As far back as I can remember, I’ve been in love with the blue hedgehog who collects rings and eats chili dogs. In fact, I’ve loved that guy since before he even knew what chili dogs were. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting in front of the TV with my older brothers and dashing through the Green Hill, Chemical Plant, and Lava Reef zones.
But there’s one classic Sonic title I never played all the way through. The main reason for this is that it was on a console I (along with most people) never owned. Sonic CD has eluded me for thirty-one years, and thanks to Sonic Origins, I finally took the time to sit down and finish that sucker. I can confidently say I’ll never be doing that again.
It’s not like I never touched the game until now. As a kid, I was just as guilty as the next guy of using friends for their video games. I dabbled in Sonic CD, but never took the plunge. The peculiar thing about that dabbling is that I have no fond memories of this particular game, which should have been 34-year old Brett’s first hint. It just isn’t that good. Now, I know that last statement could set off a fierce debate in certain circles. Plenty of game series have a bastard child that have come to be cult classics—take Fallout: New Vegas, for example. But I do have my reasoning.
First off, Sonic CD has a weird feeling of just being “off.” It doesn’t have the same energy as its Genesis cousins. Sure, the character himself controls very similarly—if not identically—to his main trilogy version, but everything around him feels like it’s in a different dimension. Thinking back on it, a lot of this issue boils down to sound. When I took control of Sonic in the opening zone, I got a running start and took my first jump. The classic, high-pitched “boing” noise didn’t greet my ears. Instead, it was a lower-pitched, muted version. This was a little confusing, but it wasn’t the only reason for me disliking this outing.
The music itself, which has come to be an iconic part of those initial games, just doesn’t hit the same way. Writing this, I can’t recall a single tune save for a few notes at a time. The only thing I did notice was that the music often gave off an eighties vibe. I know a theme of the game is time travel, but I doubt this was intentional. Even the boss music was weird. Gone were the hard hitting notes that accompanied Robotnik whenever he showed up. Instead, there was an eerie melody accompanied by a demonic-sounding cackle that was supposed to be the boss’s laugh. If you think there was a big difference between the Sonic 2 and 3 soundtracks, this one is even more jarring.
The level designs themselves are nothing to write home about. It almost seems like the creators were trying to make them frustrating instead of challenging. They were littered with almost unavoidable hazards; several bursts of speed were cut short by spike traps that were impossible to see when even the camera was struggling to keep up with Sonic. The troubles aren’t all in the foreground, though. Sonic games are known for their bright, vibrant colors and gorgeous backdrops. They’re busy for sure, but never so busy that the important items and characters get lost in them… with the exception of Sonic CD. I often got frustrated after running into an enemy that might as well have been a chameleon. Even after my rings had scattered, I found myself perplexed by what had happened. This would be forgivable if the theme of any zones was memorable. They all just… blended together. The only one I can even name from memory is Stardust Speedway, and that might be because I’m familiar with it from Sonic Mania.
When it boils down to it, Sonic CD feels more like a Sonic game that came out in a different dimension. It’s Sonic, but it just doesn’t always feel like it, and the inspiration that shines in the Genesis outings just isn’t there. That said, it still has fun moments. Spin dashing through loops and soaring through the air is just as fun as ever, and the satisfying pop that accompanies an enemy’s defeat maintains that Sonic feel. The gameplay loop is intact, and the quest to collect the next ring kept me going until the end. I just don’t see myself ever playing it again when the Genesis versions and Mania exist.
Last Bastion Gaming 