E3: Sonic Gems: We finally get Sonic CD

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sat May 21, 2005 4:59 am

I browsed two pages in OT here and nothing so far on this. "Sonic Gems" for Gamecube was announced at E3. Finally a compilation with Sonic CD, R and the fighters (all 3 of which I haven't played).

http://www.gaming-age.com/event/2005/e3/18-29

GA also says the comp is GC only (for now anyways I imagine).

Dewclaw · Post by **Dewclaw** » Sat May 21, 2005 6:57 am

It's about damn time...I've been tryin to get my hands on Fighters forever.

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:23 am

I've been waiting for someone to bring this up!

I've played CD and R, but never the Fighters/Championship. I have the PC version of CD though, and if this version includes the Japanese soundtrack (or selectable between JP/EU and US), I'll be even more interested (as the PC version doesn't run too well on my PC)!

Maybe that SegaSonic the Hedgehog arcade game will be a hidden bonus...

roushimsx · Post by **roushimsx** » Sat May 21, 2005 2:16 pm

I've never really understood the obsession that people have for Sonic CD (a lot of people claim it to be the best Sonic game ever). It's not a bad game, but it's also not that GREAT. I think the sole reason it's so fondly remembered is because of its 1/4 screen grainy/choppy anime intro and endings. *shrug*

Sonic Fighters isn't very good AT ALL. It's worth playing once or twice for a laugh, but other than that it's just meh.

Sonic R isn't a very good racing game, but the cheesy soundtrack is much better than Sonic CD's intro and ending

I've still got my hopes up that the Saturn version of Sonic 3d Blast will make it to one of these Sonic Collections at some point. If there is a god, they'll add a save feature, too. That game was actually enjoyable and it had my favorite soundtrack of any Sonic game, but holy shit was it hard (i've never gotten all of the chaos emeralds

).

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Sat May 21, 2005 3:19 pm

^

Agreed, the Saturn version of Sonic 3D is much better, and the music is awesome.

Sonic R: Not a really good sonic game BUT, I say it's a really fun racing game with a nice soundtrack.

Sonic Fighters: Never played it I've always wanted to, I'll be looking forward to this one the most.

Sonic CD: Great Jap Soundtrack, easily owns the US version. But the game itself is VERY OVER-RATED. It is good yes, but it's really NOT THAT GREAT, as in "BEST SONIC GAME EVER!!!"

The fact that it was a "hidden gem" on the Mega CD, and hasn't received another console port in years, has raised the values and expectaions of this game far more than this game actually deserves credit for.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Sat May 21, 2005 4:19 pm

Official Sonic Game page:

http://sonic.sega.jp

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Sat May 21, 2005 4:22 pm

Dylan1CC wrote: GA also says the comp is GC only (for now anyways I imagine).

According to Sega's Official Page, it's being released on both GC and PS2 (at least, in Japan).

Cthulhu · Post by **Cthulhu** » Sat May 21, 2005 4:34 pm

I like Sonic CD quite a bit, but yeah, fighters wasn't too hot. Neither was racing. This second set of games seems to be a little... questionable. Maybe I'll pick it up if it's cheap. I got to play the real arcade game -once- before the fscking arcade got rid of the machine... years ago. I barely remember it. I seem to recall liking it, but this was when I was young and innocent.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat May 21, 2005 4:45 pm

But now the annoyance will probably be that Knuckles Chaotix isn't featured (which is quite a boring game IMO, despite looking very pretty). Instead, we get a bunch of GG games (aren't these the same ones on Sonic Mega Collection 2 or are these different ones?).

Anyway, I love Sonic R. The racing is OK but I've never heard a better racing soundtrack (although the Metropolis Street Racer music, also composed by Ricahrd Jacques, is nearly as good, as is R4 and Wipeout 3).

I've actually played Sonic the Fighters before and it really only felt like a more friendly Virtua Fighter. Not that exciting but it'll probably be worth the entertainment value playing with friends.

I also think Sonic CD is worthy of the praise. It's very fun if a bit long (and very cumbersome if you're going after the good ending) and feels more like Sonic 1 than the later games. To be honest, I didn't like the special stages as much as the Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles ones. The overall game just felt more interesting; I'd agree it certainly doesn't blow Sonic 2 out of the water though.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 21, 2005 5:58 pm

Too little too late.... IMO

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:29 pm

Wow, not many examples out there of compilation that will be produced and will sell based on just a single game.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:55 pm

icepick wrote:I have the PC version of CD though

Do you mean the ROM, or was there an official PC version released?

That doesn't sound right.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:56 pm

icycalm wrote:
icepick wrote:I have the PC version of CD though
Do you mean the ROM, or was there an official PC version released?

That doesn't sound right.

I'm sure he means the ROM. Sonic CD was only on the SegaCD console.

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 21, 2005 7:57 pm

icycalm wrote:
icepick wrote:I have the PC version of CD though
Do you mean the ROM, or was there an official PC version released?

That doesn't sound right.

There was indeed an official PC version released.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:03 pm

jp wrote:
icycalm wrote:
icepick wrote:I have the PC version of CD though
Do you mean the ROM, or was there an official PC version released?

That doesn't sound right.

There was indeed an official PC version released.

Any Links jp

Seems ait strange to have a Sonic game released on anouther platform(not counting the budget releases on PC like Sonic R)

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:12 pm

SheSaidDutch wrote:
jp wrote:
icycalm wrote: Do you mean the ROM, or was there an official PC version released?

That doesn't sound right.

There was indeed an official PC version released.
Any Links jp

Seems ait strange to have a Sonic game released on anouther platform(not counting the budget releases on PC like Sonic R)

There was an official PC release. It's actually mentioned in the Sonic 10th Anniversary booklet included with the Sonic Adventure 2 Birthday Pack. It was released in 1996.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:21 pm

PC versions of Sonic CD, Sonic R, and Sonic 2-K (or was it 1-K?) can be abundantly found in the US. Might've never hit Euro shelves though.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:43 pm

It's new news to me

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:47 pm

Sonic CD is definitely in the running for best Sonic game if you ask me (and I know nobody did). Really, I don't think the series is all that fantastic... Sonic 1 was fun up to the Labyrinth Zone, Sonic 3 was too short and just didn't feel quite as interesting to me, and S+K felt like a fan-hack of Sonic 3, complete with the worst levels in the series up until the Adventure games (which were plenty flawed themselves). The only games that I think are really fantastic are CD and 2, and possibly 1.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:01 pm

sethsez wrote:Sonic CD is definitely in the running for best Sonic game if you ask me (and I know nobody did). Really, I don't think the series is all that fantastic... Sonic 1 was fun up to the Labyrinth Zone, Sonic 3 was too short and just didn't feel quite as interesting to me, and S+K felt like a fan-hack of Sonic 3, complete with the worst levels in the series up until the Adventure games (which were plenty themselves). The only games that I think are really fantastic are CD and 2, and possibly 1.

Well, I haven't played CD, but 2 is the best so far. Also, I don't plan to buy Adv*enture=ance* 2 & 3, but the first Adv*enture=ance* was great, the closest thing to 2 I played. I especially enjoyed the hidden Sonic & Tails mode.

[edit:]What the heck, SONIC ADVANCE. ADVANCE games are cool. "Adventure" must be that flawed 3D games...

... Wonder if they'll put both Sonic CDs, the USA one and the Japanese original one. It would be nice to have both soundtracks available.

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:08 pm

Sonic CD is a great game but some of the later levels are very badly designed. My faves are Sonic 3 and Knuckles.

It's a pain that Chaotix isn't on it, I thought it was pretty cool and the music was awesome. But I suppose if they put all the games on one compilation then Sega wouldn't have an excuse to release more Sonic compilations in the future.

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:53 am

SheSaidDutch wrote:I'm sure he means the ROM. Sonic CD was only on the SegaCD console.

There's a ROM?

The game was published by Expert Software, and I bought it at Office Depot (I think) several years ago for $10. So, it was definitely a budget release like R (if that was). A bunch of Sonic PC ports listings can be found on eBay... As mentioned by Ganelon, there are PC versions of lots of Sonic (and Sega) games, including the Saturn version of 3D Blast/Flickies' Island and probably pretty decent ports of Adventure DX and Heroes.

theevilfunkster wrote:Sonic CD is a great game but some of the later levels are very badly designed.

That might've been why I couldn't get myself to keep going with it. I remember reaching some water ruin-ish level that was more exasperating than fun... Although I think that on another occasion, I did get to the race with Mecha (Metal?) Sonic, which was somewhat interesting...

theevilfunkster wrote:My faves are Sonic 3 and Knuckles.

Same here! Or rather, I have quite fond memories of Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The two together, for anyone whom is not aware, is how the games were supposed to be played -- Sonic & Knuckles seems so similar to Sonic 3 (though slightly tuned) because it's pretty much part two of Sonic 3 (as far as I'm concerned). If you go into the sound test of Sonic 3, you can see that Sandopolis and Flying Battery (I think?) are in the level select, which is laid out differently than either Sonic 3 or Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and I believe that most of the music from both games is also contained within Sonic 3.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles definitely stands better against Sonic 2 than either halve alone, and is my personal favorite. Hyper emeralds kinda went a little far, but I was more than up for more sphere stages.

Everyone seems to like two or one, though... Two because it's well put together, and one because there's no "cheap" spin dash.

theevilfunkster wrote:It's a pain that Chaotix isn't on it, I thought it was pretty cool and the music was awesome.

I thought so, too! It's sort of an unusual game. Strange gameplay mechanic, and levels that seem as though they were thrown together in an absent-minded fashion, but can be pretty fun if you get into the idea that they're not necessarily designed the way that most 2D Sonic game levels are. Really really nice music, though one particular high hat sample can annoy me a bit.

I've had the idea in the back of my mind for quite some time that I should get a Sega CD simply for Sonic CD, and play it the way that it was... er... supposed to be played. I simply need to sit down and spend some quality time with it. Being able to play with the Japanese music would be really really cool, though--I heard a sample of the Palmtree Panic "good future" music, and, recognizing it from an early Sonic Adventure preview movie, I had the feeling that it would drastically affect my mood (and outlook) while playing the game.

It'd be amazing if they included Sonic Pocket Adventure as a bonus (or otherwise) in one of these collections. Slightly-remixed Sonic 2 levels, with slightly-remixed Sonic 3 music, graphics from 1, 2 and 3&K, and a very agreeable playability level. I'd love to play it on a television screen! At least, I think that I would...

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:10 am

icepick wrote:Although I think that on another occasion, I did get to the race with Mecha (Metal?) Sonic, which was somewhat interesting...

This is actually my favorite moment in any Sonic game.

theevilfunkster wrote:I have quite fond memories of Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The two together, for anyone whom is not aware, is how the games were supposed to be played -- Sonic & Knuckles seems so similar to Sonic 3 (though slightly tuned) because it's pretty much part two of Sonic 3 (as far as I'm concerned). If you go into the sound test of Sonic 3, you can see that Sandopolis and Flying Battery (I think?) are in the level select, which is laid out differently than either Sonic 3 or Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and I believe that most of the music from both games is also contained within Sonic 3.

Yeah, they were designed as one game. My problem is with that they're still pretty obviously split... Mushroom Hill Zone is not a natural continuation from Launch Base Zone as far as difficulty goes.

My other problem is that, like I said before, I just don't think the level design in S&K is up to the level of the rest of the series. It feels like the cream of the crop was arranged for Sonic 3, and then the remaining levels were stuck in S&K. Yes, they're supposed to be one game, but the quality ain't consistent. So (to me, anyway) when they're played as one game, it feels as though it's extremely front-heavy for quality, but when they're split up Sonic 3 is too short and S&K is bland.

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sun May 22, 2005 12:41 pm

icepick wrote:
SheSaidDutch wrote:I'm sure he means the ROM. Sonic CD was only on the SegaCD console.
There's a ROM?

Shh!!

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sun May 22, 2005 1:46 pm

Sonic CD isn't a bad game but in no way is it the best Sonic game as many people claim it to be.
It's got the coolest looking bonus stages one (One of the few SEGA CD games utilize full hardware scalling & Rotation that matches the SNES! About as good as F-Zero. Pity that it's only used in the bonus stages)

I don't understand why people are so obsessed with JPN Sonic CD soundtrack. Ok it's surely better than that cheap-ass singing in Sonic CD (US) but it's still nothing special really.
By the way Sonic CD (E) & (J) both have the same soundtrack.
There is also Sonic CD (U)(920) which is the US version with the JPN soundtrack, but I find the Sonic 2 music to be the best of the series. Can't get a better Boss theme than Sonic 2! I still hum the Sonic 2 Boss music in my head every once in a while.

Sonic R isn't that good & never played fighters

brokendivide · Post by **brokendivide** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:27 pm

Ganelon wrote:PC versions of Sonic CD, Sonic R, and Sonic 2-K (or was it 1-K?) can be abundantly found in the US. Might've never hit Euro shelves though.

R and 3d are available for a couple of £'s on Xplosive budget range in the UK anyway.
I have CD from when it was originally released for PC, though I don't recall ever seeing a budget re-release since. Great game, though the special stages are one of the weakest in the series.

sethsez wrote:
icepick wrote: Although I think that on another occasion, I did get to the race with Mecha (Metal?) Sonic, which was somewhat interesting...
This is actually my favorite moment in any Sonic game.

Made an excellent change from the standard jump-on-the-boss-til-he-dies . Thought it was one of the best moments in the game.

Played Fighters once when Segaworld was still in london. Fun for a credit, but nothing special. The trackball sonic was there too, but I can't really remember too much other than it being fairly awkward to control accurately.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:30 pm

I suspect that one of the reasons Sonic CD is so revered is the fact that it's hard to get a hold of - relatively speaking.

I am sure there are other reasons.

Oh well. I'll play it soon and find out...

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:39 pm

icycalm wrote:I suspect that one of the reasons Sonic CD is so revered is the fact that it's hard to get a hold of - relatively speaking.

I am sure there are other reasons.

Oh well. I'll play it soon and find out...

It's a great game though not the best Sonic.

Good Points -
The music is awesome
The graphics are great
They used the Sonic 1/2 Sonic character design
Sonics new animations are really cool

Bad points -
level design is poor later on in the game
Spin dashing can be complicated.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:32 pm

There are two things that make me dislike Sonic CD -- the first is the fact that the level design is extremely disjointed, and often just seems like a bunch of objects thrown together. The game lacks that 'Sonic flow'. The second is the slowdown -- my god, they had an extra processor to work with, and still the game slows down more than any Sonic game should ever be allowed to do.

ST Dragon · Post by **ST Dragon** » Sun May 22, 2005 5:41 pm

very true.

shmups.system11.org

E3: Sonic Gems: We finally get Sonic CD

E3: Sonic Gems: We finally get Sonic CD

Re: E3: Sonic Gems: We finally get Sonic CD