I grew up a Sonic fan. We always had several NES consoles and Mario games at home, but it wasn’t until my Sonic the Hedgehog comic book collection exposed me to Sonic games that I asked for a Game Gear and all the Sonic games for it that I really started playing video games and looking forward to the next releases. (Of course, my lack of a Sega Genesis prompted me to ask for a Sega Nomad to play the Genesis games on, but my younger siblings outvoted me and asked for the brand new Nintendo 64 that Christmas.)

Now in 2007, Sonic and the Secret Rings is just around the corner, with the game scheduled to be on store shelves by this Tuesday, February 20. The game has seemed extremely promising, as various impressions say it’s the first 3D Sonic game to take a turn in the right direction of revitalizing the Sonic franchise. While our decision on whether or not this is the case will have to wait until later in the week, we’ve decided to celebrate the launch of Sonic and the Secret Rings by giving you our top five favorite Sonic games!

5. Sonic the Hedgehog

I was debating for a while whether or not the last spot on the list should go to the original game, or to Sonic 3. While I loved Sonic 3, I can’t help but love going back and playing the game that started it all. This is the “Super Mario Bros.” of the Sonic franchise; the game that brought Sonic into the world’s spotlight. Sure, the game is pretty linear and predictable after a while, but it’s the classic that started it all.

Sonic the Hedgehog starts out in the famous Green Hill Zone, as Sonic sets out to thwart Dr. Robotnik’s plan to roboticize all the animals and take over the island. As Sonic speeds through every act and zone collecting the six gems known as the Chaos Emeralds, he nears Dr. Robotnik’s base for the impending final battle. If there’s one Sonic game that anyone’s played, it’s probably this one.

4. Sonic CD

Even though Sonic CD was released quite early in the franchise’s existence, it had a huge vision from the get-go. Sonic CD introduced fans to a time-travel mechanic via speed posts, allowing players to go through each stage in different ways each time, with any actions in the past affecting the outcome of the stage’s future. This mechanic brought the number of playable levels in the game to a whopping 84 different stages. Only by clearing each stage in the past, however, will the player be rewarded with a picture perfect ending.

Sonic CD introduced a radically different theme and feel from its Sonic the Hedgehog predecessor, as well as brought the series to CD and bringing animated videos to the experience. Throw in those 84 different interations of 7 rounds and 3 zones each, the introduction of new characters like Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, and new moves like Sonic’s Super Peel-Out, and you have one massive new Sonic game for the Sega CD.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Rumored to have been developed in the United States concurrently with Sonic CD’s development in Japan, Sonic 2 was ultimately praised as the better game. Sonic 2 was headed by the now-famed Yuji Naka in what is a direct sequel to the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In the game, Dr. Robotnik has returned yet again to take over the world, but this time Sonic has some new tricks up his sleeve and a new friend at his side.

Sonic 2 built upon the success of the first Sonic game and made levels longer, harder, and more varied. The introduction of Miles “Tails” Prower added the ability to play two characters with completely different strengths, as well as the ability to use both characters in a co-op mode. Lastly, the addition of a seventh Chaos Emerald brought about Sonic’s ability to transform into Super Sonic as a bonus feature, which we know has become more significant to game storylines over the years.

2. Sonic Adventure 2

What is a 3D Sonic game doing so high on the list? I’ll be honest, I personally find good 3D games more immersive and enjoyable than 2D games. Of the four I’ve played, however, only Sonic Adventure 2 had both a camera and control system that I could tolerate.

Sonic Adventure 2 has Dr. Eggman trying to re-activate an old space colony, named ARK, in order to use its central cannon as a weapon to take over the world with. You choose to play as the Hero Side of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, or the Dark Side of Shadow, Rouge, and Dr. Eggman. Both sides let you race through stages at top speed, blow up stages in a mech, or treasure hunt your way out of levels, providing a varied gameplay unlike any previous Sonic game. Finish it all off with what I think was the last good final battle in a “main” Sonic game, and we have a 3D Sonic game worthy of the top five.

1. Sonic & Knuckles

Despite my love for 3D games, the classic Sonic & Knuckles allows for playing as two separate characters with separate skills, and manages to do it with having either character’s gameplay suck. In addition, the zones in Sonic & Knuckles are so much more varied than in Sonic Adventure 2 that overall the game feels much fuller and satisfying of an experience.

Tack on the fact that Sonic & Knuckles can lock onto Sonic 2 or Sonic 3, allowing not only Knuckles to play through the latter games, but also the ability to play through multiple games to collect “14″ emeralds, and you have one of the most massive, diverse, challenging, and fun Sonic games ever created in Sonic & Knuckles.

Of course, I have to give Sonic 3, Sonic Rush, and Sonic Triple Trouble honorable mention for this list - I wouldn’t feel right posting this without a hint of any of those wonderful games. I started out a Sega and Sonic fan, and was thrilled when Sonic first landed on Nintendo consoles with Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Now, five years later, Sonic is coming to the Wii in the game that supposedly gives hope to Sonic games in 3D (as much as I like 3D, it’s impossible to not notice the many problems in games thus far). Now that we’ve taken you through some of the best of Sonic’s history, hopefully you’ll pick up Sonic and the Secret Rings with a little bit more of a perspective, and you’ll appreciate it a little more for what it is.

Related Link: Sonic - cool flash version of Sonic

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