Sonic Gems Collection review

[Captain Wrong]

I love current generation consoles, but WHAT is the point of buying this game, when you can get all the original version for those 30 US?

NEWS FLASH: Study shows that some people don't have a Sega Saturn or Sega CD videogame console in their homes. World stunned. More on this as it develops.

I declare!

*faints*

[suppafly]

I love current generation consoles, but WHAT is the point of buying this game, when you can get all the original version for those 30 US?

NEWS FLASH: Study shows that some people don't have a Sega Saturn or Sega CD videogame console in their homes. World stunned. More on this as it develops.

You wouldnt have made such a silly comment if you´d read my post completely....

[kainemaxwell]

Well, this is definitly a reason to look into imports.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I love current generation consoles, but WHAT is the point of buying this game, when you can get all the original version for those 30 US?

NEWS FLASH: Study shows that some people don't have a Sega Saturn or Sega CD videogame console in their homes. World stunned. More on this as it develops.

I declare!

*faints*

Objection! OVER RULED! I want a re-trial!

[Cryomancer]

I hear rumors of this game detecting the region of the console you're using for things like the music in sonic cd. Dunno if this applies to the bonus genny games or not (oh nos, streets of rage is HIDDEN ON THE DISC CALL THE ESRB).

[PDorr3]

I think Im gonna wait for a price drop. I already have sonic r and sonic cd, Im only buying it for sonic fighters and the game gear games.

[Jorpho]

Sega said that the reason Sonic the Fighters never appeared on the Saturn was because of its complexity.

arcade emulation is far easier on a current gen console/PC than the Saturn.

...But Sonic the Fighters isn't emulated in MAME yet, whereas vaguely-working Saturn emulators do exist.

Anyway, it is true that for $10 cheaper you can get this charming compilation, which can't be that much worse in the end (despite the technical niggles).

[Leo_A]

As someone that can't justify buying a Saturn, Game Gear, and 32x for a handful of decent games when there's more worthwhile investments for my money I have to spend on gaming, I'm happy to see this.

[THATinkjar]

I hear rumors of this game detecting the region of the console you're using for things like the music in sonic cd.

Apparently, the original intention was to make both soundtracks available, and that the user could select which they listened to. This was scrapped, unfortunately, due to space constraints. I've also heard it was a copyright issue. Who knows.

[Jive3D]

I played the japanese ps2 release last night. The music in Sonic CD is from the US version of the game (*sigh*).

[THATinkjar]

I played the japanese ps2 release last night.

How did you manage that?

[Mayhem]

It's out in Japan. My copy is probably sitting at home from PlayAsia at the moment no doubt (was sent 10 days ago, but I'm in the US at the mo).

[importaku]

I can't wait to play this, i just hope the unlockables are easier to get than the last sonic collection they were a total pain to unlock.

[GrayFox]

Wow, apparently we (Gamestop) didn't get it in today.

I'm salty about this.

[klausien]

FINALLY got my Japanese Cube copy today courtesy of Play-Asia. Gave it about an hour thus far. A quick rundown:

Sonic CD: First thing I tried. Loads quickly. Ah, glorious Japanese soundtrack. It is definitely the PC version as it includes the load screen that wasn't in the Sega CD version, though it is unnecessary due to how speedy the game loads. Have yet to try the special stage.

Sonic the Fighters: Pretty cool. Graphics are nice, especially the flying carpet stage. Plays like a dumbed down VF, with nice special moves from the Sonic games (Sonic can spindash!), and a splash of Fighting Vipers. Will put more time into this later.

Sonic R: PC. The Emerald stage is not transparent. Now, I have never played the PC version, but there is zero background pop-up in Gems. The water effects are pretty cool too, though again lack transparency. Runs at a very solid framerate. Plays better with the GC controller. All in all, much better than the Saturn version.

The GG games: Same as on Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Nothing to see here, move along.

There are two open spots in the menu for extra games (Vectorman 1 & 2). I am hoping that more will appear. It would suck if the Bare Knuckle games were either cut completely or are in the PS2 version only. We will have to see as there is really nothing out there about this yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[rayearthknight]

I hear rumors of this game detecting the region of the console you're using for things like the music in sonic cd.

Apparently, the original intention was to make both soundtracks available, and that the user could select which they listened to. This was scrapped, unfortunately, due to space constraints. I've also heard it was a copyright issue. Who knows.

I doubt it's space contraints--as the games are pretty small--the music took up a lot of the space on Sonic CD, more than likely it's the copyright--maybe Spencer Nilsen's contract had some stipulation in it that allowed for his music (and Pastiche's voices) to be used on all US versions of Sonic CD.

I noticed on the back of the case there is the mark of 1-4 players. Which game can play four players? Sonic R? I bought it on my way to work today, so I haven't been able to play it.

Off-topic--Does anyone else hope that Sonic Team releases an update or a collection containing Burning Rangers and Nights into Dreams?

[Mayhem]

There are two open spots in the menu for extra games (Vectorman 1 & 2). I am hoping that more will appear. It would suck if the Bare Knuckle games were either cut completely or are in the PS2 version only. We will have to see as there is really nothing out there about this yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

That really WOULD suck because I specifically went for the Japanese version because they said it would have the Bare Knuckle games (and not Vectorman).

[Jive3D]

Sonic CD: First thing I tried. Loads quickly. Ah, glorious Japanese soundtrack.

ARE YOU SURE???

I was playing the Japanese PS2 version last night. I was surprised that there was almost zero japanese text at all. And I was pretty sure that the soundtrack was from the US version...

THE CUBE version has the japanese soundtrack???

I'd really like to nail this down, b/c if this if true I'm going to import it right a F-in way...

[Leo_A]

"The GG games: Same as on Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Nothing to see here, move along."

If you're talking about emulation quality then I suppose it's the same, but this is a different set of GG games than we got for Mega Collection Plus.

[klausien]

If you're talking about emulation quality then I suppose it's the same, but this is a different set of GG games than we got for Mega Collection Plus.

Different, more limited set, but nothing new. Not that I was expecting anything new. Just saying that the GG games are not why you buy the collection.

I also see that all 3 Bare Knuckle games are on the back of the box, so that bodes well. Just need to figure out how to unlock them. I've unlocked Vectorman thus far.

As for the Sonic CD music concerns, apparently the PS2 version has both soundtracks. It depends on the region of the console. The import Cube version definitely has the right soundtrack.