It’s been a while since Sega Released a new Sonic game. A new sonic game, not a re-release on Xbox Live Arcade or the Virtual Console. Those don’t count. Sega release Sonic Rivals for the PSP on 2007 along with Sonic: The Hedgehog on the 360 and PS3. One of them is full of bugs and bad camera angles, the other is a pointless racing game where if you lose by one point you have to start over again from the beginning. The thing is there hasn’t been a really good sonic game for a while and with Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii only a couple of weeks away, I decided to take a look at Sonic Rush for the DS. That plus I had some extra money to buy the game.

Sonic Rush is fast and challenging because if you screw up once you loose all your rings (Classic Sonic Action). If you remember Sonic 2: that too was fast, challenging and there was no stopping Sonic, unless you run into something like spikes or an enemy.

The game uses both screens of the DS although it lacks the touch screen. Yes, the DS is all about the touch screen but some games are better off with no support at all (cough “StarFox command” cough), rushing through the screens of Sonic Rush has never been so much fun.

The game fits those who are veterans as well as newcomers to the series. It is easy to pick up and play and there are so many rings to collect that you will earn extra lives without noticing it. The game does lack power ups, unlike Sonic 2 or any other Sonic game, with only a few scattered throughout the level.

Boss battles can either be fun or a pain. Depending on which boss battle you are in, you only have certain amount of rings and if you lose them your number one priority is to get them back or die with the next hit you take. Depending on how hard the Boss hits you will determine how far your rings will fly off and if you are lucky you will get at least a couple back.

Sonic is basically rendered in 3D but the game plays like a 2D game, while boss battles are played in full 3D, like in Sonic Heroes. The environments are awesome with many twists and turns and even though Sonic rushes through all the levels you can still notice all the details in the background.

Sonic does look too skinny in this game, but that’s because they had to shrink him down to fit him and the environments onto the DS's small screens.

Sonic Rush follows the true Sonic style, requiring you to mearly press the forward and the jump button which is either A or B. But if you want more action you can slow down some enemies, use your Rush Power by pressing the X or Y button and defeat all your foes.

The controls are easy to master and they actually made use of all the buttons on the DS just in case you forget or press the wrong button, unlike previous Sonic games where some buttons have no use and you accidently press them and Sonic does nothing.

If you love Japanese music then Sonic Rush is the game for you. However for the rest of us, the sound track for Sonic Rush sucks. Either they were really lazy or really drunk when adding the music.

Aside from the music being boring, the game does feature great sound effects and voice over such as Sonic, Tails, Dr. Eggman

Sonic Rush features over 14 levels and 2 playable characters; Sonic and Blaze (the cat). Sonic Rush is a great title to replay, because you will rush through the entire game so fast you won’t even know that you’re playing the game all over again.

The game also features multiplayer by single card download or multi-card play. It would have been better if the game was online but seeing as how Nintendo did not have Wi-Fi back then, maybe the next one will.

Closing comments: Sonic the Hedgehog for the 360 sucked and disappointed gamers. Sonic Rivals was an even bigger disappointed with pointless races and rivalry. We still have to wait to see how Sonic and the secret rings will play and hopefully it won’t let us down.

If you are craving for a good Sonic game, it’s only $20 so what do you have to loose? Just think Sonic 2 type game play with new levels and 3D renders of Sonic and Boss battles in each stage.

Game Play: 2D style game play good for veterans of the series and new comers. 10/10

Graphics: 3D renders with great details of the environments. Some of the best graphics I’ve seen on the DS. 10/10

Sound: Japanese music is rubbish, but the classic sound effects and the voice over are acceptable. 6/10

Controls: Easy to master, easy to control. 10/10

Life Span: Short, but great fun. Even if you pass it you will want to play it for weeks to come. 10/10

Total Score: 92% = A

Game Info: The popular and favorite blue dude with ‘tude, Sonic The Hedgehog, blasts his way onto the Nintendo DS™ and takes high-speed action gaming to a whole new level…literally! He’s the fastest blue hedgehog on this planet and now he’s pairing up with royalty – Queen, Blaze the Cat. This dynamic duo is a pair from different dimensions…but it’s a match made to save the world! In search of the Sol Emerald, Sonic and Blaze must battle it out in their own worlds but as they do, ripple effects will change the events of the others.

Sonic Rush™ takes full advantage of the dual screens on the Nintendo? DS™ system to deliver a frenetic adventure with dizzying dives, near vertical curves, extreme jumps, brain-twisting loops and more!

* Sonic pairs up with a partner. Play as either Sonic The Hedgehog or Blaze the Cat - queen of a different world and protector of the “Sol Emeralds”. * Parallel universes collide. Journey with Sonic and Blaze on two separate adventures that intertwine. The storylines and outcomes will differ keeping you in suspense for double the fun! * Boss battles! The challenge is ‘touch ‘n go’ with Bosses charging you from all directions and now on two screens! * A new arch nemesis threatens the world. Dr. Eggman times two! Beware! * Fully utilizes Dual Screens. Long steep dives across both top and bottom screens, super high jumps, huge loops and more! * 2D and 3D action for graphic depth and intense gameplay * Touch Screen technology for added entertainment * Wireless play: 1 - 4P Chao Mode – Up to 4 players can compete for the best time in Chao racing mode or play 2P Battle Mode - play as either Sonic or Blaze for an amazing race…Sonic style!