Sonic Gems Collection
Sonic Gems Collection | |
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Single-player, multiplayer |
Sonic Gems Collection is a 2005 compilation of Sega video games, primarily those in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The emulated games span multiple genres and consoles—from the Sega Genesis to the Sega Saturn—and retain the features and errors of their initial releases with minimal edits. Player progress is rewarded with demos of other Sonic games, videos, and promotional artwork spanning the history of the Sonic franchise. While its 2002 predecessor, Sonic Mega Collection, comprises popular Sonic games, Gems Collection focuses on more obscure games, such as Sonic CD (1993) and Sonic the Fighters (1996). Other non-Sonic games are included, but some, such as the Streets of Rage trilogy, are omitted in the Western localization.
Developer Sonic Team conceived the compilation to introduce younger players to older Sonic games. One game they wished to include, SegaSonic the Hedgehog (1993), was excluded due to emulation difficulties. Sega released Gems Collection for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in August 2005. Reviews were mixed or average; critics were divided over whether the package would satisfy players. They preferred Sonic CD and Vectorman, but found Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R mediocre, and disliked the Game Gear games. Some were disappointed by the absence of the Streets of Rage games in the International version and other Sonic games like SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles' Chaotix and Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure.
Games
Sonic Gems Collection is a
The compilation features an extensive museum section in which players can view content—such as promotional artwork, videos, screenshots, and remixed music—unlocked after obtaining
Featured games | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Genre | Original platform | Original release | Developer |
Sonic CD | Platform
|
Sega CD | 1993 | Sega |
Sonic the Fighters | Fighting | Arcade | 1996 | Sega AM2 |
Sonic R | Racing
|
Saturn | 1997 | Traveller's Tales, Sonic Team |
Game Gear games | ||||
Title | Genre | Original platform | Original release | Developer |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Platform | Game Gear | 1992 | Aspect
|
Sonic Spinball | Pinball | 1993 | Sega Technical Institute | |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble | Platform | 1994 | Aspect | |
Sonic Drift 2 | Racing | 1995 | Sega | |
Tails' Skypatrol | Puzzle | 1995 | SIMS | |
Tails Adventure | Platform | 1995 | Aspect | |
Unlockable games | ||||
Title | Genre | Original platform | Original release | Developer |
Vectorman | Platform, run-and-gun
|
Sega Genesis | 1995 | BlueSky Software |
Vectorman 2 | Platform, run-and-gun | 1996 | BlueSky Software | |
Bonanza Bros.[i] | Shooter | 1990 | Sega | |
Streets of Rage[i] | Beat 'em up | 1991 | Sega | |
Streets of Rage 2[i] | Beat 'em up | 1992 | Sega | |
Streets of Rage 3[i] | Beat 'em up | 1994 | Sega |
Development
Sonic Gems Collection was developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the GameCube and PlayStation 2.[7] According to Sonic Team director Yojiro Ogawa, the compilation (and its 2002 predecessor Sonic Mega Collection) was conceived to introduce young players to older games in the Sonic franchise. While Sonic Mega Collection focused on the original Genesis games to showcase what made the franchise a success, Sonic Gems Collection focused on games Sega considered rare and obscure.[8] Although Sonic Team was responsible for Sonic Gems Collection's creation, they had limited involvement in the development of the games included on the compilation; for example, Sega AM2 made Sonic the Fighters, and Sonic R was primarily developed by Traveller's Tales.[3] Most of the games included are emulated,[3] but Sonic the Fighters is a port.[5]
At the beginning of Gems Collection's development, Sonic Team made a list of the most wanted games for the compilation. The team considered the games they felt were high quality in graphics, gameplay, and overall nature.
During development, Sonic Team hoped that each region's version of Sonic Gems Collection would be identical in content. However, the Streets of Rage games and Bonanza Bros. had to be omitted from the Western
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
1Up.com | C+[17] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 6.2/10[20] |
Eurogamer | 7/10[21] |
GameSpot | 6.3/10[3] |
GameSpy | [2] |
IGN | 7.5/10[1] |
Jeuxvideo.com | 9/20[22] |
Nintendo Power | 8.5/10[12] |
According to
Reviewers considered Sonic CD the compilation's strongest feature,
Critics generally felt Sonic R and Sonic the Fighters were mediocre.[1][2][3] Castro, Theobald, and Davis compared Sonic the Fighters unfavorably to the Virtua Fighter games,[1][2] with Davis calling it dated and simplistic.[3] Jeuxvideo.com's Superpanda, in a negative review of the compilation, argued that Sonic the Fighters was too short and had control issues, but that Sonic R was on par with Sonic CD in terms of quality, praising the game's graphics and claiming that it was the compilation's most beautiful game.[22] Castro was less positive: he found its ideas clever and considered it an interesting departure from normal racing games, but thought the ideas were poorly implemented and the controls were awkward. However, he still thought the game was enjoyable and that its soundtrack was unique.[1] Theobald voiced a similar opinion, considering it "a concept that works better in theory than in practice".[2] Conversely, Davis said Sonic R's "laughably bad soundtrack" was its "only redeeming quality".[3] Bramwell considered it too odd and short to be worth the player's time.[21]
The six Game Gear Sonic games were criticized for their uneven quality and poor emulation.[2][3][21] Theobald liked that the games were available from the start, but was puzzled why the other six games were left out. He also considered the selection random ("why Sonic 2, but no Sonic?").[2] Castro was intrigued that they were all on one disc, but thought their screen displays were bad and said "you'd probably be better off dusting your old [Game Gear] and finding those old games" rather than playing them on Sonic Gems Collection.[1] Of the Game Gear games, Davis preferred Sonic 2, Sonic Triple Trouble, and Tails Skypatrol, but disliked the rest. He heavily criticized their emulation quality, noting their frequent frame rate drops.[3] Bramwell joked they were present on the disc for "educational" purposes. He lambasted their resolutions and encouraged readers to ignore them entirely.[21]
Some reviewers found the compilation incomplete.
Reviewers were generally divided over whether Sonic Gems Collection would leave players satisfied.[1][3][21] EGM summed it up as a "woefully uneven mix", but one Sonic fans should check out if they wanted Sonic CD.[20] Castro said the compilation was "decent" and worth its price tag, but was not as solid as Sonic Mega Collection.[1] Theobald found it weak and that only Sonic CD and Vectorman would appeal to casual gamers.[2] Bramwell was sarcastic: "if this sort of thing matters to you, if you still can't bear to unplug your Dreamcast, and you do own Virtua Fighter 4 and all the others and think they're brilliant, this is for you".[21] When Famitsu named the best games of 2005, it ranked Sonic Gems Collection among the bottom of the PlayStation 2 and GameCube releases.[26]
Notes
- ^ Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), Sonic Spinball (1993), Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1993), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), Sonic & Knuckles (1994), and Sonic 3D Blast (1996)
- ^ Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic Chaos (1993), Sonic Drift (1994), Sonic Labyrinth (1995), Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1995), and Sonic Blast (1996)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Castro, Juan (August 19, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". IGN. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Theobald, Phil (August 15, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Davis, Ryan. "Sonic Gems Collection Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c kombo (May 4, 2012). "Mario Kart 64, Contra III, Comix Zone, Bonanza Bros". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Sonic Team (August 11, 2005). Sonic Gems Collection. Sega.
- ^ kombo (May 4, 2012). "Mario Kart 64, Contra III, Comix Zone, Bonanza Bros". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b "Now Playing in Japan". IGN. August 15, 2005. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Yojiro Ogawa Interview". GameSpy. July 22, 2005. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "Sonic Team Q&A". GameSpot. February 18, 2004. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!". GameSpy. September 30, 2005. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ Szczepaniak, John (October 22, 2009). "Blog: I like burning hedgehogs". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Sonic Gems Collection". Nintendo Power. No. 195. Future plc. September 2005.
- ^ a b Gibson, Ellie (July 4, 2005). "Sonic Gems line-up in doubt". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ Theobald, Phil (May 20, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Torres, Ricardo (May 19, 2005). "E3 2005: Sonic Gems Collection Hands-On". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ "Sonic Gems Collection". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ 1UP.com. Archived from the originalon February 19, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ セガダイレクトには話題のグッズが満載!!. Famitsu (in Japanese). June 24, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ a b "Sonic Gems Collection for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Sonic Gems Collection". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 195. Ziff Davis. September 2005. p. 115.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bramwell, Tom (October 10, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c Superpanda (September 26, 2005). "Test : Sonic Gems Collection". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ "FY Ending March 2006 Interim Results Presentation" (PDF). Sega Sammy Holdings. November 22, 2005. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "Sonic Gems Collection (Player's Choice) (US, 2006)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ "Nintendo Beefs up its Player's Choice Line". GameSpot. May 17, 2006. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ ファミ通アワード2005 ~ ノミネートタイトル一覧. Famitsu (in Japanese). December 21, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)