Sonic The Hedgehog review

With a next-gen debut to make and a world to save, Sonic seems more focused on jumping the shark.

12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Three playable hedgehogs

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    Split-screen co-op and versus

  • +

    Admirable object physics

Cons

  • -

    The camera

  • -

    control

  • -

    collision...

  • -

    Terrible graphics and sound

  • -

    Awkward

  • -

    insulting side missions

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Sonic the Hedgehog is coming dangerously close to being the video-game equivalent of Spinal Tap - a former icon blissfully unaware that he's so out of touch, so far fallen from grace, that he's become a laughing stock. With his next-gen debut, the blue blazer has literally become a parody of himself. Plus, his game sucks.

Sonic 's action stages are plagued by a sassy renegade camera, virtually no exploration, loose control, boring combat and rudimentary collision problems. Argh.

You do get to control two more hedgehogs in the game, which at least changes the gameplay a bit. Shadow bombed in his solo game last year,and his clunky, vehicle-centric stages here fare only slightly better, making him Batman to Sonic's predictable Superman. Silver is the new blood, with telekinetic powers that toss the level's contents around and show off one of the game's few complimentary aspects: its physics. But his levels plod along at a glacial pace.

More info

GenreAction
DescriptionAfter several wayward missteps, could this really be the return of solid, fast-paced Sonic platforming?
Franchise nameSonic the Hedgehog
UK franchise nameSonic the Hedgehog
Platform"PS3","Xbox 360"
US censor rating"Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+"
UK censor rating"",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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