Sonic Battle

"Practice Makes Perfect for Sonic's GBA Outings"

Sonic Team's experience with the GBA is starting to pay off. Their fourth title for the system, Sonic Battle is an incredible display of what can be done with a Game Boy. Here's a scary part - it's a fighting game with a storyline! Yes, yes, I know, it seems impossible. But Battle actually manages to pull it off. MUCH better than Sonic the Fighters!

Graphics

The game's engine runs very smoothly, and the characters look great. The menus are in perfect form as well. What's the only thing wrong? The levels. They don't move at all. I'm not being really picky because I know it's a GBA game, but the characters actually walk on the water in some levels, and it's not a gesture to suggest that Sonic is divine.
8 out of 10

Gameplay

Sonic Battle's gameplay may seem a little groggy at first, but give it some time and you'll become addicted like a certain webmaster you may or may not know. The controls are easy, and it's just plain fun with four people!
10 out of 10

Sound

The version I played was sort of lacking in the music department. The quality seems to have dropped substantially since Sonic Pinball Party, but everything else is ok. Truthfully, though, it doesn't take much away from the game. The sound effects are great - they finally managed to get the characters' voices in!
9 out of 10

Control

Perfect. They couldn't have designed them any better. I'm REALLY impressed with this layout. You'll fall in love. Literally. Well, maybe not. But you get the point.
10 out of 10

Replay Value

Think Super Smash Bros. times 2 in a Game Boy game, and there's your answer. If you don't like to play things over, i.e., you didn't beat Melee with every character, then maybe not, but I found this game to be more addictive than Melee ever was.
10 out of 10

Innovation
This is a hard area to rate in. Either way I answer, I'm wrong. There will be arguments that this copied Super Smash Bros. Melee, and then there will be the ones who say that this is unique for a Game Boy game. I think it's more towards the second argument, so if you think otherwise, too bad!
10 out of 10

Hype
A lot of people don't know what to expect from this game. I was lucky enough to play it before release, and it went past my expectations in every way.
10 out of 10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/04