Does anyone else remember "Sonic Sunday" ??? 3 Sonic games released at the same time.... One each for Genesis, Game Gear, & Sega CD... I Picked up Sonic CD that day with my two nephews in tow, it was the first time ever I made a purchase with a credit card! Not because I didn't have the money but because I wanted to establish a credit history.... With Sonic 😂🎮👍
IMHO, it was the Sega Master System that needed more Sonic content. Even using the Space Harrier engine for the bonus stages and some kind of RPG aspect would be cool. We only got one Sonic game on the venerable SMS here in the States.
What puzzles me is how and why this game never got a Saturn port, they could have even fixed certain issues with the OG CD game, SEGA is so stupid sometimes, but of course I will always love them.
Even worst why the Saturn wasn't backwards compatible with Sega CD games to begin with. It would had brought a great benefit to Sega CD owners who realize they could still play their library on their new shiny Saturn.
@@VOAN Saturn AND Mega Drive. It had the cart port too. I mean, they made Master System converter for the Mega Drive, it would've made sense to keep the backwards compatibility going when nobody else had even thought of it.
It should have been included in Sonic Jam. It was about a year (maybe 18 months) before the Saturn launched that I managed to get a Mega CD for a very good price.. However I looked everywhere in my local area and never found a copy of Sonic CD. I didn't manage to get the game until a good few years later. I loved the Saturn but wow were there some hard times.
Nothing will top the Christmas morning that I popped this in my Sega CD and was blasted with that opening cinema and insane rendition of Sonic Boom. I don’t think people realize how insane it was for there to be lyrics / singing on a video game. I had my Sega CD hooked up to a legit stereo and man did it blow everyone away when I flipped that on.
Always will be my favorite Sonic game. Back in 1993, the Redbook audio music from Spencer Nielsen and animated opening intro totally immersed us in what Sega CD was all about. Great videos always
My favorite Sonic game too, I loved all of the unique level gimmicks, I thought the bosses were extremely fun (while mostly easy except for some latter ones) it’s just an extremely fun game to play and the surreal art style and masterful soundtrack make it even more fun, I also love the time travel mechanics, I often go out of my way to create good futures in most zones until I can’t be bothered to anymore (cause it’s really hard in the later levels)
I've played both PAL and NTSC versions. For Palmtree Panic, I much prefer the US version. The Japan version, to me, seems childish and cringy. Would've been better for a carnival level. The advantage of the PAL soundtrack is that it blends with the Past music. Either way, just a solid Sonic game.
I've put hundreds of hours in Sonic CD. Especially on Sega CD from 1996-2000. It had its flaws but it has a major part of my heart. I just hope I can get it's cameos into my projects I'm still trying to achieve.
You may be the best person to ask this. I have not put much time into the game myself but have always wondered. Is there actually any reason to go into the Future? Go onto the past to destroy the machine, I get that, but what about the future?
@@PicksterTG From my memory it serves no purpose, other then boss rounds. If someone would make guide maps to compare all act's times, it might show any bonus rings/monitors to collect or possible quicker paths to the goal. Wish the 1994 SonicCD/Sonic 3 tip guide had maps, but nooo!
Sonic CD really takes shit to the limit theres so much to unlock and the levels look cool as fuck I esp. like the subtle differences between the Past and Future some areas are blocked off or altered
@@PicksterTG The only advantage is once you've created a "Good Future". This means that you have both destroyed the Badnik machine and the Metal Sonic hologram in the Past. Once you've done this, you can travel to the Good Future and it will be mostly peril free. There are no badniks, lots of rings, power-ups, and better looking stages.
If I could add my two cents, I remember hearing the Japanese soundtrack first through the Sonic Screensaver on the S3&K Collection, and when I finally played it on the GameCube through the Gems Collection. I was bewildered hearing a different soundtrack. Didn't knew about the JP/US differences back then, but that being said, I do prefer the JP one simply because the songs are more memorable imo. The US soundtrack does have that 90s vibe to it so I'll give it that. Either way, I love me some Sonic CD. Fun fact: You can play as Tails in the remastered port. That's probably the best reason to give it a second playthrough, let alone get it again if you already own it.
Most people like the USA soundtrack more. I’m one of those people, the Japanese soundtrack doesn’t do it for me. Same with Sninobi legions/X. Japanese soundtrack (Also USA soundtrack) didn’t do it for me I definitely preferred the pal version of sninobi x
Yo SLX, thank you for your channel man, you and Game Sack are my go to sources for educational information! Also because of your channel I bought a Saturn and cant stop playing it! Cheers from California!
@@greenkoopa I want one but I only have a genesis 3. I'd have to buy a genesis, a sega cd, and invest in those incredibly expensive games. Sadly dont have the money for that right now.
@@drunkensailor112 When I was maybe 4 or 5 years old my brother had a genesis 2/sega CD combo and it defined my childhood and solidified my love of Sega Hardware... both eventually broke and I have yet to replace the hardware sadly.
Grew up with the original US version, and couldn't quite understand why there was such a marked difference between the Present/Future tracks and the Past version. It wasn't until I was able to play the Chris Whitehead versions that included the Japanese OST that it all made sense. I like the U.S. soundtrack because that's all I knew back then, but I really love the Japanese soundtrack because it all gels so well. Search for Wacky Workbench remix on YT and you'll find an awesome remix using both the US and Japanese soundtracks.
Sonic CD and Sonic 2 are my favorites! I love both CD soundtracks! To say that one is better than the other is pure opinion, but at the same time it's dumb to say the other "sucks". I definitely agree with SLX in that it mainly depends on which you heard first. Honestly, neither are perfect and there are some tracks I prefer on the US version than the others...and vice versa. Once you learn the time travel mechanic of this game, you see it in a very different light. Not as deep as say Chrono Trigger, but still enjoyable.
@@MikeC-ps1tc Well it's not for everyone lol. Just don't expect perfection and you'll enjoy it. I remember loving the Wacky Workbench level so much (especially the past music) that I would literally let Sonic sit there and listen to the music...That is until he surprised the hell outta me and said "I'm outta here" after 3 minutes of standing there! I stood there with my mouth open in shock like "really?" lol
I never knew about the remade soundtrack, but back in the day the Past versions were far and away my favorites. So I guess I'm on Team Japan for soundtrack choice. I can't wait to replay this in the new remake collection. I hope they do a great job with it!
There are a lot of things I love about Sonic CD despite its shortcomings. The soundtracks of both versions are awesome, that acoustic guitar in the end theme of the US version kicked major rear, and then there's Amy Rose. Being the huge fan of her that I am, the fact that this was her debut game is the biggest reason why I love this game and in fact have numerous versions of it including international versions.
Beautiful game. I remember talking this to school (with permission) and it was amazing to share the experience with others!!! Later in life? I became fascinated with the missing R2 level. Unlike Sonic two, there are so many mysteries that wouldn't be solved. But it's ok.
Is a nice game, but the stage design is a little clumsy and sometimes doesnt make too much sense, some plattforms, springs, loops, rings seems to be placed in a random way, definitly not as fun and polished as sonic 2 and sonic 3 & knuckles, also the time travel mechanics are kind of confusing in my opinion and interrupts the flow of the game..
Yep. I thought the level design despite the intention to make them bigger was really flawed. And the time travel mechanic could in general have been done without unless it could really have had impact on the levels, changed in the past opening new areas in the present or the future.
The level design was purposely like that, it's to impede you from going back in time, and trys to force you to go into the future...You're goal is always in the past, and the level design (especially in the past) is made to force you back to the present or future.
I'll never forget the Christmas when my brother and I asked for a console and secretly I was hoping for a SNES, but under the tree it definitely looked like a Megadrive shaped wrapped box. I was still really happy when we opened it and got the Megadrive Aladdin edition, but when my parents then pulled out a surprise present from behind the sofa and it turned out to be a MegaCD we were blown away... literally couldn't believe our luck! Sonic CD was one of the first games we bought together and I played the shit out of it, loving every moment. Thanks for the review - it's brought back happy memories of distant times. We had the PAL version and the music rocked BTW!
This game is a classic and I loved back then and still do. I liked the time travel aspect, but it was a pain in the butt to use when you can't find a good spot to maintain the speed. I heard the US soundtrack first and I liked it. few years later I got the chance to hear the JP soundtrack and I felt like we missed out on a better experience. I didn't think the US soundtrack was bad, I just feel the JP ost was more fitting with the it's energy. Sega was rather pretentious thinking that's what we wanted in a soundtrack. Oh well, we got Sonic CD re-released years later with both soundtracks.
Well, all the Past themes are tailored to the JP soundtrack, yet are the same in the US version, so it's more cohesive over there. I actually remember playing the 2011 version first, not caring for the US soundtrack at all, finding out how to change it, and falling in love with the JP soundtrack.
The Sonic CD US v Japan soundtrack brings back memories of trolling weeaboos about it in the early internet. Those were horrible times. Weeabos roamed around unchallenged in those days and were actually the dominant nerd force.
I think weeaboos are even more dominant nowdays to the point where you even get e girls cashing in on the aesthetic. I do prefer the Jp soundtrack that being said; its influenced ironically enough by 90s western edm and pop soul. Definitely has aged much better than world music and the soundtrack rock of the Us ver.
@@democrazy69 Yeah weeabos are highly integrated into the dork force nowadays and poseurs make up the majority of dorks to the point where they are the ones defining the culture. Nothing avoids becoming mainstream it seems thesedays; with all the social media shit takes that entails too.
I heard the US soundtrack first, and back in the 90s I preferred it over the Japanese one. But years later, looking back on it, I started liking the Japanese soundtrack as well. It has that kitsch 90s Japanese sound that so unique in anime and Japanese games that I found myself loving.
I'm a diehard Sega fan for life. I have been around for everything Sega has done since 1986 and I'm damn proud of it. From their amazing consoles too their insane arcade cabinets that defied everything I thought I knew about games. Every Sonic game, Shinobi, Space Harrier, Afterburner, Outrun, you name it I loved it. Unfortunately, I do not feel this way about Sonic CD. There is something about that game that rubs me the wrong way. It is one of the only Sonic titles I have not finished...I just can't. The 3d levels were one of the coolest things I had ever witnessed (for the time) but even they were not enough to motivate me. There is only one other Sonic title I dislike more and that's Spinball. Sorry, I forgot to add...it was an absolute pleasure watching your take on the game. I may not have cared for Sonic CD but your coverage is second to none.
Chuck in Tails and Knuckles as unlockable characters, both soundtracks and a S3&K type file save system (as well as spruce up some of the sprite work and performance) and it would have done well to help sell the Saturn in Europe and America. Another Sonic 3D version was nice, but Sonic CD was still obscure by comparison to the Genesis games due to it being on the Sega CD add-on. Being on the "main" (and only in this case) console would have boosted sales of both.
Sonic CD is an important title, being the introduction of two fan favourites, those being Amy Rose (my favourite) and Metal Sonic. And the Japanese/European soundtrack is glorious
Oh and a Secret. If you complete Sonic CD with all the Stones, Pods and Projectors smashed on a "fresh system file" (not a new game) it'll unlock D.A. Garden early. GameFAQs deleted this when I uploaded it to the secrets section like 15yrs ago.
Oi Sonic CD was the very first game I bought for my Mega CD back in 1993. Its the best Sonic ever made, I played it like every day. Ahh the 90s I miss it so much.
I bought the Sega CDX, which came with Sonic CD. I loved it, thought it was cool. But when I learned of the Japanese version, I imported it and loved it even more. I get how the Japanese theme song would have done poorly in the US market, I have no issues with the in-game music and find that it matches quite well with the hardware generated music more than the US light jazz style music. A point that doesn't get much talk, in regards to music, was that using CDA as the background music to a game was so revolutionary and cool that it's largely what drew me to SEGA CD versions of games. Such as Echo the Dolphin or Earth Worm Jim.
Interestingly, there's evidence Sonic 2 was going to have a time travel mechanic but it was just one of the many things that never came to be with that game.
If that is true that would had been a lot better than Sonic CD. Despite Sonic CD having a time traveling mechanic, it's really difficult for me to buy the fact that I'm actually traveling to the past or future when there's no hint of that in-game not to mention the world of Sonic CD doesn't really do a great job of changing setting to make me think I'm actually in the past or future. In games like Chrono Trigger when you're in the past the world reflect that such as dinosaurs in the prehistoric time, advance tech in the future time, villages and swords and magic in the middle ages, etc. All the worlds in Sonic CD are all the same with each world having a different textures or layout and that's it, no hints to tell you if you're actually going to the past or future and even if you're going to the past, there's no changes in the present that would give you the hint that what you just went through was the past.
@@VOAN eh I agree. Even tho a Sonic platformer is different from a game like Chrono Trigger it still could have utilize it a little better. For example the future signs are pointless since all you get is a greyed out dark future with nothing to collect or do. So this just means the Past signs are the only ones you should use for time travel to get a good future. Despite this there is a sense of change between level layouts one being the different sets of music, some platforms either becoming visible or available in certain periods. But they never explore different enemy types or altering levels by bringing things from the past into the present. I doubt sonic 2 could have fixed the mechanic since it's got issues on its core principles and level design.
I played the PC port of Sonic CD like a regular Sonic game, and I enjoyed it quite a bit, particularly because it felt like a brand new 2D Sonic game to me! This was in the pre-Sonic Mania days, haha I really need to give it another look and try out the time travel mechanic for the good ending... Thanks for the explanation of the mechanic! I was definitely overthinking it, lol
While I like the japanese soundtrack a little more, the us soundtrack is still very good and has a lot of underrated tracks. I especially enjoy the sonic the hedgehog boom versions of the songs. They’re basically more complete versions of the in-game tracks from the soundtrack cd.
@@scottmichaelhedge5055 Wacky Work Bench and Metallic Madness have poor level designs it was pretty difficult to go to the past, but I still enjoyed it cause the soundtrack got me pumped the whole time.
It is specific gameplay not flaws my friend. People even complains of other Sonic level design because they don't know how to play it. _They just want to go brain dead straight forwar. _Speed run the game without knowing the levels (lol) _Or ignorant scrubs complaining because it doesn't play like Mario This Sonic is not focused on Spin Dash. You have to SEARCH for good spots to keep the momentum (to time travel) OR you lose the ability. 2 way of time travel: _Running in a cleared long enough distance OR _Use Sonic 1 physics tricks (you cn see some of them in Sonic 1 ending.. it's not flaws it's deep game design.) And I miss those physic tricks like: use inertia in half pipes in a specific way (like a skater) to get to unaccessible areas/eights otherway etc etc.. But people just wanna Spin dash and not be frustrated . And when they have this game focused only on Speed they say that's too linear and poor levl design . Sonic is just paying the fact he is not Mario and that SEGA lost the console war I miss this sandbox gameplay in which you have to master Sonic and his Physics with Exploration (not Only speed boost boost boost Spin dash and automatization) 😥 Skill based game based on how you know how to use Sonic Physics and tricks. They are not stupid believe me. They had their own Idea and added gameplay depth and exploration. When I see these people who hate the whole game design I clearly see they don't know how to play the game (Losing the past travel option like noobs for instance..) You'll never see people spitting on Mario or other games mechnanics when they don't know how to them. But it's allowed to spit on Sonic Games especially if you never finished the game... It's very unfair. (Sorry for My English)
@@michaelromeo9567 Very well said sir! Wacky Workbench is exactly as you stated. The whole game is incredible and because some people could not grasp change, the crap on it.
I remember getting Sonic CD with the Sega CD and 32x for Christmas in 1994. Loved it because I was a Sonic fan. Didn't know about the 2 soundtracks until I accidentally discovered it on Napster several years later.
Sega of America: The original soundtrack to this game doesn't fit it very well. Also Sega of America: *makes a new soundtrack that fits the game even less* While the US soundtrack isn't outright terrible, I feel most of the songs do not fit the stages well at all. Maybe it's because I heard the JP soundtrack first despite living in America (thanks to Sonic the Screensaver).
And the irony is I'm from the UK and didn't hear the Japanese soundtrack until the 360 release because I had the PC version and the Sonic Gems Collection which included the US soundtracks instead.
@@Ashura96 Really? That's funny. I would guess because the Windows version was based on the Sega CD US version, they probably just translated the text and left everything else the same. I had the US windows version and I remember sound track, specifically the Sonic Boom theme.
I like both soundtracks but the Japanese one has magic the US one lacks. Japanese one also ties into the Sonic Team lineage of the soundtracks for NiGHTS and PSO.
As far as the soundtracks go, I say they're both good. The best move would have been to give you both and let you pick which one you want. That could have added to the replay value.
I really like Sonic CD and it might be my favorite 2D Sonic! I really like the North American soundtrack and I have the full vinyl for the Japanese soundtrack and it's a great listen but I would like to see the North American soundtrack be released on vinyl! I really wish Sega had done an enhanced port of Sonic CD for the Saturn and also ported Knuckles Chaotix as well but oh well!
I always wanted a sega CD and sonic CD game. But was never able to get one until I was an adult. Now I have both. Having grown up playing to death and so playing sonic 2 - sonic & knuckles. I gotta say, CD caught me by surprise and while I'm hesitant to say that it is as good a 3 and Knuckles. I'm glad I own it. I take my time exploring and savoring the game play.
Loved this game, we did have the JP soundtrack here in PAL region, but I do like some of the US tracks, just like you. The most fun gimmick was to get the thing in the past stages and then travel all the way to the good future and enjoy an easy life. Always a challenge to pull it of as a kid
I'm from the UK and despite owning two UK versions of Sonic CD I hadn't heard of the Japanese soundtrack until the 360 release came out. Funnily enough, I had the UK PC version, which had the US soundtrack on it, and then later a UK Sonic Gems Collection on Gamecube which also had the US soundtrack on it. I prefer the Japanese soundtrack on the whole, but there are a couple of USA tracks I prefer to their counterparts. I don't think Sonic's moveset is conducive to exploring the levels (especially with verticality) and that may be why it's my least favourite Sonic 2D game of that era. A lot of the stages felt like a pinball machine with all the flippers and springs. Sonic 3 & Knuckles seemed to do exploring vertical stages MUCH better. You had three characters with unique movements that explored the stages in their own way, and even the way sonic explored the obstacles/hazards looked and acted like they belonged to the level. Maybe I'm nit picking, but the Soundtrack and the FMV was the main selling point to me, and that probably shouldn't be the case for a sonic game. The time travel stuff is pretty neat, and it's a shame that we probably won't be able to change a level in the same way again. The peel out was nice, but the spin dash (even the Sonic CD one) and later drop dash are SO much better. Still I do enjoy this overall, and it's not a bad game by any means (the fact I've owned it several times is testament to that) but I don't hold it in the same regard as Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Sonic 1 was my first video game, so that will always get the edge too.
What drives me nuts about Sonic CD is the chaotic, seemingly random level design and being booted into Past, Present, Future all the time. Not nearly as slick a package as the Genesis entries were. The soundtrack is more of a mixed bag, too. The US and JP soundtracks were different, and oftentimes the JP songs were better. Of course I really liked the bonus stages and the fight against Metal Sonic. But overall, the experience as a whole was clunky. And this is coming from someone who grew up with a Sega CD, still owns a physical Sega CD collection, and loved the crap out of Sonic 1, 2, and 3.
I bought a SegaCD when it came out. During my ownership, I only owned three games: Sewer Shark, Sonic CD and Earthworm Jim SE. I loved the system, I used it to listen to audio CDs (it was my only CD player at the time). And I rented a lot games from a local rental store. The system only lasted for about 2 years until one day it failed to boot.
Not only that but as soon as I click on one of his videos I immediately upvote. I don't even have to watch it to know it's quality. I for one couldn't stand Sonic CD but I sure do love Sega Lord X's work.
I personally don't. He definitely stretches these single game reviews out beyond what they need to be in order to get in more adverts. You only have to look at how long he makes the music sections of the videos to see that they are longer than they need to be.
@@voteDC His sister isn’t well, so I think he has been busting out the videos to try and raise funds to help her. I disagree with your comment though. I think he’s putting good effort into them, and showing what he thinks people would like to see. Cheers!
I grew up a SNES guy but had and love the Genesis. Thanks for ur "work"/fun. Long live the Sega Lord. Here's some 90s for ya!!! Sonic fears Donkey Kong
You described this really well. I remember going to a friend's house and was very confused. Not as confusing as Knuckles Chaotix though. I finally got it for myself about 2 years ago on the Xbox and I really didn't like dealing with the past and future thing so I just turned it off and haven't thought about it. Thank you Sega Lord X, knowing that I can just Breeze through it and then replay it again later and try to find things if I liked it or just try to do the special stages at the end of each stage... I actually feel excited to play this game again. Also it was just released as a Homebrew on the PS Vita, which I play during my hour-long lunch breaks at work 5 days a week.
I grew up with the PAL version on Mega CD, but *vastly* prefer the US soundtrack (which I heard for the first time in the Windows 95 port years later).
Ah, Sonic CD... One of my favorite games of all time! If only...this year...the Sonic Mania team could release a follow-up. I absolutely love the game, but I would make a few tweaks to the sequel. Of course, it would have the common-style spin-dash, insta-shield, and drop-dash, in addition to the super peel-out all together. And since Sonic is supposed to be the fastest, only he could get the super sneakers, while any other characters (just a few classic ones) would have other power-ups that are more suitable to their play styles. (Perhaps an 8-direction air-dash for Tails, for example.) Also, there would be "warp gates" that you have to enter at top running speed (or else you'd simply pass it without anything happening). It doesn't disappear, but rather turns into a "future" warp gate in the past. Due to no loading, the warping is instantaneous; like "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart", you're just there immediately. The stage just turns into the past or future around you as you're running. This ability for warp gates to remain there also make it very easy to get from the past to the future and vice versa so you can explore better than in the original Sonic CD. I might call it "Sonic SSD", but could be played on hard disk drives as well (just like Sonic CD can be played on a hard drive or SSD), since for a 2D game that looks like Sonic Mania, the loading would be miniscule anyway.
Small correction about cheap deaths section, there are very little bottomless pits in Sonic CD. Outside of the very last level, there are no bottomless pits AFAIK, mainly to make backtracking and exploration less frustrating.
Always LOVED this game since my uncle got his MegaCD back in 1995 and with it this game and 3 others. And when i got my own MegaCD back in 1999 of course i had to have a copy of SonicCD as well. It really is a must have.
Great game. Denno if its cause I played the US version first, but I slightly prefer its soundtrack over the JPN. My favorite being tidal tempest present day.
Thanks for making this video. I recently starting playing Sega CD games through RetroArch using the Genesis Plus GX emulator. There are videos on UA-cam that show how to setup RetroArch and how to get Sega CD games to work (in RetroArch). Probably only only have to watch two videos.
I purchased a Sega CD in 2019. On december 2020, i finally moded my backup batery Unit, and finally can maintain the saves now. And finally now i m playing Sonic CD. I m playing the Usa version. For me its a goog game , but prefrer Sonic 2 and 3, altough the music is really great. Greetings from Brazil!
In all honesty... I HATED Sonic CD when i rented a Sega CD for the first time when it came out. I didn't like the music, the spin dash, the sounds, nothing about it. As the years went on, i played it several more times, and find it to be one of the best sonic games ever created (Sonic Mania is by far THE best as of this point, but Sonic CD is right behind it.
The spindash in Sonic CD was indeed awful. It seems as if they gimped it so the player would be forced to utilize the Super Peel Out move. The Peel Out is crucial to defeating Metal Sonic. But come on, they didn't need to make the Spin Dash bad. Sonic could have had both moves work great. Thankfully the Spin Dash was fixed in the 1080p version of Sonic CD which came out for PS3 and Xbox 360.
I recently got Sonic CD on the GameCube games Sonic Gems, and I had no idea about the time travel things, or what those "future" signs where. This was pretty informative thanks!
Glad you hate Wacky Workbench too :D I just posted a new video yesterday titled "Sonic Detours: Support ICE, Save the Polar Bears!" where I play it in Sonic World . . . and let me tell ya, Wacky Workbench doesn't get any better in 3D XD
Man, I missed this one when it was new, but this channel is timeless. My Sega CD crashed like 25 years ago. This game, Final Fight, Batman Returns, Tomcat Alley, and both Lethal Enforcers are about all I played on it. Back then, I thought Sonic CD was "ok". I'd fiddle around with it, but would get frustrated. Downloaded it to the 360, and I fully agree, that version is better. Even on the "looser" 360 controller, even years after last playing the game. Best UA-cam gamer channel, period.
I got this game on the original Windows 95 release, and man, it was kind of awesome. I’m always going to be a PC gamer at my heart, but there was something very special about seeing Sonic on my computer. And since none of my friends had either a PC that could run it or a Sega CD, I knew I had a Sonic game that my friends couldn’t play. Just the fact that there are 4 different ways to play each stage was great. The US soundtrack is solid - Toot Toot Sonic Warrior might be funny, but Sonic Boom is a legitimately inspiring tune. The PC version also had the past themes updated in the US to match the others, since none of it was being “hardware driven” in the same way. There’s a lot of content in the game - but you have to go looking for it. And I think it loses steam because of that, toward the end. But I still love the game and would love to see any game that gives you the same ‘time travel to save the world’ feeling.
Great video yet again SegaLordX. A timeless classic (pardon the pun) I too enjoy both soundtracks to this game but favour the Japanese/PAL one a bit more myself. I always loved the fact that you could work your way back to the past from starting in the good or bad futures and end up holding over 500 rings for big points, something no one else ever mentions.
As someone who never owned a Sega CD as a kid, but was still crazy about all things Sonic, this game was like a mythical treasure that was out of my reach. But I would finally get my day when I got Sonic Gems Collection on GameCube, and spent many a night plumbing the depths of this game and it's secrets... and I must say, to me, at least, it truly did live up to the childhood hype. It felt like something truly fresh and different, and still has a surreal quality I'm not sure any other Sonic title has ever quite matched
Since I couldnt afford a segaCD back when this game wasnt that old, I ended up playing it for the first time on PC. I had no idea that it was kinda neutered as a port though, with extra long load times, frame rate issues and 30 FPS gameplay. The cinematic movies were higher resolution though with their color palette greatly expanded beyond the original hardware though. I personally still love the game and have the mobile and HD releases of it too.
I love Sonic CD and glad that SEGA made it the way it is. If you listened to people, we would be playing Sonic 20 which would be copy-pasted from Sonic 2. We had several classic Sonic games oriented towards speed on the MegaDrive, so Sonic CD, Sonic 3D and Knuckles Chaotix are great games that offered something new. If you enjoy platforming in Sonic games, then Sonic CD is a great game to play, offering a lot to explore, backtracking in levels to find stuff etc... It is really a great fun game for this, and I like to go to the past to make a good future, and then try to go back to the future before completing the stage, simply to see the stage variants and colors. The HD port is fantastic and you can even play with Tails.
Been playing a homebrew of this on the PlayStation Vita lately and got loved up by it I often think of it more if as a reimagining of the original than a sequel though
The year this came out I was 16 and got the Sega CD for Christmas and also got to visit my sister in Florida with a trip to Disney. Also $100 to spend on whatever I wanted. $50 went to this game and I brought it and the Sega CD to Florida. I loved the music and graphics but I beat it in a weekend. I was so mad that I had already finished the game before I even got it back home.
One of my favorite games on the Sega CD! As well as Terminator, Silpheed, Robo Aleste, Batman Returns, Final Fight etc... And I have all those and more on my original Sega CD Model 1 U.S.
I played this on a Sonic Collection for GameCube. Yes I do remember being frustrated with not being able to gain enough speed in some levels. The soundtrack was good, had no idea it was different from the Japanese version
Sonic Boom takes me back to my childhood and now that ChrisChan is also tied to it its nothing but a nostalgia bomb. That being said I absolutely love the Japanese version too once I found out it was changed. Two games take me back to the Sega CD. Sewer Shark and Sonic CD.
Great video as always, and thanks for the trip down memory lane. Outside of the Working Designs games, this was probably the Sega CD game I put the most time into. I'm glad you brought up the size and visual variety of the levels; even though the stages were huge and encouraged omnidirectional exploration rather than raw, straightline speed, it didn't feel like a drag until the last level. Those definitely could have been shortened a little. I agree with you on the soundtracks; both are pretty good, I feel. The Japanese one has a much more obvious leitmotif throughout all of the songs, while the American soundtrack I feel does a better job of evoking a sense of wonder and mystery on a per-track basis.
I must've been like one of five people who had a Sega CD but not Sonic CD. It seemed like everyone who had the system also had the game (Our Sega CD was the flip-top model and it came with Sewer Shark) and we loved RPGs so we kind of skipped over Sonic in favor of Lunar 1 and 2, which I still love to this day. I didn't get a change to play Sonic CD until emulation, so we're talking mid to late 1990s. The game is ok but I'd rank it below 2 and 3+knuckles in terms of fun. Though, in the game's defense, the devs really only had Sonic 1 to work with, since 2 was being developed at the same time. So while 2 put more emphasis on speed, CD leaned more into exploration (which made sense. We remember Sonic as fast but there were also Marble and Labyrinth Zones where things slowed down and you'd have to take it slow). I think that could've worked, if the level design was a bit better. It's kind of clear that most of the good talent was working on Sonic 2. I found it tough to get any good amount of speed going. Either there'd be some block in the path, prevent sonic from going fast or there was some enemy randomly placed in the way. It's tough to describe but once you play it and feel it, you understand.
I will admit, I didn't like this game at first, but over the years of playing it again and again, it grew on me to the point every time I hook up my 32X, I feel I have to play it again not just for the opening animated sequence, but the music and gameplay. A really well done game. 🙂
Hearing Sonic CD, Ecco the Dolphin CD and Spiderman vs Kingspin CD music gives me so much nostalgia because I had those 3 games before I got my Sega CD for Christmas and I would put the CDs in my audio CD player to listen to the music over and over since I couldn't play them yet. I remember track 1 was always a warning saying not to play them in a CD player LOL
It might be my bias since the US version is the first version I've experienced but I really don't like the Japanese soundtrack much at all. I feel like the overuse of voice samples is really corny and cheesy. I find it kinda grating lol
who came up with the premise for this game past future present concept? wow! I wish it was more straightforward personally as i have been struggling going anywhere with this concept. The music is so awesome though, It gives me energy to keep going!
I had a genesis for like 3 years before I got a super nes and was jealous of the snes sound capabilities. Then I got a sega CD and when I played Sonic CD for the first time, I was too amazed to breathe
Well hey! I definitely liked the video. I am an exception to two of the generalizations you made. I first played Sonic CD after all the cartridge titles, with the US OST. I was too young to really be thinking about my favorite Sonic titles. I would play it again when Sonic Unleashed came out because Unleashed got me so hyped, I wanted more. My wife wanted to try Sonic CD and so I downloaded it for her emulator and was surprised to be greeted with the JP OST that I didn't even know existed. This quickly became my favorite Sonic OST and I also saw the deep genius of the level design. I was consistently finishing acts in under 30 seconds, even Wacky Workbench acts and Metallic Madness acts. The game delivered both fast and thought out level designs with quick routes through them, but also wonderful exploration based rewards for those looking for them. I feel most players do not stick around to figure either aspect out, as it is few players' first Sonic title. They simply play it to beat it once, and then they're done. The built in save feature does this game no favors in that respect. You would find more love for the game if you had to replay it at every Game Over. Giving it a simple "once through" would do no more justice to it than giving Sonic 1 or 2 a "once through" - and those titles would also likely have less fans if that were the case there as well.
I heard the USA soundtrack first and ended up loving much much more the JP/EUR soundtrack. They're just overall better melodies and suit the levels better, although the USA soundtrack has some bangers too (especially the intro and boss theme).
I like the Japanese Sonic CD soundtrack a lot better than the USA version. Plus, I highly recommend saving your Sega CD's game data to the Sega CD memory cartridge.
6:54 I don't think Sega of America ever outright said they hated the Japanese soundtrack, Joe Miller pitched the idea because they wanted to stretch their legs and give the game a different feel.
Does anyone else remember "Sonic Sunday" ???
3 Sonic games released at the same time.... One each for Genesis, Game Gear, & Sega CD... I Picked up Sonic CD that day with my two nephews in tow, it was the first time ever I made a purchase with a credit card! Not because I didn't have the money but because I wanted to establish a credit history.... With Sonic 😂🎮👍
IMHO, it was the Sega Master System that needed more Sonic content. Even using the Space Harrier engine for the bonus stages and some kind of RPG aspect would be cool. We only got one Sonic game on the venerable SMS here in the States.
What puzzles me is how and why this game never got a Saturn port, they could have even fixed certain issues with the OG CD game, SEGA is so stupid sometimes, but of course I will always love them.
Yeah it hurts to explain to people who dont get it 😆
Especially when all the other 16 bit Sonics were released for Saturn.
Even worst why the Saturn wasn't backwards compatible with Sega CD games to begin with. It would had brought a great benefit to Sega CD owners who realize they could still play their library on their new shiny Saturn.
@@VOAN Saturn AND Mega Drive. It had the cart port too. I mean, they made Master System converter for the Mega Drive, it would've made sense to keep the backwards compatibility going when nobody else had even thought of it.
It should have been included in Sonic Jam.
It was about a year (maybe 18 months) before the Saturn launched that I managed to get a Mega CD for a very good price.. However I looked everywhere in my local area and never found a copy of Sonic CD. I didn't manage to get the game until a good few years later.
I loved the Saturn but wow were there some hard times.
Nothing will top the Christmas morning that I popped this in my Sega CD and was blasted with that opening cinema and insane rendition of Sonic Boom. I don’t think people realize how insane it was for there to be lyrics / singing on a video game. I had my Sega CD hooked up to a legit stereo and man did it blow everyone away when I flipped that on.
Wasn't intro heavily compressed tho? I imagine it's still pretty impressive but it was definitely compressed
Always will be my favorite Sonic game. Back in 1993, the Redbook audio music from Spencer Nielsen and animated opening intro totally immersed us in what Sega CD was all about. Great videos always
My favorite Sonic game too, I loved all of the unique level gimmicks, I thought the bosses were extremely fun (while mostly easy except for some latter ones) it’s just an extremely fun game to play and the surreal art style and masterful soundtrack make it even more fun, I also love the time travel mechanics, I often go out of my way to create good futures in most zones until I can’t be bothered to anymore (cause it’s really hard in the later levels)
Its the best Sonic game imo
Palmtree Panic Japan is one of the most chaotic, upbeat, and crazy awesome songs of video game history... I'm sure it blew away people back then
1993? People have so much to say
I've played both PAL and NTSC versions. For Palmtree Panic, I much prefer the US version. The Japan version, to me, seems childish and cringy. Would've been better for a carnival level. The advantage of the PAL soundtrack is that it blends with the Past music. Either way, just a solid Sonic game.
Can confirm it sent me on the path to being a raver :)
My uncle gave me his Sega CD and Genesis along with a few games. Sonic CD and Lunar the Silver Star are my favorite Sega CD games.
I think you mixed between the Sega and Sonic in your comment.
@@Nov-5062 nope. You heard it right. His favorite sonic is the sega.
Yeah just fixed it up.
Wow he gave you some good games. Dis you ever get to play Lunar Eternal Blue?
@@timsohn7057 No I haven't I heard its amazing but its super expensive.
I've put hundreds of hours in Sonic CD. Especially on Sega CD from 1996-2000. It had its flaws but it has a major part of my heart. I just hope I can get it's cameos into my projects I'm still trying to achieve.
You may be the best person to ask this. I have not put much time into the game myself but have always wondered. Is there actually any reason to go into the Future? Go onto the past to destroy the machine, I get that, but what about the future?
@@PicksterTG From my memory it serves no purpose, other then boss rounds. If someone would make guide maps to compare all act's times, it might show any bonus rings/monitors to collect or possible quicker paths to the goal. Wish the 1994 SonicCD/Sonic 3 tip guide had maps, but nooo!
Sonic CD really takes shit to the limit theres so much to unlock and the levels look cool as fuck I esp. like the subtle differences between the Past and Future
some areas are blocked off or altered
@@PicksterTG The only advantage is once you've created a "Good Future". This means that you have both destroyed the Badnik machine and the Metal Sonic hologram in the Past. Once you've done this, you can travel to the Good Future and it will be mostly peril free. There are no badniks, lots of rings, power-ups, and better looking stages.
If I could add my two cents, I remember hearing the Japanese soundtrack first through the Sonic Screensaver on the S3&K Collection, and when I finally played it on the GameCube through the Gems Collection. I was bewildered hearing a different soundtrack. Didn't knew about the JP/US differences back then, but that being said, I do prefer the JP one simply because the songs are more memorable imo. The US soundtrack does have that 90s vibe to it so I'll give it that. Either way, I love me some Sonic CD.
Fun fact: You can play as Tails in the remastered port. That's probably the best reason to give it a second playthrough, let alone get it again if you already own it.
Ya, it's great to have Tails there, and of course the widescreen makes it much better too.
Tails makes an appearance on the SegaCD/MegaCD version too. Just play it all the way through and see...
Most people like the USA soundtrack more. I’m one of those people, the Japanese soundtrack doesn’t do it for me. Same with Sninobi legions/X. Japanese soundtrack (Also USA soundtrack) didn’t do it for me I definitely preferred the pal version of sninobi x
@@stevesteve0521 most people or most Americans? You’d be hard pressed to find someone from outside the US who prefers the US soundtrack.
Imagine NOT being a Toot Toot Sonic warriors
Yo SLX, thank you for your channel man, you and Game Sack are my go to sources for educational information!
Also because of your channel I bought a Saturn and cant stop playing it! Cheers from California!
Good to hear you’re enjoying it. Lots of good games out there for it.
Have you tried the Sega CD? There's loads of a couple fighting games
@@greenkoopa I want one but I only have a genesis 3. I'd have to buy a genesis, a sega cd, and invest in those incredibly expensive games. Sadly dont have the money for that right now.
@@masaitheguy a Genesis 2 is cheap though. Not the rest indeed.
@@drunkensailor112 When I was maybe 4 or 5 years old my brother had a genesis 2/sega CD combo and it defined my childhood and solidified my love of Sega Hardware... both eventually broke and I have yet to replace the hardware sadly.
I loved this soundtrack so much, (USA version) that I used to jam to it on my portable CD player.
Yeah that Japanese music is like a wacky anime or something, doesnt do it for me
I have this, batman and eternal champions soundtracks in my car
The USA soundtrack has a more ethereal new age feel to it, it's awesome. I love the USA soundtrack the most.
I still listen to it all the time on UA-cam.
I still prefer the Japanese soundtrack.
Grew up with the original US version, and couldn't quite understand why there was such a marked difference between the Present/Future tracks and the Past version. It wasn't until I was able to play the Chris Whitehead versions that included the Japanese OST that it all made sense. I like the U.S. soundtrack because that's all I knew back then, but I really love the Japanese soundtrack because it all gels so well.
Search for Wacky Workbench remix on YT and you'll find an awesome remix using both the US and Japanese soundtracks.
I unironically love the Sega Gens Collection, which is how I played SonicCD.
Best way to play it in my opinion besides owning one of these hunks of junk. GameCube version I'm assuming?
Sonic CD and Sonic 2 are my favorites! I love both CD soundtracks! To say that one is better than the other is pure opinion, but at the same time it's dumb to say the other "sucks". I definitely agree with SLX in that it mainly depends on which you heard first. Honestly, neither are perfect and there are some tracks I prefer on the US version than the others...and vice versa. Once you learn the time travel mechanic of this game, you see it in a very different light. Not as deep as say Chrono Trigger, but still enjoyable.
It would have been awesome to choose either sound track. They both are good!
@@MikeC-ps1tc On the PS3 and 360 you can. I have both lol.
@@TheGemini5 Niiiiice, I have ps3 version but struggled to get into the game. Will have to try again!
@@MikeC-ps1tc Well it's not for everyone lol. Just don't expect perfection and you'll enjoy it. I remember loving the Wacky Workbench level so much (especially the past music) that I would literally let Sonic sit there and listen to the music...That is until he surprised the hell outta me and said "I'm outta here" after 3 minutes of standing there! I stood there with my mouth open in shock like "really?" lol
@@TheGemini5 lol that is awesome. I will give it a try. After watching this I think I understand the game more than I did.
I never knew about the remade soundtrack, but back in the day the Past versions were far and away my favorites. So I guess I'm on Team Japan for soundtrack choice. I can't wait to replay this in the new remake collection. I hope they do a great job with it!
There are a lot of things I love about Sonic CD despite its shortcomings. The soundtracks of both versions are awesome, that acoustic guitar in the end theme of the US version kicked major rear, and then there's Amy Rose. Being the huge fan of her that I am, the fact that this was her debut game is the biggest reason why I love this game and in fact have numerous versions of it including international versions.
Beautiful game. I remember talking this to school (with permission) and it was amazing to share the experience with others!!!
Later in life? I became fascinated with the missing R2 level. Unlike Sonic two, there are so many mysteries that wouldn't be solved. But it's ok.
They let you play video games at school?
Is a nice game, but the stage design is a little clumsy and sometimes doesnt make too much sense, some plattforms, springs, loops, rings seems to be placed in a random way, definitly not as fun and polished as sonic 2 and sonic 3 & knuckles, also the time travel mechanics are kind of confusing in my opinion and interrupts the flow of the game..
Yep. I thought the level design despite the intention to make them bigger was really flawed.
And the time travel mechanic could in general have been done without unless it could really have had impact on the levels, changed in the past opening new areas in the present or the future.
The level design was purposely like that, it's to impede you from going back in time, and trys to force you to go into the future...You're goal is always in the past, and the level design (especially in the past) is made to force you back to the present or future.
It's a total mess. Funny, because Sonic 2 has some of the best level design ever imo.
Because it's meant as an exploration platformer
@@drunkensailor112 Not really what Sonic is supposed to be.
I been waiting for you to talk about this game
@@bennysnod4928 the genesis one
Hard to believe it will be 30 years since sonic came out...I was just a child when this came out...great memories of this game.
I'll never forget the Christmas when my brother and I asked for a console and secretly I was hoping for a SNES, but under the tree it definitely looked like a Megadrive shaped wrapped box. I was still really happy when we opened it and got the Megadrive Aladdin edition, but when my parents then pulled out a surprise present from behind the sofa and it turned out to be a MegaCD we were blown away... literally couldn't believe our luck! Sonic CD was one of the first games we bought together and I played the shit out of it, loving every moment. Thanks for the review - it's brought back happy memories of distant times. We had the PAL version and the music rocked BTW!
This game is a classic and I loved back then and still do. I liked the time travel aspect, but it was a pain in the butt to use when you can't find a good spot to maintain the speed.
I heard the US soundtrack first and I liked it. few years later I got the chance to hear the JP soundtrack and I felt like we missed out on a better experience. I didn't think the US soundtrack was bad, I just feel the JP ost was more fitting with the it's energy. Sega was rather pretentious thinking that's what we wanted in a soundtrack.
Oh well, we got Sonic CD re-released years later with both soundtracks.
Well, all the Past themes are tailored to the JP soundtrack, yet are the same in the US version, so it's more cohesive over there. I actually remember playing the 2011 version first, not caring for the US soundtrack at all, finding out how to change it, and falling in love with the JP soundtrack.
Personally I like the USA soundtrack much better. Great video!
03:23
The end of level jingle even has a bit of music from "Back to the Future" in it.
I KNEW IT
haha, that’s awesome. They were using music sampling absolute decades of their time this is the kind of thing you’d see today
The Sonic CD US v Japan soundtrack brings back memories of trolling weeaboos about it in the early internet. Those were horrible times. Weeabos roamed around unchallenged in those days and were actually the dominant nerd force.
The horror...
I think weeaboos are even more dominant nowdays to the point where you even get e girls cashing in on the aesthetic. I do prefer the Jp soundtrack that being said; its influenced ironically enough by 90s western edm and pop soul. Definitely has aged much better than world music and the soundtrack rock of the Us ver.
@@rogerc6533 Those are not weeaboos. Those are garden variety posers.
@@democrazy69 Yeah weeabos are highly integrated into the dork force nowadays and poseurs make up the majority of dorks to the point where they are the ones defining the culture. Nothing avoids becoming mainstream it seems thesedays; with all the social media shit takes that entails too.
I heard the US soundtrack first, and back in the 90s I preferred it over the Japanese one. But years later, looking back on it, I started liking the Japanese soundtrack as well. It has that kitsch 90s Japanese sound that so unique in anime and Japanese games that I found myself loving.
I'm a diehard Sega fan for life. I have been around for everything Sega has done since 1986 and I'm damn proud of it. From their amazing consoles too their insane arcade cabinets that defied everything I thought I knew about games. Every Sonic game, Shinobi, Space Harrier, Afterburner, Outrun, you name it I loved it.
Unfortunately, I do not feel this way about Sonic CD. There is something about that game that rubs me the wrong way. It is one of the only Sonic titles I have not finished...I just can't. The 3d levels were one of the coolest things I had ever witnessed (for the time) but even they were not enough to motivate me. There is only one other Sonic title I dislike more and that's Spinball.
Sorry, I forgot to add...it was an absolute pleasure watching your take on the game. I may not have cared for Sonic CD but your coverage is second to none.
I’ll recall sega lord x saying that this would of been an instant no brainer to had this on the Saturn right away. I couldn’t agree more.
Chuck in Tails and Knuckles as unlockable characters, both soundtracks and a S3&K type file save system (as well as spruce up some of the sprite work and performance) and it would have done well to help sell the Saturn in Europe and America.
Another Sonic 3D version was nice, but Sonic CD was still obscure by comparison to the Genesis games due to it being on the Sega CD add-on. Being on the "main" (and only in this case) console would have boosted sales of both.
Sonic CD is an important title, being the introduction of two fan favourites, those being Amy Rose (my favourite) and Metal Sonic.
And the Japanese/European soundtrack is glorious
Oh and a Secret. If you complete Sonic CD with all the Stones, Pods and Projectors smashed on a "fresh system file" (not a new game) it'll unlock D.A. Garden early. GameFAQs deleted this when I uploaded it to the secrets section like 15yrs ago.
Oi
Sonic CD was the very first game I bought for my Mega CD back in 1993. Its the best Sonic ever made, I played it like every day.
Ahh the 90s I miss it so much.
I bought the Sega CDX, which came with Sonic CD. I loved it, thought it was cool. But when I learned of the Japanese version, I imported it and loved it even more. I get how the Japanese theme song would have done poorly in the US market, I have no issues with the in-game music and find that it matches quite well with the hardware generated music more than the US light jazz style music.
A point that doesn't get much talk, in regards to music, was that using CDA as the background music to a game was so revolutionary and cool that it's largely what drew me to SEGA CD versions of games. Such as Echo the Dolphin or Earth Worm Jim.
Interestingly, there's evidence Sonic 2 was going to have a time travel mechanic but it was just one of the many things that never came to be with that game.
Good
If that is true that would had been a lot better than Sonic CD. Despite Sonic CD having a time traveling mechanic, it's really difficult for me to buy the fact that I'm actually traveling to the past or future when there's no hint of that in-game not to mention the world of Sonic CD doesn't really do a great job of changing setting to make me think I'm actually in the past or future. In games like Chrono Trigger when you're in the past the world reflect that such as dinosaurs in the prehistoric time, advance tech in the future time, villages and swords and magic in the middle ages, etc. All the worlds in Sonic CD are all the same with each world having a different textures or layout and that's it, no hints to tell you if you're actually going to the past or future and even if you're going to the past, there's no changes in the present that would give you the hint that what you just went through was the past.
@@VOAN barman ret8rns soundtrack on sega was elite imo
@@VOAN eh I agree. Even tho a Sonic platformer is different from a game like Chrono Trigger it still could have utilize it a little better. For example the future signs are pointless since all you get is a greyed out dark future with nothing to collect or do. So this just means the Past signs are the only ones you should use for time travel to get a good future. Despite this there is a sense of change between level layouts one being the different sets of music, some platforms either becoming visible or available in certain periods. But they never explore different enemy types or altering levels by bringing things from the past into the present. I doubt sonic 2 could have fixed the mechanic since it's got issues on its core principles and level design.
I played the PC port of Sonic CD like a regular Sonic game, and I enjoyed it quite a bit, particularly because it felt like a brand new 2D Sonic game to me! This was in the pre-Sonic Mania days, haha
I really need to give it another look and try out the time travel mechanic for the good ending...
Thanks for the explanation of the mechanic! I was definitely overthinking it, lol
While I like the japanese soundtrack a little more, the us soundtrack is still very good and has a lot of underrated tracks. I especially enjoy the sonic the hedgehog boom versions of the songs. They’re basically more complete versions of the in-game tracks from the soundtrack cd.
It's a crazy ass game with a lot of flaws, but I love it.
What would you do to make it flawless?
@@TheGemini5Well, the level design could have used a bit more polish..
@@scottmichaelhedge5055 Wacky Work Bench and Metallic Madness have poor level designs it was pretty difficult to go to the past, but I still enjoyed it cause the soundtrack got me pumped the whole time.
It is specific gameplay not flaws my friend. People even complains of other Sonic level design because they don't know how to play it. _They just want to go brain dead straight forwar. _Speed run the game without knowing the levels (lol) _Or ignorant scrubs complaining because it doesn't play like Mario
This Sonic is not focused on Spin Dash. You have to SEARCH for good spots to keep the momentum (to time travel) OR you lose the ability. 2 way of time travel:
_Running in a cleared long enough distance OR
_Use Sonic 1 physics tricks (you cn see some of them in Sonic 1 ending.. it's not flaws it's deep game design.)
And I miss those physic tricks like: use inertia in half pipes in a specific way (like a skater) to get to unaccessible areas/eights otherway etc etc..
But people just wanna Spin dash and not be frustrated . And when they have this game focused only on Speed they say that's too linear and poor levl design .
Sonic is just paying the fact he is not Mario and that SEGA lost the console war
I miss this sandbox gameplay in which you have to master Sonic and his Physics with Exploration (not Only speed boost boost boost Spin dash and automatization) 😥
Skill based game based on how you know how to use Sonic Physics and tricks.
They are not stupid believe me. They had their own Idea and added gameplay depth and exploration.
When I see these people who hate the whole game design I clearly see they don't know how to play the game (Losing the past travel option like noobs for instance..)
You'll never see people spitting on Mario or other games mechnanics when they don't know how to them. But it's allowed to spit on Sonic Games especially if you never finished the game...
It's very unfair.
(Sorry for My English)
@@michaelromeo9567 Very well said sir! Wacky Workbench is exactly as you stated. The whole game is incredible and because some people could not grasp change, the crap on it.
I remember getting Sonic CD with the Sega CD and 32x for Christmas in 1994. Loved it because I was a Sonic fan. Didn't know about the 2 soundtracks until I accidentally discovered it on Napster several years later.
I KNEW I HEARD THAT JAPANESE SONIC CD INTRO BEFORE!!
That's the same song played on Green Hill Zone for Sonic 2 on Master System and Game Gear!!
When I first heard the US theme I couldn't stop humming it. Hell, I still do it from time to time.
Sega of America: The original soundtrack to this game doesn't fit it very well.
Also Sega of America: *makes a new soundtrack that fits the game even less*
While the US soundtrack isn't outright terrible, I feel most of the songs do not fit the stages well at all. Maybe it's because I heard the JP soundtrack first despite living in America (thanks to Sonic the Screensaver).
And the irony is I'm from the UK and didn't hear the Japanese soundtrack until the 360 release because I had the PC version and the Sonic Gems Collection which included the US soundtracks instead.
@@iCABALi yeah even the Japanese region original PC release was US soundtrack only.
@@Ashura96 Really? That's funny. I would guess because the Windows version was based on the Sega CD US version, they probably just translated the text and left everything else the same. I had the US windows version and I remember sound track, specifically the Sonic Boom theme.
@@Ashura96 yeah, that's kinda laughable...
I like both soundtracks but the Japanese one has magic the US one lacks. Japanese one also ties into the Sonic Team lineage of the soundtracks for NiGHTS and PSO.
My favorite UA-camr! Thank you for all the amazing videos! Do you offhand have any SLX merch for sale?
Check the description of my vids. Links there.
As far as the soundtracks go, I say they're both good. The best move would have been to give you both and let you pick which one you want. That could have added to the replay value.
Sonic 3 came after ?
Ok got to love the multiple paths to victory approach they took. Having two options to get the best ending was a really good move.
A lot of people bash the US soundtrack. But I love it! Seriously, check out Quartz Quadrant Zone: Bad Future US version, it's such an amazing track.
I love that song.
4:06 - The audio in this part of the video triggered my Amazon Echo to say, "Seven times two is fourteen." XD
I guess "Collect 7 time stones" sounds like "Alexa 7 times 2" lol
Whoa! Alexa is intrigued- even when I say it aloud.
I really like Sonic CD and it might be my favorite 2D Sonic! I really like the North American soundtrack and I have the full vinyl for the Japanese soundtrack and it's a great listen but I would like to see the North American soundtrack be released on vinyl! I really wish Sega had done an enhanced port of Sonic CD for the Saturn and also ported Knuckles Chaotix as well but oh well!
I always wanted a sega CD and sonic CD game. But was never able to get one until I was an adult. Now I have both. Having grown up playing to death and so playing sonic 2 - sonic & knuckles. I gotta say, CD caught me by surprise and while I'm hesitant to say that it is as good a 3 and Knuckles. I'm glad I own it. I take my time exploring and savoring the game play.
Loved this game, we did have the JP soundtrack here in PAL region, but I do like some of the US tracks, just like you. The most fun gimmick was to get the thing in the past stages and then travel all the way to the good future and enjoy an easy life. Always a challenge to pull it of as a kid
R1 Palmtree Panic
R2 Ridicule Root
R3 Collision Chaos
R4 Tidal Tempest
R5 Quartz Quadrant
R6 Wacky Workbench
R7 Desert Dazzle
R8 Stardust Speedway
R9 Metallic Madness
RA Final Fever
I’m so glad u did a Sonic CD review. This is my favorite Sonic game
I'm from the UK and despite owning two UK versions of Sonic CD I hadn't heard of the Japanese soundtrack until the 360 release came out.
Funnily enough, I had the UK PC version, which had the US soundtrack on it, and then later a UK Sonic Gems Collection on Gamecube which also had the US soundtrack on it. I prefer the Japanese soundtrack on the whole, but there are a couple of USA tracks I prefer to their counterparts.
I don't think Sonic's moveset is conducive to exploring the levels (especially with verticality) and that may be why it's my least favourite Sonic 2D game of that era.
A lot of the stages felt like a pinball machine with all the flippers and springs.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles seemed to do exploring vertical stages MUCH better. You had three characters with unique movements that explored the stages in their own way, and even the way sonic explored the obstacles/hazards looked and acted like they belonged to the level.
Maybe I'm nit picking, but the Soundtrack and the FMV was the main selling point to me, and that probably shouldn't be the case for a sonic game. The time travel stuff is pretty neat, and it's a shame that we probably won't be able to change a level in the same way again.
The peel out was nice, but the spin dash (even the Sonic CD one) and later drop dash are SO much better.
Still I do enjoy this overall, and it's not a bad game by any means (the fact I've owned it several times is testament to that) but I don't hold it in the same regard as Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Sonic 1 was my first video game, so that will always get the edge too.
What drives me nuts about Sonic CD is the chaotic, seemingly random level design and being booted into Past, Present, Future all the time. Not nearly as slick a package as the Genesis entries were. The soundtrack is more of a mixed bag, too. The US and JP soundtracks were different, and oftentimes the JP songs were better. Of course I really liked the bonus stages and the fight against Metal Sonic. But overall, the experience as a whole was clunky. And this is coming from someone who grew up with a Sega CD, still owns a physical Sega CD collection, and loved the crap out of Sonic 1, 2, and 3.
I bought a SegaCD when it came out. During my ownership, I only owned three games: Sewer Shark, Sonic CD and Earthworm Jim SE. I loved the system, I used it to listen to audio CDs (it was my only CD player at the time). And I rented a lot games from a local rental store. The system only lasted for about 2 years until one day it failed to boot.
Did you not return it?
@@drunkensailor112 I am sure it was past the warranty. I bought the system in 93' and by 95' I was playing the Saturn, so I didn't miss it much.
Am I the only one that as soon as the video starts, hits like automatically because I know it's going to be great ?
I do that too, but I noticed I do it on every video I watch unless I end up not liking it
@@greenkoopa Nice :)
Not only that but as soon as I click on one of his videos I immediately upvote. I don't even have to watch it to know it's quality. I for one couldn't stand Sonic CD but I sure do love Sega Lord X's work.
I personally don't. He definitely stretches these single game reviews out beyond what they need to be in order to get in more adverts. You only have to look at how long he makes the music sections of the videos to see that they are longer than they need to be.
@@voteDC His sister isn’t well, so I think he has been busting out the videos to try and raise funds to help her. I disagree with your comment though. I think he’s putting good effort into them, and showing what he thinks people would like to see. Cheers!
I grew up a SNES guy but had and love the Genesis.
Thanks for ur "work"/fun. Long live the Sega Lord.
Here's some 90s for ya!!!
Sonic fears Donkey Kong
You described this really well. I remember going to a friend's house and was very confused. Not as confusing as Knuckles Chaotix though.
I finally got it for myself about 2 years ago on the Xbox and I really didn't like dealing with the past and future thing so I just turned it off and haven't thought about it.
Thank you Sega Lord X, knowing that I can just Breeze through it and then replay it again later and try to find things if I liked it or just try to do the special stages at the end of each stage... I actually feel excited to play this game again. Also it was just released as a Homebrew on the PS Vita, which I play during my hour-long lunch breaks at work 5 days a week.
I grew up with the PAL version on Mega CD, but *vastly* prefer the US soundtrack (which I heard for the first time in the Windows 95 port years later).
I remember getting this 1995 little late but loved it.
Ah, Sonic CD... One of my favorite games of all time! If only...this year...the Sonic Mania team could release a follow-up. I absolutely love the game, but I would make a few tweaks to the sequel. Of course, it would have the common-style spin-dash, insta-shield, and drop-dash, in addition to the super peel-out all together. And since Sonic is supposed to be the fastest, only he could get the super sneakers, while any other characters (just a few classic ones) would have other power-ups that are more suitable to their play styles. (Perhaps an 8-direction air-dash for Tails, for example.) Also, there would be "warp gates" that you have to enter at top running speed (or else you'd simply pass it without anything happening). It doesn't disappear, but rather turns into a "future" warp gate in the past. Due to no loading, the warping is instantaneous; like "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart", you're just there immediately. The stage just turns into the past or future around you as you're running. This ability for warp gates to remain there also make it very easy to get from the past to the future and vice versa so you can explore better than in the original Sonic CD. I might call it "Sonic SSD", but could be played on hard disk drives as well (just like Sonic CD can be played on a hard drive or SSD), since for a 2D game that looks like Sonic Mania, the loading would be miniscule anyway.
Small correction about cheap deaths section, there are very little bottomless pits in Sonic CD. Outside of the very last level, there are no bottomless pits AFAIK, mainly to make backtracking and exploration less frustrating.
Always LOVED this game since my uncle got his MegaCD back in 1995 and with it this game and 3 others. And when i got my own MegaCD back in 1999 of course i had to have a copy of SonicCD as well. It really is a must have.
Great game. Denno if its cause I played the US version first, but I slightly prefer its soundtrack over the JPN. My favorite being tidal tempest present day.
Thanks for making this video. I recently starting playing Sega CD games through RetroArch using the Genesis Plus GX emulator. There are videos on UA-cam that show how to setup RetroArch and how to get Sega CD games to work (in RetroArch). Probably only only have to watch two videos.
I purchased a Sega CD in 2019. On december 2020, i finally moded my backup batery Unit, and finally can maintain the saves now.
And finally now i m playing Sonic CD.
I m playing the Usa version. For me its a goog game , but prefrer Sonic 2 and 3, altough the music is really great.
Greetings from Brazil!
Dude this video rocked, but I had to sit through 6 ads in this sucker. UA-cam is crushing your flow.
In all honesty... I HATED Sonic CD when i rented a Sega CD for the first time when it came out. I didn't like the music, the spin dash, the sounds, nothing about it. As the years went on, i played it several more times, and find it to be one of the best sonic games ever created (Sonic Mania is by far THE best as of this point, but Sonic CD is right behind it.
I felt the same way...
I missed out on it because I wanted the sega cd
no way! Sonic 3 & Knuckles will always will be the best of them all!!!!!!!!
The spindash in Sonic CD was indeed awful. It seems as if they gimped it so the player would be forced to utilize the Super Peel Out move. The Peel Out is crucial to defeating Metal Sonic.
But come on, they didn't need to make the Spin Dash bad. Sonic could have had both moves work great. Thankfully the Spin Dash was fixed in the 1080p version of Sonic CD which came out for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Great video as always though with every video new video the overall quality of your content keeps in improving keep up the good work bro.
I recently got Sonic CD on the GameCube games Sonic Gems, and I had no idea about the time travel things, or what those "future" signs where. This was pretty informative thanks!
Glad you hate Wacky Workbench too :D
I just posted a new video yesterday titled "Sonic Detours: Support ICE, Save the Polar Bears!" where I play it in Sonic World . . . and let me tell ya, Wacky Workbench doesn't get any better in 3D XD
I remember playing this on the 360 and it was so awesome. I believe it was on the digital store
Its still there
Got it downloaded on my series x.
Man, I missed this one when it was new, but this channel is timeless. My Sega CD crashed like 25 years ago. This game, Final Fight, Batman Returns, Tomcat Alley, and both Lethal Enforcers are about all I played on it. Back then, I thought Sonic CD was "ok". I'd fiddle around with it, but would get frustrated. Downloaded it to the 360, and I fully agree, that version is better. Even on the "looser" 360 controller, even years after last playing the game. Best UA-cam gamer channel, period.
I'm sorry, you mentioned "A lot of cheap deaths: bottomless pits" where there's only bottomless pits in one place, in one act; Metallic Madness 3
I got this game on the original Windows 95 release, and man, it was kind of awesome. I’m always going to be a PC gamer at my heart, but there was something very special about seeing Sonic on my computer. And since none of my friends had either a PC that could run it or a Sega CD, I knew I had a Sonic game that my friends couldn’t play. Just the fact that there are 4 different ways to play each stage was great. The US soundtrack is solid - Toot Toot Sonic Warrior might be funny, but Sonic Boom is a legitimately inspiring tune. The PC version also had the past themes updated in the US to match the others, since none of it was being “hardware driven” in the same way.
There’s a lot of content in the game - but you have to go looking for it. And I think it loses steam because of that, toward the end. But I still love the game and would love to see any game that gives you the same ‘time travel to save the world’ feeling.
Great video yet again SegaLordX. A timeless classic (pardon the pun) I too enjoy both soundtracks to this game but favour the Japanese/PAL one a bit more myself. I always loved the fact that you could work your way back to the past from starting in the good or bad futures and end up holding over 500 rings for big points, something no one else ever mentions.
As someone who never owned a Sega CD as a kid, but was still crazy about all things Sonic, this game was like a mythical treasure that was out of my reach.
But I would finally get my day when I got Sonic Gems Collection on GameCube, and spent many a night plumbing the depths of this game and it's secrets... and I must say, to me, at least, it truly did live up to the childhood hype. It felt like something truly fresh and different, and still has a surreal quality I'm not sure any other Sonic title has ever quite matched
Since I couldnt afford a segaCD back when this game wasnt that old, I ended up playing it for the first time on PC. I had no idea that it was kinda neutered as a port though, with extra long load times, frame rate issues and 30 FPS gameplay. The cinematic movies were higher resolution though with their color palette greatly expanded beyond the original hardware though. I personally still love the game and have the mobile and HD releases of it too.
I love Sonic CD and glad that SEGA made it the way it is. If you listened to people, we would be playing Sonic 20 which would be copy-pasted from Sonic 2. We had several classic Sonic games oriented towards speed on the MegaDrive, so Sonic CD, Sonic 3D and Knuckles Chaotix are great games that offered something new.
If you enjoy platforming in Sonic games, then Sonic CD is a great game to play, offering a lot to explore, backtracking in levels to find stuff etc... It is really a great fun game for this, and I like to go to the past to make a good future, and then try to go back to the future before completing the stage, simply to see the stage variants and colors.
The HD port is fantastic and you can even play with Tails.
Been playing a homebrew of this on the PlayStation Vita lately and got loved up by it
I often think of it more if as a reimagining of the original than a sequel though
The year this came out I was 16 and got the Sega CD for Christmas and also got to visit my sister in Florida with a trip to Disney. Also $100 to spend on whatever I wanted. $50 went to this game and I brought it and the Sega CD to Florida. I loved the music and graphics but I beat it in a weekend. I was so mad that I had already finished the game before I even got it back home.
One of my favorite games on the Sega CD! As well as Terminator, Silpheed, Robo Aleste, Batman Returns, Final Fight etc... And I have all those and more on my original Sega CD Model 1 U.S.
Terminator rules on the Sega CD especially the soundtrack
Batman Returns soundtrack is pure nostalgia for me, until I remember how bad the gameplay was aside from the driving stages.
@@cheek077 along with the grainy side scrolling graphics.
Thank you for all the nostalgia.
Thank you for watching.
Lord X you are my savior on these difficult time...Thank you so much for your amazing channel and great work!
I played this on a Sonic Collection for GameCube. Yes I do remember being frustrated with not being able to gain enough speed in some levels.
The soundtrack was good, had no idea it was different from the Japanese version
Sonic Boom takes me back to my childhood and now that ChrisChan is also tied to it its nothing but a nostalgia bomb. That being said I absolutely love the Japanese version too once I found out it was changed. Two games take me back to the Sega CD. Sewer Shark and Sonic CD.
Great video as always, and thanks for the trip down memory lane. Outside of the Working Designs games, this was probably the Sega CD game I put the most time into. I'm glad you brought up the size and visual variety of the levels; even though the stages were huge and encouraged omnidirectional exploration rather than raw, straightline speed, it didn't feel like a drag until the last level. Those definitely could have been shortened a little. I agree with you on the soundtracks; both are pretty good, I feel. The Japanese one has a much more obvious leitmotif throughout all of the songs, while the American soundtrack I feel does a better job of evoking a sense of wonder and mystery on a per-track basis.
I must've been like one of five people who had a Sega CD but not Sonic CD. It seemed like everyone who had the system also had the game (Our Sega CD was the flip-top model and it came with Sewer Shark) and we loved RPGs so we kind of skipped over Sonic in favor of Lunar 1 and 2, which I still love to this day. I didn't get a change to play Sonic CD until emulation, so we're talking mid to late 1990s. The game is ok but I'd rank it below 2 and 3+knuckles in terms of fun.
Though, in the game's defense, the devs really only had Sonic 1 to work with, since 2 was being developed at the same time. So while 2 put more emphasis on speed, CD leaned more into exploration (which made sense. We remember Sonic as fast but there were also Marble and Labyrinth Zones where things slowed down and you'd have to take it slow).
I think that could've worked, if the level design was a bit better. It's kind of clear that most of the good talent was working on Sonic 2. I found it tough to get any good amount of speed going. Either there'd be some block in the path, prevent sonic from going fast or there was some enemy randomly placed in the way. It's tough to describe but once you play it and feel it, you understand.
I will admit, I didn't like this game at first, but over the years of playing it again and again, it grew on me to the point every time I hook up my 32X, I feel I have to play it again not just for the opening animated sequence, but the music and gameplay. A really well done game. 🙂
Hearing Sonic CD, Ecco the Dolphin CD and Spiderman vs Kingspin CD music gives me so much nostalgia because I had those 3 games before I got my Sega CD for Christmas and I would put the CDs in my audio CD player to listen to the music over and over since I couldn't play them yet. I remember track 1 was always a warning saying not to play them in a CD player LOL
I remember my older brother had the cdx and this game was one of my faves would pump the soundtrack and eat fruit snacks.. good times
It might be my bias since the US version is the first version I've experienced but I really don't like the Japanese soundtrack much at all. I feel like the overuse of voice samples is really corny and cheesy. I find it kinda grating lol
who came up with the premise for this game past future present concept? wow! I wish it was more straightforward personally as i have been struggling going anywhere with this concept. The music is so awesome though, It gives me energy to keep going!
02:46 back 2 the future
Great reviews sir! Perfect to start 2021
Both the Japanese and the American soundtracks are bangers
love both version's music, but always thought the US soundtrack was way more appropriate for each stage environment
I had a genesis for like 3 years before I got a super nes and was jealous of the snes sound capabilities. Then I got a sega CD and when I played Sonic CD for the first time, I was too amazed to breathe
In never played this one growing up. I really enjoyed this review! Awesome soundtrack! Great job SegaLX!
Well hey! I definitely liked the video. I am an exception to two of the generalizations you made. I first played Sonic CD after all the cartridge titles, with the US OST. I was too young to really be thinking about my favorite Sonic titles. I would play it again when Sonic Unleashed came out because Unleashed got me so hyped, I wanted more. My wife wanted to try Sonic CD and so I downloaded it for her emulator and was surprised to be greeted with the JP OST that I didn't even know existed. This quickly became my favorite Sonic OST and I also saw the deep genius of the level design. I was consistently finishing acts in under 30 seconds, even Wacky Workbench acts and Metallic Madness acts. The game delivered both fast and thought out level designs with quick routes through them, but also wonderful exploration based rewards for those looking for them. I feel most players do not stick around to figure either aspect out, as it is few players' first Sonic title. They simply play it to beat it once, and then they're done. The built in save feature does this game no favors in that respect. You would find more love for the game if you had to replay it at every Game Over. Giving it a simple "once through" would do no more justice to it than giving Sonic 1 or 2 a "once through" - and those titles would also likely have less fans if that were the case there as well.
I heard the USA soundtrack first and ended up loving much much more the JP/EUR soundtrack. They're just overall better melodies and suit the levels better, although the USA soundtrack has some bangers too (especially the intro and boss theme).
I like the Japanese tracks but the American singers.
I like the Japanese Sonic CD soundtrack a lot better than the USA version. Plus, I highly recommend saving your Sega CD's game data to the Sega CD memory cartridge.
6:54 I don't think Sega of America ever outright said they hated the Japanese soundtrack, Joe Miller pitched the idea because they wanted to stretch their legs and give the game a different feel.