Sonic CD

ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCD (Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Shī Dī)Sega CD, Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 +81993

  1. JP1993
  2. NA1993
  3. EU1993
  4. RU—

Sonic CD is called ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCD (Sonic the Hedgehog CD) in Japan, and North America got a different soundtrack from Japan and Europe. The easiest legal way to play it today is the Sonic Origins compilation, which contains Christian Whitehead's Retro Engine version.

Sonic CD is a platformer for the Mega-CD, released in Japan on 23 September 1993 and in North America and Europe on 23 November 1993. It was developed by Sega and directed by Sonic co-creator Naoto Ohshima. Its signature idea is time travel: hitting 'past' or 'future' signs sends Sonic to one of four versions of each stage, each with its own music. Future stages are 'bad' by default and turn 'good' if the player destroys a hidden transporter in the past.

Amy Rose and Metal Sonic made their debut here; both were designed by Kazuyuki Hoshino. The North American release was delayed about two months for a new soundtrack by Spencer Nilsen and David Young, so the game exists with two different scores.

With over 1.5 million copies sold, Sonic CD was the best-selling Sega CD game. In 2011 Christian Whitehead rebuilt it in his Retro Engine for Xbox 360, PS3, Android and iOS, and that version later became part of Sonic Origins.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Sonic CDDelayed about two months for the new North American soundtrack Sega CD Nov 23, 1993 Sega 1
NA Sonic CD Windows Sep 20, 1996 Sega 1
JP ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCD Sega CD Sep 23, 1993 Sega 1
EU Sonic CDWikipedia gives one worldwide date for North America and Europe Sega CD Nov 23, 1993 Sega 1
JP ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCDDirectX version; a 1995 version was only bundled with new computers Windows Aug 9, 1996 Sega 1
EU Sonic CD Windows Oct 3, 1996 Sega 1
WW Sonic Gems CollectionCompilation, also on GameCube PlayStation 2 August 2005 Sega 1
WW Sonic CDRetro Engine version by Christian Whitehead; same day on PS3 and Android Xbox 360 Dec 14, 2011 Sega 1
WW Sonic CDRetro Engine version iOS Dec 15, 2011 Sega 1
WW Sonic CDSteam, Retro Engine version Windows January 2012 Sega 1
WW Sonic OriginsCompilation containing the Retro Engine version Windows 2022 Sega 1

Also known as: ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCD JP1Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Shī Dī JP1

Box art by region

  • Sonic CD box art, North America release
    NA Sonic CD
  • Sonic CD box art, Europe release
    EU Sonic CD

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • AudioNAJP/EU

    Sega of America replaced the Japanese score by Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata with a new soundtrack by Spencer Nilsen and David Young, with some tracks by Sterling Crew; Europe kept the Japanese music.1

  • AudioPC (1995/1996)Sonic Gems Collection2011 version

    Both Windows releases use the North American soundtrack; Sonic Gems Collection uses the Japanese score in Japan and the American one elsewhere, and the 2011 version lets players choose.1

  • TextNA

    The North American manual wrongly identifies Amy as Princess Sally from the DIC cartoon.1

All differences (5)

Where to play legally today

Reception

The Sega CD version sold over 1.5 million copies, the best-selling game on the system. Critics praised the presentation, visuals, music, level size and time travel; GameFan gave the Japanese version 100% but strongly criticized the North American soundtrack. On Metacritic the 2011 console versions received generally favorable reviews and the iOS version universal acclaim.1

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2store.steampowered.com

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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