Arika developed some sharp retro game 3D conversions. Adding depth for 3D Classics Xevious and 3D Classics Twinbee makes the ship sprite pop out and bombs feel like they are dropping down to the ground. 3D Classics Excitebike makes the stadium look larger since the seats are further away and Arika gave Kid Icarus a colorful makeover for 3D Classics Kid Icarus.
3D Sonic the Hedgehog didn’t get the same amount of care. The game is essentially a port of Sonic the Hedgehog, which would be fine if it wasn’t "3D Sonic the Hedgehog." M2 made the Sega logo pop out in the beginning and the Sonic the Hedgehog logo stands out floating over the water, but that’s about it for the "3D." When you’re actually playing 3D Sonic the Hedgehog the background appears to be a slightly further away, otherwise it looks like regular Sonic the Hedgehog. The Special Zone doesn’t have any 3D layering but when I played it with 3D turned on it’s a strain on the eyes with neon birds flying in the background and the whole world rotating. In comparison to 3D Space Harrier, which has 3D arcade cabinets, 3D Sonic the Hedgehog feels lacking.
3D Sonic the Hedgehog does have some special features like the option to turn the spin dash on or off. You can also select the Japanese or International release and there’s a CRT mode (sans 3D effects) for the sake of nostalgia. However, the iOS version of Sonic the Hedgehog has been upgraded with a time attack mode and three playable characters. You can use Sonic, Tales, and Knuckles. Not only does the iOS version have more content, it’s cheaper too. Sonic the Hedgehog for iOS is $2.99 while 3D Sonic the Hedgehog is double the price, 600 yen or $6.
Published: May 16, 2013 04:06 pm