- All of the best original Sonic games in one fantastic compilation
- These much-loved classics come complete to the handheld arena for the first time. Now you can experience the games that defined a genre anywhere, anytime
- For the first time in Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2, players can saved their progress at any point while playing so that you miss none of the non-stop action
Product Description
Sonic The Hedgehog, one of the world’s most recognized and successful video-game characters returns to the Nintendo DS in this new collection of his original adventures. Sonic Classic Collection is the complete compilation of the original SEGA Genesis Sonic titles, consisting of the following genre-defining games: • Sonic The Hedgehog • Sonic The Hedgehog 2 • Sonic The Hedghog 3 • Sonic & Knuckles It also features two extra lock-on modes from the ori… More >>
It’s finally nice to see these games released on a handheld that replicates the original SEGA Genesis perfectly. This collection includes the games Sonic 1, 2, 3, Sonic & Knuckles with their respective lock-on games as well. The original music is retained.
They did make a few changes which did tick me off:
1. The original multiplayer feature in Sonic 2, 3 and in the lock-on have been disabled.
2. In order to pause the game, you must select pause on the touch screen (can’t use debug or cheats).
3. You cannot custom configure the buttons.
Aside from these problems, this is a great port for a portable system (much better than that Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis for Gameboy Advance, which was horrible!). If you wanna take classic Sonic on the go, this game won’t let you down.
Rating: 4 / 5
Though Sonic’s original Genesis adventures have been packaged together numerous times in the past, this is the first time that these classic platformers have all been in the same place on a handheld system. With Sonic the Hedgehog 4 launching later this year, no doubt many Sonic fans will be wanting to revisit the original games, and Sonic Classic Collection provides a fantastic way to do so on the go.
Included in the collection are Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles. In addition, the two lock-on versions of Sonic 2 and 3 are included, so one can play as Knuckles in those games as well, which is a welcome inclusion. Sadly, the multiplayer player modes have been stripped out of all the games. Admittedly, multiplayer was never a major focus in the original Sonic games, but not even being able to have someone jump in as Tails in Sonic 2 is a bit disappointing.
Another frequently asked question is whether or not the original level select codes work. The answer, sadly, is no. It would seem that, while the codes can in fact still be activated, there is no way to access the level select menus themselves after doing so. This might be a deal breaker for certain fans, but it’s an omission that many likely won’t care about.
As for the classic games themselves, things are fairly solid. It must be said that the ports are not perfect. Framerate issues are present. It has to be said because they are there. However, they are very slight and after playing for a minute or two, they become nearly unnoticeable. Sonic 1 seems to chug the most for some reason. Overall, the games run fast and smooth, which is a vast improvement over the disaster that was Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis.
In order to make the games fit on the screen, SEGA had to mess with the graphics. They use two solutions in game. First, the view has been cropped in a little, allowing it to scroll side to side slightly to frame a good view. Second, similar to the Classic NES series on the GBA, every few lines of pixels have been removed, causing all the graphics to appear slightly shorter. It’s subtle, and a few distortions are visible, but when running at full speed, the compromises are nearly unnoticeable.
The sounds and music made the jump to DS just fine. Music sounds nearly spot on to the original Genesis titles, with only slight subtle differences appearing in a couple of songs. Sound effects are quiet faithful as well, but like the music, tiny oddities sometimes occur. Occasionally a sound effect will loop in an odd way that doesn’t quite match the original. Overall, the games still sound like themselves, and only the pickiest of fans will notice the changes.
Beyond the actual games, Sonic Classic Collection is a bit sparse on extra features. It features a small photo gallery where artwork of Sonic characters can be viewed. This is somewhat interesting, but really is only worth looking at once. Beyond that, it’s just the classic games and that’s all. All the games have now been fitted with individual save functions, which is very handy. Oddly, all the menu buttons are mapped to the touch screen alone, so pausing and saving must done there, and the start button does nothing. This is not a big issue, but it takes a little getting used to, since the start button is nearly universally used for pausing.
Overall, Sonic’s original adventures are lengthy and diverse, and having them all on one cart means getting some serious bang for your buck. Are they absolutely perfect representations? No. However, the problems are so slight that many likely won’t even notice or care. If you’re a classic Sonic fan looking for a portable fix, or if you’ve never had a chance to play these games and see why Sonic is so famous today, Sonic Classic Collection could not be more highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
Sonic Classic Collection has Sonic The Hedgehog 1-3, Sonic and Knuckles, the lock-on versions of Sonic 2 and 3 featuring Knuckles, and a small gallery of illustrations. All four games look and play really well, and are for the most part really good ports of the Genesis games.
The games do have a few small flaws:
-A few of the sound effects seemed to have suffered in quality, and in a couple places they overlap and sound rather strange.
-There are a few frame rate issues, particularly in the Metropolis Zone of Sonic 2. However, the Genesis games had some slow down too, so it could be from that rather than from the port.
-There are also a few graphical glitches, most of them minor, such as a small section of pixels briefly changing colors when the screen scrolls up or down really fast. The worst thing I’ve seen so far is in the special stages of Sonic 3/Sonic and Knuckles, where the tiles on the floor will sometimes scroll in a jerky fashion
- To pause, you have to tap a button on the touch screen. Start doesn’t seem to do anything. This isn’t so much a flaw, but it is a bit annoying when you want to pause and forget that start doesn’t work anymore.
Overall, I don’t think these flaws really hurt any of the games, and I’d recommend this collection to anyone who wants to play Sonic on the go!
Rating: 4 / 5
The young kids of today need to have this game! They need to see what Sonic was all about back in the day.
Get this for your kid! Seriously! I love these games. I have them all for the Genesis console. Now it’s very
nice that I can take Sonic anywhere! When playing this game on my DS it reminded me when, I was playing Sonic
on Game Gear. That’s the next thing that Sega should do. Put all the Sonic games from Game Gear in one game! I
would surely buy that game! I only have one complaint. The sound effects are off. When you spindash multiple times
the sound gets weird. When you get running shoes, the music changes key. (music buff) The bonus stages to get the emeralds
are buggy. When you turn it acts weird. Those are the only complaints I have. I know it’s difficult to get it right but
at least Sega left the games in its original format. Thank you Sega for rereleasing these games.
Rating: 5 / 5
After the failed attempt to bring The Sega Genesis Sonic classic in 2006 on Game Boy Advance with Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, Sega finally got it right with Sonic classics collection for the DS.
Unlike Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, The graphics stay unmodified and stay true to the original game. However there are 2 modifications
A. In the originals, When you got the Running Sneaker prize box, The music would play faster. Now, it’s also at a higher pitch.
B. No 2 player options in Sonic 2 or sonic 3
AT least with this release, the game play and graphics stay true to their original Format
PROS
1. Sonic 2 and 3 with Knuckles come pre-unlocked, where as in Sonic Mega Collection Plus, you have to unlock them.
2. Save feature. Exit out and start back up again
3. Unmodified game play and graphics
CONS
1. Unlike Sonic Mega Collection Plus, it’s only the Sonic Games from Sega Genesis and When you save and start again, you have to start from the beginning of the stage. Where as for Mega collection Plus, It picks up from the point you exited out of.
2. No 2 player options in Sonic 2 or sonic 3. They could have made it possible via DS download play
3. No Blue Sphere Game – The Bonus Blue Sphere game you’d get by attaching an incorrect game to Sonic & Knuckles isn’t on here.
4. Sonic 3 and Sonic 3 with Knuckles – pointless to have both on here. Should have been just sonic 3 with Knuckles. The only differences is that without Knuckles, you have 3 character playing options – Sonic With Tails or chose 1 to go solo. With Knuckles, You can still chose these 3 options, Knuckles is now you’re 4th option. So, it’s really pointless to have Sonic 3 and Sonic 3 with Knuckles, when you can play Sonic 3 normally on Sonic 3 with Knuckles.
With that being said, 4 Classic Sonic games on The DS, What more can you ask for?
Rating: 5 / 5