lisa Frank and whoever designed Trapper Keepers in the 90's. But to each his own.

There's nothing wrong with the parallax though. It was used well.

[Xeogred]

What's wrong with that? I like when things teleport me to another time.

[Anayo]

I feel like the art direction is courtesy of of Lisa Frank and whoever designed Trapper Keepers in the 90's. But to each his own.

Oh God Lisa Frank was exactly what I was thinking. If you play Sonic CD, I hope you like neon!

[ExedExes]

I'm a weirdo though and have the Win 95 version. Still need to get it on Sega CD.

It ran amazingly well on my native Win 95 machine when I had it there.

The tablet port is no lightweight either. It's not an emulation, it's a literal rebuilding of the game from the ground up. Christian Whitehead is some sort of genius to build a special way to make it look perfect. You can even use the Genesis style spin dash if you prefer that.

I'm sure the original is still probably the best. I love those Special Stages, no confusion, no memorization, real easy to finish.

[CFFJR]

The very first time I played it many years ago, I wasn't impressed, but playing it again after that I grew to love it and I think its spectacular.

I'll also say for the record that if any of the original five games qualifies as "cookie cutter", its probably Sonic 2.

Not saying that its bad, its amazing, but I find it to be the most plain of the original games, and its always my last choice if I sit down to play one of the classics.

Also, you "emerald" people are killing me! In Sonic CD you collect Time Stones, not Chaos Emeralds. Yes, I know they're just shiny rocks, but get it right damn it!

[BurningDoom]

We reached 2 pages on Sonic CD without a single "Sonic Boom" music comment.

[CFFJR]

We reached 2 pages on Sonic CD without a single "Sonic Boom" music comment.

Sonic Boom is awesome.

[Gamerforlife]

Eh, it's not all that. I'd rate Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles as all being better than Sonic CD

The series peaked with Sonic & Knuckles. Sonic CD just felt like an aimless, meandering mess of a game to me with a lack of focused level design. The bonus stages were crap too

The other Sonic games knew what they were doing and where they were going with each stage. You never felt like you were aimlessly wondering around. The stages and boss battles were more exciting too.

For me, Sonic CD - while a decent enough game on its own merits - is the black sheep of the 2D Sonic series.