Sonic Classic Collection
(Sega. DS. 1 Player)
I love Sonic the Hedgehog. I was always a Sega man back in day, I went from the Master System to the Game Gear to the Megadrive, even owning the Mega-CD and Mega 32x. To me Sega had the better range of games or more games that suited me and the one game that was always on my system was Sonic the Hedgehog.
It is sad to say that when I think of my current gaming life I probably use all my latest systems (PSP, PS3, Wii) to play old games either downloaded or in Classic Collections. And now it is the turn of my DS to join that bunch with Sonic Classic Collection.
Look at him go!
This set includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and Knuckles and also allows you to play Knuckles in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3. So technically you are getting six games on this one set. The game also comes with a limited art gallery and though some background on the games (as is featured in the sets on the PS3 etc) would have been nice or maybe if they had been kept as unlockables it is still a nice feature. Sadly, although the games are riddled with cheats that I’m sure even the hardened gamers know about, there are no bonuses (extra games, videos etc) to completing the games that were featured in other versions. The other omission which is just completely bizarre is the lack of two player mode. Even if the co-op modes within Sonic 2 and 3 were not possible, not being able to play against an opponent is a strange omission and does affect the replayablity of the games.
Everyone say it with me ‘Up, Down, Left, Right A Start’
Sonic The Hedgehog’s plot is fairly simple. You play as a super hedgehog who is trying to rescue all the animals who have been transformed into robots by Dr Robotnik (or Dr Eggman). Throughout the game you have opportunities to win Chaos Emeralds and with all six or seven collected you defeat Robotnik once and for all. The game is divided into Zones which typically have three Acts with the end of the third being a battle with Robotnik. What made the game so addictive was the speed that Sonic played at. With Mario he was a little ploddy and methodical in where he had to jump, with Sonic you just run and go and if anything is in your way you simply press down and spin your way through them.
RoboSonic?
Now the big debate is about which Sonic game is the best with fans usually tossing up between One and Two. I personally preferred Two as the game was longer, felt more in depth and the Special Stage for that time was amazing. The first game was still great and here both games are reproduced perfectly. I still have to edge the favoritism to Sonic 2, but both games are classic and though you may not need them, the addition of a save place function means that you can at least stop for a few minutes and then return to the game.
Now that’s what I call ‘Special’
The one thing I recalled when I started playing these games is this horrifying fact: I had never completed Sonic 3. Never. I had the game and I had played it, but I didn’t like it and I didn’t like having to find the Special Zone instead of earning it (In the first two games if you collected fifty rings you would be granted the chance to play the Special Zone) and to be honest the Blue Sphere mode was never as fun as the Special Zone from Sonic 2.
What is an Echidna anyway?
That being said, this is a great reproduction of the game and on playing it again it is still a good game. It is a shame that this and Sonic and Knuckles did not have a Save Function, but it is still fun to play. Sonic and Knuckles and Knuckles in Sonic 2 and 3 will really be played depending on how much you enjoyed playing as Knuckles. I found him a little tricky to play as and though his wall climbing ability was pretty cool his awkward flying move was…well awkward. Sonic and Knuckles is essentially just Sonic 3.1 with the same palette and level configuration, just with new things to find and spin through. It is still a good game and though I would have preferred they include any of the other Sonic games e.g. Sonic Drift which is featured in the Gallery and I had really hoped might have been an unlockable extra, but sadly not to be.
Sonic Classic Collection is a great spin down memory lane. For those who remember playing the originals and want to play Sonic on the go this is a great set. Controls for all games are great and if you are new to the game easily picked up. Unlike recent Sonic games that overcomplicated the controls, this was simple and effective and though the last Sonic game was almost a return to form, it still doesn’t beat the classic play of the originals. Even if you only play it for Sonic 1 and 2 it is still worth the price.
