At last, Sonic CD arrives for Xbox on Windows Phone

It's been a long time coming. SEGA first announced Sonic CD for Windows Phone mode dorsum in August 2022. We then interviewed Ken Balough, Sonic'due south make manager, presently before the Xbox 360 version launched on December 14 of that year. At the time, there was no indication that the WP7 port would arrive dramatically later than the XBLA 1… But here we are in November 2022, and the game is finally available. Good news: information technology was worth the wait!

History lesson

Sonic CD Mega CD cover For those who don't know, Sonic CD was originally released for the Sega CD/Mega CD add-on for the Sega Genesis/Mega Bulldoze manner back in 1993. Information technology was developed concurrently with Sonic 2 but came out a bit later. At the time, Sonic CD wowed gamers with its fully-blithe intro and ending, terrific backgrounds, CD quality audio, and unique time travelling mechanics… Not to mention the introduction of Metal Sonic and Amy Rose, ii characters who became quite important to Sonic lore.

Enhancements

Believe it or not, the Windows Phone port of Sonic CD is really improve than the original game in several ways. The display has been expanded to a widescreen aspect ratio without distorting the characters or backgrounds in whatsoever mode. That'due south thanks to developer Christian Whitehead who created his own unique engine for this remake and too appears to have personally coded the WP7 version.

Other improvements include the pick to toggle between the Japanese and US soundtracks, both of which are completely unique and worthwhile, ~~better looping of the music,~~ the ability to toggle betwixt two styles of spin dashes, vocalisation samples for Sonic, and of course, Sonic'due south sidekick Tails unlocks equally a playable character afterwards beating the game. Tails was first introduced in Sonic 2, only since Sonic CD came from a split development team during the same time Sonic two was in the works, he didn't appear in the original CD game.

Fourth dimension warp

The most unique aspect of Sonic CD compared to other games in the series is the power to travel in time. Each stage has multiple versions: present, by, good future, and bad future. By touching a 'Past' or 'Future' sign and then maintaining a high speed for several seconds, Sonic tin leap between these different time periods (and get an piece of cake Achievement). If Sonic manages to destroy Eggman'south Robot Transporter in the by, he tin travel to a good future costless of ring-stealing enemies.

Controls

Touch-screen platforming games will never control quite every bit accurately equally they would with a concrete controller. But like Sonic four: Episode I before it, Sonic CD actually controls really well (much better than Earthworm Jim). Chalk it upwardly to using only one action button, making it easy to continue your right pollex in place. The actual on-screen d-pad is a bit too small in this version, but luckily you tin can press out by whatever direction and it still counts as pushing that direction.

Likewise note that the bonus levels (which you lot get past immigration a zone with fifty rings and jumping through the giant ring at the finish) just use bear upon-screen controls. No sick-advised tilting here!

Super Sonic warrior!

Stay tuned for our full Sonic CD review next week. But if you lot like Sonic or you lot're merely itching for a quality platformer, yous can safely purchase it correct now. Sonic CD works with both WP7 and WP8 and costs $4.99, the same as the XBLA version. Get it here in the Windows Phone Store.

QR: Sonic CD

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