Sonic Gems spins onto the Cube

When Sonic the Hedgehog debuted more than a decade ago, the prickly fellow helped make a name for Sega and its home console, the Sega Genesis. Even after all those years, Sonic is still one of the most recognizable figures in the gaming industry, and he continues to pop up in original games on current-generation consoles.

Like any good old-timer in an entertainment industry, Sonic has been the subject of many retrospective compilations, such as 2004's Sonic Mega Collection Plus. But for hardcore Sonic fans, a simple greatest hits pack just isn't enough.

For those gamers who hunt down rare Sonic games like audiophiles hunt down hard-to-find pressings of B-sides, Sega offers Sonic Gems Collection, exclusively for the GameCube. The compilation is rated E for Everyone, retails for $29.99, and is now available in stores.

Nine games from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise are included, all of which previously appeared in the arcades or on Sega's home consoles. The games span several genres, such as the platform action game Sonic CD, the brawling of Sonic The Fighters, and the racing action of Sonic R.

Gamers will also be able to unlock several ports of Sonic's Game Gear forays, including Sonic Spinball, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic The Hedgehog Triple Trouble, Sonic Drift 2, Tails' Skypatrol, and Tails Adventures.