Shaping Canon: Where does Sonic CD fit in the timeline?

[Indigo Rush]

I've been thinking a good while about where exactly Sonic CD takes place in the entire Classic Sonic era of games. It's been officially declared (and fairly obvious) that Sonic CD never had an intended place in the entire scope of things, fitting that vague place between Sonic 1 and Sonic Adventure, which is now being detailed to take place somewhere between Sonic 1 and Sonic 4. But that's not really enough detail for me, you see!  

The way I've looked at it, there are generally 3 theories that can be adhered to, but only 2 of them are actually plausible. I want to address the non-plausible one before I start detailing the other 2 and give my thoughts on them.

The Chronological Argument

This argument states that Sonic CD takes place between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, in accordance to the date in which it was released. It seems simple enough, and is the only real reason that someone would pick this one. People will generally assume this as the most reasonable argument, but it quickly falls apart to these major points:

Problems:

1. Sonic 2 directly leads into Sonic 3

If Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 weren't connected to each other in any way, this wouldn't be an issue. However even when you don't have the instruction manuals to lead you along, it's pretty obvious that right after the Death Egg falls from outer space in Sonic 2, it immediately crashes onto Angel Island, leading into the rest of the Death Egg Saga. If Little Planet shows up and Sonic CD happens inbetween, that means that Eggman is abandoning the whole Death Egg Project along with the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds to take this jarring detour for who knows how long.

2. Sonic still has the Chaos Emeralds

At the end of Sonic 2, if you get the good (read: true) ending, Sonic will transform into Super Sonic to strike a pose, and Sonic and Tails fly off-screen supposedly to relax. When Sonic 3 starts up, after the duo are made aware of Angel Island's existence, Sonic turns into Super Sonic again to show off, only to have Knuckles knock him out of his Super form. As we can see, Sonic obviously still has the emeralds he collected from Sonic 2. If Sonic CD takes place between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, this creates a massive plothole: why wouldn't Sonic just use the Chaos Emeralds to get it all over and done with if he already had them in his possession?

3. Tails is absent

With the exception of "SEE YOU NEXT GAME!" and the DA Garden, which will play a part in the other arguments, and his role as an unlockable bonus for the Taxman port, Tails is absolutely nowhere to be seen. This opens the same kind of plothole as the Chaos Emeralds: Tails usually follows Sonic everywhere he goes, so if Sonic CD comes after Sonic 2, where did he go? It's arguable that his absence is akin to that of Sonic 4: Episode 1's, where he was just in the background building a rocket for Sonic to reach the EGG Station, however I personally feel that this refutation alone isn't enough to undermine the other major points.

If those aren't enough to deter one from latching onto the "Chronological Argument," then I'm not sure what else I can say. For those who didn't think that Sonic CD could take place between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, then I have 2 other plausible arguments to follow, and the main question to ask is this:

Does Sonic CD take place...

BEFORE OR AFTER THE DEATH EGG SAGA

If Sonic CD can't take place after Sonic 2 and before Sonic 3, then it certainly can't take place between Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. Those titles directly lead into each other. They lock-on, for goodness sake! With this point made apparent, let's take a look at these two possible scenarios, which I have dubbed The Hardware/Tails Argument, and The Metal Sonic/Sonic 4 Argument. And without further ado...

Hardware/Tails Argument

Basically, this argument dictates that because Sonic 2 and Sonic CD were developed simultaneously, that it's most logical that the Little Planet event takes place before the Death Egg Saga begins, which is also before Sonic ever met Tails, explaining his absence.

Supporting Points:

1. Development History

Even though Sonic 2 was released before Sonic CD, a whole year before it actually, the simple fact is that these games were being developed at the same time. Yuji Naka was working on Sonic 2 in America while Naoto Oshima was working on Sonic CD in Japan. The focus behind this point is that because these 2 games were so close together in development, that it's plausible for Sonic CD to have it's placement earlier in the timeline, especially since it's a self-contained adventure, and since Sonic 2 would have direct sequels that would make Sonic CD's inclusion after that game implausible. Think of it like this: Sonic 2 was released earlier, but Sonic CD gets the birthright.

2. See You Next Game!

Now see, this is where Tails' absence would make perfect sense. Tails is not around because Sonic has not met him yet, simple as that. Add to that the Easter Egg teasing Tails' inclusion in the next game, which we can assume is Sonic 2 if we take this theory as legitimate, it's very possible that Sonic CD was meant to take place before Sonic 2 after all.

Potential Problems:

Metal Sonic's Design

Metal Sonic as we see him nowadays is apparently the same model as Sonic CD's. This implies that Metal Sonic is the best one that Eggman has created, therefore making the implication that Eggman wouldn't have to go through other designs. But this isn't the case, as after Sonic CD, Mecha Sonic mk.I, aka Silver Sonic, is introduced. He's a bulky and clunky robotic Sonic that doesn't seem anywhere near as powerful or effective as Metal Sonic. The same goes for Mecha Sonic mk.II, otherwise known simply as Mecha Sonic, making his debut in Sonic & Knuckles. While he can use the Master Emerald's energy to power up, he still is never seen again, and Metal Sonic's model is once again used in favor of these succeeding models. It seems kind of odd for Eggman to make these different and less powerful robotic Sonic doppelgangers only to go back to the more first Metal Sonic design.

How It Can Be Addressed:

Eggman is Flustered

This seems like an arbitrary cop-out, but it may be the best solution if you want Sonic CD to take place before Sonic 2. Sonic 4: Episode 2's story implies that Metal Sonic was left damaged and inoperable on Little Planet when it disappeared, meaning that Eggman didn't have the ability to repair or work on Metal Sonic. After he starts making the Death Egg, Sonic is soon approaching and Eggman has to put together a powerful robot to keep Sonic occupied while he readies the Death Egg Robot. This would explain the bulky and inefficient appearance of Silver Sonic, and why he's so easy for Sonic to destroy. When Sonic defeats him, it's all over for Silver Sonic, there are no scraps left. Eggman is simply too occupied with the Death Egg Project to put serious effort into designing a better designed robot Sonic, so we get weird and clunky results such as what we see in Silver Sonic.

Enter Sonic & Knuckles, where the famous Mecha Sonic makes his one and only debut. He seems to have more resilience, as Sonic alone isn't able to finish him off, and it's Knuckles who is the one to deal the final blow. But even so, Mecha Sonic still isn't able to handle all the damage and is eventually destroyed, despite absorbing some of the Master Emerald's power.

To summarize, We see chunky robot Sonics instead of the sleek and deadly Metal Sonic after Sonic CD because Metal disappears after CD, Eggman has to focus on the Death Egg and isn't putting his all into the Sonic doppelgangers. I think that's a plausible reconciliation.

But say that this isn't enough, and you find the change in Metal Sonic's design to be too jarring. That's why we have...

The Metal Sonic/Sonic 4 Argument

This argument puts forth the idea that because of Metal Sonic's sleek design and Sonic CD's role in the entirety of Sonic 4, that Sonic CD takes place after the Death Egg Saga and before the Sonic 4 Saga. This theory has just as many pros and cons as the Hardware/Tails Argument, so it's equally plausible. Here are the main points:

Supporting Points:

1. Metal Sonic's Design

The progression of Silver Sonic to Mecha Sonic and finally to Metal Sonic seems logical. Defeat after defeat, Eggman keeps refining the abilities of his line of robotic Sonics until he finally comes up with Metal Sonic. This eliminates the convoluted reasoning of Eggman being too focused on the Death Egg Project to worry about improving his robot Sonics. Besides, this would imply that he lost all of his collected data. A good robotic engineer wouldn't forget to save his blueprints! That is unless they were destroyed by Sonic along with the Death Egg, but I digress...

2. Sonic CD Is A Direct Prologue

SEGA has kept no secrets of their intention to make Sonic CD the prologue to the Sonic 4 Saga, and it makes sense to place it directly before said Saga. This isn't exactly the strongest argument, but if we accept Sonic CD as taking place after the Death Egg Saga and as a direct lead into the whole Sonic 4 Saga, then things seem more streamlined and understandable.

Potential Problems:

Tails is MIA

One of the supporting points for the Hardware/Tails Argument is Tails' absence, making the claim that Sonic hadn't met Tails yet, due to his tendency to follow Sonic everywhere, especially at this point in his character development. Now after the Death Egg Saga, it can only be assumed that Sonic and Tails' bond is even stronger. If this is the case, then where is he? His inclusion as an unlockable character in the Taxman port is a thought, but since it wasn't included in the original game, it can't be used as an excuse, nor can "SEE YOU NEXT GAME," as Tails is totally absent from the first episode of Sonic 4, not that an Easter Egg should dictate canon, but it's worth noting.

How It Can Be Addressed:

Tails is Skypatrolin'

While Tails Skypatrol isn't considered to be canon, the idea of Tails going on his own adventure or going on vacation could be a possible fix. The idea of making Tails Skypatrol canon just for the sake of explaining his absence in Sonic CD and Sonic 4: Episode 1, only to work "behind the shadows" to build Sonic a rocket seems like a stretch. But to be fair, it's not that much more of a stretch than Eggman misplacing his original Metal Sonic blueprints.

Because of both argument's potential problems and potential fixes, they are both equally viable as candidate for official canon. In my honest opinion, I feel that Sonic CD takes place before Sonic 2. My reasoning is because in the time it takes for the Little Planet to return to Sonic's world, the entire Death Egg Saga would have happened. However, it's just as fair to assume that the time between Sonic CD and Sonic 4: Episode 2 in the opposing theory is just as long as it would take the Death Egg Saga to run it's course. Chalk this one up to personal preference.

But what do you all think? Do you think there's another potential place for Sonic CD, or are these 3 2 good enough to pick from? Have I made any mistakes here, and is there anything that needs fixing?

Please discuss! Hopefully we can get a step closer to molding the Classic Timeline a little more clearly.

 

EDIT: I am just removing the broken Tinypic embeds since they contained text that is no longer readable. -Indy, 05/19/2020

[MegaMan_EXE]

Uhhh.

I'd say Sonic practiced the Spin Dash so much that he forgot to do the Peel Out.

Also, Tails is in the 4 Saga, in EP 2. EP 2 will be a Sonic 2/CD chapter.

[Vertekins]

What about Tails in the Tornado in the DA garden? It may be a minor Easter Egg that may have no real basis in canon but it is intriguing how Tails is featured in the DA Garden in the Tornado no less when sense would dictate that Sonic would have to have met Tails for him to be using the Tornado, as the Tornado belongs to Sonic and is the thing that ultimately brought them together in the first place.

As for Metal Sonic in S4EPII, maybe Eggman only salvaged Metal's CPU and engine and reconstructed his body? It'd explain why Metal has suddenly grown from 76.5cm in height to 100cm in height.

[Your Vest Friend]

Sonic CD was secretly originally set between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, where the effect of time travelling in between meant that it occured before Sonic 2, after S3&K and simultaneously erased the original event of them going home and Sonic going to Little Planet on a day outing, and instead had them going on a direct route to Angel Island. And the time paradox this created merely made the characters gain coloured irises afterwards.

Short version; it makes about as much sense as the Blaze and Silver debate, at the moment.

[MegaMan_EXE]

New idea!

This probably would have taken place after 4 Episode 1. How?

Metal is a upgraded robot

Sonic learned a new move

Sonic tries a new Spin Dash

Amy is new

New element

Leads into 4 Ep 2

If the Modern design wasn't used, then YES!!

Sonic 1

Sonic 2

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Sonic 4 Ep 1

Sonic CD

Sonic 4 Ep 2.

[Lady Soniko]

As for Metal Sonic in S4EPII, maybe Eggman only salvaged Metal's CPU and engine and reconstructed his body? It'd explain why Metal has suddenly grown from 76.5cm in height to 100cm in height.

Why would Eggman need to salvage any part of Metal Sonic from CD? surely he'd have all of Metal's Data saved to simply make another, more advanced model.

Sonic 4 Ep 1

Sonic CD

Sonic 4 Ep 2.

Sonic CD IS the prologue to the entire Sonic 4 Arc, can't have it between Sonic 4 Ep 1 and Ep 2.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Samus Aran

[MegaMan_EXE]

Sonic CD IS the prologue to the entire Sonic 4 Arc, can't have it between Sonic 4 Ep 1 and Ep 2.

To me, the 4 Saga is like their own stories.

Ep 1 was like Sonic 1 and a little bit of Sonic 2.

I know that makes NO sense, but to me, it just seems that way.

And 4 Ep 2 would be like a Sonic 2/ little bit of Sonic CD story.

FLAME ME!!

[MegaMan_EXE]

So practicing something "so much" makes you forgot how to do other things? Sounds legit.

Anyways, I always thought CD came before Sonic 2, but the way they're talking about it now, it seems like it takes place after the Death Egg saga. Ken Balough kept saying that they wanted to find a spot for Sonic CD in the original timeline by making it a prequel to Sonic 4... but that's vague as all hell. Its place in the timeline still isn't very clear.

Yeah. You're right about that. How does CD happen if after Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic has the Modern design for 4 Ep 2.

Also, there was a story about 4 EP 1 saying that it took place after Knuckles, and Sonic didn't know Robotnik was alive.

Could this be leading to CD's ending?

[Lady Soniko]

To me, the 4 Saga is like their own stories.

Ep 1 was like Sonic 1 and a little bit of Sonic 2.

I know that makes NO sense, but to me, it just seems that way.

And 4 Ep 2 would be like a Sonic 2/ little bit of Sonic CD story.

FLAME ME!!

that doesn't change SEGA saying that Sonic CD was the Prologue to the entire Sonic 4 Arc, regardless of episodes.

can't argue with the facts Brah.

i used to think it was set between 2-3 but then it just caused a lot of arguments in a sonic facebook group i was a part of, i thought Silver Sonic from Sonic 2 was a Metal Sonic Prototype that was used to capture Sonic's data, to perfect Eggman's redefined Metal Sonic in CD, but then again no Tails being there, and randomly having the Little planet appear, and no sign of the Death Egg just doesn't sit right... it'd make more sense if it were between 1-2 but then if sonic CD is the prologue to 4, it'd of gone Sonic 1, CD, 4...2 3

so yeah it doesn't make sense, maybe CD should be treat like a spin off?

Edited March 14, 2012 by Samus Aran

[MegaMan_EXE]

that doesn't change SEGA saying that Sonic CD was the Prologue to the entire Sonic 4 Arc, regardless of episodes.

can't argue with the facts Brah.

Guess I can't.

[Diogenes]

Between 1 and 2 works best. CD and 2 were being made at the same time; both were intended as sequels to Sonic 1. CD can't reasonably come between 2 and 3&K, which leaves between 1 and 2 as the best place for it. The robot Sonics aren't a serious concern; just say that Eggman found that his machines couldn't match Sonic's speed, so he went for power, and when that failed he went back to Metal. There's no need for it to follow perfect machine logic.

[MegaMan_EXE]

Between 1 and 2 works best. CD and 2 were being made at the same time; both were intended as sequels to Sonic 1. CD can't reasonably come between 2 and 3&K, which leaves between 1 and 2 as the best place for it. The robot Sonics aren't a serious concern; just say that Eggman found that his machines couldn't match Sonic's speed, so he went for power, and when that failed he went back to Metal. There's no need for it to follow perfect machine logic.

Huh. Never would have thought of THAT!

[Yong]

The logic behind the "Tails in every game" and "Metal > Mecha" arguements is sound enough, yet it's not logic that Sega has directly adhered to, historically anyway. While Tails is a very important character, like everyone else it's not "required" for him to appear in every game after Sonic 2. Tails himself does not appear in the story book games for example (people that have an "uncanny resemblence" to him do though). And Sonic Advance, which had Mecha Knuckles, should presumably take place after Sonic R, which had Metal Knuckles, which means Eggman doesn't show any preference in terms of "superiority" between the two model classes.

However the plot that Sega is intending to write for Episode 2 would suggest that Sonic CD takes place before Sonic 2, with the Death Egg saga and Episode 1 taking up the bulk of the year between CD and Episode 2 before Little Planet appeared once again.

[mikeblastdude]

I always figured that Sonic CD took place between Sonic 1 and 2. I know it was never officially stated, but it really just makes the most sense.

[Diogenes]

The logic behind the "Tails in every game" and "Metal > Mecha" arguements is sound enough, yet it's not logic that Sega has directly adhered to, historically anyway.

The Tails thing is less "Tails is in every game" and more "if someone's going to miss a game, logically it's going to be Amy rather than Tails". Because regardless of whether 2 or CD comes first, the earlier game introduces a character that doesn't appear in the next. But it makes more sense to put CD first, say that Tails isn't in it because he hasn't been introduced, and that Amy isn't in 2 and 3&K because Sonic doesn't like her, than it does to put 2 first, say Amy isn't in it because she hasn't been introduced, and that for some reason Sonic ditched his partner and best bud when he ran off to the Little Planet.

It's not particularly strong evidence regardless, but it's a more elegant outcome than the alternative, and it jives with the theory that (IMO) has the most evidence anyway.

The physical appearance of the "classic" characters in Generations were most likely mythology gags and nothing more.

How many times can you point out the difference in-game and still say it's not actually something that is true?

Like, I don't think I'd say that Sonic was a mute when he was younger, considering there's no reference to an inability to talk (unless I missed something); he simply does not. But when characters explicitly comment on Classic's shorter spines and rounder belly, it's kind of hard to justify that not actually being a thing.

[Solid SOAP]

SEGA confirmed that it takes place after Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Even if you don't like it, that's a fact and you'll just have to deal.

[The future]

I always figured that Sonic CD took place between Sonic 1 and 2. I know it was never officially stated, but it really just makes the most sense.

I always thought the same thing. Like the Metal Sonic model and the prototype of that spin dash.

[Diogenes]

SEGA confirmed that it takes place after Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Where.

[Tornado]

SEGA confirmed that it takes place after Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Even if you don't like it, that's a fact and you'll just have to deal.

Sega also confirmed that Sonic and Knuckles' stories in Sonic 3 happened concurrently. Why is that relevant? Because that's why I don't care what Sonic 4 says about the classic game canon.

[Indigo Rush]

SEGA confirmed that it takes place after Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Even if you don't like it, that's a fact and you'll just have to deal.

Pardon me, but... where?

[Solid SOAP]

Did SEGA not say that Sonic CD was confirmed to come after the classic trilogy, with Episode I following it? Or am I misinterpreting the whole "Sonic CD is the prequel to Sonic 4" thing?

[Tori Himemiya]

While I would say it would fall before Sonic 2 it seems more fitting after Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Mostly because Silver/Mecha Sonic's development in between Sonic 2 and 3. Silver Sonic was a prototype to a Sonic type robot after all. It would be rather strange if Metal Sonic wasn't the finished thing.

[Diogenes]

Mostly because Silver/Mecha Sonic's development in between Sonic 2 and 3. Silver Sonic was a prototype to a Sonic type robot after all. It would be rather strange if Metal Sonic wasn't the finished thing.

It's strange that a large, bulky prototype, which led to a slightly less bulky but still quite large robot, didn't then lead to a small, sleek robot with completely different abilities?

[Lady Soniko]

It's strange that a large, bulky prototype, which led to a slightly less bulky but still quite large robot, didn't then lead to a small, sleek robot with completely different abilities?

Isn't evolution wonderful?

Edited March 14, 2012 by Samus Aran

[neezTHEhuman]

It's strange that a large, bulky prototype, which led to a slightly less bulky but still quite large robot, didn't then lead to a small, sleek robot with completely different abilities?

Don't forget that Metal Sonic is completely impervious to Sonic's attacks whereas the others had weak spots so therefore it seems logical that Metal Sonic evolved from Silver and then Mecha because he is without doubt the ultimate robotic version of Sonic.