User Reviews (1 - 11 of 150)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Sega, get real. Why are you recking this game.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 13 / 31
Date: December 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My name is connor and i was going to get this, until i used my brains. i read some reveiws and according to what i read: bad language, swords and guns, unusefull bad music. one of the reveiws said bad language is every where, that really got me MAD! i'm a christan and dont think that i dissagree with all games. i have a cube and own quite a bit of games including lord of the rings, and two other rated T's the rest are E's. i also own sonic adventure battle 2 and its great! but sega has gone too far and neads to stop NOW! becouse there are angry parents that wish they wouldn't of bought this game. so my advise is to buy a older sega game.

Not pleased with Hedgehog's E Rating

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 17
Date: December 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm sorry, but I do not think Sonic the Hedgehog should have been rated E. I don't think 9 year old boys should be hearing "damn" and "hell" in video games. Call me a prude if you want, but it's got to stop somewhere. This one's going back to the store. More parents need to listen to and watch these games to see what their kids are playing.

Does Sonic's darker half have what it takes to dazzle discerning players?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 21
Date: November 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

It's all too easy to draw parallels between Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. The classic mascot characters have endured the years to become videogame icons, recognized and loved by millions of game addicts around the globe. Nintendo's fat, Italian plumber helped pioneer the platformer genre and SEGA's blue hedgehog transformed it completely, placing a new emphasis on speed and rollercoaster-inspired level designs. In the old days, Mario and Sonic stood on even ground, each taking lead roles in an impressive selection of critically acclaimed titles. But as the years passed and consoles become more and more powerful, Mario's inevitable jump to the third dimension faired much better than Sonic's. Case in point: Super Mario 64 is remembered even today as one of the greatest games of all time. Sonic Adventure for Sega Dreamcast is conversely thought of as a flawed, but still enjoyable sequel by hardcore fans, and an altogether broken platformer by everybody else.

It is more than a little puzzling, therefore, that developers SEGA Studios USA and Sonic Team continue to draw upon that archaic, clunky design for various Hedgehog-based sequels. Sonic Adventure 2, for instance, hit Dreamcast and was later ported to GameCube with the same fundamental mechanics and shortcomings that blemished the original title. And now, the software house has created Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox, a game that looks and plays like it was designed for Dreamcast a full six years ago. Sonic's darker half occasionally shines in the same way that its predecessors did -- namely, with an impressive sense of speed and dazzling stages complete with trademark twists and turns. And it's solely for these reasons that anybody who defends the original Sonic Adventure will probably like Shadow's one. Alternatively, though, players unimpressed with Sonic's Dreamcast outings will find more of the same here, and unlike a fine wine, age has not improved the formula.

Identity Crisis
Shadow the Hedgehog seems to be Sonic Team's unofficial attempt at aging up its platformer games and as a result the title regularly deals with slightly darker and more convoluted themes that center on the balance between good and evil. The story is kick-started by a gorgeously rendered full-motion animation cinematic that introduces players to the troubled Hedgehog, who has recently lost his memory and is struggling to come to grips with his place in the world. The tale picks up after the events in Sonic Heroes and consequently Shadow can only vaguely recall in flashbacks that there was a girl named Maria, he may have loved her, and she was murdered.

Shadow isn't allowed much alone time before his thought process is so rudely interrupted by the sounds of war and destruction. An alien threat called Black Arms explodes onto the scene and demolishes everything in its path, including nearby city skyscrapers. This is, again, all illustrated in impressive FMA cut-scenes that seasoned Sonic fans will undoubtedly appreciate. Shadow observes this phenomenon with a level of indifference before he is approached by a demon-like figure known as Black Doom, who leads the extraterrestrial forces. The menacing entity acts as though he knows Shadow and commands the Hedgehog to retrieve the seven powerful Chaos Emeralds located throughout the land. The anti-hero begrudgingly agrees, but only because Black Doom promises to restore his memory immediately after the artifacts are collected.

This oddball setup is supposed to extend into and become an integral part of the gameplay experience. Shadow is out for himself and therefore he can and in fact does switch allegiances depending on the preferences of players. The hedgehog can be made to carry out Black Doom's commands, or he can switch sides and team up with Sonic and friends, or even Dr. Eggman. Changing teams is as simple as tapping the D-Pad during gameplay. One quick tap and Shadow will find himself being guided to various goals, such as destroying G.U.N. troops, for Black Doom. Another tap and Sonic and friends will appear at his side to fight against the Black Arms.

The concept itself is intriguing primarily because it enables gamers to choose different paths for themselves as the hero advances through the adventure. The choices made will have a direct bearing on the stages that follow thanks to a branching storyline that allows for several possible paths and endings. This is a clever way to extend replay value and we're confident that completionists will play through the title several times, switching allegiances, so that they may see everything that there is to see.

However, observing the unique goals per different allegiances is a messy undertaking marred by poor design. The fact of the matter is that any level of serious planned strategizing is wholly unobtainable in the intensely frantic makeup of the game, whose mechanics perpetually dart Shadow forward with both limited visibility and control. In turn, even when gamers are trying to fight alongside Sonic and friends, they will accidentally dispose of hordes of allies and even zoom into and activate switches or complete puzzle components that they should ignore. This truth renders the entire operation of choosing sides more or less useless.

Speed, Loops and Guns, But Very Little Fun
Dreamcast owners will already have an unfortunately accurate idea of how Shadow the Hedgehog plays (and for that matter, looks). To be brief, like Sonic Adventure before it. What this means is that speed and forward momentum are emphasized over control, puzzles, or to be frank, depth. Honestly, that isn't always a bad thing. Shadow, like Sonic before him, has his redeeming gameplay moments. We're referring to the rollercoaster-like stages complete with loop-de-loops, corkscrews and pinball bouncers that send the hedgehog zigzagging up and down environments at remarkable speeds. Because these scenarios are still plentiful, undeterred supporters of Sonic Team's efforts will undoubtedly find something to like about Shadow's quest.

That noted, these thrill-ride fundamentals have outworn their welcome, as far as we're concerned. Just because they dazzled players six years ago does not mean that Sonic Team can copy and paste exactly the same loops and spins into each new franchise iteration and expect everyone to be happy with the outcome. Admittedly, Shadow is at its best when the character is zipping through 360s and or skating a rollercoaster track. But it's also during these moments that the game plays itself. It is, in fact, possible, for participants to put their controllers down for seconds at a time and simply watch what unfolds. How is relinquishing control for what amounts to watching Shadow tumble through a scripted corkscrew a rewarding play environment?

Unfortunately for Sonic's darker half, there are all-new problems exclusive to his adventure. The very first level in Shadow the Hedgehog is a shining example of spectacularly lackluster game design and probably one of the worst single stages that we've played in any title for many months. The reluctant hero is thrust into a drab environment and immediately nudged forward -- right into a progression of objects, including obstructing walls and enemies. Disappointingly, the platformer also features a horrendously malfunctioned camera system that catches on environments or even occasionally runs amok for no particular discernible reason. The result? Commonly frustrating undertakings where the goal is to burst forward and gain speed, but before that can happen Shadow crashes into enemies and loses rings, or simply goes careening off a ledge. These impossibly trying outcomes are worsened because Shadow moves loosely through the worlds he explores, which at times makes precision navigation an insurmountable hurdle.

The character can, unlike Sonic, wield a number of imposing weapons, from massive swords to explosive projectiles. But in a move that again harkens back to the days of Dreamcast, there is no lock-on system in place and therefore what is a simple process in other titles is overly complex and cumbersome here. Successfully targeting and unloading a bazooka shot at an enemy may as well be left to chance. Sonic Team has positioned Shadow's gunplay as a primary selling point to the platformer, but in practice the mechanics are really not that enjoyable.

Recycled technology and replicated production values have ensured that Shadow the Hedgehog looks and sounds almost exactly like its Sonic-based predecessors. To Sonic Team's credit, there are more than 20 levels in the game and each is varied in design. Some areas have a futuristic look to them while others feature large metropolis backgrounds and more still take Shadow through lava and forest settings. Meanwhile, the game engine draws long, stretching locales populated with a moderate number of polygonal characters. And on GameCube and Xbox, the fluidity usually aspires for the 60 frames per second mark with some dips. The PlayStation 2 version is noticeably more sluggish despite the fact that it is visually lacking compared to its counterparts. And yet, these are small graphic victories, especially when held to today's more robust standards. Shadow oftentimes looks like it could have been designed for Dreamcast simply because the worlds and characters lack polygon numbers, which leads to a generally square presentation void of curvy shapes. Worse is that many of the game's textures are downright muddy, especially when the camera malfunctions and pans up close, as it consistently does. And overall character animation is primitive and incomplete when compared to the majority of today's games.

Shadow the Hedgehog is proof that Sonic Team needs to get with the program if it plans to compete with legitimate current and next- generation software. This is Sonic Adventure with guns and less polish, and players today are far more discerning than they were six years ago. Diehard Sonic fans will cling to the fact that the title still conjures up corkscrews and loop-de-loops, as well as an impressive sense of speed when Shadow really gets moving, and this is all true. But this doesn't make up for the game's long list of shortcomings, from stupid level design, unrefined controls and useless gunplay to disappointingly outdated graphics.

Shows that Sega is desprate.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 20
Date: November 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

WTF? Shadow the Hedgehog sucks. When Sega added guns, that meant they were desprate. It doesn't stay true to the franchise. I've played every Sonic game expect for some of the arcade ones, and they are all better than this. The story of this game is Shadow is on a planet, where all hell breaks loose. And quote, I'm not refering to Doom. You can chose one of three paths. Good,bad with Dr. Eggman, or bad with tall dark and mysterious. Depending on with path you choose, you'll face a certain end boss. I found myself in the game running into the same boss like 3 times. There are also some controll issues. All the people who give this game 5 stars must be high on crack. This game is a poor excuse for a Sonic game

A slap in the face to Sonic fans everywhere.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 10
Date: December 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Are you a long-term Sonic fan? Would you like to feel like Sega shafted you in favour of casual gamers and GTA fans? Here's your game. A transparent, cynical, cold-hearted, rushed cash-grab, an inferior version of existing Sonic games with a blatantly tacked-on gun system to sell to the OMGLOLGUNZRCOOL crowd. Buy Sonic Rush instead; that's a Sonic game. I'm not offended by the language or the violence; I'm offended by the lack of respect this game shows to the Sonic franchise.

Shadow Hedgehog GameCube Game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 15
Date: December 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

TOTALLY UNNECESSARY STRONG LANGUAGE is used throughout the game. This game should have been given at the least a "T" rating. My local game store was kind enough to let me exchange it.

Please don't buy this game!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 15
Date: December 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game for my almost 10 year old son. He put it in Christmas morning and out came this horrible language. I purchased a game rated E 10+ not M. We don't talk like that in our household and I do not appreciate Sega bringing this into my home. I was misled and I want my money back! I have a 4 year old who loves to watch his brother play video games. That is not what I want him learning. The bad language is every few seconds, not that it is appropriate any time, but this is ridiculous. Please don't buy this game and send a message that this is unacceptable for our children. This game is not rated correctly!!!

Highly disappointed

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 13
Date: January 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am very disappointed in this game. I have been playing Sonic almost all my life and I've seen nothing like this one. My siblings wanted to rent this game the other night and thinking it was like the others, we rented it. I saw that it was rated E 10+ so I told them that I had to play it first and make sure it was OK. When we got home, I stated to playing. I turned it off in less then 15 minutes due to the swearing and gun violence. This game is pretty much Doom or Grand Theft Auto for 10 year olds. I heard more cussing in 15 minutes of playing that game then I have heard in a rated R movie. I don't think it should be rated what it is. This game is NOT for children under the age of 13. Parents, PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS GET THIS GAME!!!

Beware before you buy this game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 19
Date: February 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

My 10 year old son asked if he could buy this game with his Christmas money. He had researched the game with his grandfather and told us that it was rate E10 for mild (?)language and fantasy violence. We had seen commercials for the game and didn't think much of it. It looked like fun and the rating it was given didn't seem so bad. He played the game at his grandparent's home for a couple of days and then brought it home to show us. OH MY GOD! The language is mild (if you're and adult - I don't want my son sayiny "damn" every time some unfortunate event happens thoughout his day.) That bothered me a little, but the violence disturbed me. The violence seemed not to have a purpose except for violence itself. This is not a value I want him learning. Needless to say, the game has been packed away and we had a great "values" talk. He was disappointed, but I believe he understood our point of view (as much as a 10 year old child can.) The next day we went to the store and got a more appropriate game for his game cube and he seems to like it. He's no worse for the wear.

The Mega Drive must be spinning in it's grave

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 12
Date: April 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Sonic The Hedgehog was a big favourite of mine back in the 16 bit day's, but since the move to 3D the series has taken a serious nose dive. First we had the flawed bug ridden mess that was Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast, then we got the sligthly impproved 2nd Adventure game which appeared to have suffered from dodgy camera sindrome. You would think after all that things would start to improve, well you are in for a big supprise because they actually manage to get worst with Sonic Heroes. That game suffered from appalling controls, a horrible camera and terrible new characters. And now we come to Shadow The Hedgehog, a game so awfull you'll find yourself crying at what Sonic Team has done to this once great series of games. A Sonic character with a gun is not something i want to see and im sure the same goes for every other true fan of the blue hedgehog. Shadow is an appalling mess, horrible controls, dull un-sonic like graphics and a sad attempt to make Sonic mature by giving the lead character a weapon. Do yourself a favour and avoid this dross.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 

Actions