Platform: Gamecube Genre: Classics Compellation Publisher: Sega Developer: Sega ETA: Summer 2005
Sonic
Gems Collection
The
Sonic Mega Collections - released on all three major collections - were
a fine tribute to Sonic's past. But pretty much everyone had the same
gripe - where the hell was Sonic CD, widely regarded as one of the best
Sonic games in existence? The Sonic Gems Collection fixes that problem
right up, by presenting the elusive Sega CD game as one its major
titles. While the version at E3 had the American soundtrack in place,
here's hoping Sega decides to put an option to use the completely
different Japanese music.
That's
not all though - Sega is also including the obscure Model 2 arcade game
Sonic the Fighters, a 3D fighting game made when Sega was pumping out
Virtua Fighter clones, as well as the Saturn racing game Sonic R. There
are also several Game Gear titles as well - Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic
Spinball, Sonic and Tails 2, Sonic Drift 2, Tails' Sky Patrol and Tails
Adventure. Unfortunately, it seems to be missing the isometric Sonic
arcade game which, like the fighting game, saw a very limited release
and was never ported to the home
consoles.
And there's neither hide nor hair of Knuckles Chaotix, the bizarre 32X
title. Hopefully these will be included as hidden titles, but there's no
concrete word as of yet. Like the original Sonic collection, there will
be unlockable artwork as well. Regardless, this little package, coming
out for the Gamecube in America (and PS2 in Europe and Japan), should
make Sonic fans very happy this summer.