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How Sonic got most of his groove back.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 45 / 60
Date: February 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Call me crazy, call me a fan of deep gameplay, but I've just never understood this whole Sonic the Hedgehog hullaballoo. Back when Sonic made his console debut in the early 90s he immediately separated himself from his biggest competitor, a chubby plumber, and in doing so, set himself apart as the "cool" console mascot. And cool he was. While Mario was busy breaking bricks and lollygagging his way through pipes, Sonic was flying through worlds with ease, doing all sorts of cool tricks in the process. However, what Mario lacked in "coolness" he always made up for with deep, addictive gameplay. Sonic was cool, yeah, but when it came down to the quality of the gaming experience, he just never could gain ground on that chubby guy.

This flaw of Sonic followed him into the 3D era as well. The arrival of the Sega Dreamcast brought Sonic fans the Sonic Adventure series, which often slowed down the speedy hedgehog in favor of more traditional 3D platforming. In a way, it worked. But this was Sonic, and you can't very well have Sonic and not have speed! So Sonic the Hedgehog has been in sort of a drought over the better part of a decade, trying his best to keep up in his old age. Often plagued by poor camera control and even poorer character control, Sega's mascot is no longer the poster child for "cool" gaming, but the perfect example of what a video game shouldn't be.

The light at the end of the tunnel for Sonic was supposed to be his latest adventure, Sonic and the Secret Rings, and at first look, it seems like a pretty solid idea. Bring Sonic back to his roots, make him fast, recreate the 2D Sonic experience in 3D. So the folks over at Sega have Sonic constantly moving in this game along a set path, the player steers him left and right by tilting the Wii remote accordingly. To jump, simply hit the 2 button. Shove the remote forward mid-air to perform a homing attack (a gesture that really feels quite solid).

So far so good. Sonic is once again running through worlds, collecting rings and other valuables while blasting into enemies. But then the core flaw of Sonic the Hedgehog once again becomes apparant. The gameplay is still pretty shallow. Sega has tried to paint over this problem by allowing Sonic to gain experience points throughout his adventure, making him faster, stronger, and more cocky. Still, this is 2007. Running fast and collecting rings may have been compelling, or jaw dropping in 1991, but we've come to expect more from our games nowadays, especially when they're platformers. Sadly, Sonic and the Secret Rings does not recreate the excitement and experience of the traditional Sonic game, nor does it create a new experience to get excited about. It's simply disappointing.

However, from a visual standpoint, Sonic and the Secret Rings does not disappoint. You won't find the benefits of high definition gaming as you would Sonic's other current-generation endeavors. But what Sonic and the Secret Rings lacks in polish and shine, it makes up for in beauty and detail. The worlds that Sonic speeds through are beautifully and meticulously created, often giving players something to gawk at when the game slows its pace occasionally. Having played Sonic the Hedgehog on Xbox 360, I can safely say that Sonic and the Secret Rings is a much more satisfying game where both visuals and gameplay are concerned.

In the end, the gamers will decide if Sonic and the Secret Rings is a hit or a miss. Sonic fans of old may enjoy the new twist on the old gameplay, but fans who never really latched on to the series will most likely be disappointed again. Is it the best 3D Sonic game? It really depends on what you're looking for. As a traditional 3D platformer it fails, but in recreating the 2D world of Sonic in 3D it at least comes close. Sonic may not be as cool as he used to be, but at least he's trying.

6.0 Presentation
Menus and cutscenes are artistically created, and work in setting the environment of the world of the Arabian Nights. But the story is a little silly, and largely unnecessary.

8.9 Graphics
Some of the best graphics available on the Wii, and the level design is often meticulously crafted to enhance the experience.

4.9 Sound
The music in the game is worse than Excite Truck, but unfortunately the game does not offer the custom sountrack option. As always, Sonic is better when he's not talking, but he still won't shut up.

4.5 Gameplay
Going fast is fun for a while, but then it wears off. The game suffers from the same follies of the original Sonic games, with the added problem of going backwards which is neither intuitive nor fun.

6.0 Lasting Appeal
RPG fans may find some saving grace in the experience points, but the tacked-on party games are just lame and poorly presented.

6.2 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

It's fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 15 / 21
Date: February 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I missed out on every single sonic game since the first two for the sega genesis. I was a pretty big fan of the first Sonic game but the novelty wore off even by the second one. I think playing Sonic in the 3D world is really a breath of fresh air. This game seems like a very natural extension of the original 2D platformer, where you really get excited about sonic reaching breakneck speeds, but you have to watch out for numerous obstacles and enemies. Some people criticize the fact that sonic has a preset path, but it's unclear to me how well the game would work if he didn't. He has less of a preset path now than in the 2D world, and free roaming would totally lose the original sonic feel. Additionally, this "preset path" is somewhat overstated, as you are able to veer off onto multiple paths on some levels to find different items or complete tasks. The whole interface is very intuitive, and the controls for sonic are very responsive. The story is lame, but please don't tell me anyone thinks the megaman stories, the mario stories, or the original sonic stories are not lame. It's also really cool being able to get new skills for sonic and adds depth to the game. However, I still feel that sonic does not accelerate fast enough. Once you get hit by an object while running, you will be walking for several seconds and jogging for several more seconds. Acceleration upgrades become available throughout the game so I assume he will get faster as I progress further. Finally, the graphics are pretty good. They are as good or better than any other Wii game. Ironically, my main criticism is that sometimes the colors look washed out, which you would think would be one of the easiest things to get right in a game these days. This is just the kind of game the Wii needs right now and I highly recommend it.

So much packed into a $30 game!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: February 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

In reading reviews to avoid repeating the same sentiments -- I was befuddled by the negative reviews. This game is so much fun and is always building on itself, that I anticipate it to continue to be my favorite game for some time. Why spend $50 on a game that can be broken in one weekend? The only thing I can figure is the negative reviews are from hard-core gamers, which I certainly am not. I got the Wii for Xmas 07 and previously had only had the Atari 2600 in the 80's. (clue as to why the reviews of the hair band sound track doesn't bother me)

People should post what level they have gotten to and how much time they have given to a game. I've had it for a month and have gotten the 3rd Dinosaur level unlocked. I didn't play for about a week and had to revisit some of the Prologue to get back in the groove. Which I think is awesome. The game is still fresh. I think it's amazing how much they've packed into one disk. So many levels, so many skills.

Why does anyone care about the quality of the story? Buy a novel if you want a good read. And the graphics...I'm too concentrated on the skills to reach the goal, making medal level time, and finding fire souls to notice how many pixels are used to build the fires.

I recommend reading C. Alfaro "Teo" 's review for an in depth review of the game.

And if that wasn't enough for $30, you get bonus party games that are a like getting a whole other disk. Way more variety than "Carnival". And contrary to another reviewer, yes you can choose the games you prefer in the "library". More party games are unlocked as you beat more levels in the main game.

Yes, the Prologue is mandatory, but it has a purpose. You have to learn how to use the remote to make the future games enjoyable. And the games there are still fun. I've returned back to beat the clock and earn a medal. (The table of contents keeps track of medals won, fire souls found). So if you rent first -- you should give it a fair chance. (In comparison, I found the mandatory start up in Boogie and Play to be far more annoying).

I recommend disconnecting the wrist strap for comfort (yes, shame on me, but your not going to fling the remote it's used more like a game pad [party games however do use more of the Wii movement, so put the wrist strap back on]). The + will get you past the story book. Yes, jumping is on the release of 2, that is because the length of depressing 2 determines the strength of the jump (read the CD insert). You need to press the directional up to last longer while fighting multiple enemies. Equip your ring with as many possible skill points as you earn them. Read the skills -- several reviewers mention slowness, but there is a skill to get a burst of speed when the count down is at one. You will eventually earn the skill to resume speed after losing it to rugged terrain. The directional up gives Sonic his burst of speed. Later on when you earn skills like faster breaking and smoother grinding, you can return to previous beaten screens for faster times or more points.

Good Game With Flaws

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 15 / 23
Date: February 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I was worried when this game came closer to release. I got even more worried once the reviews started rolling in. Still, I went ahead and bought it.
The whole Sonic in 3D problem seems to never go away. There have been plenty of chances for Sonic Team to get it right, but for some reason they always make major missteps.
I will say, though, this is a very promising step forward.
The plus side, this isn't a port of the Sonic games from PS3 and Xbox 360, which was the original plan. I think everyone can be grateful of that.
The entire play mechanic has Sonic running down a predetermined course. You tilt the Wiimote to steer, pretty much in the same way as Excite Truck. The 2 button makes you jump, the 1 button makes you stop.
One of the most enjoyable control elements is the homing attack, which you perform by jumping into the air, waiting for the enemy lock on to activate, and then shaking the controller. This causes Sonic to blast forward and slam into his opponent. This definitely takes some getting used to, as a mistimed jump will do nothing but send you leaping into the arms of your enemy, causing you to lose rings.
This brings up one of the shortcomings of this game. Anything but a quick small jump causes Sonic to stop and charge up. This takes away from the whole "breakneck speed" feel of the 2D Sonic games. You should be able to charge your jump while running.
Also, the amount of time it takes Sonic to get to full speed is far too long. When you get hit or run into an obstacle, the energy gets completely sucked out of the moment as you have to wait to build up a full head of steam to be on your way again. In missions where you have to finish in a certain time limit, this can be more than aggravating.

I don't mind the storyline. As a matter of fact, I think it's a nice change of pace. The other characters make cameo appearances, which I'm very much in favor of. I don't want to have to punch, fly over, or shoot anything in a Sonic game. I want to get going as fast as I can and just let my reflexes take over.

You will need to get used to the camera, though, which is very different in terms of platforming games. There is no player control to it, and the developers have set it up to have an almost cinematic feel. There were a couple of times where I thought I was watching a brief cut-scene only to realize I still had control of the action. Once you get used to it, though, it's not too bad.

I'm looking at Sonic and the Secret Rings as Sonic Teams first step towards righting the capsized ship. Future games need to utilize what this game has done right and work to correct the flaws. All in all, I'm not upset with my purchase.

I will say this, though- I docked a point on the overall rating because, damnit, I'M TIRED OF WII TITLES HAVING STUPID PARTY GAMES! GIVE IT UP, ALREADY! If I want party games, I'll play Warioware.

Sonic Reaches New Motion-Sensing Heights

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 13 / 19
Date: April 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Sonic and the Secret Rings brings the blue hedgehog of rolling fame to the Wii platform. This attempts to combine speedy ring-gathering with a bit of role playing storyline. The 1001 Arabian Stories are being erased!

The storyline is rather feeble, so don't worry about it much. There's an evil genie. There's a good, pretty female genie. You have to gather rings. First, though, you have to wade through an interminable tutorial sequence to get to the main gameplay.

You follow paths of rings - going through tunnels, along tropical beaches, jumping over obstacles, doding falling objects, and more The graphics are nice in an arcadey way, and really, since you're usually flying along at Mach 10, it doesn't really matter. All that matters is getting to that next sequence of rings.

This is not a game that you get in "one pass". The key is to learn the order of the rings, so that you can eventually play through a level. You have to wonder just who builds these temples full of moving spikes and falling pillars!

I have to comment on the sound. It is really odd. Sometimes you get gentle Arabian tunes, as befitting the storyline. Most of the rest of the game, though, you get a head-banging rock anthem which gets really old, really quickly.

Intriguingly, in a Disney-like twist, you're trying to rescue the King of the Arabian Nights story - when in the real myth, the King was the 'bad guy' of the stories, the one who would kill the storyteller unless she came up with a new, intersting tale each night.

There are party games to enjoy with friends, and oodles of replayability to get the top score in each level. The question is, of course, if you really want to. This is one of those games that will have its fans and foes. If you love Sonic games, you'll enjoy the ability to play Sonic with souped-up graphics, the Wii remote to guide your Sonic friend and a whole new range of adventures to explore. If you're not much of a Sonic lover, this isn't going to change your mind. Sonic seems a bit sluggish, the gameplay isn't that much different than before and the storyline is traditionally silly.

Best Sonic in a while

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: February 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I would give this an overall rating of 4.5, but since they don't have it, I will round up. That being said, if you have a WII and like Sonic, this is a great game to get. I bought it the day it came out and have played for about 4 or 5 hours so far. At first, I was a little disappointed; it seemed slow and the controls a bit "wonky", but after getting the multiple power ups I really liked the idea of building up your character and the gameplay became smoother. The camera does pull you somewhat and I felt as if I wanted to have more control... But when I look at it and say, is this s fun game? the answer is a resounding yes! And that is what the WII is so good at doing; taking a simplistic approach and making it fun as hell.

Dont think, just run

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: March 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I see a lot of bad reviews for the game and after reading them, I find a common problem at lot of players get aggrivated with and quit before the game gets a chance to show its merit. 2 of the reviews I found the user was actually playing the game wrong. I'd like to add that when reading reviews for a game, if the review is short, the user probably knows very little about the game. Take the time to read longer reviews.

The game is an interesting one though and it should always be remembered when playing, Sonic runs on his own; if you want to slow to avoid something, you are going to have to slow him down. Sonic is Built for speed, most problems in the game you can get through using such, very rarely does the game require you to stop and wait. However there is that occasion that you want to stop and readjust yourself, or backtrack for some loot; the Camera will not turn around you mostly have to just backtrack knowing what was there.

This gets into the control scheme, which is so simple, it was throwing many users off. The remote is held sideways, with the + button on the top.(Which incidentally is also the Start Button as well as how you skip Cut scenes; The book explains this people, read it, it has a LOT of game tips) To run, do NOTHING, Sonic will automatically accelerate to top speed; as well as this, the game is built in a track which you can very rarely veer off. This being known, Sonic turns most corners for you. By tilting the remote to the sides, you can make sonic move left and right no the track. He isnt walking left and right, but more "changing Lanes" which attributes the game to more a Racing feel, you need to remember that Sonic will always be moving forward. To back track, you must tip the controller far enough back, which is nearly upside-down. [2]button is slide and Jump. tapping it is a small hop, holding it will slide, then long jump when released. [1]button is your brakes, stopping sonic, even in mid jump. The only complex manuever is using the homing attack/air-dash; to do so, the player must 'thrust the controller forward.' I found this description very innacurate as there are in fact 3 ways to do this and get the same result, the players who read this can pick the best one for them: First there is the obvious, thrust the controller forward; I find this one uncomfortable as you often have to exagerate the movement. Second theres a flicking motion that works, let go of the remote wit the hand thats is
NOT strapped to it and simply flick it forward; this one is easy to do, but sometimes you get a wrist cramp. Last, and my personal favorite; flick the remote instead upwards then back down, just like flicking the reigns of a horse; I find this one works because its easy and reliable and gives Sonic his "giddy-up." Lastly, the D-Pad is eventually used for your super moves.

As you progress through gameplay, you'll accumulate experience and eventually levels, allowing access to those cool skills you saw in the teasers for the game. Such skills as Speed Break and Time Break, making your normal moves do damage, such as sliding and cancel jump, and lastly give boosting abilities to Sonic Manuevers, like smoother control, longer jumps, and easier execution. Any of these skill can be equipped through the skill rings once they are unlocked, however you only have so many Skill points and must choose your skills wisely. They can be changes any time between missions however.

Story wise, if you are a normal watch of anime or anything subbed. I first recomend that you go into the options and change the game to Japanese with subtitles. The Japanese Voice Actors sound a hell of a lot better and it usually makes for less agitating Cut Scenes. Yes, I did just say the cut scenes are agitating, but not always. After certain missions a cut scene will automatically play, this happens every time you beat the mission, even if you just go back to get a better time. Luckily, all these can be skipped by pressing the [+]button. The Story is represented through these Cut Scenes in a comic book style, representing Sonic Being in 1001 Arabian Nights, the setting for the game. Sonic, accompanied by Shahra the Genie must collect the 7 World Rings and stop the Erazor Djinn from destroying 1001 Arabian Nights and entering the real world. On the way he meets all heroes and legends from the book with some famillier faces as they help him on his way to stop Erazor Djinn and the beast he brings to life from the old stories. My first impression of the game story was not so good, I though the PS3 version had a much better game premise, but the more I played the more I got into the idea of the game and found myself more attracted to the idea of being in 1001 Arabian Nights. Many of the side characters and heroes from the tales are personified by Sonis's old friends. Tails as Alibaba, Knuckles as Sinbad, etc. and is met with some comical features too, such as the Erazor Djinn with a 'switch-blade' sword that looks to be an old shaving razor.

Gameplay itself is fast paced, as Sonic can get moving pretty quick, but you still get a chance to observer the beautiful surroundings. You'll meet several stages per world, some with new challenges than the other stages, others suspiciously simmilar to another stage in the same world, but with a completely differnt objective, giving plenty of mix to the game. Sometimes you'll need to beat the clock, other times you'll neet to collect 100 rings to beat 20 baddies. Sometimes its just ot make it through the level in one piece. No matter which way you play it, Sonic will give you a high speed ride through some fantastically beautiful worlds.

The only drawback to the game is the music score. Every level of each world is met by the same song per world. You'll also find you're quickly put off by the repetitive song played at the end of every stage or mission. I dont think the musoc score for the game had much thought put into it. My recomendation, turn off BGM and put some CD's in your stereo.

Overall, Many skeptics have blammed the game right off, though they refuse to commit to it to actually find out if it is any good. Finish the intro world (Last Prologue) and play through a couple real game stages, you'll get a much better feel for it. Also, relax, you dont need to drive Sonic on, remember, HE RUNS ON HIS OWN. You'll still need to guide him, but theres a reason that he always runs, and he always tried to get to top speed, he wouldn't be called 'Sonic' for any other reason if he wasen't made to go fast. So, ignore the 2 line reviews that say, oh I rented this game and it sucks. If you have a Wii, you can afford to try it for yourself, renting isnt that expensive, But if you keep this guide in mind, you'll find that you wont be dissapointed in your purchase.

Sonic is mostly back, but not completely

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: March 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Sonic, after a long vacation of none speed oriented games (excluding Sonic Rush) is finally back and ready for some fast moving action. Although not perfect, the controls definitely add something and do respond to your motions almost immediately. The graphics are colorful and fit Sonic with their cartoony feel. Eggman (Dr. Robotnik) is taking break in this game and the storyline does take a hit from losing its infamous villain, but still is interesting in a deferent way. This game also introduces something Sonic's never done before: minigames.

Storyline:

Some reviewers have jumped on the fact that this game has a weak if not bad storyline. I agree with them, but it's still a good game even if it does have a bad storyline. Sonic has never really had a great storyline, but it did have a good one. This game's plot is that an evil sorcerer is taking away the pages from the 1001 Arabian Nights. The Erazor Djinn, as he is called, is the villain. The cutscenes that reveal what's happening next in the plot are shown in a comic-book-like way. This is sort of cool, but I'd rather have the classic 3-D animation type. The plot is sub-par, but that is no reason to hate the game.

Gameplay:

The gameplay is smooth and uses the Wii-mote well. You move Sonic by tilting the Wii-mote left or right to make him move left or right on the screen. The game turns for you so you just have to move left and right to avoid obstacles. As you get used to the controls you can control Sonic more easily and allow him to gain more speed. Speed is what Sonic games are supposed to be about and the controls really capture this. To jump you press the 2 button and to use the Homing Attack (Sonic jumps in the air and lunges forward to attack a nearby enemy) you jump then shove the Wii-mote forward as if tackling the enemy. All this works smoothly and responds well to your actions. The only thing I don't think works well is walking backwards. When you miss an item or something and you want to go back, you tilt the Wii-mote backwards. For some reason it doesn't pick up this motion, and even if it does it doesn't allow you to easily keep going backwards. I found myself twisting my wrist as far as it can go to get him to move and keep moving. Altogether the controls mostly consist of tilting the Wii-mote in the direction you want Sonic to go in and generally work well.

Level Design and Music:

Each individual level is designed well, but you must replay the same course multiple times while trying to complete different missions. Because each level is designed quite well this is okay, but a little more variety in levels would be nice. There are only really 7 totally different levels each with its own song, single song. By the time you've played the course 10 times, you have probably memorized what it's like. Luckily the obstacles change and the enemies move, but unluckily the music is the same. The first time I heard the music I liked it, but after listening to the same song twenty times in a row I got really tired of it. The music is good, but nothing special. I really liked the music in Sonic Adventure 2, and was hoping for more of that, but this isn't as good. Okay music is replayed way too many times and the levels are recycled over and over, but each in its own is good and is okay to play multiple times. This game makes you play or hear them a few too many times though.

Replay Value:

This game has many unlockables, and many secrets, but there isn't really a good reason to get them. Sonic gets experience after every level and every once in a while grows a level. If he beats a level and gets more secret items he gets more experience. When he grows a level he gets skills. These skills allow him to do new things, like start the level with a few rings, make his homing attack range longer, and many other things. Very few of these actually help you, so there really isn't a point to get them.

Minigames:

The minigames are addictive and fun, but the AI (artificial intelligence) is terrible. Most minigames are quite fun and great for groups of people, but a few are boring and stupid. The AI is horrible, but sometimes when you're playing with a bunch of people it's fun to watch the CPU mess up so badly. In one minigame you're supposed to play a violin. In this minigame the CPU players will squeak and hold notes WAY too long until its impossible for you to lose. Even though this is hilarious, if you want to have any challenge in the minigames you're going to have to play with your friends, not CPUs.

Overall:

If you like the classic Sonic games you'll probably like this one. Even if you've never played Sonic games before this is a very good game and uses the Wii-mote well.

Pros:

-Gameplay uses the Wii-mote well
-It's easy to go fast and have fun speeding through levels
-The music is good
-The levels are long
-The minigames are fun and funny

Cons:

-Music is played over and over
-Levels are recycled
-Storyline is boring and bad
-The AI is horrible

Fun but has a few issues

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: February 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is fun overall. The storyline is kinda lame but it opens up the Sonic universe to more then fuzzy animal saving so I cant complain. The feel of the game is great, I really enjoy it most of the time. My issues stem from game controls. Most of the time game control is fine, but issues do arise in some levels that cause me to die in the same place over and over again. The upside is it usually hones my ability in the skill to mastry so any time I use it after it's easy. But the downside is I spend 25 minutes dieing at the same part where usually the restart point is far away. If you get annoyed quickly and are prone to throwing the controller at your TV I would not recommend this game. If your in it for the challenge of getting everything JUST right, you should love it. All in all it will either improve my patience or destroy my TV.

words cannot describe how i feel about this game...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 19
Date: February 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'll try to explain anyway. I purchased this game after seeing that it got some great reviews on gaming sites. I was going to rent it first but didn't. I really tried to give this game a chance, I played it for several hours and no matter how many things I unlock, the fact that you can only move slightly left or slightly right on a set course is never changed. Besides the fact that interactive gameplay is almost nonexistent, the menus are clunky (you start over at a menu screen after every forced tutorial and every level without the option to continue directly on to the next) and the mini games that many claim to be fun are in fact horrible abominations. They have nothing to do with the world of sonic at all and though (for the only time in the game) you have a sort of 3d freedom to roam, the controls almost stand as an argument for why the option was not included in rest of the game.

I don't really care to critique it any further than this. I did not buy this game because it is visually stunning, I got it under the impression that it would be fun. I just wish to post this as a warning to anyone else. ...that and I wish I didn't buy it myself. 0 Stars

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