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Genre
Sonic CD is
a platform runner game that was developed by Sonic Team and published by parent
company Sega. It comes under the category of platform runner as the game
consists of the player running from platform to platform whilst avoiding
enemies and obstacles alike to reach the end of the level. However, the game
cannot be labelled as either 2D or 3D as it is in fact both, with different
points in the game varying between 2D and 3D.
Narrative/storyline
In the game,
you play as Sonic the Hedgehog; a small blue hedgehog who has the gift of speed
and takes full advantage of it by using it to run through highly dangerous
courses whilst also evading enemies who have been sent to stop him. The overall
objective is to rescue your friend Amy from the clutches of “Metal Sonic” who
was built by the game’s main villain Eggman as a means to stop Sonic from
foiling his evil plans.
Sonic CD was
the first Sonic game to introduce the concept of time
travel with each level in the game taking place in a different era (Jurassic
era, distant future etc.). This gives the game an extremely diverse look as
many platform games suffer from having either the same or similar repetitive
backgrounds which make every level feel the same. Furthermore, although this game
is a 2D platform game (like its rival Super Mario Bros), there was in fact a 3D
element added into the game for when you reach the end of each act. In this 3D
world, you required to destroy UFO’s to gain the prize you desire which will
aid you when you return to the ordinary 2D world.
Characters
Sonic CD
sees the return of the beloved Sega hero Sonic the Hedgehog as well as iconic
villain Eggman who is back to wreak more havoc in the Sonic universe. In this
Sonic instalment, Amy Rose returns from the Sonic Manga series as the damsel in
distress who becomes the plots main focus as Sonic goes on a quest to free her.
This game also sees the debut of Metal
Sonic, who was built by the infamous Eggman and was essential an evil metal
clone of Sonic.
Platforms
It was first
released in 1993 for the Sega CD and has recently been ported over to IOS and
Android as a free purchase so that people can play the game on their
smartphones. The modern version contains everything that the old version did,
yet thanks to modern technology; can all be fitted onto a smartphone as opposed
to a games console.
Gameplay
One of the
most notable pros of this game is the sheer smoothness of the gameplay. The
game is often praised for just how well it flows with sonic seamlessly sprinting
across the world at high speeds using a virtual D-pad and jump button without
constantly crashing into objects and missing exit points. The game does a
really good job of balancing high speed gameplay with manageable controls and
reasonable reactions times which means most gamers (causal or hard-core) can
pick up Sonic CD and play it with ease. Something else that players will notice
right away is the vibrancy and uniqueness of the games art, it allows you to
look at the game and instantly know that this is a Sonic the Hedgehog game.
This has therefore led me to believe that Sonic CD has a high standard of
gameplay as the developers have obviously put a lot of thought into the both
the way the game plays out and the way it looks. The game also does not use any
DLC or Micro transactions as the full game is released all as one unlike many
of the newer games today so you will not have to worry about delving into your
wallet to gain access to other parts of the game.
Now if we
move onto the graphics of the game, the general consensus is that the graphics
were actually good at the time considering the release date of this game.
However, compared to today’s blockbuster games (i.e. Battlefield 1) the game
looks pixelated and basic in detail to say the least. However, Sonic CD never
needed to have outstanding graphics to begin with as this game solely focused
on the arcade gameplay that gamers came to know and love. Furthermore, this
game only had a small budget and low tech to work with compared to today’s games,
which meant that the game had to be limited to a low-resolution 2D world.
Overall
All in all,
I believe that Sonic CD is a classic game that is still just as fun and
addictive as it was during the late 90’s when it was in its prime even in this
day and age. It is for this reason along with others that I would personally
recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a fun retro experience to take
them back to their childhood. The game is both simple and unique which makes it
feel like a huge breath of fresh air compared to many of the Triple AAA titles
that are on the shelves today. Furthermore, the game is free on the App Store,
so there is no real reason to not give it a try.
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