Sonic Gems Collection
| Sonic Gems Collection | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Sonic Team |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Year released | 2005 |
| System(s) | Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 |
| Series | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| Genre(s) | Compilation |
|---|---|
| Modes | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) |  |
Sonic Gems Collection is a compilation of obscure video games published by Sega for various consoles, such as the Sega CD, Sega Saturn, and Game Gear. It primarily focuses on Sonic the Hedgehog games, such as Sonic CD (1993) and Sonic the Fighters (1996). It also includes six of the twelve Sonic games released for the Game Gear. These games encompass various genres, such as platforming, fighting, pinball, and puzzle. Additionally, players can unlock several Sega Genesis games unrelated to Sonic, including the two VectorMan games (1995 and 1996). Four games in the japanese version, Bonanza Bros. (1990) and the Streets of Rage trilogy (1991—1994), are not included in the international version. Each game is mostly identical to its initial release, but some were changed; for example, Sonic R runs at a higher frame rate.
The compilation features an extensive museum section in which players can view content—such as promotional artwork, videos, screenshots, and music—unlocked after obtaining achievements. Time-limited demos of the original Genesis Sonic games and the other six Game Gear games (Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic Chaos (1993), Sonic Drift (1994), Sonic Labyrinth (1995), Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1995), and Sonic Blast (1996)) can also be unlocked. In each demo the player begins in the respective game's final level and can play until the time limit is met.
Sonic Gems Collection was developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. According to Sonic Team director Yojiro Ogawa, the compilation (and its 2002 predecessor Sonic Mega Collection) was conceived to introduce young players to older games in the Sonic franchise. While Sonic Mega Collection focused on the original Genesis games to showcase what made the franchise a success, Sonic Gems Collection focused on games Sega considered rare and obscure. Although Sonic Team was responsible for Sonic Gems Collection's creation, they had limited involvement in the development of the games included on the compilation; for example, Sega AM2 made Sonic the Fighters, and Sonic R was primarily developed by Traveller's Tales. Most of the games included are emulated, but Sonic the Fighters is a port.
- Sonic games
- Sonic CD
- Sonic the Fighters
- Sonic R
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
- Sonic Spinball
- Sonic Drift 2
- Tails' Skypatrol
- Tails Adventure
- Unlockable games
- Vectorman
- Vectorman 2
- Bonanza Bros. (Japanese release only)
- Streets of Rage (Japanese release only)
- Streets of Rage 2 (Japanese release only)
- Streets of Rage 3 (Japanese release only)
