"The best party/board game ever!"

I am a huge Sonic fan so, of course, I went out and bought this the day it came out (I didn't know GameFAQs had reviews until now!). Seeing all the negative reviews for it, I was scared to play but it ended up being really fun (and surprisingly easy)! I really don't know why everyone is saying that this was hard/boring/repetitive/etc. Read on...

Plot (9/10): Okay, so the plot is a bit lacking. It's still a great story. Void breaks up the precioustone and Sonic and his friends have to find all the parts and save Maginaryworld. Of course, this is a party game and the plot isn't THAT important.

Gameplay (10/10): This is the most innovative gave I've ever seen. Instead of just randomly moving spaces, there is now thought required to play since cards are used to move. You can plan your movements ahead of time and lead others into traps! It's kind of like chess in a way. And when the card you want is taken, you have to improvise! Add this to chaos created by Eggman, TONS and TONS of mini games (I get about 3 every 2 rounds), boss battles (great test of speed and accuracy, as well as skill), normal battles, hidden features, TONS of items (force jewels), and amazing maps and you have the best party game ever created!

Graphics (10/10): Absolutely beautiful! The cell-shading really makes the characters stand out, giving them a classic Sonic look. Simply perfect. The maps, monsters, and environment all look amazing and the intro movie is just breathtaking.

Sound (9/10): Great music, good SFX, okay voice acting. Need I say more?

Control (10/10): The controls work well for this game. A and B are the typical ''Yes/No'' buttons and Y shows the map. Mini-game controls are also easy to learn.

Replay (10/10): Got lots of friends? This is the perfect game. Story mode is also fun enough to play over and over and buying pictures in Sonic Room adds a lot to replay. Mini-games are also fun when you just want something simple.

Other (9/10): [Difficulty] This is perfect because newcomers shouldn't have any trouble while masters can set the computers to very hard. On easy, the computer does cheat sometimes but can easily be beaten (just make sure you're always moving TOWARD the precioustone by the number at the top of the screen) so I'd recommend hard for computers. [Loading Times] This is the only reason that I had to think before giving this game 10/10, although it isn't noticeable once you play a lot. The loading screens are also great chances to learn about force jewels, although not necessarily the ones you have.

Overall (10/10): Even though this game has a few cons, it is easily the best party/board game out there. Working your brain as well as reflexes, it is perfect for everyone. The only reason I would give this 9 is because of the loading, but even that isn't noticeable once you get used to it. Buy this game! Rent it! Something! You have GOT to play this!

Pros and Cons:
+TONS of different mini-games
+Great graphics
+Lots of fun with friends or just on your own
+Easy learning curve
+Great replay value
+/-Addictive
+/-Easy computers
-Computers sometimes (but rarely) cheat
-Loading time takes some getting used to

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/13/02, Updated 03/13/02