This product is like new. At NexWave Games, like new means:
Additionally, all discs at NexWave Games are carefully inspected and assessed for quality. When discs arrive, we do not accept any that are so badly damaged that they are unlikely to work. We only accept discs with light scratches at most. Discs with scratches are then treated in our professional disc repair machine. By warming the disc and polishing it with soft brushes, these machines can remove a very thin layer from the disc. This removes the layer containing surface scratches and improves the disc’s readability. This ensures the disc works properly, even on consoles with ageing lasers that have difficulty reading games! Great news for the player.
Sonic Gems Collection for PlayStation 2
Sonic Gems Collection for the PlayStation 2 collects several types of Sonic games on one disc. The three main titles are Sonic CD, Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R. You switch between a platform adventure with time travel, short battles between Sonic characters and races in which the characters usually travel around the track on foot.
In Sonic CD you research jobs at different times and try to influence the future of an area. Sonic the Fighters uses three-dimensional arenas for duels, with individual attacks for each character. Sonic R, meanwhile, lets you find routes and shortcuts while racing against the other participants. Each title has its own controls and rhythm, allowing the collection to showcase more than just running quickly to the right. On PlayStation 2, two players can race together in Sonic R.
It also contains six Game Gear games: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic Spinball, Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, Sonic Drift 2, Tails' Skypatrol and Tails Adventures. You can also unlock Vectorman and Vectorman 2. The museum contains illustrations, music and other material that you gradually add to. You can play a short race or a battle, but also work on a platform adventure for longer. The different styles each require a new approach: timing during a jump, your position in a duel or remembering a faster line around a circuit.
Region and language
Our PlayStation 2 games are PAL editions and come with a Dutch or English box, unless stated otherwise. By default, you receive the version for the European market. We note it in the product details if the region is different or the box is in another language. In almost all cases, the game is playable at least in English, and often in the other five common European languages too.
Manual
Sonic Gems Collection for PlayStation 2 includes the manual unless the product title states otherwise. If the booklet is missing, the title says “No Manual”. This lets you see before ordering whether the game comes with a manual.
The manuals included with our games usually contain at least English and often around six European languages. The exact languages vary by edition, so Dutch is not always included. The booklet explains the controls and the main rules. You can use it to check how to control the game, which actions are available and how its different features work.
The history of Sonic Gems Collection
Sonic Gems Collection appeared on PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube in Europe in 2005. Sega chose games from different systems and arcades after Sonic Mega Collection had chiefly gathered the Mega Drive period. That earlier selection had appeared on PS2 in expanded form as Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Gems now featured Sonic CD from Mega-CD, Sonic R from Saturn and arcade fighting game Sonic the Fighters. The compilation therefore showed other sides of the series together.
This origin explains the diverse structure of the collection. Sonic CD taps into the side-platforming of the early games, but uses time travel as a key part of the courses. The two other main titles show how the characters were used outside of a platform adventure. The Game Gear selection connects that overview with Sega's portable gaming console and also gives Tails his own leading roles.
Some of those portable games were already unlockable in Sonic Adventure DX. Gems makes it a permanent part of its roster, in addition to the three larger titles. The additional Vectorman games are from another Sega series and are unlockable extras. The museum also gave the collection space for images and sounds around Sonic. This way you can experience the differences between original systems and game types directly side by side on the same PlayStation 2 controller.
Similar games for PlayStation 2
Sonic Mega Collection Plus is the most related collection, focusing on Sonic's Mega Drive games. There you will find, among other things, the early numbered platform adventures. Gems chooses other main titles and also focuses on racing and fighting with Sonic R and Sonic the Fighters. The two collections thus fill in different parts of the series.
Sonic Riders for PlayStation 2 shares Sonic R’s racing side, but puts characters on hovering boards with air as a resource. You look for shortcuts and use moves to maintain speed. Gems includes on-foot Sonic R races alongside separate platform and fighting games. Riders concentrates on one racing system; in Gems, controls and rules change when you select another title.
Shadow the Hedgehog for PlayStation 2 also uses familiar Sonic characters, but builds one three-dimensional action adventure around Shadow. Firearms and choices during tasks guide progression. Gems collects separate older games with their own rules and smaller stories. Familiar figures connect the releases, but Gems more often switches between platforming, racing and duels rather than following one campaign.
Sonic Heroes revolves around three characters that you work together during a 3D job. You switch between speed, flying ability and power. Gems shows how Sonic and his fellow players were used in separate platform, racing and fighting games. You learn different rules per game, instead of combining skills within one team.
Sonic Unleashed for PlayStation 2 alternates fast Sonic stages with slower combat and climbing sections as the Werehog. It forms one continuous adventure with different rhythms. Gems creates variety by placing entire games together: Sonic CD, Sonic R and Sonic the Fighters each have their own structure. You choose the type of game to practise without following one campaign between day and night sections.
