What is the appeal with this game?

[Gamer Bhoy]

I really don't understand.

I played this game for nearly an hour and I just couldn't get into it.

I recently finished 1, 2 & 3&K (for the first time, after 23 years.....) in one sitting and then I said I'd dive straight into Sonic CD afterwards but, I'm not enjoying this one at all :(

It seems way too cluttered for my liking and trying to maintain top speed to change time is just frustrating as more often than not something gets in my way and stops me.

I loved the original 3 games, I can still remember almost everything about them. I love Sonic. But I just cannot bring myself to enjoy this :(

It's a shame, because I did love the look of it at first glance.

I don't know - why is it regarded as the "best" Sonic game to some?

[funewchie]

It was innovative to have multiple versions of a stage, and to change versions as you play the stage.

As for the maintaining speed issue: part of it is learning a stage layout enough to know where the "hot spots" are.
Typically, the best places to time travel are between two springs (bouncing off a spring maintains your speed, so bouncing back and forth will allow time travel, and is generally the easiest method.)

If you want, here is a guide here that tells (among other things) where the best locations are for time warp in each act:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=237776778

[litbolt]

Most people seem to like the music in Sonic CD. They also like to argue about which region got the better soundtrack, heh.

As for gameplay, if you're used to Sonic 2 and 3 I can see why this game would seem underwhelming. The stages are either racetracks or tedious platforming.

I personally love Stardust Speedway (completing act 1 in under 20 seconds is fun) but absolutely hate Collision Chaos (the name is accurate, and as annoying as it sounds). Also, the bosses are weird compared to the other 2D Sonics.

It's probably worth beating at least once, but it's ok if it's not your style. Some people prefer Adventure to Generations, and CD vs 2 & 3 is basically the classic games' version of that argument.

[M3gadeuce]

The music is great, plus Sonic CD is focused more on exploration. Some people prefer that more than just blazing through a stage.

[germanboo hispanic]

This is the best sonic game.

[aaaa bob burger]

If you are really into the genesis titles ...I could seriously see why your not into it, so I don't blame you ...I suppose its just a matter of personal preference.

[guzmanDgerard]

im pretty new to classic sonic series(i always had nintendo as a child) now im playing genesis classics and sonic the hedgehog 2 was the first classic sonic i finished and now im starting sonic CD(3& knuckles will come after this one) as im playing CD its pretty good i like to explore the levels im not gonna lie there sometimes i get mad at cheap enemy placement and hazards but maybe is cuz im was not into sonic classic games i kinda like CD also Sonic 2 was fun speed runing and get shortcuts too so maybe is how play it

[GarlenQwQ]

One reason why it's regarded this high is because of nostalgia. Sonic CD perfectly embodies the spirit of the early 1990s and what they were all about: SEGA, house music, energy, attitude, sunny feelings ...

If this hadn't been a CD game and was just a regular Sonic cartridge game, say Sonic 2 1/2 , then it would not stand out as much as it does today.

[Dark Redshift]

I hate the level design for this game, but I love certain elements of it, specifically areas where you can jump around and go fast without fear of getting impaled by a damn spiked swingset you couldn't see in front of you nor know was coming on your first go.

Aside from the clutterings, I like both the Japanese and amercian soundtracks, the artwork for the levels is great in all stages, and I like how in this version of CD, you can sort of cheat the special stages by abusing the autosave.

It's not the best 2D Sonic game, but it comes rather close and has a special place among them, right along with the Mega Drive games and the Advance Trilogy.

A closer look at the darker goings on behind the scenes of the classic games via the Bad Futures helped too. Something like that only darker ala Shadow, 2006 or the very least SA2 would be cool to see in Sonic 2017.

Sort of like Sonic meets the Half Life 2 Beta in terms of story.

[aaaa bob burger]

Originally posted by Hadrian:

One reason why it's regarded this high is because of nostalgia. Sonic CD perfectly embodies the spirit of the early 1990s and what they were all about: SEGA, house music, energy, attitude, sunny feelings ...

If this hadn't been a CD game and was just a regular Sonic cartridge game, say Sonic 2 1/2 , then it would not stand out as much as it does today.

Could not have said it any better.

[Icy Wind]

I don't think it being regarded highly is due to nostalgia. I mean how many people even owned a Sega CD back in the day?

[leperm]

Originally posted by Gamer Bhoy:

I really don't understand.

I played this game for nearly an hour and I just couldn't get into it.

I recently finished 1, 2 & 3&K (for the first time, after 23 years.....) in one sitting and then I said I'd dive straight into Sonic CD afterwards but, I'm not enjoying this one at all :(

It seems way too cluttered for my liking and trying to maintain top speed to change time is just frustrating as more often than not something gets in my way and stops me.

I loved the original 3 games, I can still remember almost everything about them. I love Sonic. But I just cannot bring myself to enjoy this :(

It's a shame, because I did love the look of it at first glance.

I don't know - why is it regarded as the "best" Sonic game to some?

I also grew up playing the very first title on a Sega Master System back in the 90s. I've enjoyed several other Sonic titles but also failed to appreciate Sonic CD. I really don't get why it's so praised, at all. It's certainly the worst Sonic game I've ever played.

[LittleFieryOne]

I grew up with an old Genisis that my parents had bought. Played Sonic 1 and 2 on it all the time. When I first played this (online emulator a few years back), I was a bit underwhelmed too. The physics felt wonky, the spindash wasn't right, I couldn't even here the music since I was in the library without headphones (and that might have been a blessing, since the American version of Tidal Tempest's music sounds like a 7up commercial mixed with elevator music), etc.

This version I warmed up to better. I absolutely love the Japenese soundtrack, the spindash could be reverted to it's classic scheme, and the physics feel just right. But with so much time playing it, I can see the problems that were impossible to fix with a port. The level design, for instance, isn't great. And while some backgrounds are gorgeous, others are unappealing, and a few even look just a bit to similar to Sonic 1. I can see why there are people that don't like this game. But personally, I think it's an oddball. An enjoyable oddball, but still. It's almost like an arthouse decided to try and make a Sonic game. Either way, I had fun from beginning to end.

Except for Wacky Workbench, that stage can piss off.

[Dark Redshift]

Originally posted by LittleFieryOne:

Except for Wacky Workbench, that stage can piss off.

Bad Future especially. The other versions aren't as bad, and I like the Good Future as it reminds me of Commander Keen 1, 2 and 3.

[QuasiMorto]

For me, the appel was this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRaly9tk8v0

I'm not sure who, how, why they ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up the intro in this version.

[Dark Redshift]

Originally posted by QuasiMorto:

For me, the appel was this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRaly9tk8v0

I'm not sure who, how, why they ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up the intro in this version.

Do you mean the Japanese/European version of the intro?

If so, I think the reason was because the lyrics for Sonic You can do Anything suck. The Cosmic Eternity ones less so, but the instrumental version is also nice.