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Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog CD"

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:''For the 2011 remake, see ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)]]''.''
 
{{Bob
 
{{Bob
 
| bobscreen=Scd titlescreen.png
 
| bobscreen=Scd titlescreen.png
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| icon=SonicCD Win icon.png
 
| publisher=[[Sega]]
 
| publisher=[[Sega]]
 
| developer=[[Sonic Team]]
 
| developer=[[Sonic Team]]
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| usa=<br>November 19, 1993 (Mega CD)<br>September 26, 1996 (PC)
 
| usa=<br>November 19, 1993 (Mega CD)<br>September 26, 1996 (PC)
 
| japan=<br>September 23, 1993 (Mega CD)<br>August 9, 1996 (PC)
 
| japan=<br>September 23, 1993 (Mega CD)<br>August 9, 1996 (PC)
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| rrp_jp=8,800 (Mega CD)
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| rrp_jp=8,800 (Mega CD)<br>¥7,800 (PC)
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| genre=2D Platform
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| genre=Action
 
|bbfc=u|pegi=3|esrb=e|grb=a|usk=6|oflc=g|cero=free|elspa=3|vrc=ga
 
|bbfc=u|pegi=3|esrb=e|grb=a|usk=6|oflc=g|cero=free|elspa=3|vrc=ga
 
}}
 
}}
  
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'''''Sonic the Hedgehog CD''''' (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグＣＤ) is a video game for the [[sega:Sega Mega CD|Sega Mega CD]] which is still well acclaimed by Sonic fans. It was the first and only [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] game released for the Mega CD. It is one of the few ''Sonic'' games of this era in which [[Yuji Naka]] played no major role in development; instead, it was handled by Sonic's creator [[Naoto Ohshima]].
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'''''Sonic the Hedgehog CD''''' (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグＣＤ) is the first and only ''[[Games featuring Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' title released for the [[sega:Mega CD|Mega CD]] add-on for the [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]] console. Developed separately from the sequels done by [[Sega Technical Institute]], the game was directed by the creator of [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], [[Naoto Ohshima]]. Introducing such fan favorites as [[Amy Rose]] and [[Metal Sonic]], it has become something of a cult classic, partly because of its release on the expensive add-on that most Mega Drive owners did not have access to, and partly because of its visual style and gameplay that makes it stand out from the other classic games in the series.
  
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''Sonic CD'' was the first Sonic game to offer the player the ability to save their progress, using the internal Mega CD memory or a backup RAM cartridge. The game saves after the end of each Zone's third Act, and records the best times achieved by the player in the time attack mode.  This is also the first Sonic game to feature FMV. Extended versions of these FMVs were included in ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' and ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]''.
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==Story==
  
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Early in the game's development, the gaming press and even Sega's former head of marketing [[Al Nilsen]] stated the game was going to be a port of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' and often referred to it as ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD]]''[http://info.sonicretro.org/Image:Sgmakingof2.jpg]. It was then decided to release this as a totally new game, and all ideas of ports were scrapped.
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[[File:Sonic CD Mountain Art.jpg|thumb|190px|The main setting of ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD''.]]
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For one month out of the year, a mysterious miniature planet called the [[Little Planet]] appears over the enormous [[Never Lake]]. Both a place of beauty and wonder, it is said that time moves freely on the planet, and that entire sceneries can change in a blink of an eye, all because of the mysterious secret they hold, the seven mystical Time Stones. It is said that whoever possesses the mysterious gems will be able to freely move through time, just as the surface of Little Planet does.
  
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==Story==
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Almost expectantly, the news of such a place grabs the attention of [[Dr. Eggman]], the mad genius who desires nothing more than world domination. Journeying to the Little Planet, Eggman immediately begins turning it into his personal fortress, littering the landscape with his mechanical genius. Powered not by [[animals]] but by the essence of flowers, he sets his army to tear the planet apart so he can claim the Time Stones for himself.
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[[Little Planet]] is a beautiful and tiny world, where eight special stones called the [[Time Stones]] are found. The Time Stones are powerful gems that are capable of controlling the passage of time. The evil [[Dr. Eggman|Dr. Robotnik]] had his eye on these stones all along, ever since the planet first appeared above Sonic's home planet, as it now regularly does, on the last month of the year. Upon locating the Little Planet, Robotnik and his robot cronies immediately chained it to the main planet (specifically a mountain with his own face carved into it), then set about converting the planet into a giant fortress. Seeing this, Sonic set off up the chain to investigate. [[Amy Rose]], a female hedgehog, had the idea to find [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] using tarot cards, and was 'told' that she would have a "destined" encounter with him on the Little Planet. She found him in [[Palmtree Panic]] and followed him through this area, but shortly after in [[Collision Chaos]] she was kidnapped in front of his eyes by Robotnik's newest robotic creation, [[Metal Sonic]]. Sonic must rescue Amy, and collect the [[Time Stones]] and travel through time in order to foil Robotnik's latest plot. Sonic accomplishes his mission, and Little Planet quickly vanishes after it is freed.
 
  
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==Gameplay==
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As fate would have it, [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], the speedy blue blur who has stopped Eggman time and again, was also intending on seeing the small, miracle planet, oblivious to the fact Eggman had already beaten him to the locale. Learning of the news that Sonic was fast approaching, Eggman only smiled, excited to put his latest and greatest invention up against the hedgehog, confident that he would finally be able to defeat his arch enemy once and for all...
  
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===Rounds and Zones===
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Arriving at Never Lake, Sonic immediately could tell that something was amiss. The Little Planet, which should have been a shining example of natural beauty, was instead covered in a mechanical wasteland, visible even from the distance he was at. Chained to the Earth's surface, Sonic examined the mountainside the chain was connected to, recognized the visage etched into its surface. With the image of Eggman's face smiling at him, Sonic confirmed what he was already expecting. Jumping onto the chain, Sonic quickly darted up, speeding towards the surface of the Little Planet and preparing to face Eggman once more.
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In most Sonic games, Zones are themed levels, which each comprise several numbered Acts (i.e. stages), and Zone names are often suffixed with the word "Zone" itself. In ''Sonic CD'', however, themed levels are referred to as Rounds (not suffixed with "Zone") and the numbered stages therein are called Zones. The game comprises 8 Rounds:
 
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*[[Palmtree Panic]]
 
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*[[Collision Chaos]]
 
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*[[Tidal Tempest]]
 
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*[[Quartz Quadrant]]
 
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*[[Wacky Workbench]]
 
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*[[Stardust Speedway]]
 
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*[[Metallic Madness]]
 
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At the end of each Zone, if Sonic has 50 [[ring]]s in his possession, behind the Dr. Robotnik [[signpost]] will appear a [[Giant Ring]] that allows him access to a [[Special Stage (Sonic CD)|Special Stage]], in which he has the chance to collect one of the eight [[Time Stones]] (see linked article or section on time travel below).
 
  
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It is interesting to note a certain degree of resemblance between the Rounds of ''Sonic CD'' and the Zones of its prequel ''Sonic 1'': for example, Palmtree Panic and [[Green Hill Zone]], Collision Chaos and [[Spring Yard Zone]], Tidal Tempest and [[Labyrinth Zone]]. Furthermore, much speculation has been given to the deleted level known as [[R2]], and what its theme may have been had it not been scrapped (including suggestions that it would resemble the ruins in the intro movie, a possible link to [[Marble Zone]]).
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What might have otherwise been another simple fight against the genius scientist was immediately complicated by another layer that Sonic only discovered once he set foot in [[Palmtree Panic]]. [[Amy Rose]], Sonic's biggest fan and self-proclaimed girlfriend, had been doing what she often did, playing around with her tarot cards in an attempt to look into the future. The cards telling her that she had a "destined encounter" with Sonic at Never Lake, she journeyed herself to the Little Planet, immediately becoming excited once she spotted her blue idol. None too pleased with Amy's appearance, she may have been nothing more than a slight bother if not for Eggman's intervention. At the outskirts of [[Collision Chaos]], Sonic received his first glimpse of [[Metal Sonic]], a robotic duplicate that Eggman created specificly to counter Sonic's every move. In the blink of an eye, the robot snatched up Amy, disappearing into the horizon. Now Sonic must not only stop Dr. Eggman and grab the Time Stones before he does, but save Amy Rose from the clutches of his metallic doppelgänger.
  
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===Moves===
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"No problem! With a little courage, you can do anything!"
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[[File:Peelout.png|thumb|right|The figure-8 Super Peel Out.]]
 
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Sonic's '''[[Spin Dash]]''' in Sonic CD is different from that of subsequent 2D games, which debuted in the next series game, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (16-bit); see the former article for more information. A new move was added to complement the Spin Dash: the '''[[Super Peel-Out]]'''. The Super Peel-Out can be performed by pressing and holding up {{Up}}, then pressing and holding any trigger button. This causes Sonic to rev up while running in place, until {{Up}} is released, at which point he goes speeding off. The difference difference between the two moves is that the Spin Dash damages enemies who get in Sonic's way, due to his curled attacking pose; while the Super Peel-Out leaves the running Sonic vulnerable to attack, but moving faster.
 
  
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===Time travel===
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==Game Mechanics==
  
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The game's key element is the concept of time travel. The player can travel to four different versions of each Zone, spanning three different time periods: past, present, and two versions of the future. This is accomplished by passing one of the Past or Future signs that are scattered throughout each level, and then running at top speed until Sonic is sent to that time period, relative to his current one. (Since there are only three time periods, there are never any Past signs in the past or Future signs in the future.)
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===Gameplay===
  
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The different time periods have slightly different layouts and object placements, as well as significant changes in the Round music, art and color palettes. In addition, the [[badnik]]s within a level fall into a state of disrepair as time passes: In the past, they have seem to have been deployed only recently, as they still function fully; in the present, some have become worn down; while in the future, all have been worn down. This wear can affect the speed and attacking ability of the badniks, with some becoming completely ineffective, while others do not significantly change.
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[[File:Peelout.png|thumb|190px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog]] preparing himself in [[Palmtree Panic]].]]
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Though some of the terminology is switched around, the basic premise of the classic ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' titles remain: to traverse a series of obstacles and enemies within a given level under ten minutes, generally from left to right. While loop-de-loops, [[Spikes (obstacle)|spikes]], [[Spring|springs]], and an assortment of other standard Sonic elements return, there are enough unique elements to this installment of the platformer series which makes it stand out from the quartet released on the [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]] hardware. Dropping the "Act" title entirely, each level is broken up into three seperate "Zones," the third zone being significantly shorter than the other two, but containing an encounter with Dr. Eggman at the end. While ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and its Mega Drive sequels had very straight forward battles with the doctor, the fights with him in ''CD'' are varied, taking less hits but being significantly more difficult.
  
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The future of any Zone will be a Bad Future, unless a special robot generating machine is destroyed in the past, or Sonic has collected all of the [[Time Stones]]. In these cases, it will be a Good Future, without [[badnik]]s and other mechanisation. Also hidden within the past of each Zone is a hologram projector showing Metal Sonic squashing an animal with his foot. Destroying this will cause animals to appear in the past and present levels. However the animals are always present in the Good Future, regardless of whether or not the projector has been destroyed.
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The control scheme for Sonic remains largely unchanged, the same momentum-based gameplay preserved under the hood. Pressing one of the buttons on the control pad once again allows Sonic to curl up into his [[spin attack]], attacking an enemy from any angle as long as spikes or some other dangerous projectile is not in the way. Pressing down on the control pad while running also allows Sonic to curl up in his spin attack, the roll lasting as long as momentum will allow. In addition, Sonic possesses his [[spin dash]] move from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', albeit in an altered state. In ''Sonic 2'' and nearly every game that features the spin dash, all the player must do is press down and tap once to gain a slight burst of speed, additional button presses equaling a greater initial speed once Sonic zooms off. However, in ''Sonic CD'', the action button can be pushed only once, the control pad being held down for a certain amount of time before Sonic can dash ahead. If let go too soon, Sonic will remain stationary. To balance this out, a new move was added to the game, called the [[Super Peel-Out]]. Holding up as opposed to down, Sonic charges up his speed, and when let go will zoom forward faster than he can normally achieve, his legs resembling a figure-eight as opposed to the standard circular loop. Though waiting will rev up his speed, immediately letting go on the up of the control pad will still cause Sonic to run ahead, just not at his maximum.
  
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The third Zone of each level always takes place in the future, and contains a short introductory section then a boss battle with Dr. Robotnik (or, in [[Stardust Speedway]], Metal Sonic). These third Zones will only represent a Good Future if Sonic achieved the Good Future in the previous two Zones.
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[[File:EGG-HVC-goodfuture.png|thumb|190px|The [[EGG-HVC-D01]], as pictured in the good future.]]
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One of the essential elements that make the ''Sonic CD'' experience unique is the use of the time travel mechanic. For the first two zones in each level, four different time periods can be visited: the present, the past, and two different futures - good and bad. Always starting in the present time zone, the player can make Sonic jump between the past and the future by running past [[Time Warp Plate|"Time Warp" plates]], adorned with the word "past" or "future." Each of the four potential time periods one can jump to feature completely new art reflecting where you are, with subtle changes in the layout. What may work as a quick way to blast through a zone in the present may be entirely impossible to get through in the past, and vice versa. These permutations in level design reflect on the way the levels are built in ''Sonic CD'', for while you can storm through a level for the fastest time possible, the multi-layer design can force the player to explore every nook and cranny within, not just for secret rooms and [[Monitor|item boxes]], but for items that can change the way a level works.
  
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===Bosses===
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Located somewhere in each version of the past for the first two zones of any given level is something known only as [[Eggman's machine]], the tool for which he harvests the magical flower seeds of Little Planet and uses them to fuel his [[badnik]] army. Though they can be found in the present and bad future, they are nothing more than broken husks that have already done their job, Sonic unable to interact with them. In the past, however, the machine is still fully functioning, and if Sonic is able to locate and destroy it, the robot enemies within the zone will cease to be, immediately breaking apart and letting the seed go free, planting flowers that adorn Sonic's path through the level. It is only by destroying this machine that a "good future" can be obtained in the zone, a cheery, pastel version as opposed to the dark and bleak mechanical form that composes the "bad future," which appears if you ignore the robot-making machine.
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[[File:QQboss.PNG|thumb|right|The [[Robotnik (Quartz Quadrant Boss)|Quartz Quadrant boss]] requires Sonic to run on a giant treadmill in order to defeat Robotnik.]]
 
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Most boss battles in ''Sonic CD'' are more elaborate than those in other ''Sonic'' games, and typically require Sonic to hit his enemy fewer times than the usual eight or six. However, the game's boss battles generally require more effort to actually hit Robotnik. One battle takes place on a makeshift pinball table and requires the player to use flippers to get up to Robotnik. Two battles do not involve hitting Robotnik to damage him; one takes place on a giant treadmill where the objective is to wear out Robotnik's machine by running on it, and the other is a race against Metal Sonic.
 
  
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==Versions==
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[[File:QQboss.PNG|thumb|190px|The [[Robotnik (Quartz Quadrant Boss)|Quartz Quadrant boss]], where only running on a treadmill will defeat Dr. Eggman.]]
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===International===
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For the third zone in each level, Sonic only starts off in the future, and depending on Sonic's actions in the first two zones, Sonic will start in either the "good" or "bad" future. If both of Eggman's machines are destroyed, the boss encounter will happen in the "good future," while if neither or only one was found, then the fight will happen in the "bad future." Though Eggman's boss robots may look different depending on which future the player gets, the actual fight remains the same.
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The soundtrack for international versions of Sonic CD (those published by Sega of Japan and Sega of Europe) was composed by [[Naofumi Hataya]] and Masafumi Ogata, and featured songs by [[Keiko Utoku]]. The songs were entitled "[[Sonic - You Can Do Anything]]" (infamously nicknamed "Toot Toot Sonic Warrior" by Sonic fans) and "[[Cosmic Eternity]]".
 
  
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The boss theme for the international soundtrack uses elements from [[wikipedia:Bob Marley|Bob Marley's]] "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO2YPqfSBJw&fmt=18 Sun is Shining(Funkstar Remix)]", [[wikipedia:Hall_&_Oates|Hall & Oates']] "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vouDK-LELEU I Can't Go for That(No Can Do)]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXSucRO3Iyw Work That Sucker To Death]" by Xavier.
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The badnik army that fills each zone is also affected by any given time frame Sonic is within. In the present, the robots that Eggman has created have already been in operation for some time, and while most will function just like new, occasionally a broken down one will be found, with its look and attack pattern slightly modified, generally being an easier enemy to fight. In the "bad future," the rundown versions are all that are present, making them a breeze. In the past, each robot is shiny and new, as they are still being created. Finally, if Eggman's robot-making machine is destroyed and Sonic ventures into the "good future," not a single badnik will be seen, only the naturally occurring trapfalls such as spikes being in his way to wining the level.
  
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===American===
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Within the game, there are not just one but two different ways to achieve the "good ending." The first is by going through and destroying each of Eggman's robot-making machines (fourteen in total) and making a "good future" for each level. The second is by collecting all seven Time Stones, which are accessible in yet another version of the classic [[Special Stage (Sonic CD)|Special Stage]]. Just as in the first ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', access to the stage is granted by finishing a zone with fifty [[Ring|rings]] and jumping into the [[Giant Ring]] to the right of the [[signpost]]. Using a psudo-Mode 7 effect and showcasing the power of the Mega CD, the goal is to destroy all of the UFOs flying about in the level before time runs out. When the counter goes down to 20 seconds, an extra blue UFO will appear, which will give Sonic extra time to finish the level if he can destroy it. If all seven are collected, the good ending and its related animated winning sequence will appear, regardless of how many of Eggman's machines were destroyed during the game.
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Sonic CD was delayed a few months for its North American release to have a new soundtrack composed by [[Spencer Nilsen]], who did other [[Mega CD]] soundtracks as well as some early [[Sega Saturn]] soundtracks. All the music (save for the Past tunes, which were in [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM audio]] rather than [[wikipedia:Red Book (audio CD standard)|Red Book CD audio]]) was replaced, and new themes were composed, each with entirely different rhythms and beats not heard in the international release.
 
  
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Replacing "Sonic - You Can Do Anything" is a song called "[[Sonic Boom]]", performed by [[Pastiche]]. Both the opening and ending had similar lyrics but different instrumentation.
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Another destroyable item hidden in each of the past variants of the first two zones (except in [[Metallic Madness|the final level]]) are projectors featuring the image of [[Metal Sonic]] tormenting the [[animals]] found in the classic games. Putting an end to his holographic reign of terror will cause the animals to be free, populating the rest of the zone. Though not necessary for either ending, if one goes through and finds all twelve, a message touting the status of a super player will be shown after the end credits.
  
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===Differences===
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===Time Attack===
  
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[[File:Scd cd us manual 02 03.jpg|thumb|right|The notorious US manual page that replaced Amy with Princess Sally.]]
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A new mode introduced in ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD'', Time Attack is as the name implies, giving the player the option to run through any particular zone as fast as possible, the best times being recorded in the Mega CD's RAM for posterity. As levels available are only those that have been finished in the main game, the point of the run through is simply to get from beginning to end, such elements as the Time Warp posts removed from the zone. Though basic enough, the mode serves an important purpose, offering up a collection of alternate bonus features to be unlocked if the total time for all zones is under a certain point:
  
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Every re-release of the game in the US exclusively has the American soundtrack, including both the PC version and the one in ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' (the latter having the American soundtrack even in Europe); the international soundtrack surfaced in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles Collection|Sonic Screensaver]]'', but otherwise has never made it to the States.
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* Under 37'27"57: "D.A. Garden" is unlocked on the title screen, allowing a sound test with a Little Planet background, accompanied by animations of [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]], Dr. Eggman, and Metal Sonic.
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* Under 30'21"05: Time Attack for the Special Stages is added.
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* Under 25'46"12: "Visual Mode" is unlocked on the title screen, allowing the intro, both endings, and a pencil test to be viewed at the player's leisure.
  
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The American release also replaced Amy Rose's name in the manual with that of [[Princess Sally]] to garner support for the television show, despite the fact that the Princess Sally character was already established.
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===Music and Sound===
  
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The race with Metal Sonic plays the default music based on the version of the future being played. The international version always plays the Bad Future theme. The "Little Planet" theme is played in the Time Attack screen in the American version instead of second Title screen track. The ability to re-start the level at the cost of a life was added to the American release and can be performed by pausing the game and pressing either {{A}}, {{B}}, or {{C}}.
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Because of the game's presentation on the CD format, ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD'' was the first game in the series to take full advantage of high quality, Redbook audio. [[Naofumi Hataya]] and [[Masafumi Ogata]] were the ones responsible for the soundtrack, creating a basic theme for the "present" levels and then remixing them for the "past," "good future" and "bad future" levels, maintaining the basic elements but the sound reflecting on the mood the level presents. Though most of the themes are done in Redbook format, each "past" track is done in PCM format, similar to the style in the Mega Drive games. The vocal themes were sung by J-pop artist [[Keiko Utoku]], who also provided the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the game, while the tracks for the levels used numerous samples to give them a richer sound. The best example of this technique is with the music that plays during each standard boss encounter, which samples [[wikipedia:Bob Marley|Bob Marley's]] "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO2YPqfSBJw&fmt=18 Sun is Shining (Funkstar Remix)]", [[wikipedia:Hall_&_Oates|Hall & Oates']] "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccenFp_3kq8 I Can't Go for That(No Can Do)]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xosLvDxbdhs Work That Sucker To Death]" by Xavier.
  
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===PC release (1996)===
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Though the original soundtrack was maintained in the European release, Sega of America decided to redo the majority of the soundtrack, having in-house musicians [[Spencer Nilsen]] and [[David Young]] compose the new themes. Instead of having two separate tracks for the intro and ending, only one was composed, [[Sonic Boom]], an up-tempo version greeting those playing the American version and a slower rock version accompanying the credits. The only tracks in the original version that were left untouched were the "past" mixes, as they had been programmed into the game and would require a greater amount of effort to change than simply replacing one set of Redbook audio files with another.
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Sonic CD was ported to the IBM PC and released in Japan on August 9, 1996. Following the Japanese release was the North American and European releases, each hitting the market on August 26, 1996 and October 3, 1996 respectively. The PC version featured the entire FMV intro and ending sequences, spanning longer than those of the original Mega CD release. The Japanese version had its manual translated from the US version, and all versions had the US soundtrack, with the "Past" tunes converted to normal Red Book CD audio tracks. Most sound effects in this version were downsampled from the Mega CD original and caused the game to sound weird, (the same applies to the "Gems" edition). Unfortunately, the PC version is not compatible with Windows XP or later without the use of a homebrewed {{file|SonicCDfix.7z|patch}} created by Korama [http://forumsx.sonic-cult.org/index.php?showtopic=6039]. This patch, however, will not work with the Dino Version of Sonic CD.
 
  
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===''Sonic Gems Collection'' (2005)===
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==Sound Test==
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A modified version of the PC port was made available as part of the [[sega:Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] (and, in Japan and Europe, [[sega: Sony PlayStation 2|PS2]]) compilation ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]''. The Japanese and USA region versions of this port received the same soundtracks as in their original release, but the European release had its soundtrack replaced with the American one. One difference in this version is the water in [[Tidal Tempest]], which is clear instead of green (as is in the Mega CD version.)
 
  
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A strange fact to notice is that the [[Debug Mode]] cheat code is not only listed as a hidden picture, but when the code is enabled, the default feature of placing objects will not work. This is due to the Nintendo GameCube's X button not functioning in-game, for an unknown reason.
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[[File:Sonic CD Sound Test.png|thumb|190px|The no-frills version of the sound test.]]
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[[File:Sonic CD DAGarden.png|thumb|190px|The "D.A. Garden" sound test.]]
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Below is a listing of the songs available to be played through the sound test within the game. The names attributed to each file are those presented in the unlockable "D.A. Garden" mode ("Sound Test" in the U.S. edition), while the associated letter/number listings are how they are presented in the secret sound test. For the songs themselves, visit either the [[Sonic CD (Japan & PAL Regions) OST]] for the original music made for the game, or the [[Sonic CD for Windows 95 OST]] for the American-exclusive soundtrack.
  
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==Manuals==
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{{multicol|
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* [[Sonic CD US Manual]]
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*DA No. 00: [[Palmtree Panic]]
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* [[Sonic CD US "Not for Resale" Manual]]
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*DA No. 01: Palmtree Panic "G" mix
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* [[Sonic CD EU Manual]]
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*DA No. 02: Palmtree Panic "B" mix
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* [[Sonic CD JP Manual]]
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*DA No. 03: [[Collision Chaos]]
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* [[Sonic CD (PC) US Manual]]
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*DA No. 04: Collision Chaos "G" mix
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* [[Sonic CD (PC) EU Manual]]
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*DA No. 05: Collision Chaos "B" mix
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* [[Sonic CD (PC) JP Manual]]
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*DA No. 06: [[Tidal Tempest]]
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*DA No. 07: Tidal Tempest "G" mix
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==Also released in==
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*DA No. 08: Tidal Tempest "B" mix
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*''[[Sega Family Fun Pak]]'' for the PC (1996)
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*DA No. 09: [[Quartz Quadrant]]
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*''[[Sonic & Garfield Pack]]'' for the PC (1999)
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*DA No. 10: Quartz Quadrant "G" mix
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*''[[Sonic Action Pack]]'' for the PC (2000)
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*DA No. 11: Quartz Quadrant "B" mix
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*''[[Sonic Action 4 Pack]]'' for PC (2001)
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*DA No. 12: [[Wacky Workbench]]
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*''[[Twin Pack: Sonic CD and Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]'' (2002)
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*DA No. 13: Wacky Workbench "G" mix
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*''[[Sega PC Mega Pack]]'' for the PC (2003)
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*DA No. 14: Wacky Workbench "B" mix
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*''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] and [[Sony PlayStation 2]] (2005)
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*DA No. 15: [[Stardust Speedway]]
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*DA No. 16: Stardust Speedway "G" mix
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*DA No. 17: Stardust Speedway "B" mix
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*DA No. 18: [[Metallic Madness]]
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*DA No. 19: Metallic Madness "G" mix
 +
*DA No. 20: Metallic Madness "B" mix
 +
*DA No. 21: Boss!!
 +
*DA No. 22: Final Fever
 +
*DA No. 23: Title
 +
*DA No. 24: Time Attack Menu
 +
*DA No. 25: Zone Clear
 +
*DA No. 26: Speed Up!!
 +
*DA No. 27: Invincible!!
 +
*DA No. 28: Game Over
 +
*DA No. 29: [[Special Stage (Sonic CD)|Special Stage]]
 +
*DA No. 30: Little Planet
 +
*DA No. 31: Unused Warp Sound
 +
*DA No. 32: [[Sonic - You Can Do Anything]]
 +
*DA No. 33: [[Cosmic Eternity - Believe in Yourself]]
 +
*PCM No. 10: Palmtree Panic "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 11: Collision Chaos "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 12: Tidal Tempest "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 13: Quartz Quadrant "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 14: Wacky Workbench "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 15: Stardust Speedway "P" mix
 +
*PCM No. 16: Metallic Madness "P" mix
 +
}}
  
−
==Voice actors==
+
==Production Credits==
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
|-
 
−
! Role
 
−
! Voice Actor
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]
 
−
|[[Keiko Utoku]][http://info.sonicretro.org/Image:Scd_Unknown_magazine.png]
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Amy Rose]]
 
−
|[[Lynn Harris]]
 
−
|}
 
  
−
==Production credits==
+
{{multicol|
 
===Main===
 
===Main===
 
Executive Producer: [[Hayao Nakayama]]<br>
 
Executive Producer: [[Hayao Nakayama]]<br>
Line 132: Line 138:
 
Chief Programmer: [[Matsuhide Mizoguchi]]<br>
 
Chief Programmer: [[Matsuhide Mizoguchi]]<br>
 
Programmers: Yuichi Matsuoka, Hiroshi Takei, Tatsuya Satoh, Noritaka Yakita<br>
 
Programmers: Yuichi Matsuoka, Hiroshi Takei, Tatsuya Satoh, Noritaka Yakita<br>
 +
BGM Composer and Arranged: [[Naofumi Hataya]], [[Masafumi Ogata]]<br>
 
Sound Effects: [[Yukifumi Makino]]<br>
 
Sound Effects: [[Yukifumi Makino]]<br>
 
Sound Programmer: [[Yukifumi Makino]]<br>
 
Sound Programmer: [[Yukifumi Makino]]<br>
 
Development Support: [[Al Nilsen]]<br>
 
Development Support: [[Al Nilsen]]<br>
 
Promoter: Hiroyuki Tanaka<br>
 
Promoter: Hiroyuki Tanaka<br>
−
Music (Original/JPN): [[Naofumi Hataya]] and [[Masafumi Ogata]]<br>
 
−
Music (US): [[Spencer Nilsen]], David Young<br>
 
  
 
===Animation Staff===
 
===Animation Staff===
Line 154: Line 159:
 
===Special Edition for North America===
 
===Special Edition for North America===
 
Music Composed and Produced By: [[Spencer Nilsen]], David Young<br>
 
Music Composed and Produced By: [[Spencer Nilsen]], David Young<br>
−
Vocal By: Sanday Cressman, Jenny Meltzer, Becky West<br>
+
Vocal By: Sandy Cressman, Jenny Meltzer, Becky West<br>
 
Drums & Percussion By: Brad Kaiser<br>  
 
Drums & Percussion By: Brad Kaiser<br>  
 
Guitars By: Erik Frykman<br>
 
Guitars By: Erik Frykman<br>
Line 164: Line 169:
 
Assistant Engineers: Roosevelt Hoover, Maurice Jackson<br>
 
Assistant Engineers: Roosevelt Hoover, Maurice Jackson<br>
  
−
Special Thanks: [[Naofumi Hataya]], Masafumi Ogata, [[Daisuke Saito]], [[Hiroshi Kubota]], [[Rieko Kodama]], [[Yoshiaki Kashima]], [[Takenobu Mitsuyoshi]], [[Masaru Setsumaru]], Hifiri Aoki, Stene Ray Burton, James Michael Spahn, Kounosuke Yoshio, [[Tomoko Sasaki]], Aki Kamta, [[Fujio Minegishi]], [[Jina Ishiwatari]], Katsufumi Yoshimori, Tetsuo Akagi, Kaeko Itoh, Hiromi Nakatani, Hiroshi Fukuda, Etsuko Yamada, Ryuichiro Kutsuzawa, Takashi Lwade, [[Michikazu Tamamura]], Masumi Uchida, [[Tohru Watanuki]], [[Makoto Suzuki]], Audix, Digital Support Group, Fairlight E.S.P, Opcode, Otari, Zoom
+
Special Thanks: [[Naofumi Hataya]], [[Masafumi Ogata]], [[Daisuke Saito]], [[Hiroshi Kubota]], [[Rieko Kodama]], [[Yoshiaki Kashima]], [[Takenobu Mitsuyoshi]], [[Masaru Setsumaru]], Hifiri Aoki, Stene Ray Burton, James Michael Spahn, Kounosuke Yoshio, [[Tomoko Sasaki]], Aki Kamta, [[Fujio Minegishi]], [[Jina Ishiwatari]], Katsufumi Yoshimori, Tetsuo Akagi, Kaeko Itoh, Hiromi Nakatani, Hiroshi Fukuda, Etsuko Yamada, Ryuichiro Kutsuzawa, Takashi Lwade, [[Michikazu Tamamura]], Masumi Uchida, [[Tohru Watanuki]], [[Makoto Suzuki]], Audix, Digital Support Group, Fairlight E.S.P, Opcode, Otari, Zoom
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Voice Actors==
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Role
 +
! Voice Actor
 +
|-
 +
|[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]
 +
|[[Keiko Utoku]][http://info.sonicretro.org/Image:Scd_Unknown_magazine.png]
 +
|-
 +
|[[Amy Rose]]
 +
|[[Lynn Harris]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==Manuals==
 +
 
 +
* [[Sonic CD JP Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD US Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD US "Not for Resale" Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD EU Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD (PC) JP Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD (PC) US Manual]]
 +
* [[Sonic CD (PC) EU Manual]]
 +
 
 +
==Miscellaneous==
 +
 
 +
===Game Revisions===
 +
 
 +
In addition to the music changes found in the American version of ''Sonic CD'', the music that plays during the famous race between Sonic and Metal Sonic is always the "bad future" mix, even if a good future was achieved in the game. When the game was ported to the PC on the Windows 95 platform in 1996, the Spencer Nilsen soundtrack was used in every region, including Japan, and featured the "past" mixes of each song converted into Redbook audio format as well. The save feature was also redone, allowing multiple files to exist at once. As for the opening and closing FMV sequences, the expanded power of the home computer allowed the full versions of these animations to be seen for the first time, with detail the limited color palette of the Mega CD was unable to handle.
 +
 
 +
The PC port of the game was used as the basis for the version of ''Sonic CD'' used in the compilation title ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'', and because of this met with its own changes and flaws. While the original soundtrack was maintained in the Japanese release of the game, the American soundtrack was used in the European release, which had not been done in the original Mega CD version. The water effects in Tidal Tempest were nerfed, the water being clear as opposed to the green shade in the regular version. The entire credits sequence was omitted, the ending FMV filling the entire screen instead. Finally, in the [[sega:Nintendo Gamecube|Nintendo Gamecube]] version of the port, the [[Debug Mode]] game cheat was only half-enabled, the ability to place objects disabled due to one of the keys not being mapped to the Gamecube's controller.
 +
 
 +
==Rereleases==
 +
 
 +
*''[[Sega Family Fun Pak]]'' for the PC (1996)
 +
*''[[Sonic & Garfield Pack]]'' for the PC (1999)
 +
*''[[Sonic Action Pack]]'' for the PC (2000)
 +
*''[[Sonic Action 4 Pack]]'' for PC (2001)
 +
*''[[Twin Pack: Sonic CD and Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]'' (2002)
 +
*''[[Sega PC Mega Pack]]'' for the PC (2003)
 +
*''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] and [[Sony PlayStation 2]] (2005)
 +
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)|Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' for the [[Xbox 360]], [[Playstation 3]], iOS, and Android (2011)
 +
 
 +
==Adaptations==
 +
 
 +
In an attempt to advertise ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD'' and its later PC port, various comic book adaptations were commissioned within the pages of the two Sonic the Hedgehog comic book titles running at the time. In the United States, the [[Archie Comics]] series ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' used its [[Sonic the Hedgehog 025 (Archie)|25th issue]] to adapt the game, merging elements of the game's plot (such as the kidnapping of Amy Rose and the race with Metal Sonic) into its [[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)|Saturday morning]]-inspired universe. In the United Kingdom series ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'' published by [[Fleetway]], the adaptation to the game spanned multiple issues, covering issues [[Sonic the Comic 024|24]] through [[Sonic the Comic 028|28]]. While the first two parts of the tale were based in ''Sonic the Comic''-specific characters, the later parts of "Sonic the Terminator" featured Metal Sonic (called "Metallix" in the series) kidnapping Amy Rose and taking her to the Little Planet, where Sonic was forced to battle his double through time.
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
−
===Original Sound Version Recordings===
 
−
For the Windows version see [[Sonic CD for Windows 95 OST]] for a download page. For the Japanese Mega CD version see [[Sonic CD (Japan & PAL Regions) OST]].
 
  
−
===Artwork===
+
===Sonic CD PC Patch===
−
<gallery>
+
 
−
Image:Soniccd with timestone.jpg
+
{{ratings
−
Image:SSS SONIC43.png
+
|egm=[[Review Crew - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Electronic Gaming Monthly, November 1993)|85]]
−
Image:SSS SONIC35.png
+
|gamepro=[[Review - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (GamePro, January 1994)|100]]
−
Image:Metal cd02.png
+
|mms=[[Review - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Mean Machines Sega, November 1993)|83]]
−
Image:SSS SONIC36.png
+
|mega=[[Review - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Mega, October 1993)|89]]
−
Image:SSS SONIC39.png
+
|smz=[[Review - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (MegaZone, January 1994)|91]]
−
</gallery>
+
}}
 +
* {{file|SonicCDfix.7z|Sonic CD patch}} for Windows XP and later - A patch created by community member Korama to allow the PC version of ''Sonic CD'' to work on modern computer machines.[http://forumsx.sonic-cult.org/index.php?showtopic=6039] It is important to note this patch is not compatible with the DINO release.
 +
 
 +
===ISO Modification===
 +
 
 +
====Hacking Guides====
  
−
==Scans==
+
* [[SCHG:Sonic CD|Sonic Community Hacking Guide/Sonic CD]]
−
===Mega CD===
+
* [[SCHG:Sonic CD (PC)|Sonic Community Hacking Guide/Sonic CD PC]]
−
<gallery>
 
−
Image:Scd-box-us.jpg|US cover
 
−
Image:Soniccd mcd us cd.jpg|US disc
 
−
Image:SonicCDUSNotForRetailCover.jpg|US not for resale cover
 
−
Image:Scd mcd us nfr disc.jpg|US 'Not For Resale' disc
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
−
<gallery>
+
===Image Gallery===
−
Image:Scd-box-eu.jpg|EU front cover
 
−
Image:Scd mcd eu back cover.jpg|EU back cover
 
−
Image:Soniccd mcd eu cd.jpg|EU disc
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
−
<gallery>
+
====Physical Scans====
−
Image:Scd-box-jap.jpg|JP front cover
 
−
Image:Scd segacd jp back cover.jpg|JP back cover
 
−
Image:Sonic-cd-mcd-jp-disc.jpg|JP disc
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
−
===PC===
+
=====Mega CD=====
−
<gallery>
+
{{Scanbox
−
Image:Scd pc us front cover.jpg|US front cover
+
| console=Mega CD
−
Image:Scd pc us back cover.jpg|US back cover
+
| region=JP
−
Image:Soniccd pc us cd.jpg|US PC disc
+
| front=Scd-box-jap.jpg
−
Image:Soniccd pc us expert cd.jpg|Budget US PC
+
| back=Scd segacd jp back cover.jpg
−
Image:Soniccd pc us expert alt cd.jpg|Budget US PC (alternate)
+
| spine=
−
Image:Sonic CD PC Dino OEM.jpg|OEM Dino US PC
+
| square=yes
−
</gallery>
+
| disc=Sonic-cd-mcd-jp-disc.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega CD
 +
| region=US
 +
| front=Scd-box-us.jpg
 +
| disc=Soniccd mcd us cd.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega CD
 +
| region=US (Not for resale)
 +
| front=SonicCDUSNotForRetailCover.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=Scd mcd us nfr disc.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega CD
 +
| region=EU
 +
| front=Scd-box-eu.jpg
 +
| back=Scd mcd eu back cover.jpg
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=Soniccd mcd eu cd.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
  
−
<gallery>
+
=====PC=====
−
Image:Scd-pc-eu-cover.png|EU front cover
+
{{Scanbox
−
Image:Scd-pc-eu-inside.png|EU inside cover
+
| console=PC
−
Image:Scd-pc-eu-back.png|EU back cover
+
| region=JP
−
Image:Scd-pc-eu-disc.png‎|EU PC disc
+
| front=Scd-pc-jp-cover.jpg
−
</gallery>
+
| back=
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=
 +
| disc=SCD PC JP-disc.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=US<br/>(Jewel Case)
 +
| front=Scd pc us front cover.jpg
 +
| back=Scd pc us back cover.jpg
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=Soniccd pc us cd.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=US
 +
| front=SonicCD(U)PCfront.jpg
 +
| back=SonicCD(U)PCback.jpg
 +
| spine=SonicCD(U)PCside.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=US<br/>(Expert Software)
 +
| front=SonicCD PC US Box Front Expert.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=
 +
| disc=Soniccd pc us expert cd.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
| item1=Soniccd pc us expert alt cd.jpg
 +
| item1name=Alt Disc
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=US (OEM Dino)
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=OriginalDinoCD (U).png
 +
| manual=
 +
| item1=Sonic CD PC Dino OEM.jpg
 +
| item1name=Alt Disc
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=EU
 +
| front=Scd-pc-eu-cover.png
 +
| back=Scd-pc-eu-back.png
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=Scd-pc-eu-disc.png
 +
| manual=
 +
| item1=Scd-pc-eu-inside.png
 +
| item1name=Inlay
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=PC
 +
| region=DE
 +
| front=scd_german_cover.JPG
 +
| back=
 +
| spine=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| disc=
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
  
−
<gallery>
+
====Artwork====
−
Image:Scd-pc-jp-cover.jpg|JP cover
 
−
Image:SCD PC JP-disc.jpg|JP PC disc
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
Image:scd_german_cover.JPG|German PC cover
+
Image:SSS SONIC30.png
 +
Image:SSS SONIC35.png
 +
Image:SSS SONICD .png
 +
Image:SSS SONIC39.png
 +
Image:SSS SONIC36.png
 +
Image:SCD Metal Sonic Alternate.png
 +
Image:Metal cd02.png
 +
Image:SSS SONIC43.png
 +
Image:Soniccd with timestone.jpg
 +
Image:Sonic CD PC Clean.png
 +
Image:Sonic the Hedgehog CD Logo.png
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
===Other===
+
==External Links==
−
<gallery>
+
* [http://sega.jp/pc/soniccd/ Sega of Japan catalogue page for the PC version]
−
File:Soniccd korean flyer.jpg|Korean flyer
+
* [http://www.theghz.com/sonic/cd/sonic_cd.html http://www.theghz.com/sonic/cd/sonic_cd.html] - The page for ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD'' on [[The Green Hill Zone]].
−
</gallery>
+
* [http://soniczone0.com/games/soniccd/backgroundinfo/ http://soniczone0.com/games/soniccd/backgroundinfo/] - A detailed look at ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD'' on the site [[Zone: 0]].
  
 
{{SonicCDOmni}}
 
{{SonicCDOmni}}
Line 236: Line 384:
 
{{SonicPCGames}}
 
{{SonicPCGames}}
  
−
[[Category:Mega CD Games]]
+
[[Category:Mega CD games]]
−
[[Category:PC Games]]
+
[[Category:PC games]]

Revision as of 18:39, 6 March 2012

For the 2011 remake, see Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011).

n/a

Scd titlescreen.png
Sonic the Hedgehog CD
SonicCD Win icon.png
System(s): Sega Mega CD, Windows PC
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

Sonic the Hedgehog CD (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグＣＤ) is the first and only Sonic the Hedgehog title released for the Mega CD add-on for the Sega Mega Drive console. Developed separately from the sequels done by Sega Technical Institute, the game was directed by the creator of Sonic, Naoto Ohshima. Introducing such fan favorites as Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, it has become something of a cult classic, partly because of its release on the expensive add-on that most Mega Drive owners did not have access to, and partly because of its visual style and gameplay that makes it stand out from the other classic games in the series.

Story

The main setting of Sonic the Hedgehog CD.

For one month out of the year, a mysterious miniature planet called the Little Planet appears over the enormous Never Lake. Both a place of beauty and wonder, it is said that time moves freely on the planet, and that entire sceneries can change in a blink of an eye, all because of the mysterious secret they hold, the seven mystical Time Stones. It is said that whoever possesses the mysterious gems will be able to freely move through time, just as the surface of Little Planet does.

Almost expectantly, the news of such a place grabs the attention of Dr. Eggman, the mad genius who desires nothing more than world domination. Journeying to the Little Planet, Eggman immediately begins turning it into his personal fortress, littering the landscape with his mechanical genius. Powered not by animals but by the essence of flowers, he sets his army to tear the planet apart so he can claim the Time Stones for himself.

As fate would have it, Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedy blue blur who has stopped Eggman time and again, was also intending on seeing the small, miracle planet, oblivious to the fact Eggman had already beaten him to the locale. Learning of the news that Sonic was fast approaching, Eggman only smiled, excited to put his latest and greatest invention up against the hedgehog, confident that he would finally be able to defeat his arch enemy once and for all...

Arriving at Never Lake, Sonic immediately could tell that something was amiss. The Little Planet, which should have been a shining example of natural beauty, was instead covered in a mechanical wasteland, visible even from the distance he was at. Chained to the Earth's surface, Sonic examined the mountainside the chain was connected to, recognized the visage etched into its surface. With the image of Eggman's face smiling at him, Sonic confirmed what he was already expecting. Jumping onto the chain, Sonic quickly darted up, speeding towards the surface of the Little Planet and preparing to face Eggman once more.

What might have otherwise been another simple fight against the genius scientist was immediately complicated by another layer that Sonic only discovered once he set foot in Palmtree Panic. Amy Rose, Sonic's biggest fan and self-proclaimed girlfriend, had been doing what she often did, playing around with her tarot cards in an attempt to look into the future. The cards telling her that she had a "destined encounter" with Sonic at Never Lake, she journeyed herself to the Little Planet, immediately becoming excited once she spotted her blue idol. None too pleased with Amy's appearance, she may have been nothing more than a slight bother if not for Eggman's intervention. At the outskirts of Collision Chaos, Sonic received his first glimpse of Metal Sonic, a robotic duplicate that Eggman created specificly to counter Sonic's every move. In the blink of an eye, the robot snatched up Amy, disappearing into the horizon. Now Sonic must not only stop Dr. Eggman and grab the Time Stones before he does, but save Amy Rose from the clutches of his metallic doppelgänger.

"No problem! With a little courage, you can do anything!"

Game Mechanics

Gameplay

Sonic the Hedgehog preparing himself in Palmtree Panic.

Though some of the terminology is switched around, the basic premise of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog titles remain: to traverse a series of obstacles and enemies within a given level under ten minutes, generally from left to right. While loop-de-loops, spikes, springs, and an assortment of other standard Sonic elements return, there are enough unique elements to this installment of the platformer series which makes it stand out from the quartet released on the Sega Mega Drive hardware. Dropping the "Act" title entirely, each level is broken up into three seperate "Zones," the third zone being significantly shorter than the other two, but containing an encounter with Dr. Eggman at the end. While Sonic the Hedgehog and its Mega Drive sequels had very straight forward battles with the doctor, the fights with him in CD are varied, taking less hits but being significantly more difficult.

The control scheme for Sonic remains largely unchanged, the same momentum-based gameplay preserved under the hood. Pressing one of the buttons on the control pad once again allows Sonic to curl up into his spin attack, attacking an enemy from any angle as long as spikes or some other dangerous projectile is not in the way. Pressing down on the control pad while running also allows Sonic to curl up in his spin attack, the roll lasting as long as momentum will allow. In addition, Sonic possesses his spin dash move from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, albeit in an altered state. In Sonic 2 and nearly every game that features the spin dash, all the player must do is press down and tap once to gain a slight burst of speed, additional button presses equaling a greater initial speed once Sonic zooms off. However, in Sonic CD, the action button can be pushed only once, the control pad being held down for a certain amount of time before Sonic can dash ahead. If let go too soon, Sonic will remain stationary. To balance this out, a new move was added to the game, called the Super Peel-Out. Holding up as opposed to down, Sonic charges up his speed, and when let go will zoom forward faster than he can normally achieve, his legs resembling a figure-eight as opposed to the standard circular loop. Though waiting will rev up his speed, immediately letting go on the up of the control pad will still cause Sonic to run ahead, just not at his maximum.

The EGG-HVC-D01, as pictured in the good future.

One of the essential elements that make the Sonic CD experience unique is the use of the time travel mechanic. For the first two zones in each level, four different time periods can be visited: the present, the past, and two different futures - good and bad. Always starting in the present time zone, the player can make Sonic jump between the past and the future by running past "Time Warp" plates, adorned with the word "past" or "future." Each of the four potential time periods one can jump to feature completely new art reflecting where you are, with subtle changes in the layout. What may work as a quick way to blast through a zone in the present may be entirely impossible to get through in the past, and vice versa. These permutations in level design reflect on the way the levels are built in Sonic CD, for while you can storm through a level for the fastest time possible, the multi-layer design can force the player to explore every nook and cranny within, not just for secret rooms and item boxes, but for items that can change the way a level works.

Located somewhere in each version of the past for the first two zones of any given level is something known only as Eggman's machine, the tool for which he harvests the magical flower seeds of Little Planet and uses them to fuel his badnik army. Though they can be found in the present and bad future, they are nothing more than broken husks that have already done their job, Sonic unable to interact with them. In the past, however, the machine is still fully functioning, and if Sonic is able to locate and destroy it, the robot enemies within the zone will cease to be, immediately breaking apart and letting the seed go free, planting flowers that adorn Sonic's path through the level. It is only by destroying this machine that a "good future" can be obtained in the zone, a cheery, pastel version as opposed to the dark and bleak mechanical form that composes the "bad future," which appears if you ignore the robot-making machine.

The Quartz Quadrant boss, where only running on a treadmill will defeat Dr. Eggman.

For the third zone in each level, Sonic only starts off in the future, and depending on Sonic's actions in the first two zones, Sonic will start in either the "good" or "bad" future. If both of Eggman's machines are destroyed, the boss encounter will happen in the "good future," while if neither or only one was found, then the fight will happen in the "bad future." Though Eggman's boss robots may look different depending on which future the player gets, the actual fight remains the same.

The badnik army that fills each zone is also affected by any given time frame Sonic is within. In the present, the robots that Eggman has created have already been in operation for some time, and while most will function just like new, occasionally a broken down one will be found, with its look and attack pattern slightly modified, generally being an easier enemy to fight. In the "bad future," the rundown versions are all that are present, making them a breeze. In the past, each robot is shiny and new, as they are still being created. Finally, if Eggman's robot-making machine is destroyed and Sonic ventures into the "good future," not a single badnik will be seen, only the naturally occurring trapfalls such as spikes being in his way to wining the level.

Within the game, there are not just one but two different ways to achieve the "good ending." The first is by going through and destroying each of Eggman's robot-making machines (fourteen in total) and making a "good future" for each level. The second is by collecting all seven Time Stones, which are accessible in yet another version of the classic Special Stage. Just as in the first Sonic the Hedgehog, access to the stage is granted by finishing a zone with fifty rings and jumping into the Giant Ring to the right of the signpost. Using a psudo-Mode 7 effect and showcasing the power of the Mega CD, the goal is to destroy all of the UFOs flying about in the level before time runs out. When the counter goes down to 20 seconds, an extra blue UFO will appear, which will give Sonic extra time to finish the level if he can destroy it. If all seven are collected, the good ending and its related animated winning sequence will appear, regardless of how many of Eggman's machines were destroyed during the game.

Another destroyable item hidden in each of the past variants of the first two zones (except in the final level) are projectors featuring the image of Metal Sonic tormenting the animals found in the classic games. Putting an end to his holographic reign of terror will cause the animals to be free, populating the rest of the zone. Though not necessary for either ending, if one goes through and finds all twelve, a message touting the status of a super player will be shown after the end credits.

Time Attack

A new mode introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Time Attack is as the name implies, giving the player the option to run through any particular zone as fast as possible, the best times being recorded in the Mega CD's RAM for posterity. As levels available are only those that have been finished in the main game, the point of the run through is simply to get from beginning to end, such elements as the Time Warp posts removed from the zone. Though basic enough, the mode serves an important purpose, offering up a collection of alternate bonus features to be unlocked if the total time for all zones is under a certain point:

  • Under 37'27"57: "D.A. Garden" is unlocked on the title screen, allowing a sound test with a Little Planet background, accompanied by animations of Tails, Dr. Eggman, and Metal Sonic.
  • Under 30'21"05: Time Attack for the Special Stages is added.
  • Under 25'46"12: "Visual Mode" is unlocked on the title screen, allowing the intro, both endings, and a pencil test to be viewed at the player's leisure.

Music and Sound

Because of the game's presentation on the CD format, Sonic the Hedgehog CD was the first game in the series to take full advantage of high quality, Redbook audio. Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata were the ones responsible for the soundtrack, creating a basic theme for the "present" levels and then remixing them for the "past," "good future" and "bad future" levels, maintaining the basic elements but the sound reflecting on the mood the level presents. Though most of the themes are done in Redbook format, each "past" track is done in PCM format, similar to the style in the Mega Drive games. The vocal themes were sung by J-pop artist Keiko Utoku, who also provided the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the game, while the tracks for the levels used numerous samples to give them a richer sound. The best example of this technique is with the music that plays during each standard boss encounter, which samples Bob Marley's "Sun is Shining (Funkstar Remix)", Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That(No Can Do)" and "Work That Sucker To Death" by Xavier.

Though the original soundtrack was maintained in the European release, Sega of America decided to redo the majority of the soundtrack, having in-house musicians Spencer Nilsen and David Young compose the new themes. Instead of having two separate tracks for the intro and ending, only one was composed, Sonic Boom, an up-tempo version greeting those playing the American version and a slower rock version accompanying the credits. The only tracks in the original version that were left untouched were the "past" mixes, as they had been programmed into the game and would require a greater amount of effort to change than simply replacing one set of Redbook audio files with another.

Sound Test

The no-frills version of the sound test.
The "D.A. Garden" sound test.

Below is a listing of the songs available to be played through the sound test within the game. The names attributed to each file are those presented in the unlockable "D.A. Garden" mode ("Sound Test" in the U.S. edition), while the associated letter/number listings are how they are presented in the secret sound test. For the songs themselves, visit either the Sonic CD (Japan & PAL Regions) OST for the original music made for the game, or the Sonic CD for Windows 95 OST for the American-exclusive soundtrack.

  • DA No. 00: Palmtree Panic
  • DA No. 01: Palmtree Panic "G" mix
  • DA No. 02: Palmtree Panic "B" mix
  • DA No. 03: Collision Chaos
  • DA No. 04: Collision Chaos "G" mix
  • DA No. 05: Collision Chaos "B" mix
  • DA No. 06: Tidal Tempest
  • DA No. 07: Tidal Tempest "G" mix
  • DA No. 08: Tidal Tempest "B" mix
  • DA No. 09: Quartz Quadrant
  • DA No. 10: Quartz Quadrant "G" mix
  • DA No. 11: Quartz Quadrant "B" mix
  • DA No. 12: Wacky Workbench
  • DA No. 13: Wacky Workbench "G" mix
  • DA No. 14: Wacky Workbench "B" mix
  • DA No. 15: Stardust Speedway
  • DA No. 16: Stardust Speedway "G" mix
  • DA No. 17: Stardust Speedway "B" mix
  • DA No. 18: Metallic Madness
  • DA No. 19: Metallic Madness "G" mix
  • DA No. 20: Metallic Madness "B" mix
  • DA No. 21: Boss!!
  • DA No. 22: Final Fever
  • DA No. 23: Title
  • DA No. 24: Time Attack Menu
  • DA No. 25: Zone Clear
  • DA No. 26: Speed Up!!
  • DA No. 27: Invincible!!
  • DA No. 28: Game Over
  • DA No. 29: Special Stage
  • DA No. 30: Little Planet
  • DA No. 31: Unused Warp Sound
  • DA No. 32: Sonic - You Can Do Anything
  • DA No. 33: Cosmic Eternity - Believe in Yourself
  • PCM No. 10: Palmtree Panic "P" mix
  • PCM No. 11: Collision Chaos "P" mix
  • PCM No. 12: Tidal Tempest "P" mix
  • PCM No. 13: Quartz Quadrant "P" mix
  • PCM No. 14: Wacky Workbench "P" mix
  • PCM No. 15: Stardust Speedway "P" mix
  • PCM No. 16: Metallic Madness "P" mix

Production Credits

Main

Executive Producer: Hayao Nakayama
Producers: Minoru Kanari, Makoto Oshitani
Director: Naoto Oshima
Program Director: Keiichi Yamamoto
Art Director: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi
Sound Director: Yukifumi Makino
Game Designers: Hiroaki Chino, Kenichi Ono, Yuichiro Yokoyama, Takao Miyoshi, Akira Nishino
Character Designer: Kazuyuki Hoshino
Landscape Designers: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Takumi Miyake, Masahiro Sanpei, Masato Nishimura, Hideaki Kurata
Special Stage Designers: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Judy Totoya
Special Stage Progammer: Keiichi Yamamoto
Animation Programmers: Yuichiro Mine, Eiji Horita
Animation Visual Directors: Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Masahiro Sanpei
Visual Design: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Takumi Miyake
Chief Programmer: Matsuhide Mizoguchi
Programmers: Yuichi Matsuoka, Hiroshi Takei, Tatsuya Satoh, Noritaka Yakita
BGM Composer and Arranged: Naofumi Hataya, Masafumi Ogata
Sound Effects: Yukifumi Makino
Sound Programmer: Yukifumi Makino
Development Support: Al Nilsen
Promoter: Hiroyuki Tanaka

Animation Staff

Producers: Yasuo Yamaguchi, Mutsumi Kido
Director: Yukio Kaizawa, Ryo Watabe (Being Co. Ltd.)
Art Director: Shinzou Yuki
Chief Key Animator: Hisashi Eguchi (Studio Junio)
Key Animator: Tetsuya Kumagai, Toshiyuki Komaru, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Ichiro Furuichi, Kenji Kajiwara
Camera Director: Masaru Banzai
Production Manager: Kohji Sekiguchi
Assistant Production Manager: Kouichi Hirose
In Cooperation With: Studio Junio
Produced By: Toel Animation Co.Ltd
Recorded At: Birdman Mod Studio

Special Edition for North America

Music Composed and Produced By: Spencer Nilsen, David Young
Vocal By: Sandy Cressman, Jenny Meltzer, Becky West
Drums & Percussion By: Brad Kaiser
Guitars By: Erik Frykman
Recorded and Mixed By: Sega Multmedia Studio(Sega Of America), Intermix
Addtional Music Composed And Produced By: Sterling
Bass: Bobby Vega
Percusion: Armando Peraza
Engineer: Charles Albert
Assistant Engineers: Roosevelt Hoover, Maurice Jackson

Special Thanks: Naofumi Hataya, Masafumi Ogata, Daisuke Saito, Hiroshi Kubota, Rieko Kodama, Yoshiaki Kashima, Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, Masaru Setsumaru, Hifiri Aoki, Stene Ray Burton, James Michael Spahn, Kounosuke Yoshio, Tomoko Sasaki, Aki Kamta, Fujio Minegishi, Jina Ishiwatari, Katsufumi Yoshimori, Tetsuo Akagi, Kaeko Itoh, Hiromi Nakatani, Hiroshi Fukuda, Etsuko Yamada, Ryuichiro Kutsuzawa, Takashi Lwade, Michikazu Tamamura, Masumi Uchida, Tohru Watanuki, Makoto Suzuki, Audix, Digital Support Group, Fairlight E.S.P, Opcode, Otari, Zoom

Voice Actors

Role Voice Actor
Sonic the Hedgehog Keiko Utoku[1]
Amy Rose Lynn Harris

Manuals

Miscellaneous

Game Revisions

In addition to the music changes found in the American version of Sonic CD, the music that plays during the famous race between Sonic and Metal Sonic is always the "bad future" mix, even if a good future was achieved in the game. When the game was ported to the PC on the Windows 95 platform in 1996, the Spencer Nilsen soundtrack was used in every region, including Japan, and featured the "past" mixes of each song converted into Redbook audio format as well. The save feature was also redone, allowing multiple files to exist at once. As for the opening and closing FMV sequences, the expanded power of the home computer allowed the full versions of these animations to be seen for the first time, with detail the limited color palette of the Mega CD was unable to handle.

The PC port of the game was used as the basis for the version of Sonic CD used in the compilation title Sonic Gems Collection, and because of this met with its own changes and flaws. While the original soundtrack was maintained in the Japanese release of the game, the American soundtrack was used in the European release, which had not been done in the original Mega CD version. The water effects in Tidal Tempest were nerfed, the water being clear as opposed to the green shade in the regular version. The entire credits sequence was omitted, the ending FMV filling the entire screen instead. Finally, in the Nintendo Gamecube version of the port, the Debug Mode game cheat was only half-enabled, the ability to place objects disabled due to one of the keys not being mapped to the Gamecube's controller.

Rereleases

Adaptations

In an attempt to advertise Sonic the Hedgehog CD and its later PC port, various comic book adaptations were commissioned within the pages of the two Sonic the Hedgehog comic book titles running at the time. In the United States, the Archie Comics series Sonic the Hedgehog used its 25th issue to adapt the game, merging elements of the game's plot (such as the kidnapping of Amy Rose and the race with Metal Sonic) into its Saturday morning-inspired universe. In the United Kingdom series Sonic the Comic published by Fleetway, the adaptation to the game spanned multiple issues, covering issues 24 through 28. While the first two parts of the tale were based in Sonic the Comic-specific characters, the later parts of "Sonic the Terminator" featured Metal Sonic (called "Metallix" in the series) kidnapping Amy Rose and taking her to the Little Planet, where Sonic was forced to battle his double through time.

Resources

Sonic CD PC Patch

Segaretro-round.svg Reception »
  • Sonic CD patch (info) (286 kB) for Windows XP and later - A patch created by community member Korama to allow the PC version of Sonic CD to work on modern computer machines.[2] It is important to note this patch is not compatible with the DINO release.

ISO Modification

Hacking Guides

Image Gallery

Physical Scans

Mega CD
Mega CD, JP
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Cover
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Disc
Mega CD, US
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Cover
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Disc
Mega CD, US (Not for resale)
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Cover
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Disc
Mega CD, EU
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Cover
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Disc
PC
PC, JP
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Cover
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Disc
PC, US
(Jewel Case)
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Cover
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Disc
PC, US
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Cover
PC, US
(Expert Software)
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Cover
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Disc
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Alt Disc
PC, US (OEM Dino)

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Disc
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Alt Disc
PC, EU
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Cover
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Disc
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Inlay
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PC, DE
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Cover

Artwork

  • SSS SONIC30.png
  • SSS SONIC35.png
  • SSS SONICD .png
  • SSS SONIC39.png
  • SSS SONIC36.png
  • SCD Metal Sonic Alternate.png
  • Metal cd02.png
  • SSS SONIC43.png
  • Soniccd with timestone.jpg
  • Sonic CD PC Clean.png
  • Sonic the Hedgehog CD Logo.png

External Links


Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Scd titlescreen.png

Main page (2011)
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Scrapped Levels:

Original game – R2 | Bonus Stage
Remake – Desert Dazzle | Final Fever
Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
Sega Mega Drive

Sega Mega-CD
Sega 32X
  1991  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser     1992  Sonic the Hedgehog 2     1993  Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball     1994  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles     1995  Chaotix | Sonic Classics     1996  Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island    

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