Sonic CD Walkthrough - Complete Game Guide (2025)

Sonic CD.... where to begin.... Well first off I wanna say how AWESOME it is to have the number 1 Sonic game of the 90s on XBLA. Sonic CD had high reviews at the time and still proves to be a good Sonic game. This isn't a vintage collection port either. The Sonic fan and community member Christian “Taxman” Whitehead developed the Retro Engine and long story short SEGA loved it, thought it was a good idea and thus decided to create an updated Sonic CD.
This game does not have a save anywhere feature like many SEGA ports, but has the save game files it had in the original version. Instead, if we make a mistake we quit and reload from the start of the stage which is better than nothing.

This is the order we will do things in...

1. We complete the game, save the future and grab the Time Stones.
2. We complete Time Attack Mode.
3. If needed we do some mop up to obtain remaining achievements.

Helpful tips,

- If you're confused on why things seem different than the original it might be because the game defaults to the Japanese Version Soundtrack. You can change this on the soundtrack menu.

- If you make a mistake in a Zone quit and reload the Save File. Do not advance in a Zone if you aren't ready to leave because you can't go back. If you are about to fail a special stage, quit and reload the Save File before the special stage ends or it will instantly auto-save. If you fail a Special Stage you need to play through each special stage until you loop back to the one you failed.

- When you grab a Time Travel sign you must keep moving at a constant speed to keep it going. When the sign is flashing you almost have it however if you stop the sign will disappear and you need a new one.

- Almost every stage has a 2 spring face to face section where you can easily travel through time.

- The new Peel-Out feature (the only game it has been in so far) comes in handy and can help you get a speed boost to backtrack if you miss something (Up+A)

- The Conveyor Belt glitch has been fixed so those Sonic CD Veterans looking for easy time travel on Quartz Quadrant can no longer preform the glitch.

- By collecting all the Time Stones you create a good future for every zone. We don't want this as you need to destroy each Generator and Hologram ourselves for the achievement. Save the last Time Zone for the Metalic Madness 2.

- The last Zone has no Holograms due to spoilerific reasons.

- Tails is basically easy mode because you can fly and explore easier...however Tails disables achievements.

Windows Phone Users: The game play is exactly the same. If you've played Sonic 4 Episode 1 (WP) the resume trick by hitting the Windows Button and reloading the game doesn't work here. Just quit the game via the pause menu and reload your save file. The only difference I found was the game doesn't say SAVING like it does on the 360 version after you finish a level.

Let us play Sonic CD! This page is structured to flow in the order of when you'll unlock these achievements. The videos used in this walkthrough were made by Youtube user Desilent49. Keep in mind that each stage has a robot teleporter and every stage but the last has a metal sonic hologram we need to destroy for an achievement, so don't leave an area until you have everything done.

Here is the video for the first two stages, Palm Tree Panic and Collision Course...

Not far into the first stage you'll find a sign that says "past" (there are multiple signs on this stage) on it. When you pick up a sign you need to keep up your speed to start the time travel sequence. Once you build up enough speed stars will cover your body and you must maintain constant speed. If you slow down too much or stop you will halt the process. If you lose your stars while the sign is blinking (indicating you are about to time travel) you will lose the sign and need to obtain a new one. Once you've picked up a sign, find a spring or ramp to help get speed and try to keep a constant speed for ~5 seconds to time travel and get this achievement.

Whenever you get near the goal of a stage while you are in the present, you will see a sign letting you know that the goal is ahead and Amy will be by it. Stand next to her and she will give Sonic a loving Hug. This is possible in the first stage. You can also receive the hug after the boss in Stardust Speedway if you missed Amy by traveling through time and you never returned to the present. Doing so will get you this achievement.

Now on any stage in Zone 1 or Zone 2 you can obtain a perfect future by destroying the Robot Generator and the Metal Sonic hologram in the past of any stage. Now once you do both in a stage you need to head to the future (not present) and you will see a nicer place to live Badnik free. Finish the stage here to earn this achievement.

Any zone has 200 rings as long as you time travel. As you collect rings in Zone 1 of Palmtree Panic try to travel to the future or past and revisit areas you just were in the present. It is helpful to try looking for rings in the good future as enemies won't be around to hurt you so you won't lose any rings. Once you hit 200 rings you'll get this achievement.

Zone 2 of Collision Chaos presents a good chance to snag an achievement. Near the end of the stage near the goal post there is actually another post above it. A peel out can help you launch from the half loop near it to reach it. Here is a video to show the way to do this. Credit: AHCommunityVids

You'll earn this achievement...

Here is the video for the third stage, Tidal Tempest

Here is the one for the fourth stage, Quartz Quadrant

Here is the one for the fifth stage, Wacky Workbench

During the the first zone of Wacky Workbench we have another achievement we can achieve. You must enter the past on Wacky Workbench 1 to find a statue hidden inside a wall in the lower drop where a "past" sign was located in the present. Touch the statue and it will reward you. If you are having trouble finding the statue then try to work your way back to the start and pay attention to the lower path as close as you can while the floor is bouncing you up. Focus on trying to land as close to the next spot you would be standing on if the floor was walkable this way you can briefly see if anything is below you.

Here is the video for the sixth stage, Stardust Speedway

You'll have a chance at another achievement during Stardust Speedway 3 - If you miss this during the story, you can easily attempt this again in Time Attack. You must beat Metal Sonic to the end in a race without getting hurt. Learn where there spikes are located and run as fast as you can. If Metal Sonic gets close during an attack let him pass you as it is easy to catch up. You'll earn this achievement once you've done it.

Here is the video for the seventh stage, Metallic Madness

If you are following the walkthrough videos, you'll have all of the holograms and generators and...

time stones in the game to net you both achievements.

The final boss is about the only real boss fight you get in this game. Whenever Robotnik lands on the ground where Sonic can jump at him is your chance to strike. Avoid the squares coming out of him as those hurt you. These two achievements will both be awarded to you at the end of the game.

The last achievement we need is for finishing time attack mode in under 25 minutes. This achievement isn't too bad but could use some practice. Every stage has the clock maxed out and it is up to you to bring the time down. Complete each stage as fast as you can to bring the time under 25 minutes.

These are my personal times

Palmtree Panic: 02'09"51

Collision Chaos: 03'12"68

Tidal Tempest: 03'27"94

Quartz Quadrant: 03'01"91

Wacky Workbench: 03'20"83

Stardust Speedway: 03'16"08

Metalic Madness: 06'11"98

Total : 24'40"93

-For Stardust Speedway 3 don't spend too much time on it as average you will earn 1'20"00. My best run was 1'17"46.

-For Metalic Madness 3 don't stress too hard on beating it in under 2'00"00 as it is a long and annoying level.

Most stages are pretty easy once you understand the layout and had some practice. You'll get this achievement once you have beaten the time target.

Once all that is done I must say Congrats on your 200G