A Christmas Tale

For the past little while schoolwork (and halo, and sonic colors, and assassins creed brotherhood, but mostly schoolwork) has wedged itself into my life and made it impossible for me to even consider writing anything for this blog. Tonight however is a rare occasion where I have no homework due tomorrow, no friends on Xbox live to join, and no pressing matter to attend to (I don’t have to use the bathroom). So that leaves me with an entirely new dilemma: what to write for this blog. I like to imagine that all 9 of you readers care immensely about seeing the blog updated frequently, and I as one of your humble writers will seek to appease you...

Well, I just perused some of the games in my collection of gems (and a few turds) and have decided to analyze a story for you. It is a story of love, of evil desire, of facing one’s inner demons to overcome an opposition and become a greater person. Of course, I’m referring to the story in the instruction manual of Sonic CD

Fast Facts:

System: Sega CD (Mega CD) PC

Release Date: Mega-CD JP September 23, 1993 NA November 19, 1993

PC: JP August 9, 1996 NA September 26, 1996 EU October 3, 1996

7 Zones, 3 Acts Each

Average Ebay Price: around 20-30 dollars for complete package.

Rated #1 Sonic Game by Screw Attack

Fun Fact: The US version and JP version have entirely different music. A lot of people criticized (and still today critizie) the American soundtrack, and this fact alone caused the game to get lower scores among some reviewers.

The Story:

A World That Defies Time!

“Sonic, where are you going now?”

Sonic the Hedgehog looked over his shoulder at Princess Sally, (as a fanboy, I need to gripe here. This character is for all intents and purposes Amy Rose. Princess Sally Acorn is and only ever has been in the Sonic Comic books done by Archie Comics. Apparently at one point they were going to kill her off, but Sega didn’t let them because they wanted to put her in a game. That was a long time ago. I’m still waiting, Sega…) the young hedgehog who was racing hot on his heels.

“To Never Lake,” he called back.

“Why Never Lake?”

Sonic slowed down a little so he could explain. “Ever heard of the Little Planet?”

“Isn’t that the tiny world that orbits around Mobius?” Princess Sally asked. “The one with the special stones that alter time and change everything around them? I heard that the planet’s full of places that are completely ignored by the passage of time!”

“Yeah. On the last month of every year, the Little Planet appears over Never Lake. It’s that time now, and I’m going to check it out. I bet space travel will be exciting!”

“With all those Time Stones, I bet you’ll try to outrun time itself!”

Princess Sally sighed in adoration.

Sonic didn’t reply, he just smiled, eyes gleaming.

When they arrived at Never Lake, the Little Planet was there as expected. But something was wrong. Where there should have been tall trees and bright flowers, there was nothing dry sand and jagged rocks. The Little Planet was tethered to a rock with a huge chain, and its surface was covered with twisted, gleaming metal.

“What happened?” Princess Sally wondered.

Before Sonic could reply, something wooshed over them. Princess Sally shrieked as she was snatched up, and she and her captor vanished in a blue streak of light!

“What the-PRINCESS SALLY!”

It didn’t take long for Sonic to realize what had happened.

“This has to be one of Dr. Robotnik’s tricks!”

Indeed it was! Upon discovering the location of the Little Planet, the evil Dr. Robotnik and his robot cronies had immediately set about converting it to a giant fortress. When Robotnik saw Sonic approaching, he had dispatched his prize creation, the Metal Sonic, to grab Princess Sally and lure his arch enemy into danger.

“How convenient!” Robotnik crowed, bouncing about like a malicious rubber ball. “This time my scientific expertise will crush you! Once all the Time Stones are in my hands, I’ll be able to manipulate time and conquer the world! HO, HO, HO, HO!”

Sonic stood on a rock and thought. Robotnik had control of the Little Planet. He had Princess Sally, and soon he would have the Time Stones… but not if Sonic got to them first!

His adventure on the Little Planet was going to be more exciting and dangerous than he’d planned. It was time to get a move on!

So how is that a Christmas Story? well as you can see, it’s the last month of the year. The Little Planet has come and will only be here for a little time, so what will you do? Will you let this once in a lifetime chance pass? Will you allow yourself to be content with your mundane, everyday life for another year? Or will you get a move on? Will you do something you’ve always wanted to do? Will you face your fears? As Rocky says in Rocky 6, maybe you’ve got something you’ve always wanted to do-something you’ve wanted to say to someone, SOMETHING. And after you’ve done all you can do, who’s got the right to stop you? Nobody. So in this last month of 2010, accomplish something. Do what you wanted to do. Save your own personal Princess Sally. Also, eat a ton of food, give presents to your family and friends, and of course, play some vigigames. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, or uh…Good Kwanza?