Game:

Sonic CD (2011)

Duration: 7:36

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Decomp: https://github.com/Rubberduckycooly/Sonic-CD-11-Decompilation
Mods used:
Sonic CD Separated Past Themes - SoN1c2001, US Past Themes by KingMeteorStudios
Higher Quality JP/US Music Mod - Darkskull Dawn Zenith
Restart Special Stages/Time Attack - MegAmi
1996 PC Title Screen - RetroForever

When you shave down the total Special Stage time attack time to under four minutes, you’ll unlock the sound test. It’s a lot less fancy than DA Garden, but it also lets you play sound effects.

More interestingly, the sound test has several secrets hidden if you play specific combinations of sounds and music. Most of these are secret pictures done by the game’s artists.

DJ SONIC
PCM 03, DA 01

Sonic, Metal Sonic, and Eggman form a rap group. Sonic was, after all, Nintendo’s Public Enemy! Thank you, I’m here every Thursday.

CHIBI SONIC
PCM 11, DA 09

A very cutesy looking Sonic with huge, detailed pupils. This was a more innocent time when you could acknowledge Sonic’s eye color without starting internet flame wars!

SEE YOU NEXT GAME
PCM 12, DA 11

Before the 2011 version added a fully playable Tails, this secret image was one of the only times you could see him in this game. I’m not sure why the cool car is there, but I’ve heard it’s actually advertising Sonic Drift? Who knows. Maybe Tails just has a sick ride we’ve never heard about until now.
Seeing this picture also activates Debug Mode, in both this version and the 1993 original.

BATMAN SONIC
PCM 04, DA 21

Zack Snyder’s Sonic the Hedgehog, coming to HBO Max. Now there’s a cinematic universe crossover I’d like to see, Sonic vs The Flash, featuring Michael Keaton as Dr. Eggman.

FUN IS INFINITE
PCM 12, DA 25

Yeah, you knew this one was coming. The “Majin” is actually the signature of Masato Nishimura, one of the level designers. He has since said this screen wasn’t meant to be scary, it’s really the US soundtrack’s boss theme that dove it headfirst into creepy town.

DESERT DAZZLE
PCM 32, DA 08

The only new secret image added to the 2011 version, and the most interesting of all of them. This is a screenshot of a cut round, Desert Dazzle, that Taxman came up with to replace the cut R2. Due to a lack of time and Sega wanting to stick close to the original game, it was scrapped, but it was later finished as Mirage Saloon in Sonic Mania.

SECRET SPECIAL STAGE
PCM 07, DA 07

There’s a reason the background here is Eggman’s head. This is easily the hardest special stage, featuring tons of water, UFO’s hovering above said water in weird patterns, and lots of speed boosters to fling you into the water. The best advice I can give is to memorize the UFO patterns as best as you can and try to plan a route for getting the hardest ones quickly.

Your reward for finishing the special stage is the remake credits screen that you normally get when beating the game with Tails.

Anyway, that's a wrap. As much as I've always liked Sonic CD, I used to think it felt off compared to the other classic games, but after replaying it I have a new appreciation for it. I think it's one of the best games in the series, though not quite 3&K or Mania good. It's much more forgiving than 1 and 2, with multiple ways to get the good ending, and less punishing level design.
I think people are mixed on it because of the different feel it has. Rather than using your speed and momentum to get to the end of the level quickly, in Sonic CD you use it just to get around the strange level design. If you understand Sonic physics, you'll probably like Sonic CD. If you don't get how the rolling physics work, you probably won't have a great time with it. Even if you don't jive with it though, it's worth playing for the amazing graphics and music, and a beginner should have less trouble with it than say Sonic 1's Marble/Labyrinth or Sonic 2's Metropolis. If you're not hot on Sonic CD, try experimenting with rolling and launching yourself around and see if it makes the game easier to play.

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