Sonic the Hedgehog

"Meh. Again."

Sonic returns for another adventure. Hooray?

Gameplay - 4/10: I got no real enjoyment out of it.

I felt like the entire game was one big chore after another. The only motivation I had to finish the game was to see how Super Sonic looked and have that SS boss battle. I cared nothing about anything else due to the main game boring me so much.

Sonic

Sonic's levels sometimes felt just for "show". The only time you really went "fast" was when you went through an automatic sequence (such as going through a loop) or going through the Mach-speed areas. The automatic sequences were mostly just so pointless because they're "automatic". I'd rather be able to interact some way then just watch Sonic run down a temple at high speed just to show off graphics.

Sonic has a homing attack (which I've had no problems with) which gets the job done. The game was too slow outside the Mach-speed areas that Sonic exclusively gets.

Mach-Speed areas were where Sonic actually got to go fast and had control to it (since you got none in the automatic sequences). The thing about them was that I didn't get enjoyment out of them either. You'd run fast and avoid obstacles with little control (due to going so fast). Just run and jump. There just wasn't anything that made me think "fun". I hope Sonic and the Secret of the Rings turns out better and actually enjoyable.

Shadow

Shadow has a homing attack but the difference is that he gets more fighting moves and gets vehicles and a projectile (the Chaos Spear). I must admit, I found Shadow's levels slightly more enjoyable than Sonic's. The thing is that he's actually even slower than Sonic.

Shadow's levels require more combat and use of vehicles. It's not really fun or anything, so much as just being there.

Silver

The new hedgehog, Silver, has telekinesis and has gameplay where you throw objects with said power.

Silver's gameplay still doesn't really entertain. It's just more interesting than the other 2's. Silver goes slower than even Shadow does in this game (which is sometimes good for the preciseness it takes in his levels). Silver's gameplay also doesn't strike as "fun". Sometimes more as "tedious". Get box, flick. Repeat.

Side Characters

Yes, there are side characters that you get to play as. Such as Blaze and Amy. The Side characters all control awkwardly and slowly. They are even slower than the standard characters. It's quite unpleasant to play as them. There's even a part where you have to find 3 keys as Rouge. Was this fun? No.

Camera - 4/10: I actually have to give a whole slot to the camera. This 3D Sonic game was the first time that the camera REALLY bothered me. Mostly, during boss battles.

Let's talk about a boss fight with a huge boss: You'd have the camera focusing on one point (such as trying to show the huge boss) but not showing the actual platform you're walking on. That's not good. Considering that you could walk into something or not even see the rings you're trying to run to (Egg Wyvern) or (in a boss battle with Iblis) just walk off your platform if you're moving around on.

Another instance with the camera was in a Boss battle against Silver in Soleana, as Sonic, I would run around to avoid Silver but since the camera would ONLY focus on one point at the time (the middle of the field), I couldn't see him coming like I wanted to. Would the camera let me move it freely so I could see where he was coming all the time? No.

Graphics - 6/10: The graphics were nice but not stunning. Some of the scenery just dulled me as well. The graphics weren't stunning but if you compare them to something like, the in-game graphics of Shadow, then, of course they're "great".

The CGI cut scenes were nice though, as usual. That does little to the score of this segment though.

Story - 5/10: The storyline was decent but some things that happened just made you think, "yeah, right". Other than that, it was filled with Time Paradoxes and little Plot holes but, hey, the average person won't care / won't see it. Oh well, it is still a kids game.

Anyways, the storyline was a bit wacky. I won't spoil it but the time traveling was a bit far fetched. It kept me interested but not something I actually was on the end of my rope trying to discover.

Music 6/10: Being a big VGM lover, I was interested in the soundtrack. The music is definitely a step up in quality but I won't say in enjoyability. The songs don't as easily get as stuck in my head as the other sonic game's music. The change was decent though.

My first impression of when there was first music released (months ago), I was hesitant of liking it. I liked it but sort of didn't. It felt like they replaced the annoying guitar sounds with annoying violins (even though I liked the annoying guitar :D).

Now, I must say I enjoy it better. A wider range of instruments and the level music makes the game seem more like an action movie. It's not great but it's definitely not in the bad category. I admittedly like more VGM that relies on fantasy so that might be lowering my music experience. Even then, I still listen to all kinds of music.

The higher quality music makes the experience more "epic" sometimes. Just don't come into this game expecting an Sonic Adventure music feel but it's still worth listening to.

Oh, and the Vocal Trax, they are alright. Silver's theme, "Dreams of an Absolution" is really the only one that people will really remember with it's techno trance feel. There is a "Dream Come True" (the vocal version of the Ending theme on Sonic the Hedgehog 2) Akon remix, it wasn't bad. It wasn't great either. It added some beat and "hip-hopishness" to the song. I'll still take the original over it though, due to the original having more "soul" and purity in it. For the Crush 40 Fans, there's "All Hail Shadow" Crush 40 version in the game.

If you are curious about any of the music than I suggest getting the OST and Vocal Trax that will be released Jan. 10, 2007.

Overall - 5/10: It wasn't great (unless you pump it up with fanboy points) and it wasn't utter horrible either (unless you've grown tired of playing mediocre 3D Sonic games). It was another mediocre 3D Sonic game.

If you are one of those people who don't trust reviews or are still skeptical then I'll just say, "if you liked the Shadow the Hedgehog game then you'll like this". Considering that this game feels like a Shadow the Hedgehog with actual effort put into it. Then again, that doesn't pull it out of the mediocrity. It just puts it on a pedestal slightly above ShTH. Which isn't saying much.

Either way, it got the job done. It was something to do. I cared enough to play it all the way through (only due to me being a Sonic fan and wanting to keep up). I'd recommend that you just go rent the game before you think about actually buying it.

I'll tell you that I didn't care enough to play it after I beat it %100 on the whole main stories. I didn't care / want to play the side missions and beat the side quests. This is exactly what happened with Shadow.

I'll tell you something though, I felt like I wasted a renting fee on this game.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 11/27/06