Sonic Rush

"After 10 years, Sega listened: Best Sonic Game Ever."

I admit it: I was skeptical of all the positive press Sonic Rush received throughout its production. Many media groups compared it to the Genesis games, and some even called it the "best Sonic game ever." I tried to keep my expectations low so that I could enjoy it, but that didn't happen: I went into Rush with expectations higher than any Sonic game before it.
And my expectations were shattered with something better than I ever imagined.

The graphical style of Rush is its first unique feature. While it looks bland like the Sonic Advance games in screenshots, it looks totally different in motion. The 3D models allow the game to jump out at you to give the traditional 2D scrolling formula a new twist. No one can deny that this is the "fastest" Sonic game ever. The speed effects in this game are unparalleled by other Sonic games. With speed comes the problem of running into enemies or falling into surprise pits, but these problems can be avoided easily after an hour or so of gameplay.

Rush's soundtrack has been a hot topic for debate across the Sonic community. Some people find it appalling, some people love the Jet Set Radio Future-inspired score. I was confused about how the music would work in the game, but it fits perfectly. I was anxiously waiting to unlock the sound test menu so that I could listen to the songs I fell in love with during gameplay. Dare I say this soundtrack is more fitting than Sonic CD's Japanese score? It's easily debatable but close on either side. With the great music, Sega added horrible voiceovers. Sonic's lines are too childish, Tails is dumber than Big in Sonic Heroes, and the game even mentions that Cream is "not so bright" herself. The most annoying is that both Cream and Tails give an enthusiastic "YESS!!" whenever you change levels on the world map. Especially when the name of the zone is something like "DEAD LINE" or "HUGE CRISIS." I found myself laughing at my DS when Sonic said "That was fun! I want to do that again!" What next, "I want to support the American economy by purchasing localized products"? It's a far cry from the language used in Shadow the Hedgehog. That leaves us with Blaze to save the day in the world of voice acting. She has less lines than everyone else, but even she doesn't sound too great. Her character is lacking any emotion whatsoever and the voice reflects it. The voiceovers cannot be turned off. I respect Sega for trying to add voice acting to a portable game, but lackluster performance by the voice actors and scriptors at 4Kids make it worthless. Most of the lines in the game don't match up with the voice acting at all. For example, the caption will say "You'll regret this!" while Eggman says "I won't forget this!!" It doesn't hurt the gameplay, but it can be annoying and probably should have been revised considering the high production values found everywhere else in the game.

What about switching back and forth between two screens? Does it get annoying or confusing? No, but it's frantic just like a Sonic game should be. The transitions between the two screens are so flawless that you'll be convinced this is the way Sonic was meant to be played. Sega didn't try to force innovation this time, and it makes all the difference in the control department. A far cry from the recent console outings, the camera in Rush is perfect during all sequences, 2D and 3D. During levels, you'll use B, A, X, and the D-Pad. The R button is used to do tricks on rails and the A button is used to jump and perform air tricks. The tricks build up your score and your Rush meter. Pressing X while on the ground activates the Rush boost, which instantly takes your character to max speed at the cost of points on the Rush meter. This is without a doubt the best innovation the series has ever had - even bigger than spindash. Spindash hasn't been totally replaced, though: you still have it as your only option for a quick burst of speed during boss fights.

The special stages are a different story with a similar ending. Using the stylus, you guide Sonic through the Sonic 2 special stage style tunnels to collect rings while avoiding mines. To mix it up a bit, they've added enemies, springs, ring switches, and ramps to them. These levels simply wouldn't be possible without the stylus. Blaze does not go to the special stages: she gets a Sol Emerald every time she defeats a boss.
Blaze the Cat isn't bad, but she's an unnecessary addition to the cast. There is no difference between her levels with Sonic's other than the order in which they are played. Her character is developed more in this game than Cream has been since Sonic Advance 2, so hopefully this is a sign that Sega is trying to put more thought into the characters.

After completing the game's 7 zones plus the boss level, you'll unlock a Time Trial mode. This is the first Sonic game where I have enjoyed the gameplay enough to actually compete for low times in this mode alongside the main story, and I'm still not tired of it. For some reason, this game just doesn't get old. It feels timeless even after playing the same level ten times in a row. When I purchased Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it stayed in my Sega Genesis for months. I'm willing to bet Rush will be settled in my DS far longer. The memories I have of the old games will never be matched, but for the first time, Sega has made a game that is truly better than anything before it. I'm not reviewing this game on nostalgia - I'm reviewing it based on what it is. As far as replay value is concerned, you can't do better than Rush. The "story" mode from the other games is now called "gameplay mode" for a good reason. Stop being skeptical about the relatively short seven zone list and realize that the game itself is the replay value, not the length.

I haven't had a lot of experience with multiplayer mode yet, but it's much, much better than the poor excuses found in the GBA games. You can play through all the levels of the regular game, but it feels much nicer than in Sonic Advance 3. The biggest difference you'll notice is that only one screen is used during multiplayer so that the DS can process the wireless link. Because of this, it's not quite as impressive as the single player mode, but it's still fun. The lack of Nintendo WiFi Connection support is a bit disappointing, but it's not really necessary for such a small mode anyways. I don't feel justified in taking off points for its flaws here because Sonic Rush wasn't meant to be a multiplayer game in the first place.

The game's presentation is fantastic. The menus are polished, the interface flows well, and the music sounds crisp and clear, but most important of all, this is the first DS game to correctly render 3D graphics in real time on both screens. All of the text and little graphical effects add a lot to the game's "wow" factor. Fans have been asking for a 3D sidescroller for years and Sega finally answered. What else is there to say?

As much as I hate to call something the "best," Sonic Rush deserves the title. I realized the flaws of the Sonic Advance games, but they've all been fixed and so much more has been added. If you've been unsatisfied since the Genesis days, this is the game you've been waiting for. Sonic Rush is my newfound favorite game in the series, knocking out Sonic & Knuckles after ten years of flawed sequels. Rush makes things more complex and innovative by going back to the basics: Sonic is about speed, not fighting, shooting, or pinball(-ing?). If Sega keeps this up, Sonic the Hedgehog may indeed rise again to reclaim his spot at the top of gaming icons.

Gameplay
The best gameplay in any Sonic game ever. Possibly too easy for some, but largely enjoyable by all. 20 / 20

Sound
Wildly different yet enjoyable soundtrack. Voice acting is overused and unimpressive. 17 / 20

Graphics
Great character models on nice backgrounds. Some might find that the backgrounds are too similar to the Advance games. 19 / 20

Controls
Low learning curve, generally solid. Touch screen is only used in special stages. 15 / 15

Replay Value
Determined fans will want to get "A" ranks on everything. Two stories as Sonic or Blaze, but the levels are the same. 14 / 15

Expectations
Pretty much everyone hoped for great things from Rush, and it doesn't disappoint. 10 / 10

FINAL SCORE 95 / 100 (total of scores above)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/05