Now, you can choose between three difficulty settings. In EASY, every Zone has only one Act, and there are alot less obstacles. In NORMAL, certain obstacles are removed. In ORIGINAL mode, everything's just as it was the first time and is the logical choice for experienced speedsters.

   Other additions include the option to enable the Spin Dash in Sonic 1, and the option to turn the timer off in any one of the games. There are also "flash saves" similar to those in Sonic CD...only one to a game, though, and it's deleted as soon as you start a new one. You can also play the Special Stages right from the splash screens, as well as Time Attack in every single Zone and Act. Finally, you can view both the Japanese and US instruction manuals...every single page!

   From the title screen, you can also choose to go to the Sonic World. The Sonic World, like the 3D museums in the PSX Namco collections, serves as a pretty interface to access some game history and other goodies. Right at the entrance you'll find a red and white trampoline...jump on it to access the World Missions. Each World Mission challenges you to complete a certain task (such as collecting 50 Rings, hitting all the Lampposts, etc.) within a time limit. Complete the task, and new objects will appear around the Sonic World. By the time you've done them all, you'll find the following items scattered around the level: Rings (100 to be exact), Springs, Lampposts, monitors (that reveal cheats for the original games), giant balloons, Tails, Flickies, and finally a giant Ring. Jump into the giant Ring to view the credits.

   But the real substance of the Sonic World are the various "houses". Here's what you'll find:

• Character House -- Contains profiles and conceptual art of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Robotnik. Also covers Sonic's original friends (Flicky, Ricky, Picky, Pocky, Rocky, Pecky, and Cucky) and all the Badniks from Sonic 1 - S&K.
• Music Shop -- A sound test with tracks from Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic Jam all in one convenient stop.
• Movie Theater -- A collection of Sonic cinemas including:
  • Sonic CD opening, complete uncut version
  • Sonic CD ending, complete uncut version
  • A promotional clip from the Sonic anime OAV
  • An unidentifiable clip of American Sonic animation
  • An unpublished computer-animated clip from a planned Sonic ride
  • Two Japanese Sonic 1 TV commercials
  • Two Japanese Sonic 2 TV commercials
  • Japanese Sonic 3 TV commercial
  • Japanese Sonic Spinball TV commercial
  • Japanese Sonic CD TV commercial
  • Japanese Sonic & Tails (Sonic Chaos) TV commercial
  • Japanese Sonic & Tails 2 (Triple Trouble) TV commercial
  • Japanese Sonic Drift TV commercial
• Art Gallery -- A collection of various Sonic art.
• Hall of Fame -- A timeline chronicling major events in Sonic history.

   On a final note, there are also computer wallpapers accessible by popping the Sonic Jam disc into your PC CD-ROM. For hardcore Sonic fans, this collection is absolutely essential.

-- Saturn Version --

-- Game.Com Version --

   For a bit, there were rumors of a simultaneous release in both Japan and the US, but in the end, we Americans didn't get ours until August. Both versions are identical except for the cartridge graphics in the game selection. (The Japanese cartridges are shown in the Jap version while the American carts are portrayed in the US version. Makes sense, don't it?) When asked why the original American TV commercials weren't used in place of the Japanese ads that none of us will recognize, a Sega rep said that the original actors would've had to be payed royalties. Oh. Hey, I admire the honesty...

   Jam was never released in Europe because of some dumb-ass policies. Jam is, essentially, a collection of "old" games, and SoE wanted no "old" games on their "new" system. Oh well, their loss...

   Tiger later got the rights to do a Game.Com version. I never played it, so I can't say how faithfully it adapts the actual games. But judging from the screens above, I wouldn't mortgage the house for it.

Make Pause Box Disappear: (Saturn version) At any point in the game, press START to pause it. A small options box will appear asking you if you want to continue, quit, or restart the level. Press X+Y+Z to make this box disappear.

View Movies in Sequence: (Saturn version) You can view the movies from the Sonic World "Move Theater" in order by holding down X+Y+Z and pushing A in the "Movie Theater".

Free Lives: (Game.Com version) Pause the game at any time and press A, A, A, D, D.

Invinibility: (Game.Com version) Pause the game at any time and press A, B, C, A.

• Along with Sonic Jam's Japanese release came the granddaddy of all promotions: real Sonic jam! As in, the kind of jam you spread on toast. In grape (featuring Sonic), orange (featuring Tails), and strawberry (featuring Knuckles)!