6. Sonic CD
Originally released in 1993 for the Sega CD, the Genesis' ill-fated CD drive attachment, Sonic the Hedgehog CD was a commercial failure. Not because it was a poor game, but because the Sega CD never caught on with gamers. In fact, many fans argue Sonic CD rivals Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as the blue blur's all-time best game.
Sonic CD introduced the series to Metal Sonic and time travel. It also introduced Amy Rose, Sonic's first love interest. Because this was well before Sega began to drown fans in spin-off characters, Amy Rose was a welcome addition. What's more, Sonic CD featured multiple endings, and came with a soundtrack that still holds up well today.
Sega ported Sonic CD over to the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube in 2005, which were both well received. In 2011, Sega ported it again to touch based devices and modern consoles. A fast-paced platformer on a touch-screen sounds like a frustrating endeavour; however, the responsive virtual controls quickly made Sonic CD one of the best platformers available for iOS. As a result, Sonic CD proves fast-paced platformers can work and even excel on touch screens.
Take a hint, Nintendo.
