This is a Sonic game, but we’ve had Sonic’s trademark speed taken away and replaced with turn-based RPG action. Needless to say, when we first heard of this game our hopes weren’t high. Luckily enough, since our hopes were so low, we’re not disappointed! In fact, we’re pleasantly surprised to be honest. But, besides the characters and locations, this isn’t a Sonic game at all. It’s a nice RPG with a Sonic skin placed over it. And yet, there’s still nothing wrong with it.

Sure, it’s not spectacular or incredibly memorable, but it’s a good game. And you shall find out why...

Prior to playing I’d heard rather good things about the game, some saying it was an excellent Sonic game, others saying it was just “Okay”, regardless of which it was in reality, I was looking forward to it. Switched it on, had one of those intro cutscenes, which I, unlike most people, don’t skip, as I enjoy them... Most of the time... This one just didn’t seem interesting.

Take a good look at the box art and you see Sonic with what appears to be a robot... Then lots and lots of robot shaped figures in the background. Confusing. As. Hell. But don’t fret, the storyline unfolds over time and slowly begins to make sense, like all good RPGs do. It’s pretty much about Sonic and the Chaos emeralds disappear. BET YOU DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING. It’s set a few years after Sonic has finally defeated Eggman/Dr. Robotnik.

As I’ve said, it’s a classic turn-based battler, HP bar, PP instead of magic, earn attacks and equip items over time, basic stuff. Gain experience, raise levels, played an RPG? You know what to expect. The only real difference with this and other RPGs is that certain attacks require you to do a bit of touch-screen tapping to execute with massive damage.  Slide the stylus here, tap here in time, that kind of basic stuff. Still manages to keep things fresh though. If you’ve played Zelda: Phantom Hourglass you’ll be used to moving about, Sonic and his party follows where you’re placing the stylus. To climb up things or jump places you tap little icons showing a symbol which basically shows what you’ll do when you tap it, an up arrow will mean you’re going to jump up a ledge and so on. Different characters in your party mean different abilities. Rouge The Bat can fly over gaps, and Big The Cat can walk through smelly gas, more simple stuff. And despite the simplicity of everything it tends to keep you relatively in the game. Here’s a simple example of the simplicity; part of one of the chapters had me going to four different locations which were pretty much identical to one another and defeating the same enemies in each location to progress. More simple stuff, and I’m still not bored of the combat system, it’s simply some simple addictive simple stuff. Which is simple. And now I’ve realised the word ‘simple’ sounds kinda stupid.

The graphics kinda remind me of Final Fantasy VII. It’s the static backgrounds and the awkward camera angles coupled with the the little 3D character rushing everywhere. The battle graphics are a bit more detailed, which is good, considering most of your gametime should be spent battling. The basic attacks call for basic animations of your character running up and smacking the enemy in whatever way it can. Sonic will do a spin attack, Rouge will fly over and kick it in the face, stuff like that. I don’t like the static backgrounds, they tend to get in the way I think... But it’s not a major issue.

Now, this is what bugged me the most; I think the old Mega Drive Sonic games have some of the best sound effects and music tracks to some games ever, and yet, they choose to use some original music tracks... Which are absolutely terrible. Honestly, all the awesome tracks from The Green Hill Zone and things like that, they’re gone... It makes no sense! Ah well...

This game lasted me a good few hours, enough places to explore and rings to collect to keep you entertained for a while, of course it’s likely you’ll get bored of collecting things quite quickly and decide to get the main game over with.

Storyline 5/10 - Kinda... Uninteresting...

Game Play 8/10 - Simplistic, yet absorbing and constantly fresh.

Graphics 6/10 - They do the trick, and could’ve been worse, but static backgrounds are now a pet-hate.

Sound 4/10 - Where are the original Mega Drive tracks? WHERE!?

Life Span 6/10 - It’ll last you a while, but it’s not really worth a second play, in all honesty.

In conclusion, is worth a play through, definitely. Seriously. Go try it guys. If you enjoy RPGs you’ll love this.

Now, just a little reminder: Don't let the score frighten you too much, this game is all about the Game Play, just the other factors dragged it down a bit, if it wasn't for the other bits this game would get an easy 80%.