Sonic Mega Collection (GameCube) Review

It is quite hard to argue with multiple games on one disc, especially SEVEN, but in this case you may well have to. Okay let us put it in simpler terms. You either love sonic or you hate him, there's no middle ground, Marmite all round here. So the chances are you wont need a review to tell you whether your going to want this title or not. However seeing as there's one right here you may as well read it, yeah?

Okay, we're going to presume that if you're still reading you're a sonic fan, yes? So the chances are you've played all of the games on this disc before, you may well own them on the Mega Drive. However, if you do have a Mega Drive, it's probably in a cupboard somewhere gathering dust and probably doesn't work anymore. So this is the answer, play all the games you love so much, without all the rummaging or finding things you haven't seen for ten years.

When you first turn the game on the following games will be available: Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and knuckles, Sonic 3D blast, Sonic Spinball and Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. Not too shabby eh? All of the games have been reproduced exactly, right down to the loading times and sprite flickering of the originals. Sega (or rather Sonic Team) have made no attempt to change anything at all, which is probably a good thing.

Even after all this time can they stand up to the likes of Mario? Well Sonic 1, 2 and 3, are still some of the most enjoyable platformer’s EVER. If you play through them in the order they were created as in one – two – three, it is possible to see the increase in quality as the programmers try out some new ideas. Although in this next game you never actually see Sonic (although were lead to believe you are controlling him). His less than friendly nemesis, Dr Robotnik gets the main role; the game is an extremely addictive conversion of the game puyo puyo, which is reminiscent of Tetris in many ways. Then in comparison to the others the worst two – but still enjoyable – Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic Spinball. The first 3D sonic game and Sonic Pinball game, respectively.

Then as if that wasn't enough, Sonic Team has been kind enough to pack in a whole bunch of unlockable extras. Ranging from games to comic covers. The games include Ristar, Flicky, Blue Sphere and the combination of Sonic and Knuckles with Sonic 2 and Sonic 3. There are also lots of extra movies and such about (at the time) up and coming games, as well as a history of sonic, that backlashes through all of his most famous outings. The best of these though, are the inclusion of Ristar and Flicky, two games that are basically unheard of and heavily under-appreciated. One complaint is the exclusion of Sonic CD, Another under-played, under-rated game, which ranks among the best Sonic's of all time. However seeing as Yuji Naka has hinted at Sonic Mega Collection 2, chances are it will be included there instead.

There you have it. That's just about it. As you have probably picked up by now if you never liked the games before, there's nothing here to change your mind. If on the other hand you DID like them before, go buy this NOW, definitely worth the £40.