Oh the memories and adventures this brings back,
this was one of Shael’s first game series when she was younger. Not
counting the Sesame Street Learn to count games. Oh no, every ones
favorite Impulse Gamer reviewer Shael Millheim at a very young age
was zipping along across the screen in a blue blur. Gathering rings
as she went and controlling the most famous blue hedgehog
around….Sonic.
Now Sega brings this classic and oh so fun game
to Xbox Live Arcade. (CD, Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Shī Dī), Sonic CD
beloved plat former took the gaming world by storm back in 1993. The
game also marked the first time fans are introduced to Metal Sonic
and Amy Rose.
There is nothing really upgraded about the game
that I can tell, it still looks like it did back then. Pixels and
polygons, like a computer’s psychedelic yawn. But it still has that
original side scrolling mad dash plat forming charm it always has.
Other gamers have noted that the controls and handling of Sonic are
much smoother now so, there you go.
Players control Sonic, our blue Hedgehog Hero as
he super speeds through each level. Running fast is not the only
thing that will get you to the end of the level though. Sonic has to
make use of jumping spins and spin attacks. All along the way Sonic
collects rings which in turn offer some protection if Sonic bashes
into a nasty obstacle or an enemy. Sonic loses several rings each
time, but can collect more as the game levels progress. Along the
way Sonic finds power-ups by way of signs or picture boxes that have
to be bashed to release the prize. These power ups offer things like
invincibility and super speed shoes….like this Blue Streak needs to
go any faster heh. Of course along with the enemy underlings the big
boss Dr. Eggman stands against the Blue Hero. Boss battles are a
small challenge and Dr. Eggman throws his creations Sonic’s way in
an attempt to finish of the Hedgehog.
This game also introduced a nifty game play
feature, time travel. Within each level players who have the skill
with Sonic can in fact jump to different time periods within a
level. Hitting a sign post that says future or past and then
running at a fast speed can rocket the player into future, past or
back to present times of each level. Time jumping offers new more
difficult challenges as jumping to the future for instance seems to
have many more enemies and obstacles for our hero.
Players also get the chance to unlock Tails who
is also a playable character. Much like Sonic, Tails can use Spin
Attack, Spin Dash, but as many fans know, Tails can also fly by
spinning his multiple tails around.
The simple plot for the game… yes these have
plots… is that Amy Rose and Sonic head to Never Lake to find the
legendary little planet which only shows up on the last month of
every year. Getting there, they find the planet seems to have been
captures and is chained to a mountain. Of course Dr. Eggman has
something to do with it. Sonic Cd may not look pretty, game wise
though it is a solid fun romp in the retro gaming realm.
Have fun, play games
Edwin Millheim
Impulse Gamer
