More than any other 2D sidescroller Sonic game, people have mixed feelings about Sonic CD. On the one hand, people will say it has excellent graphics and music (depending on what version you're playing), cool gameplay, interesting bosses, and a neat time travel mechanic. On the other hand, people will criticize the flawed level design, the lack of challenge, and assert the time travel mechanic isn't well-implemented.
Personally, I really like this game. It's sorta like the Return of the Jedi of the Sonic series: out of all the classic games, it has the lowest lows, but it also has the highest highs, helping it balance out to being a very good game.
The story is much better and more interesting than the story in Sonic 1 or 2 (maybe not Sonic 3&Knuckles) without being needlessly convoluted or dark (*looks at Sonic 06*). The tone is still fairly lighthearted while being a bit more serious than the first two games, and Metal Sonic and Amy Rose are welcome additions.
Sonic still controls as well as he did in the previous games (minus the gimped spindash), and the levels are bright and memorable. The level design, however, isn't that great: while there are moments of speed scattered through, it's pretty mazelike and finding a good spot to time travel can be annoying. It would've been better if you could open up a time rift by just touching a Past or Future signpost and then jumping in, allowing the levels to be more streamlined and speedy in the process. That being said, it is very easy to backtrack to previous locations, which mitigates this (and the process of finding the robot generators) somewhat.
If you don't care about robot generators, the levels are pretty short and easy. This makes the game accessible to newer Sonic fans who don't care about the 100% ending, although it can be a bit annoying to Sonic veterans (but if it annoys you, just go for the generators, amiright?)
The bosses are really creative, even if they can be beaten in fewer hits than in other games. Easily the best one is the Metal Sonic race, but the rest require strategic planning instead of just running in and incessantly attacking.
And now for the music: I love both soundtracks equally despite them sounding very different from each other. The only better Sonic soundtracks are for Sonic 3&Knuckles and Sonic Adventure 2. Also, the graphics are amazing and colorful, thanks to the CD technology.
Overall, Sonic CD is an excellent game despite its flaws. It deserves a 7.5 out of 10.
The most controversial 2D Sonic game this side of Sonic 4
More than any other 2D sidescroller Sonic game, people have mixed feelings about Sonic CD. On the one hand, people will say it has excellent graphics and music (depending on what version you're playing), cool gameplay, interesting bosses, and a neat time travel mechanic. On the other hand, people will criticize the flawed level design, the lack of challenge, and assert the time travel mechanic isn't well-implemented.
Personally, I really like this game. It's sorta like the Return of the Jedi of the Sonic series: out of all the classic games, it has the lowest lows, but it also has the highest highs, helping it balance out to being a very good game.
The story is much better and more interesting than the story in Sonic 1 or 2 (maybe not Sonic 3&Knuckles) without being needlessly convoluted or dark (*looks at Sonic 06*). The tone is still fairly lighthearted while being a bit more serious than the first two games, and Metal Sonic and Amy Rose are welcome additions.
Sonic still controls as well as he did in the previous games (minus the gimped spindash), and the levels are bright and memorable. The level design, however, isn't that great: while there are moments of speed scattered through, it's pretty mazelike and finding a good spot to time travel can be annoying. It would've been better if you could open up a time rift by just touching a Past or Future signpost and then jumping in, allowing the levels to be more streamlined and speedy in the process. That being said, it is very easy to backtrack to previous locations, which mitigates this (and the process of finding the robot generators) somewhat.
If you don't care about robot generators, the levels are pretty short and easy. This makes the game accessible to newer Sonic fans who don't care about the 100% ending, although it can be a bit annoying to Sonic veterans (but if it annoys you, just go for the generators, amiright?)
The bosses are really creative, even if they can be beaten in fewer hits than in other games. Easily the best one is the Metal Sonic race, but the rest require strategic planning instead of just running in and incessantly attacking.
And now for the music: I love both soundtracks equally despite them sounding very different from each other. The only better Sonic soundtracks are for Sonic 3&Knuckles and Sonic Adventure 2. Also, the graphics are amazing and colorful, thanks to the CD technology.
Overall, Sonic CD is an excellent game despite its flaws. It deserves a 7.5 out of 10.