Ranking All Sonic CD Tracks Part 1

By: Luke Schlimgen

Hi there, it's your boy Luke again. 

I know it’s been a while so I wanted to do something really cool and special for my awesome return. And what better way to come back swinging than to do a full ranking of the music for my favorite Sonic game. Sonic CD which debuted on Sega CD. 

Sonic CD holds a special place in my heart as it's the first ever Sonic game I have ever played and the first game I have ever beat. So, I think it's time to come back to this game I love to pieces and rank all the songs in this game.

There's just one problem.  Since this game boasts a new and really cool time travel mechanic which lets you go to different versions of the level, and for different time periods marks different music to mark that change in time. So, there are 4 versions of each song: past, present, good future, and bad future song. To make matters even worse, Japan and the US both have different sound tracks for the game giving off different vibes. So I am splitting this ranking into different parts with each part focusing on a different time period.

Part 1 (this one) will be ranking the past music while the other parts will be about the other time points.

So without further ado, here we go!

7. Tidal Tempest: Past

I really hate this song and by far have the worst memory of playing this. Maybe I will at one point talk about the background that I hate so much but, today I'm just talking about the music. It's crazy that this remix of the godly track Tidal Tempest: Present (Japan Version) is so awful. It does make you feel like you're in the past but not in a good way. The main medley makes you feel like you’re in a giant maze and never getting out. And there is this one repeating noise throughout that is so annoying. And I don't like the bongos here. I usually like songs that use more unconventional methods for sound but it's really not good. It doesn't fit the stage at all and sounds unnatural when the stage is supposed to be in its most natural state. This is not a good song but thankfully it's the only one of these past tracks that I genuinely hate.

6. Metallic Madness: Past

This is a song that I don't really have strong opinions for. I barely travel to this time in the game so I already have less to say about it than the others. For me, it only feels like a remix of metallic madness present. All of the remixes in the game have elements of their original songs but with main differences to make them stand out. This song has nothing really new to do. It's just a more energetic and crazy version of metallic madness present.

5. Palmtree Panic: Past

I was a little conflicted on what I should put here but I decided on this. I like that this probably feels the most like it takes place in the past which is good but besides that there isn't really anything else. It's a nice and relaxing track but a track I feel indifferent to. I used to hate this song as a kid but now I feel that it's just a good track. Nothing more and nothing less.

4. Collision Chaos: Past

This is an overall really poppy tune. I really like the assortment of unconventional sounds here which unlike tidal tempest past actually help make the song feel more ancient. Overall, a solid track that I don't have much to say to.

3. Stardust Speedway: Past

To get the bad out of the way I don't think this song does a good job of balancing the stardust and speedway parts of the title. In fact I'm willing to say that this song goes against the speedway part, wanting instead to take it nice and slow which often creates a disconnect between the music and the level design. But on to the positives. The main part of this track is pretty ok while the main focus is placed on the implements of jazz to make this track a nice and soothing experience. And even though the speedway part doesn't get much if any focus that means that all the focus is on the stardust part making for an extremely soothing experience.

2. Quartz Quadrant: Past

This is just a really fun and energetic tune. It does a masterful job at taking good parts of the present track and making them even more fun while making this feel like it takes place before, especially when you realize how different the two tracks are. Just a fun song to dance to.

1.Wacky Workbench: Past

This is just a beautiful song. Everything flows so well and the whole song is a bop. There is not a single part I don't like and love just turning this song on and breaking out in dance. Amazing song for sure.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when I cover the Present tracks and I will see you later.