Incase you hadn't heard, Sonic Mega Collection is an all-new game compilation developed exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube.  It includes...

ü       Sonic the Hedgehog

ü       Sonic 2

ü       Sonic 3

ü       Sonic and Knuckles

ü       Sonic 3D Blast

ü       Sonic Spinball

ü       Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

You're probably wondering why Sega CD isn't on the list.  That's a question that will probably go unanswered for a while (unless Sega plans to release another classic game compilation in the near future).  For now, we have to deal with the fact that Sega CD isn't a part of Sonic Mega Collection and get on with our lives.  Of course, that isn't too difficult considering all of the other great games that this "game" has to offer.

Sonic the Hedgehog was the game that started it all.  It was one of the very few action/adventure games that played completely different from Super Mario Bros.  Sonic could move faster than most cars.  He didn't grab mushrooms and grow in size; he grabbed a shoe power-up so that he could run even faster.  Rings weren't just Sonic's version of coins -- they were his life force.  With no energy bar, rings were the only thing that could keep Sonic from dying.  As long as he always had one ring, Sonic could get hit a million times and never die.  In theory, this would make the game easier, but it didn't.  Sega guaranteed that it wouldn't make it easier by making each stage more difficult.  They did this by adding more enemies and more hazards (spikes, pitfalls, etc.).

From the first time I played Sonic the Hedgehog I was hooked.  There was so much innovation and a nearly endless amount of fun to be had.  Even to this day, it is still one of the few games around that is significantly different from Mario.  Anyone who plays video games regularly owes it to him/herself to play this game.

Most gamers will agree that Sonic 2 is the best of the bunch.  It's arguably the fastest, most exciting Sonic game ever conceived.  The levels are perfect, featuring some of the best 2D architecture the world has ever seen.  Never once do you feel confined in the game world.  Everything is open and free.  You can run at top speed (with the special running shoes) and fly to the end of the level without having to worry about being stopped by an obstacle that was placed in the wrong spot.  Sega has created a ton of incredible games over the years, but this one has lasted with me the longest, and I don't think I will ever forget the joy that I had the first time I played through it.  Nor will I forget the joy that I am having as I play through it again on Nintendo's next-gen console.

I honestly don't remember beating Sonic 3 before, so playing through it now has been a real treat.  It's just about as fun and exciting as the other games, and offers plenty more levels and enemies to defeat.  A lot more boss battles, too.

With the increasing threat of the Separatist (the Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Sega decided to fight back by creating a clone army, starting with Sonic and Knuckles.  Not that this game is a rehash or anything, but this was the first Sonic game that moved forward, yet took a few steps back.  It had more gameplay elements, including a brand-new playable character.  Unfortunately, Sonic and Knuckles didn't have the same kind of appeal that the first two games had.  Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent game.  But it plays a little less like Sonic, and a little more like "other" action/adventures than it should.  This is mainly due to Knuckles, the new playable character, which forced the developers to change the level structure in order to accommodate the new, slower-moving character.  If we were still in the early 90s and I was grading this game all by itself, it would receive an 8.5 out of 10.  By comparison, Sonic 1 would receive a 9.5, and Sonic 2 would earn a whopping 9.8.

Before Sega knew it, polygons were appearing in arcade games and Sony was entering the industry with the original PlayStation.  Saturn's release was only a year or so away, but Sega needed something along the lines of a next-generation game to compete with Nintendo's best-selling Donkey Kong Country series.  Sonic 3D Blast is the game they came up with.  The result?  A 3D-esque game developed for a console that could not handle full-3D gameplay.  Sonic 3D is very different from the other Sonic games.  Come to think of it, there aren't any other games out there that play like it.  Sonic 3D was a unique concept, no doubt.  But the new, overhead (and slightly angled) view made the game feel a bit strange.  The level designs were completely different, trying to simulate what a 3D experience might be like (at the time, Mario 64 had not been released so no one really knew what a 3D platformer would/should be like).  The result was one of the strangest Sonic games ever released.  It's moderately fun, but it won't make you want to rush out and get Sonic Mega Collection just to have it.  That's what the other Sonic games are for.

Rounding out this classic game collection is Sonic Spinball (Sonic the Hedgehog meets a virtual pinball machine) and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, an interesting (and at times frustrating) puzzle game.

Not much can be said about the graphics, other than the fact that at the time of these games' original release, they were at the top of their game.  The colors are bright and vibrant; the gameplay is ultra-speedy; and the animation is smooth (though not perfect).  From Genesis to GameCube, all of the 16-bit Sonic games has been converted without failure. 

Sonic Mega Collection is the best Sonic game available for the GameCube.  They may be old games that you've played before, but they're also some of the most memorable and most groundbreaking titles released on the Genesis.  Can you imagine what the gaming industry would be like without Sonic?  I don't even want to think about that.  I foolishly sold my Genesis back in 1996, so I am very grateful to finally have these games back in my possession.  Sonic CD is missing, yes, but other than that, this collection is as perfect as a classic games collection can get.  At $39.99, no GameCube owner should be without Sonic Mega Collection, especially the younger players who have not yet experienced the only action/adventure in history to defeat Mario in sales.

Gameplay: 9
Sonic Mega Collection is a perfect GameCube conversion of seven classic Sonic games.  The controls are top-notch -- even the thumbstick is usable, and it works flawlessly.

Graphics: 7 
Sonic still looks great, even though the first game is more than decade old.

Sound: 9
This grand compilation is overflowing with classic songs from all of the Sonic games.

Difficulty: Medium
Sonic Mega Collection is packed with seven challenging games that'll keep you playing till the sun comes up.

Concept: 6
This is a fabulous game, but come 'on, it didn't take a rocket scientist to come up with the idea.  All of the work was done years ago -- all Sega had to do was port several classic games to the 'Cube.  I love game collections so I can't complain about that, but I am extremely disappointed by the fact that SMC does not include Sonic CD, my favorite Sonic game (tied with Sonic 2).

Multiplayer: 7
I enjoyed Sonic the most while playing it alone, but for those of you who desire a multiplayer experience, Sonic Mega Collection offers a few two-player modes.  Nothing overly special, and it's nothing you haven't seen on the Genesis, but it's cool nonetheless.

Overall: 8.8
Who can deny the greatness of Sonic Mega Collection?  The less-than-perfect Sonic games bring the score down a little (Sonic CD would have brought it up), this collection is still a must-buy for every gamer.  No one should be without a Sonic game, and this collection gives you the chance to have several of them in one convenient package.