RE: Thoughts on Sonic CD?
hooligan > 06-06-2024, 10:34 AM
I remember when I first played Sonic CD on Gems Collection and playing it as you would the other Genesis titles, not really understanding how the game was supposed to be played, I would run into sign posts and accidentally end up in the past and assumed that time travel was the obstacle for the longest time and not the point of the game and that the time stones from the special stage were the end goal of the game, can you tell I didn't really read the manual? it's not like I was totally incorrect, there are two ways to achieve the ending of the game, but I really feel like the "true" experience of the game does come from learning the layouts of the stages and finding the generators and using the stage's quirky layouts to that advantage
despite my confusion first playing it I was really, really drawn to Sonic CD for some reason, it was so different compared to the previous Genesis Sonic games I played on Mega Collection and I really thought the zones turning to the Bad Future after I didn't do what I was supposed to do was really interesting, like seeing a consequence of my actions from "ignoring the point of the game". I think Sonic CD was one of my first "game guide games", kind of like how Castlevania II seems almost impossible unless you have the Nintendo Power Issue explaining the details and secrets of the game. I remember being online and looking up how to actually find all the Generators and Metal Sonic Holograms for each Act and although some zones feel like they don't want you to get the Generators and Holograms w/ how difficult it is (Wacky Workbench specifically), I agree w/ what Ripperley says abt how the zones are so beautiful, and how it's almost like went back to exploring more of the weird and dream-like elements they wanted to include more of in the first game, which makes sense since this game was technically started shortly after Sonic 1, the aesthetic being pushed further to a Miracle Planet that only shows up on Never Lake once in a while (lit. once in a blue moon, haha) feels like such a natural progression in terms of world building
for the longest time ppl always disliked Sonic CD bcuz it was so different, and "anti-Sonic" which is funny when you think abt it, if it was being developed around the same time as Sonic 2, then what defined "Sonic" at the time wasn't fully imagined yet! so these opinions obviously came from a point in time where we had Sonic 2 and S3&K, but I'm glad ppl came around in their opinions and became more understanding, especially w/ the 2011 port done by Taxman, and even moreso w/ mods like Miracle Edition coming out that give Sonic a super form associated w/ the time stones, it's all great!
all in all I'll always have a soft spot for Sonic CD, despite its flaws and odd choices in stage design, and I really hope we get to see Little Planet again some day in a future game... we need more time travel in Sonic games, but maybe not to the extent of '06, haha
