GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	Sonic Team
	PUBLISHER
	SEGA
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

The fall of Sonic is looked on with sympathy by gamers worldwide. Last year’s despicable PS3 and Xbox 360 title added another nail into the franchise’s coffin as SEGA failed once again to create a 3D game worthy of Sonic’s 2D heritage. However, hope remained with Sonic Team’s first Wii title, Sonic and the Secret Rings, a game the press had cautious praise for following its appearance at E3. The new control system, coupled with a linear design, gave rise to the claim that this could be the greatest 3D Sonic game so far. Yet, despite taking an all important step in the right direction, Sonic still has some way to go before he can start competing with the likes of Mario once again.

visuals

Sonic and the Secret Rings is a gorgeous game. Sonic himself has never looked better, and the game’s environments remain crisp and vibrant even when traveling at sonic speeds. The dense vegetation in Dinosaur Jungle, the inviting water of Sand Oasis and the simmering heat in Evil Foundry are just a few examples of the game’s better graphical moments. The menus and cut scenes have been nicely adapted to fit the game’s storybook plot. The same cannot be said for the multiplayer visuals, but you shouldn’t let that distract from the game’s overall quality. This is not just better-than-Gamecube graphics, this is the most beautiful title available on Nintendo’s Wii.

audio

Sonic and the Secret Rings may be pleasing on the eyes, but on the ears it is downright offensive. The inappropriate rock soundtrack taints the entire Sonic experience, and the appalling English voice-overs should be changed into Japanese at the earliest opportunity. The traditional, satisfying sound of collecting rings and pearls are still present, however you would have probably pressed the mute button long before.

gameplay

Sonic and the Secret Rings places you in control of Sonic (and only Sonic), who has been enlisted by a genie to defeat the villain of a storybook world: the evil Erazor Djinn. You must follow the genie into the story of the Arabian Nights, collect the seven world rings and prevent Erazor Djinn from destroying the book and entering Sonic’s world. Thankfully, this terrible plot does little to damage your enjoyment of the game, and you will enjoy it. Hurtling at tremendous speeds, collecting rings, stamping on enemies, escaping dinosaurs and avoiding flaming pits is, more often than not, intuitive, fun and exactly what Sonic is all about. As for those concerned about the game’s depth, don’t be. The leveling up system, which Sonic Team have cunningly introduced, enables Sonic to not only unlock new moves, but move faster and more fluently as you progress. Indeed, Sonic and the Secret Rings does not really get going until you’ve unlocked the Soul Gauge, an instrument that allows Sonic to slow down and speed up dramatically.

Controlling Sonic is simple. The course is set out before you, and Sonic will sprint along it no matter what. It is your job to move Sonic right, left or backwards with respective movements of the Wii remote. Pressing 2 will cause Sonic to jump (hold it down to jump higher), while the 1 button makes Sonic stop entirely-- rather clumsily. This simplistic control system is one of the game’s biggest achievements, giving the sensation of Sonic’s classic 2D gameplay, but in three dimensions. Each world is linear in design, with little option to deviate from the set path, and you must complete these worlds numerous times for a variety of missions. These missions include: finding eggs, collecting a set amount of rings, racing against a floating blue dot and defeating bosses. It may sound repetitive, but you’ll soon find yourself adopting different tactics for different missions, keeping the whole experience fresh and engaging.

However, Sonic and the Secret Rings does suffer from a series of design flaws that prevents it from being the classic it was set to become. When moving backwards the camera does not flip around to show you where you are moving, so instead you are left praying you don’t walk into Cacti or off the edge into the abyss. This would not be such an issue if the back step was rarely required, but whole missions and extra moves are dedicated to the act. The camera is also a problem when moving forward. Often a fixed camera angle is installed so you cannot see what’s around the corner, causing you to hit a brick wall or run into an enemy. Many a mission has been failed due to an unfair camera angle, and you are regularly forced to learn the level before you complete it. Couple this with some unresponsive controls and a temperamental lock-on system, and you’ll discover that Sonic and the Secret Rings is not quite the game it could have been. Instead, it is a game that is both fun and frustrating in equal measures.

multiplayer

Surprisingly, Sonic and the Secret Rings features a robust multiplayer option. Here you and up to three friends can compete in a series of competitions made up of over 40 minigames. You can choose Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Amy and compete in a pirate ship race (complete minigames to reach the finishing line), a treasure chest game (win minigames to select a treasure chest, but avoid the traps) or a traditional tournament mode (where two players go head to head). There’s certainly some limited entertainment to be had, even though the minigames are no more than mediocre distractions.

overall

Sonic and the Secret Rings is the finest 3D Sonic game to date, and for many, that is reason enough to warrant a purchase. The game goes some way in erasing the memory of last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog, and points to a brighter future for SEGA’s beloved mascot. Unfortunately, it is also a game hampered by ear bleeding music, a terrible camera and an unrefined control system. A sequel could potentially iron out these flaws and return Sonic to his mid-90s popularity. Yet, in the mean time, Sonic and the Secret Rings will serve us just fine.

7.9/10