Sonic CD: The Unsung Masterpiece

[@Sparkys_World-0]

The community response to this video so far has thoroughly destroyed any and all of my expectations. The overwhelming positivity and support for this bizarre and extremely personal project has blown my mind and melted my heart. The amount of old and new friends reaching out with kindness and support has floored me. I can't thank you enough. Which chapter was your favourite? If you wanna support the show, feel free to leave a tip on my Ko-fi or Paypal. Its very appreciated, but honestly, comments are *even more* appreciated! All your feedback is fascinating to read and deeply moving. I plan to post lots of behind the scenes material and random trivia from this project to my Ko-fi page, available to everyone free of charge, so keep an eye on it if you're curious: ko-fi.com/sparkysworld *EDIT:* If you loved the music in this vid, check out this playlist of curated tracks heard throughout the video. Relive the magic of SCD: TUM through song!: tinyurl.com/coolsweetandcatchy

[@Itz_YoshiMelon]

I think my favourite part was the comparison to Ristar, it helped me to have a deeper understanding of some of my favourite sega games! Another one I really liked was the sega of us sins segment, really showed how much corporate nonsense is in the gaming scene.

[@kaspertheshepherd3010]

THIS IS THE BEST VIDEO ON KZbin I LOVE YOU

[@calvinmann5773]

I think the masterpiece is sung now

[@SonicCDspeedrunArchives]

Chapters 7 and 28 were my favorites, easily. It's something magical to experience the tricks, fluidity, and speedrush of Sonic CD's genius level design. You articulately demonstrated it without resorting to any of the speedrun tech that's out there (mostly) and it speaks volumes to the depth of Sonic CD's gameplay. That's the most important thing, that no SonicTuber has put the effort in for a long form video such as this one. Your music analysis blew me away and I not only appreciated everything you connected in Chapter 28, I learned things that I didn't know! It was comparable to ScrewStache's and to a lesser extent Alex Yard. (Specifically when Alex is at his best and most universal; when he's at his most universal and not just going over notes, motifs, cadences, and Candeces. The jargon that I'm not educated in. Not saying it doesn't have value Alex, you know its value and I'm not bashing you with this comment. Example of Alex at his best music analysis "It sounds happy because it is happy." Lava Reef Zone.) You really should do a followup Chapter 28 Special Edition because the US OST is never going to get another deep and insightful analysis again now that ScrewStache did his amazing video on it. You have a special talent here with this, and it's the only chunk of Sonic CD you didn't directly analyze in the same way as the rest of it.

[@Aye_pepitoo1789]

What songs did you use ?? ❤

[@Ehtis1]

"Sonic the Hedgehog CD is my favourite video game of all time" yeah bro I can tell

[@brohambbg]

Really? How?

[@danifit24]

@@brohambbg7 hours video dedicated only to this game

[@brohambbg]

@@danifit24 Huh, well would you look at that.

[@Andrewexploded]

My parole officer said one more video before I go back to jail.

[@ThePyschicBuzz]

"Don't do what Andrewexploded does, get some help"

[@RawrX32009]

What did bro do 😭

[@L4N1TIK]

😢

[@RawrX32009]

@JAI_SHREE_RAM12337 holy shit 💀😭

[@ThatPhantomGuy]

If that’s the case, you should watch “a short introduction to the Fnaf Lore” as your last video.

[@i8dacookies890]

I love how you basically said "the only thing wrong with sonic cd is that I need to make this video"

[@universesolver]

Be honest, it wasn't the title or thumbnail that made you click on this video. It was the length.

[@thisiswhatilike54]

Inb4 "that's what she said" joke

[@kennethcarloscomar6900]

I actually clicked for the thumbnail, i didn't even saw the length or the title

[@xxsegaxx]

For me it was all three,mostly the length

[@Eniggma39]

Title of your sextape

[@MarceloOmegaAGDM]

I saw a bomberman retrospective of all the games that was around 8 hours... THIS IS JUST ONE GAME!

[@LSMark]

Around 3 hours in and Fantastic Video so far! Definitely gonna take a few days to get through this haha

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Enjoy it buddy. I know you're no stranger to the occasional 7-hour magnum opus lol.

[@tuvtheultrasonicved2636]

I ove u mark

[@klpliper]

hi splashdash's friend

[@thisispkmadness]

I finished it all in 1 day

[@Sciz-zle]

Damn LS mark, I didnt know you were into sonic! if you do like sonic video essays you should watch this guy called “splash dash” he’s pretty cool

[@ov3rwh3lm]

see my attention span may be destroyed but an 8 hour sonic video can fix it

[@BadBame962]

There’s probably some irony in there

[@democracy_enjoyer]

i already fixed it with an 8 hour darkwood video, this should double the fix

[@xxsegaxx]

Virgin 1 minute attention span🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ Vs Chad 8 hour attention span 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@wildfire9280]

@democracy_enjoyer no way, he never did it, it’s impossible

[@diobrando3445]

This is the first CD video that screams at haters with the energy of "JUST GET GOOD AND START THINKING MANUALLY!" and I love it, it's not following the same route, it's a canvas for the player to truly make for themselves.

[@joeser6666]

This video inspires me to make a 10 hour long Knuckles' Chaotix video essay Edit: Fall 2026.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I’d watch the hell out of that lol.

[@toluwanimipopoola8398]

GO FOR IT! I WOULD WATCH THE HECK OUT OF IT!

[@DubiousDepthsRadio]

Chaotix is actually my sec fav classic game after cd. and 3d blast is 3rd

[@ally939]

Bro make the video

[@luisproductions1529]

I'd watch it the second it comes out lol

[@bickuribox12]

This video is an emblem of dedication, I can tell by my own video’s view count in the screenshot how long ago you were working on it haha. CD has always been my favorite as well, but similar to you, I could never quite articulate why, and was silently waiting for someone to drop the explanation I could never give. Not only did you do that, but you gave me even more appreciation for a game I already loved. Anytime the discussion of CD’s level design is brought up, this video will be referenced, as even the harshest of critics cant walk away from it without understanding your viewpoint. Also, once I realized you used to go by Subsonic sparkle, I remembered you thanking me in the gamingbrit’s stream chat over 2 years ago for my Fallen Star video. I forget if I returned the favor back then, but thank you. And if I’m mistaken, then whoops lol

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Yep that was definitely me back then lol. Thank you for remembering and thank you very much for watching. Was a huge fan of your work then and now!

[@lowkey-making-stuff]

Boss makes a dollar, I make a dime I'm watching Sonic CD: The Unsung Masterpiece on company time

[@adebayox4031]

Best comment

[@lucario.pokedex.0448]

bars

[@HyperSonic777]

I genuinely did not expect a 7 hour long video essay on Sonic CD. I could play the game almost 4 times before the video ends.

[@Josuh]

Do it

[@Sam-oo9en]

I still listen to those Sonic CD OST thank you

[@quintencornelissen2274]

Only 4 times?

[@Someoneidk-k6m]

​@@quintencornelissen2274 dude gets time over ten times per stage don't worry about it

[@idiotuk]

I could do it 14-5 times

[@shoogles_]

As far as I'm concerned this is the premier work of Sonic analysis on the internet. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

It means the world to have you here. You were the *number one* inspiration for me to pursue this project.

[@musicfighter282]

“To master the act of time travel is to master Classic Sonic” I have to go to bed instead of mainline this video, but this statement has made me want to dive into Sonic CD, a game I’ve played and beaten multiple times, for hours and hours now.

[@RiverdudeCovers]

This video itself is an unsung masterpiece, genuinely one of my favorite videos of the year. The passion you have for Sonic CD shows in every second of this video, and thank you for it!!!

[@ThisGreenDingo]

6:28:54 This art was drawn by Yasushi Yamaguchi a.k.a Judy Totoya! He was also the artist behind the pixel renditions of the cutscenes, the special stage backgrounds and the creator of Tails!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

That man was an absolute wizard. The amount of substance he packed into a single image is staggering 😭

[@That1One-Guy]

Its so funny that sonic heroes was your first sonic game since that game came out on sonic cd’s birthday and was the first modern game to reintroduce metal sonic as an antagonist

[@BadBame962]

It was an omen

[@That1One-Guy]

@@BadBame962 “CONSIDER THIS YOUR BAD ONEN” -sonic omens

[@coraldev]

This video feels like a miracle. I hope it opens even one person's eyes to the fact that this game is the greatest ever made.

[@josuezamoramesen9098]

Was the miracle thing a reference or just a coincidence with the name of the mod miracle edition?

[@dreamcastdazia4753]

It's deffo my favorite classic game after 3nK and Mania

[@tobiasbanks3743]

I watched one hour of the video and tried to play the game again and I still hate it. I guess I have to keep watching lol

[@Maikokii]

hey where's kart 10!!!

[@AXAXAXAYt]

Nah Rainworld is the best game ever made

[@splitjawjanitor5369]

Interestingly, the reason the Metal Sonic projectors do nothing is supposedly because they're what's left of an unused game mechanic in which the animals would actually attack Sonic in the Present under the belief that he's Metal until you went back and destroyed the projector. Not sure why the projectors were left in after the feature was cut.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I imagine it’s just cos they had all the animal sprites and it’s a cool visual bonus. Thank god they walked back that idea of getting assaulted by critters lol.

[@insomniatic991]

I fear we may be lost siblings. I have never heard anyone talk about this overlooked blue hedgehog game from the 90s with as much passion and fascination as me. I came across this game not too long ago, I bought it after a sale ended on steam as soon as I activated my card, leaving me with £5 to spend on nothing. I was interested in retro gaming and sonic so I bought this one classic game I had never played or seen before. I remember at first being very thrown off and kind of momentarily saddened by the lack of 16bit music. I played the first few acts feeling very confused by the seemingly warping of time and and somewhat sad by the unfamiliarity of the audio until I got to act 3 of Palmtree Panic. It's sounds silly but as soon as I heard those loud synths combined with the eerie and somehow grotesque scenery of the whole zone seemingly holding on to the last thread of life it had hit me like a truck, it felt like something you'd see from a creepypasta. I felt confused and scared so I turned off the game for a good 20 minutes trying to figure out what happened, and felt a sense of guilt seeing how this cheery scenery withered into dust and I just walked through like nothing happened. In my confusion I eagerly proceeded to the holy text of the manual to finally see the context of the scene, I can't really say much about what happened at that point as we all know the plot already but I just want to highlight how impressed and shocked I was by how unique and the innovation of it! This was so wildly different from the other games and so symbolic, how did I NOT know about this? Why has no one talked about this before?! From that point I played every level with a determination to get the good future for every zone, knowing I had to get the good future no matter how hard it was and after learning the time travel mechanics after a while I went to the past and got started. I still remember how warming and blissful it felt getting that good future for the first time, it felt like I had really done something. I then got myself to the future zones and loved each and every one just as much as the last, it was when I got to Tidal Tempest and heard those beautiful flutes whistling (JP ost ofc) and remembering the feeling that hit me hard "this is going to be a great game". I loved every zone and every time I saw the Good Futures I felt a feeling of pride (especially Quartz Quadrant), each zone genuinely feels like it's thanking you with every fibre of its being for saving it, I felt like I became just as attached to these zones as I would with actual characters (as silly as that sounds.) As I went through every zone it felt like I grew as a person each time, maybe weirdly spiritual for a Sonic game but I couldn't help but feel that way. Even though I basically saved in every level to avoid missing generators I really felt a sense of achievement as I found myself in the final zone. As hellish as the level layout for Metallic Madness 3 was I eventually stumbled up to the final boss zone and prepared for the ultimate battle. As underwhelming as it ended up being I remember still feeling a great sense of suspense taking down the final boss. Finally I had beat the game and those beautiful credit animations played (nice to see someone who liked the instrumental version of the credits song too btw!) and lastly the soothing stinger clip of the Time Bloom seeds falling to the Earth and blossoming into a field. I felt incredibly joyful that entire day lol. I then proceeded to play the games at least 10 times beyond the next few months. Each time felt just as good as the last as well. I'd also make sure to always travel to the bad futures before fixing them so I could enjoy the soundtrack as much as I could even if it was unnecessarily complicated. This game would proceed to end up being my favorite game of all time. It's really silly and borderline insane from a non autistic/adhd perspective but I really felt so much passion for every aspect of this game and wanted others to feel it too. Quick mentions to the D.A. Garden and the beautiful art in the Special Stages which deserved to be their own zones in themselves by the way! The only thing I could say in fault in this game is just the constant neglect this game continues to get not just from fans but from SEGA themselves! It honestly saddens me that this game was promised an extra zone TWICE and a PROPER final boss fight in its original release AND the remakes. The first time I can understand more but surely there was no reason Sega couldn't have given the developers more time to implement the WHOLE ZONE they designed and give this game the proper finale it deserves. I love this game so much but with it still not being finished to the point of which it was intended to be even in Sonic Origins AND without being too petty the fact they removed the 10 second "intervals" to loop the songs which isn't that major but the fact the ORIGINAL port is gone from steam means those parts can only be heard on the Original JP/EU CDs or the people who already bought the Steam Versions (thank goodness for me). But even despite all the hurtful cuts and time constraints this game was under, I still think this game as it is has enough to make it the most innovative Classic Sonic game if not the best Sonic game of all time. I'm very glad to see someone else feels as positive to this games existence as I do in this sea of people who just nitpick and exaggerate it's flaws and ignore everything else about it. It's great to see other people felt the same way about this games creation as I do, so thank you truly for giving this game the praise it deserves.

[@newbiemusicstudent]

Yeah CD is great, I had a similar experience. I knew some things going in, and my first time through it I thought what everyone else did: "That was okay..." But the game's world fascinated me and the concepts on display where really unique. I couldn't help but want to play it again hoping that I would find some new appreciation for it. The more I played it, the more I started to like it. But it really wasn't until I started watching this video that I truly started to get into the game. Now it's probably my most replayed game ever, and definitely one of my favorite Sonic games. CD is finally getting the fans it deserves, I would say.

[@saxshton]

i think it’s pretty good too : )

[@frexia]

you literally made my cry 3 times during this video, thank you

[@Sparkys_World-0]

You’re welcome. Which scenes did it for you? I always well up when Eggman kicks Metal Sonic’s head in Chapter 21 lmao.

[@frexia]

@@Sparkys_World-0 I dont have enough amount of words to properly thank you. Your video felt like a cryout. Stuff like this just really tears me on. It reminds me that every person in the world have their personal attachments to things that may or may not be as well close to you. I cried a lot because of the way you were talking about the game. My childhood story, coincidentally, matches yours to some extent. When I was 3-4 years old, my older brother bought himself a licensed copy of Sonic Heroes for PC (I live in Russia, so its really wasnt that common to find a not pirated copies of games at this point in time) and he gave it to me, soooo it was the first game I played in my lived. Then, like, when I was 6-7 years, my mother bought me a pirated copy of Sonic Adventure, and I played it as well. Actually, before that, my mom also gifted me a MD with Sonic 1 and 2 and I played these games to DEATH. I was really young so I never understood why I was so attach to these seemingly old games. Eventually, I've discovered CW's port of Sonic CD for Android, and... this game, for some reason, became my personal favorite. And I replayed it again and again, like, dozens of times. And you know what? I've never knew that you can destroy generators to form good future for this world. I was just playing it like any other Sonic game until that point. I think I need to replay the game again with a new perspective on it. Thank you a lot, you made my day and night.

[@OsartDamian]

I'm pretty sure that the lake in the sky of Collision Chaos is never lake from Sonic's earth

[@AXAXAXAYt]

Now that is probably the coolest details I've ever heard 😂

[@OsartDamian]

@@AXAXAXAYt i don't think is a headcanon, i think I heard it somewhere on an interview

[@AXAXAXAYt]

@@OsartDamian yep that's why I said or detail haha

[@democracy_enjoyer]

allways thought those were a bug or just that the planet is inverted, then i realized the ramp in ppz was a loop de loop, while you made me realize what the imverted sky in ccz

[@satorosee]

You got me all emotional over here dude, the whole section around 25:01 is something I deeply resonate with. I didn’t get to experience Sonic CD as a kid, but I grew up on the mega collection and it truly changed my life forever. I remember being a lonely 7 year old sitting in front of the Xbox trying to beat these games for hours a day. I made unforgettable memories playing these games and sitting and listening to the soundtrack of the mega collection extras section, and it’s why now at 21 years old, I still play and love these games over and over. There is something truly magical about these games

[@aperturius]

4:37:35 Thank you for shining light on what i consider to be the most sublime moment in the Mario Galaxy games, and perhaps in the entire franchise.

[@Lowart]

Phenomenal video. Your love for this game really shines through. I'm someone where CD never really connected - not that I disliked it; I just played it multiple times, got kind of confused by it, and set it aside before forgetting to go back. Midway through this video though, I started playing it using the tips you mentioned and, yeah, it really is great. Your in-depth analysis and love for this game made me see its design and decisions in a completely different light. So yeah, thanks for helping me (and I'm sure many others) enjoy a great piece of art, and for taking the time to share your passion with everyone. I remember watching your older videos years ago, and thinking that you clearly had a ton of potential. Looks like you realized that potential. Congrats on seeing this huge project through, and I'm looking forward to whatever you decide to make in the future. You're a badass.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

It's amazing to see you here again after all this time. And its even more amazing that in the years since I regularly uploaded, you've built an entire catalogue of awesome, beloved content. Very proud to see it 👍

[@bricrowave]

god this is horribly underrated. watching through this a second time immediately after finishing it, actually. ive never seen anyone with so much passion for a game. youve definitely shifted my outlook on not only this game, but just games in general. this video has more passion and life than ive seen before on this platform and its truly admirable. huge props for the effort and dedication dude, this goes insane. this is THE youtube video essay to me

[@banana9nnn]

Real!!! I feel so inspired, this guy is crazy awesome

[@jeanpersico9839]

Sonic CD is the very reason I love time travel, and I feel it executed it well in its dream-like visuals. Between the distant past and the possible ideas of the future, the game feels like a dream. It can take a while to beat and yet fly by like nothing. And seeing someone discuss the different contexts of the time periods is so cathartic as a fan of easily the most magical Sonic game. Awesome job!

[@ALtheBoi]

This project has my utmost respect and admiration, it's so damn cool how you just decided to make THE video of something you love so dearly, it's my favorite kind of video to watch and it's what I strive to do with my own work! I've yet to finish it, but the way I've chosen to watch this video is to watch 1-3 chapters at a time, making it so I have about 30 Sonic essays to watch for the foreseeable future :))) the way you've structured this whole thing also makes doing that so easy to do!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

That's an awesome way to watch lol. Your stuff is super impressive also.

[@kathy444]

Genuinely cathartic to see a 7 hour long video dedicated to my favorite game. (also sick meg banner, great deepcut!)

[@nerdinleather]

man I love that your lessons for sonic level design around 3:00:00 are basically just the lessons that Frontiers and Shadow Generations learned

[@half-pipe9791]

by the way-- the hud flashing in sonic 3 when you get close to a special ring is because the special rings use the same palette as the hud

[@Dilliferd]

I've been so frustrated by how differently the springs and the launchers in Stardust Speedway functioned in the Taxman remake for SO long And to find out only now that I could've fixed it this whole time via a built-in gameplay setting is simultaneously infuriating, relieving, and hilarious

[@suedonnym]

The combination of genuinely great scriptwriting and actually hilarious comedic bits/clips with stellar editing throughout is insane to me. You can feel the passion for this game required for all 7 hours of this video to be substantive and compelling from top to bottom. I'm gonna go play Sonic CD with the original spindash. Thanks for the definitive video on this game.

[@fishingrod2253]

It kinda makes me emotional knowing that there is finally a youtube video perfectly summarizing my thoughts of this game I've been playing since i was 10 its so comforting and inspiring, no video essay ever hooked me so much that I end up staring at my phone instead of drawing If I had the intelligence, video editing and writing skills I would make a video like this about Sonic Unleashed and Mina Mongoose 👹

[@fishingrod2253]

the more I watch the more it keeps inspiring me to make a game on this kind of style, because I never really realized that sonic cd influenced my views of storytelling, art, and music in videogames, the closest a game made me feel that way were half life and max payne IM NOT EVEN DONE WITH THE VIDEO YET SO MANY IDEAS, DREAMS, HOPES AND STUFF ARE NOW FLOWING THROUGH MY HEAD SINCE....... IDK FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[@AsleepStew-r5]

I feel the exact same way

[@matiesteves3753]

I have to say that this was the GREATEST video-analysis of a Sonic game. We can really see the effort and the passion you put in this project, is that so that I watched the entire video from minute 0 to the very end. At the begining I just entered because I was really amazed by the lenght of the video. You show me the greatness of this video game and how delicated this masterpiece was crafted. I really didn´t know that Sonic CD was this deep, from the different playstiles that you can approach, to the deep soundtrack every stage has, I really had no idea of anything at all. I really consider myself as a Sonic fan, and after watching this video I consider myself a shame of not seeing Sonic CD the amazing game it is. I really really loved every single second of this video that It really make me feel emotional at the very end, even some tears dropped hahaha! All I have to say it´s thanks, thanks for making such a masterpiece, one of the best KZbin videos I´ve watched ever. I hope after almost a year later you read this coment 🤧

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thanks for commenting, I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🥲

[@Ravi_34]

Watching all near 8 hours of why Sonic CD is a masterpiece in one go is a trip. I think this is the best analysis of Sonic CD or any form of media I’ve ever seen. Words cannot express how perfect this video truly is, and it’s CRIMINAL that this video has less than two hundred thousand views. Just like Sonic CD, this is truly a work of art and one of the best, passion filled videos I have had the pleasure of watching. I think you’ve forever changed my brain chemistry on how I think and create things from this day forward. You’re too cool.

[@theprincess3872]

This is unironically the most beautiful video essay on any topic that I have ever seen. When I first played Sonic CD with Origins, I thought it was an alright game, better than Sonic 1 by a long shot but not as instantly gratifying as Sonic 2 and 3 (and Knuckles) were. The special stages frustrated me, and I didn't even know about all the bs with the soundtrack (what the hell, SoA). I think I'm ready to pick it back up again, and hopefully I come to love it with even 1/10th of the passion you do

[@DubiousDepthsRadio]

Another victim of sao 😭 Hope you enjoy that masterpiece the right way

[@amazingalliteration]

@@DubiousDepthsRadio I still think the US soundtrack is good!

[@DubiousDepthsRadio]

@@amazingalliteration aight

[@felixvids7238]

I didn't know the camera movement changed depending on the selected spin dash. Thanks, that's legitimately a game changer

[@Retro_Cafe]

you know what is the best thing about this video? despite how long it is, not even a single second of it feels like padding, every part of this video was necessary. i never was a fan of sonic cd (i dont dislike it i just dont like it that uch) but now thanks to this video i have a newfound respect for sonic cd, now i want to replay sonic cd to see how much my opinion will change about it ( i am really curious myself). and i wouldnt say this if this video was shorter because every part of it had a purpose, some long youtube videos are longer than what they need to, some parts of them are just repeating what had already been said in the video or are just unneeded information (this is a mistake that even i myself had made and will probably continue making to some point), but somehow in this super long video everything has a purpose, there is not anything in this video that could be removed from it without damaging it, that shows how awesome you are and how hard you have tried for this video and how much passionate you were about making it, this is one of my favorite youtube videos now 👍

[@adebayox4031]

Best comment

[@rbwjakfjenwbw1009]

If each chapter of this video were its own video essay, they would be the best Sonic video essays on the platform by a country mile. This video in its totality is one of the greatest things I've ever seen on the platform. This video is an unsung masterpiece, and I can't wait to see your channel reach ever higher heights.

[@deusexmaximum8930]

I was like. Wait. Why isn't the grey little bar moving...? OH GOD

[@Fax-Man1]

3:56:13 Personally, I always saw the drastic change as the game making a statement about how the intellectual brilliance of people like Eggman can be used not just for good or bad, but for true harmony and coalescence. MM in the present is ostensibly just a more manically absurd Scrap Brain, a wild and burgeoning cancer at the heart of Little Planet. And in the past it's still a dangerous place as the heavily implied ground-zero of Eggman's takeover; the beginning of a dangerous malignant frontier that will only get worse if left in the hands of someone like Eggman. And then eventually, it will rust and decay into something utterly foul and devoid of life just like the rest of the bad future. Not even the throne of his metallic empire is tenable. The discord he’s created is destructive in every sense of the word. But at the same time, MM isn't fated to become that rotting dystopia we see in the Bad Future, it can in-fact bloom just as much, if not more than the past zones Sonic saved. Afterall, think about how good could potentially be done with the sheer amount of technology in that base. In combining the limitless intelligence of someone like Eggman, but altering it with the empathy, compassion and free spirit of someone like Sonic, Metalic Madness: the final bastion of Discord in the game, the most dangerous, the most corrupt, can in fact become the most beautiful and free. Eggman is a genius, yet his egotistical megalomania and childish petulance causes everything he touches to spoil with the poison of impatience, and a philosophy of technological progress at any cost, nature be damned. Sonic doesn't rival the good doctor in technical intelligence, but runs countless laps around him in emotional intelligence, emotional content if you will. Sonic knows better than to force progress without forsight, and to be driven by ego. So when Eggman does just that, is just that, the only choice Sonic has is to fight his industrual invasion with a selflessness respect for the natual world, and a willingness to meet the inevitable march of time halfway. Creating the Good Futures we see in-game is outcome of being in harmony with what was and what will be. So by that logic, the ideal version of Metalic Madness is not to go back before Eggman laid a finger on the land’s soil, but to change things in the past just enough to have usuruped his dangerous, all-for-one influence with freedom and a desire of conscious conservation of the past. Sonic knows he can't stop the passage of time specifically, he just has the power to influence how that change will effect the inescapable future. So in suceeding, MM's good future now makes for a beautiful final level that both celebrate's the player's commitment (no way this was achieved on their first playthrough). This vast, sprawling, mechanical utopia that is devoted to finding the perfect balance between the natural and the new is both acreward for the player and a visual thesis statement on what Sonic CD is trying to say with its story. The motif of blue Good Futures is present in some form in every stage as you pointed out, but MM more than any other IS sonic's shade, or the closest thing to it. More than anywhere else on Little Planet, Metalic Madness has been forever changed by the actions of both Sonic and Eggman the most, and is in the end better off for their combined interference. And so we have that thesis statement I was talking about with MM: “Industrial progress has its place in our world, and should be encouraged, but only if it can be done so ethically, thoughtfully, and with only the kindest of intentions for both mankind and our planet Earth.” Intelligence, and Kindness ######## Amazing video by the way, on my second watch right now, you inspired me to throw my own hat into the ring of discussion regarding this game as I always thought there was something thematically beautiful about how the game's final level managed to define the game's relationship between the real and man-made. Sonic CD is a game which means the world to you, and so many others, myself included, so thank you for making this genuine work of art that speaks for so many of us CD appreciators, really, thank you.

[@misterpoogiesthecat3469]

Props to you for standing up for the hidden beauty of this game which nobody else in the sonic community had the time or willingness to do, your hardwork may go unappreciated by youtube but I promise you, folks like me who understand the sentiment to Sonic CD will forever remember this video

[@RepstarVixen]

I am not a sega fan, i am not a sonic fan, never played any of the games, never had much interest in them at all. Watched this cause one of my favorite youtubers talked about your video and i trust his opinion on what is a good watch blindly. I was once again, not disappointed. The utter love and passion you have for this game, the franchise and the company sega once was just pours out of this video and kept me engaged all throughout it. Will subscribe and i hope you keep making videos with this level of passion, even if it only ends up being a single video a year, maybe even less than that. Looking forward to the next one :3

[@DubiousDepthsRadio]

May i ask you What youtuber?

[@RepstarVixen]

@@DubiousDepthsRadio TBskyen posted about finding this video on his bluesky and then later posted a link to it since several people were interested about it

[@DiagonalTanooki]

this and "a bomberman journey" are my favorite videos on this site, this was such an amazing video where nothing felt like filler, hell yeah dude! 👍

[@JaceyAmaris]

I finally finished this video today since it first appeared on my feed in the couple hours since its release. You quite literally had me hooked as soon as the level design discussion, and my recent appreciation for Sonic CD as a video game after a few years of dismissing it was re-contextualised in such a way that I’m starting to think it might as well be my favourite game of all time now, too. The only thing that was holding this game back from me was playing it like Sonic 2, which is already a game I’ve started to like a little less over the years for the very reasons you touched on. Even still, I was NOT prepared for the journey this video would take me on. Your down to earth passion and enthusiasm was infectious and I hadn’t realised how elated and excited I felt watching this until you were well into your Ristar discussion (which I’m definitely going to give a proper, full revisit soon), and the editing was so superb that even the supposedly “sappy” moments felt so genuine and earned given how thorough you were in analysing these games themes. (I think someone in this comments section mentioned they were aware of these themes on a subconscious level and your analysis gave them a newfound appreciation for it and I absolutely share that sentiment.) A lot of discussion in the Sonic community about stuff like this has become so binary and often times cynical that even someone like me who is so hopelessly obsessed with the series has become jaded towards the discussion overall. But man, even when you had something to complain about it was clear it was coming from a place of passion. Tackling the same talking tired points with so much depth and analysis that I’m not at all surprised by the video’s length. Seriously worth it though. I’ll cut to the chase and say that this video (and by extension, Sonic CD) will certainly have me appreciating a bright blue sky when I see one. I truly hope this labour of love was as fulfilling for you as you say (not that I have any doubt) because damn, it was a wild ride. Also that transition into Metal Sonic was the first time I got intense goosebumps in a video essay like this, that was FIRE.

[@luneenul]

No joke, this is probably my new favorite youtube video ever. Thank you for making me see the true joy and wonder in a game that has been with me for so long. I truly hope i can love a video game as much as you love Sonic CD one day.

[@EldrichPotatoGod]

you just know something bigs here when the video is longer then the game itself ngl though I can 100% relate to Sonic CD being a "dream", it's literally a fever dream for me; easily my favorite classic classic Sonic game (prefer Mania to it by a slim margin)

[@flock657]

bloody hell mate you're making my shift less horrible good on ya, cheers

[@HexmaniacAlice]

I really like a lot of the in depth analysis going on here and the fact that there's 8 hours of such thoughtful and precise explanation on how much you enjoy and understand what the game does in every aspect you enjoy, very well done but really throws me off I immediately thought that the lake in the sky of collision chaos was just earth because little planet is tethered to it and you never did, I really thought that was almost obvious but also a really cool detail they added

[@nuketeehee640]

The time travel stunts are legit the greatest damn feeling of euphoria imaginable. I was in a cramped space in metallic madness, a very short horizontal space next to a drop down with a yellow spring beneath. Took a couple of tries but with a well timed spindash, jump down, and then a couple of bounces on that spring, I time traveled. Holy crap that was such an amazing feeling. I'm gonna have to figure out more convoluted time travel methods like asap, i feel like a goddamn mad doctor doing it

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I'm particularly proud of the trick at 3:56:08. There's some cool stunts to be done in Metallic Madness if you look hard enough.

[@nuketeehee640]

That one's smooth as hell, I'm floored at how much potential's even in Metallic Madness despite it feeling sort of cramped at times. Forget the timestamp but I think the first trick I saw in this video that really opened my mind was the one you showed briefly with the weird bouncy rods in Palmtree Panic past. I can never go back to trying to collect all the time stones as soon as possible tbh I just wanna pull off the craziest methods I can think of to get where I wanna be

[@Sparkys_World-0]

And of course, there's the pièce de résistance at 3:01:53 lmao. What a swell game.

[@nuketeehee640]

⁠@@Sparkys_World-0 lol that's a damn good one. And for sure, atp i'm convinced the game's a masterclass in level design potential. Gonna be playing for years to come.

[@GloriousGandalf]

3:36:00 minutes in on the dot, and I just wanted to quickly try and recommend to you the Sonic CD 2011 homebrew port to 3DS. The game is in stereoscope, and it genuinely looks _amazing._ Seriously, even better than any other port of the game. I'm loving this massive video!

[@msewell763]

The cd glaze is crazy And I’m all here for it 🗣️🔥🔥🔥

[@Telnaior]

This was incredible! The genuine information that I'd never heard before even as someone who has always loved CD just never stopped coming. If I disagree severely on one point, it's is that I don't see the Retro Engine version as "definitive" at all, as for every small improvement there are just as many small oversights that cumulatively feel like they suck a lot of the charm from the game (especially losing the lyrics in the 2011 version, which left me exclusively playing on the US soundtrack). Origins takes some incredibly weird steps of undoing a lot of quirks from 2011 while also creating a lot more of its own (most prominently the ending movie going too fast as mentioned). The one cherished, magical, obscure memory I have that wasn't even mentioned here is the cheat code in the original and Gems versions that allowed you to control the clouds on the title screen. It brought the title to life in a way nothing else ever really has, and I still picture it every time I hear that opening sting of the title theme.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Yea the 2011 port is riddled with small flaws, as is virtually every official port of this game. The definitive release is Sonic CD Miracle Edition imo, for being fully customisable, having the fewest bugs and actually being optimised for modern PCs. You can see me playing it here: kzbin.infoM813FRJR8dk?si=PxBtlO455JHCz4D4

[@JetRevue]

I appreciate this video. You got me to play CD like 4 times through, and i'm not even close to done. You've seen me appreciate all of the works of people inspired by Oshima's vision so much more than ever before. Thank you!

[@somehelluvafanboy8357]

Dear Fucking God I did NOT know that WW and QQ P US had their themes switched AND IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE, OH MY FUCKING GOD

[@Sparkys_World-0]

ITS JUST A THEORY BUT THE LOGIC IS SOUND AND COMPELLING!!!

[@somehelluvafanboy8357]

Very late, but, fun fact: Cosmic Eternity makes my eyes water up every single time I listen to it (not to the point of crying, but), in fact, it actually made me cry 3 times Such a beautiful song, man

[@bingusdingus7787]

oh man my comment didnt send i guess. ill keep it brief then lol. really grateful this video exists. and im honored to have a little piece in it, with one of my favorite artworks to boot. really glad you stuck out for this one, this game really changed my life as an artist, sonic fan, and a person. im looking forward to coming back to this just as much as i come back to sonic cd

[@SonicStuffs]

youtube's comment policy is really bad where a simple word that is in no way any harm can be deemed as delectable. It is like walking on eggshells!

[@loweni7460]

Naoto Oshima should see this great work I'm sure he'd be very grateful to see someone so passionate about his work

[@Sparkys_World-0]

If only I had the means to translate this vid to Japanese lol.

[@loweni7460]

@@Sparkys_World-0 I'm sure just seeing this would warm his heart even though he wouldn't understand the language as well

[@Cheeseboy115]

I just finished the video and just wanted to say thank you for creating this video. I’ve always loved Sonic CD so much and it was honestly sad to see people so negative towards a game that didn’t deserve it. I’m glad that there is someone who shares my love for Sonic CD and sonic in general, and I’m happy that you mentioned other games like Ristar which always had a special place in my heart. I appreciate all the effort you put into this video and I hope this gets the more views it deserves!

[@SnoTangerine]

So I'm 6 hours and 14 minutes into this, and my friend you have created one of my favorite videos on the site. This is just after I finished Aleczandxr's monstrous 9-hour Final Fantasy VII Rebirth video last week, which completely knocked my socks off. But this....your video, based on a Sonic game I have very little experience with, has inspired me like no other. This is a true appreciation of art and the joy of interactive storytelling. And it has finally inspired me to make my own longform analysis video on a (non-gaming) franchise that I, like you, may be the only living person on earth who can properly contextualize its merits. Needless to say, I love and appreciate this so much. It joins the ranks of those Aleczandxr videos, Billiam's Lost retrospectives, THAT Badwater video, and this bizarre, niche yet incredibly addicting world of longform video essays. I hope to join your ranks one day. Until then, I salute you. Hopefully, ill find the time to play some CD in the meantime. Happy new year! Also, any tips on undertaking something like this from a logistical, emotional, or spiritual standpoint?

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you very much for watching and I hope you enjoy the rest. As for tips on making a project like this, I'd say spend alot of time establishing a clear plan or outline for the video, then commit to that vision fully. Keeping up motivation can be really difficult when working on something so longform, so break things down into short-term goals that are manageable. Even making the tiniest bit of progress everyday can be fulfilling and keep you on track. Also this is probably obvious but use something like a Google Doc to log your progress; it really helps lessen the feeling that you're keeping a thousand plates spinning at once. Another thing you could consider is asking friends for feedback on your ideas. It depends on the kind of project you're making and I personally never did it, but having a second pair of eyes on something and hearing their opinions can be really helpful and inspiring. Good luck with whatever you end up making.

[@SnoTangerine]

@Sparkys_World-0 Good to know I'm already on the right track, as I literally started a doc the other day. Thank you! I'm also curious to know your thoughts on the latest run of games, and if you agree that Sonic is running in the right direction. It seems that way.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

@@SnoTangerine I've thought all the new games have been good and Shadow Generations especially was a shockingly awesome.

[@jumpedeagle1644]

This is the best video essay on Sonic CD I've ever watched, fantastic work. From beginning to end, I enjoyed all 7 hours and 46 minutes. It's nice to see that I'm not alone when it comes to loving and appreciating the gameplay, art direction, soundtrack, the weirdness, the vibe, and character, along with everything else that makes Sonic CD such an amazing game and work of art. Sonic CD is truly peak.

[@blueradical1992]

In intermission 1 right now, but i wanna highlight how this is the first video that i've in a while that has reached a high level of discourse, not because of some dumb drama or trend, but for the very contents of the video instead. Will edit when i watch the full thing but this is very good so far. Very well done Sparky! 👍

[@CrystalClear51]

wheres the full edit

[@blueradical1992]

@@CrystalClear51 I might have forgotten to watch the full video, oops!

[@RM2011ish]

True story. I actually rented a Sega CD JUST to play this game. I was engrossed for so many hours. The trippy and beautiful Zones, the amazing music, the Time Travel aspect and some of my favorite Special Stages in the series. And the anime cutscenes. I spent MANY hours trying to get the Good Ending and when it happened I finally felt like I accomplished something. Sonic CD will ALWAYS be close to my heart. And is one of the many reasons I love Sonic the Hedgehog today. Hell, I missed Prom just to play the PC version. (It was terrible, but I needed my fix.)

[@sonicphoenix7]

whats wrong with the pc version

[@genyakozlov1316]

​@@sonicphoenix7Nothing outside of quality of sound effects.

[@sonicthejaxen]

After I had watched all the way through I couldn’t find precisely the right the words to describe how eloquently and beautifully woven every moment was from start to finish. I never had a very strong opinion of CD, nothing outside of this nostalgia I felt for its aesthetic and animations, but your video has truly struck me in a way the has kept me coming back to how I truly feel about this game. It inspires me not only to play the game again with the fresh mindset you gave but also to look at my favourite game and analyze just precisely how much they truly give in the way of storytelling through gameplay. I’m always looking for new ways to appreciate art so this was truly a treat from start to finish. I hope you find this comment and know you’ve truly made such an excellent case for CD and its quality but also made a new fan of it. This is truly a video for the ages that was worth watching for every second. Thank you!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you very much for your comment and for watching till the end 🙏

[@caveirainvocada9438]

I just finished the video and... holy crap. Not only I want to check the game again to see if your remarks about the level design ring true, because I only played CD once or twice and thought it was just OK, but it made me appreciate Sonic and Sonic Team way more as a whole. Though, for as much as new Sonic interpretations aren't anything like him in CD, I think a little still remains. In my mind, Sonic, for as different as he is right now in comparison to his classic roots, is still this unbelievably exceptional and dutiful hero who literally spreads a good future wherever he passes through, nurturing hopes and dreams, but also is kind of just some dude. I think him being "just a dude" in his universe is pretty cool and passes an unbelievably empowering message. As corny as this sounds, I think that You Can Do Anything and the ending song is about the power that you the player have of becoming a "Sonic Warrior" just like Sonic. This video helped me understand why I enjoy this character so much. He is so simple yet so effective in being inspiring, and Sonic Metal Sonic and Little Planet are used in an incredibly masterful way as pieces of symbolical storytelling.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you for watching dude.

[@RifeXD]

I've never extensively played classic Sonic (only the Advance trilogy) but this was a nice listen. Good job!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

You wouldn’t believe how many times people have compared me to that Bomberman video in the last few months lol. You’re a legend!

[@DiagonalTanooki]

insane crossover

[@redr3am]

This video is genuinely so well put together and informative, Probably one of my favourite videos on this entire platform. It’s rare to see people speak so highly of Sonic CD but it’s my favourite game so this is incredibly refreshing to see, thank you so much! 🧡

[@garhd]

this is by far the best video essay on my favorite sonic game (besides adventure 1). nearly 8 hours of informative content all summed up into one largely uninterrupted experience? oh boy. but the most perplexing thing of all of this, is how this video even managed to export in the first place.

[@Liatofek670]

this is one of the longest videos I have ever seen. it also became one of my favorites in an instant. thank you for this absolute monster of a video. I cant even begin to imagine how long it took you to make considering how high of a quality this video is. and Im not even half way through!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I hope you enjoy the rest, my favourite chapters are still coming up

[@Liatofek670]

@@Sparkys_World-0 I started playing the game again after ditching it for who knows how many times. but instead of trying to play it like sonic 2 3 or mania I decided to play it like you suggested. and it instantly clicked. this is not a game about running from point a to point b its an adventure. being free to explore the world like I want and taking my time searching the levels made it 1000 times more fun. from being one of my least favorite games it became one of my favorites in an instant. thank you for opening my eyes for this game and showing me its real beauty. finished it in like an hour and I want so much more.

[@DungerArta]

Your video is a true work of art, And i can't just say that for any youtube video, When i finished the video i got the same feeling when i experience something that hits hard and then say something like "what should i do now?", So thank you. I was both surprised and glad that the video was about artistic integrity, vision and passion, it's something we have to fight for, something that i always despised is when many of the decisions are made by people who have no idea about the project and they end up hurting the creators vision especially when it's against someone that already proved themselves capable, i'm happy that Oshima got the opportunity to make his vision true without unnecessary compromises. Also the part about the US Soundtrack felt validating to me because when i was a kid, i reached collision chaos and it made me quit the game, it felt kind of creepy, i think it was probably the combination of live instruments and the bizarre visuals, months later i discovered the original soundtrack and played it again, first thing that caught my attention was the opening song, it was exactly that moment when the game clicked with me, it became my favorite sonic game alongside SA2 ever since. (well, after a generator run lol)

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you for your comment, I’m glad the message of the video reached you 🙏

[@Davifss25]

This is possibily the best video essay that i have seen

[@youmeltube]

I'm past the 29-minute mark and left absolutely enamored by just about everything on display here. Your storytelling, narration, the attention to detail in your gameplay, your love of CD shining through in every second you're seen playing it. You haven't even gotten to analyzing the game yet and its clear this is a deeply deeply personal work to you. I hope the people making fun of the runtime don't get to you, because you've wholly hooked me. Stand proud.

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I mean, even I'll admit it is a very funny runtime lmao.

[@samred2412]

I’ve never had a sonic video essay grab my attention so immediately like this. There’s some great vids and creators out there but a lot of them end up feeling quite samey - especially on the classic games. This video though… Such a fresh perspective and opinion, and you’ve presented it so well. Fricking art bro. Gorgeous video.

[@Crooked_Mantis]

Ok I haven't finished the video yet, but I just got past the Metal Sonic and Amy discussion, and I was surprised you didn’t bring this up as another little thematic tie: Amy's Tarot Cards. A traditional 3 card tarot reading often provides information on the person's Past, Present, and Future. And her entire motivation for arriving on Little Planet is because she was seeking out an *ideal future* with Sonic. The pursuit of a hopeful outcome is built into her backstory, just as its built into the game mechanics!

[@MeeraRustshieldSystem]

After listening to him speaking for hours about the game's themes and finally getting to the Amy section, I immediately made this connection and was sure he'd bring it up at some point. It's a small detail but it just ties her better as the hopeful soul of the game seeking for a good future

[@Incinerabbit]

I’ve now watched this entire video from beginning to end and I can only say… THIS is an unsung masterpiece - this NEEDS more attention - Sonic CD was already my favourite Sonic game and this video not only opened my eyes to it, but more of the franchise and the industry as a whole, I just played Ristar for the first time the other day BECAUSE of this video thank you for creating a magnificent work of art that’s reshaped my vision of this game forever keep dreaming, friend keep dreaming of Sonic CD

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you for watching, and I hope you had fun with Ristar. Comments like this are the most gratifying thing in the world ❤

[@Callums-Life]

I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I loved it too 😁

[@Incinerabbit]

@@Sparkys_World-0 I actually did have fun with Ristar! it's uniquely relaxing for a platformer, which is refreshing since most of my favourite platformers are a lot more intense (Sonic, Donkey Kong Country, etc) I haven't finished it yet but it's a great game

[@jeffdrive34]

This video is insane, sonic CD was already my favorite sonic game, so this video didnt exactly change my opinion but dang you bring up great points about everything the game does well that i never realized. But seriously a 8 hour video about sonic CD? this is just unbelievable i am in tears 😭

[@ahbeef]

this is genuinely the best video game review/analysis i have ever seen, and not just because of the length either. in the case of that 7 hour oras review, the absurd length felt like gimmick and the review felt more like an overly detailed walkthrough with occasional commentary. here though, the absurd length isn’t a gimmick, it’s simply a factor that the analysis necessitates by being incredibly thorough and in depth, which is truly commendable for a game as short as a classic sonic game. the fact that you managed to come up with nearly 8 hours of meaningful analysis of sonic cd of all things is super impressive! and the actual analysis here is very high quality too, from the personal aspect of your enjoyment to the game’s themes and how every part of the game interfaces with them to the very detailed gameplay section, you have demonstrated an incredible understanding of this game and conveyed its strengths beautifully. personally i don’t really like sonic cd, but this video has given me a deep appreciation for it despite that. well done!

[@themasonator99]

I’ve just finished the entire video from beginning to end, and I have never in my life seen such a beautiful display of passion and appreciation for a game like this on KZbin. Sonic CD was something that I always knew was special, as a 2D platformer and as a work of art, yet it was so meticulously described here in a way never seen before, and it’s spectacular. The Sonic that I truly love was one that I never realized is a character that Sonic CD shows off and perfectly captures. I wish Naoto Oshima himself could see this video. I’m sure he’d love to see that his true vision for Sonic CD, and probably the entire series, has been fully embraced and appreciated here. Thank you, Sparky’s World, for the education, history, and expression that comes with this video, and has only made my love for Sonic The Hedgehog just that much stronger

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Thank you for saying that, it means a lot.

[@Scotch14]

Better than the MCU, better than any god damn documentary i've seen, truly a work of just pure passion and love for this game. I always thought I was a bit weird for loving Sonic CD so much when I found out about it, and this expresses everything I feel for it, I haven't played it half as much as you but this truly everything I feel for this game. This is phenomenal spent all day to watch this all the way through, keep up this amazing stuff man, thank you for this amazing gift of a video.

[@Wahidych]

Every second that i watched it was worth it. Every day that you spend on making it was worth it. I feel like i watched a whole movie that I'll never forget and will remember with goosebumps on my skin. Thank you

[@BluSteel_]

Wild to see CD's reputation swing back and forth over and over. Back then people loved it and said it was the best Sonic game of all time. A little while after the mobile remake lots agreed it wasn't great. Even more so after Scott the Woz's video. And nowadays I see more and more people saying it was always good

[@aster4jaden]

Never thought i'd watch a 7 hour Video about an old Sonic Game, but I have and it's one of the best i've ever watched.

[@hal14112]

Originally I was looking up long video essays to fall asleep to, usually ones on games I'm familiar with to give me a sense of comfort. Several videos about Sonic came up in playlists. I haven't really played Sonic, and your video was recommended on the sidebar (thanks KZbin for blessing me). From the moment the video started, I was hooked. Only this time I was awake, not because of insomnia, but because of something amazing. I chipped into this video piece by piece. Sonic CD: The Unsung Masterpiece was my treat to look forward to after work. Due to how incredible this video is, every day I felt like a kid excited to watch Saturday morning cartoons! Rarely do I see this much love and passion. Your video essay is so refreshing. Everything from the visuals, information provided and sheer enthusiasm about Sonic CD blew me away. This video opened up the world of Sonic the Hedgehog to me and I cannot thank you enough. This past week I took it upon myself to learn more, draw the characters and listen to the music. The dedication in this essay is staggering. Words fail me, but this might be my favourite video essay on the internet. Thank you!

[@Sparkys_World-0]

That's pretty incredible. I never would've imagined this video would be someone's gateway to the Sonic series lol. Thank you very much for watching and I hope this series ends up being a ton of fun for you 🙏

[@Cyndadogo]

I think the art of work and passion you did on this video is the final piece that Sonic CD was missing.

[@whattmang]

The first time I saw Sonic CD’s intro was when I was 7 at my friend’s house in 1993. I was completely obsessed with the surreal environments, goated ost and the super peel out. And holy shit the secrets. There was so much love put into to secrets that players may never find. Games like this feel rare because it feels like management said yes to everything the devs wanted to include. It’s great to see someone from the next generation see the same magic I did.

[@TrueBlur]

Good lord almost 8 hours! Gonna be going through this over the next few days! Welcome back 🤣

[@Sparkys_World-0]

Good to be back 👍

[@gordonleanman439]

This video changed the entire way I looked at sonic cd

[@jorgles8337]

Coming from a self proclaimed fake Sonic fan (I’ve only actually played mania but I still very much enjoy this franchise), this video was an amazing watch. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone be so passionate about a video game they love before

[@The_SDG]

I'm gonna be honest, as much as I love this game, and as much as I have played this game I never noticed things such as the rings in QQZ guiding you to go through a vertical conveyor belt and the future signs 'locking' a certain path causing the player to backtrack, falling into the generator. Even though I'm the type of person to spot small stuff such as the direction of the badniks interfering with the direction of the flower when you break it in the original and the rings gained from destroying ufos being different in the remake. It was a very nice watch, great job putting it together.

[@itsoverheadanime6562]

Thank you for making this video and summarising my love for Sonic CD.

[@GeekCritique]

I'm actually working on a Sonic video myself right now, and I don't want this one to influence me. Actually, I almost never watch Sonic videos at *all* anymore, which is weird because I used to watch all of 'em. But I watched your intro, and I get a really good vibe from this one, so once I'm done with my script, I'll be back. :)

[@Spamshoter29JeR]

it's a really good video, luck with your video!!

[@Ivan210bluboi]

Good luck making that video! I'll be sure to watch it.

[@Omar_ZX]

Gl with ur vid

[@Alienrun]

I was going to recommend this one to you at some point, but it seems I don't have to do that now! (Only seen the first hour and a half myself but its really good so far!) I was trying to access your reddit a while ago but...yeah...its blocked off! Will probably do that once I make a new reddit account but I have a sneaking suspicion as to why we don't watch any sonic analysis videos anymore...(like you I used to watch them all the time! lol :P) Good luck with your video! I hope the creative process turns out well for you! :D

[@lazymorris5293]

Definitely hope you come back to this vid, it’s a good one!

[@FirstName_LqstName]

You had me in the first 5 minutes. Its been 30 minutes. I'm staying glued to this till it ends. (that trading in your PS2 made me feel bad for you I died inside when my PS2 broke) Stand proud king, you can cook. Thank you for speaking up.

[@KyngD469]

You have made such a cathartic video to watch. I don't mind being the one guy in the friend group who will say SonicCD is the best classic game, but having someone passionately make an 8 hour video essay gushing over it and pointing out small details I missed. This is incredibly satisfying. I'm really glad you feel the way you do about this classic Sonic game.

[@Kasdathem]

I love this video so much. growing up sonic cd was always my favorite game and I didn’t know why, hell I didn’t even understand how to play the game properly back then but there was always something that drew me back in. The magical landscapes, the beautiful soundtrack always kept me going, even when I constantly die from the same trap over and over again I’d keep coming back for more, to keep experiencing that world. It always made me so upset to see that most sonic fans didn’t like cd and even go as far to see it was the worst one, but to see this video made by someone who can put into words what I feel about this game and how beautiful it is makes me happy. Thank you for making this video it means so much to everyone who felt sonic cd got too much slander. I will never stop loving this game.

[@wolfbeat6427]

I'm quite frankly just commenting in the hopes of boosting this video in the YT algroithm. Seeing a person pour their heart out for 7+hours in an extremly well done, in-depth and high quality video just deserves way more views and attention than what it has as of the time of writing this. This video helped me appreciate CD on repeat playthroughs, as to where it is tied for my favourite of the main classic games.

[@DerrickWilson-fm7vc]

4 hours in and this video has already made me cry twice. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the patience to master this game the way it needs to be to be fully appreciated, but I see it completely differently. This game is a true work of art I never appreciated. I need to try it again

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I feel you don’t have to be a master to love this game, just take your time and see what kind of fun you can have in its world at your own pace. Thank you very much for watching 🙏

[@ZakaTech]

Difficult to describe more clearly, sincerely, comprehensively and emotionally. This video isn't just a review of Sonic CD; it's about life, subjectivities. It's about extracting the true essence of entertainment that a videogame can evoke. Personally, I was never a huge fan of Sonic CD, always feeling somewhat tense with its chaotic, non-linear level design and the necessity to explore the scenery to access time travel. I'd usually opt for obtaining all Time Stones to avoid the Badnik machine hunts in each zone's past. However, your profoundly insightful vision has given me a new perspective on the creators' intentions. You contextualised the entire situation. The game is an experimental adventure seeking to expand what Sonic represented at that time. Many innovations, much boldness, and talent invested in every aspect. It was truly a departure from the first title. Sonic 2 and subsequent games were more within expected boundaries. But Sonic CD became an outlier, almost a parallel universe exploring what the franchise could have delved deeper into. I also appreciated your point about the game's protagonist embodying a more nuanced hero ideal, not the clichéd hero's journey, but rather the Japanese cultural concept of a hero who overcomes obstacles, finds creative solutions, presses on, and is somewhat idealistic, optimistic, and striving to reach full potential, as evident in the ending theme 'Believe in Yourself'. After watching your reflection, I realised why I emotionally connect with the Sonic franchise. It's not about being cool all the time or Sonic's stylishness. It's about the subjective optimism that typically permeates our childhood and early adolescence. For those from structured families in the 90s, we grew up believing the 2000s would usher in a brighter future. To me, this game evokes an innocent, futuristic vision (in the best sense) of life's possibilities. Obviously, reality is a mix of good and bad (laughs). Apologies for the digressions, but your video was the best Sonic content I've seen in a long time. Perhaps the best in terms of subjective richness and effectively articulating why many of us fell in love with this series in the 90s/2000. The musical analysis was the pinnacle of the video for me. To this day, the strongest bond I have with the franchise remains the Sonic soundtracks. Even in years of poor game releases, the music remained redeeming. I still frequently listen to the classic Sonic house tracks in my car while commuting. Sonic R shares a similar vibe. This franchise's connection to dance tracks is uniquely singular, giving Sonic an unmistakable presence in pop culture. Sonic CD is a product of its time. An era where videogame technology seemed to advance rapidly. As you mentioned, we saw Sonic 3 and Sonic Adventure, a fully revolutionized product, within just four years. Along this trajectory, many experiments (good and bad) were left behind, including rare gems like this fantastical little blue planet. Well done, Sparky. Sincere and heartfelt greetings from a fellow fan in Brazil. Long life to your channel. Gratitude for your dedication and passion in this production. (Sorry for my poor translation) 😅

[@BluesEnergy00]

I played Sonic CD yesterday. It's surprisingly tense and playfully challenging, on top of being a literal gem. Stunning, beautiful, my opinion on CD definitely cemented in me since the last time I played it, all those years ago. The shot of adrenaline I got from winning the last special stage, on the 5th attempt, in Metallic Madness 2 ... Literally made me stand up and scream. Lol.

[@ImAHeroOnHiroin]

I just watched an 8 hour video about my favourite video game, and it was amazing

[@caseyogden9268]

an almost 8 hour analysis on my favourite sonic game that no one else talks about? hells yeah this is going to be in my regular video rotation for a while!