Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Sonic CD for short) is a platform video game created by Sega. It is part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was released for the Sega CD game console in 1993. In chronological order it is after the first game and "before the sequel." The game involves the use of a time travel system that allows Sonic to travel to both the past and the future in a level. Each zone has four variants: the "past," the "present," the "good future," and the "bad future." Each has different graphics, music, enemies, and obstacles. The game introduces two characters to the Sonic the Hedgehog series: Amy Rose, a pink female hedgehog who is in love with Sonic, and Metal Sonic, an evil robotic version of Sonic.

Quick Facts Developer(s), Publisher(s) ...
Sonic CD
Thumb
North American logo
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Naoto Ohshima
Producer(s)
  • Minoru Kanari
  • Makoto Oshitani
Programmer(s)Matsuhide Mizoguchi
Artist(s)Hiroyuki Kawaguchi
Composer(s)
  • Original:
  • Naofumi Hataya
  • Masafumi Ogata
  • North American version:
  • Spencer Nilsen
  • David Young
  • Mark Crew
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)Sega CD, Windows, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Android, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS, Windows Phone, Ouya, Apple TV, Fire TV
Release
September 23, 1993
  • Sega CD
    • JP: September 23, 1993
    • EU: October 1993
    • NA: November 1993
    Microsoft Windows
    • JP: August 9, 1996
    • NA: September 26, 1996
    • EU: October 3, 1996
    Android, PS3, Xbox 360
    • WW: December 14, 2011
    iOS
    • WW: December 15, 2011
    Windows Phone
    • WW: November 14, 2012
    Apple TV
    • WW: March 31, 2016
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player
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Gameplay

Sonic CD is similar to the original game; the player goes through lots of levels called "zones" to battle Dr. Robotnik every 3 acts. This game adds time travel; Sonic can hit a time post and keep running fast to go to the past or future. To make a good future, the player must explore each zone's past version to find a generator and destroy it.

Development

Release and translation

Sonic CD was released in Japan on September 23, 1993.[1] It was released in Europe in October 1993.[2] The game was released in North America in November 1993.[3]

Remake

In 2011, for the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, indie game developer Christian Whitehead made a new version of the game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, iOS and Android.[4] The port was a success, and Whitehead was later asked by Sega to remake Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 for mobile devices. Whitehead would go on to help make Sonic Mania. Those ports of 1, 2 and CD would be used in Sonic Origins.[source?]

Reception

More information Reception (Sega CD), Review scores ...
Reception (Sega CD)
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG85/100[2]
EGM9, 9, 8, 8[5][lower-alpha 1]
GamePro5/5[6]
Electronic Games92%[7]
Sega Magazine87/100[8]
Sega Pro90%[9]
Sega Force Mega85%[10]
Entertainment WeeklyA-[11]
Award
PublicationAward
Electronic Gaming MonthlyBest Sega CD Game of 1993[12]
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Sonic CD received a lot of praise.[7][9][12] The Sega CD version sold more than 1.5 million copies. It sold more copies than any other game on the Sega CD.[13][14]

The graphics and sound were praised. Electronic Games said that the game looked similar to older games. They said it did not use the Sega CD's special features very much. However, they said that this did not make the game worse. They said the music was what made Sonic CD "stand above the crowd".[7] The reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) said the game's animated cinematics and sound were good. however, they said that the frame rate decreases during special stages.[5]

The gameplay was liked. Sega Pro said the bigger environments and the time travel added to the replay value. They said that "the more you play Sonic CD the better it gets". However, they said they felt the game was too easy.[9] In its debut issue, Sega Magazine said Sonic CD could be "a classic". They said the originality in the special stages and time travel was great.[8]

Notes

  1. EGM provided four scores from individual reviewers.

References

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