Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity Review

Rank @ End

Summary

Jet!

Gameplay and Level Design

The settings are mostly futuristic with other themes. It's creative, but not overly so. I'd call it a tie with the last Riders.

The gameplay has changed based on the new gravity features, which was a cool way to shake things up. I'm still not a fan of turning, but being able to take shortcuts across walls is cool. I miss the boost in some ways, but in others the Gravity Dive is superior. And not running out of air every 5 seconds is a plus. I also miss being in control of the tricks, although this way is simpler and much easier to get the hang of. 

Story and Characters

The story gets off to a fast start, though I rather miss the animated-type of opening. Unfortunately it slows. The story the Hero side of things is simple and just sorta' one thing leading to another. It's always nice to see them getting along, but there's not much going on. 

Luckily things are better with Team Babylon. More unique and less familiar, the Rogues distinct personalities help make the game worth playing. 

The nature of Sonic's and Jet's rivalry has changed--now Jet is an even match, making his cocky attitude a bit more justified.  

As a whole this game incorporates more sci-fi than fantasy, in contrast to the previous Riders game, and I kinda' like it better. Since the game is already in a futuristic, hover-board setting, the switch make more sense. 

Music and Voice Acting

The music is a spectacular combination of the first game's high energy and it's own dramatic tone. The slower "Catch Me if You Can" is a great example. It's not as fast and maybe not as taunting, but its more serious, mysterious mood makes it superior. "Ungravityfy" is also a gem. The electronic and natural mixes, like with Gigan Rocks/Device work well, with the game bringing together futuristic and cinematic.   

I liked the 4kids cast in the first game, but they've improved with this one, especially with the Rogues. It's harder to tell Dan Green's take on Storm from Knuckles. Jason Griffith's bossy version of Jet is still hilarious but also more serious than previous. Bella Hudson does her usual sassy job with Wave. 

Visuals and Graphics

While an improvement, they still aren't so good. Even the CG cutscnes. I've always been disappointed there wasn't an animated opening like in the first game. 

Final Thoughts

GOTTA TRY HARDER

Final Ranking: B

For the Babylon side, I think Zero Grav out-did the original. However, for Team Hero, there's not much to make it stand out among any other Sonic game. 

It gets extra points for changing up "the formula" by creating the "Gravity" gimmicks and even revolving the plot around the change. 

Sonic Riders Review

Rank @ End

Summary

NOWAYI'MGONNALOSE! YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN WITH THAT BOARD?! ...wait, what does Storm say?

Gameplay and Level Design

Riders introduced a new and exciting style of racing: Extreme Gear. Hover boards, skates, bikes--it was a futuristic and epic spin that made Mario Kart look like shXX! Unfortunately the item capsules and other things still make it similar enough to be called a rip.

Quickly two elements become a constant bother. Turning and running out of air. The boost is a nice idea, but what's the point if it results in an annoying beeping sound and having to go to a "pit-stop?" Turning takes some skill, but its hard to turn properly when falling in and out of turbulence (most annoying near the end of the game).  With practice, a player will be able to win races with ease...but it's not so simple at first (needs an "adjustment" or "learning" period). 

The locations are futuristic and cleverly add in elements like a pic of Sonic (from Sonic Heroes). Even the more "primitive" spots include something advanced to keep with the theme. In play, there are some spots where falling/dying is easy, as well as spots to become "stuck" in (/fall behind). There are different routes that will be more advantageous, but sometimes it's riskier to get to them/pointless.  

Story and Characters

This game introduced some of my favorite characters, the Babylon Rogues. Jet is hilariously immature but is skilled and demonstrates some leadership qualities. At some points he acts like an extreme (no pun intended) version of Sonic and in others simply greedy. Wave is intelligent and planning, but has some ruthlessness to her (--she did plant a bomb on Sonic's board, after all). Storm is the weaker of the bunch because he's mostly just an idiot, but like the others he serves as a contrast (in his case to Knuckles). 

They make good rivals because they have their own motivations. They aren't evil, but they are out for their own interests first. Unlike Team Dark, though, they are less serious. More lighthearted, for them its mostly about winning. It's also good that they set themselves apart from past rivals: it's not about who's faster on the ground, but in the air. It's about skill rather than natural ability.  

Sonic is tested because he has to learn something new. He's always been the fastest, but Jet's challenging that. Team Hero has to adapt to the races while the Rogues have to face the fact that they aren't as good as they think. 

This game is likeable for having a comedic, character driven plot but also having something more serious to face towards the end. 

Music and Voice Acting

The music is energetic and uses electronic themes to focus on the future-set and speedy aspects of the game. Sand Ruins and Digital Dimension both stand out, and "Sonic Speed Riders" is perfect for the game. "Catch Me If You Can" is in the right place but a little random (like it says "Hawk Wild"...I think..,and "hawk" sounds like the F-word).  

The voice acting is fair. It know back in the day people did not like Jet's voice because (I assume) they excepted Jet to sound cool. Here's the thing: Sonic did not need another "cooler" rival. They wrote Jet in a way that wasn't meant to be taken very seriously--quite the opposite of Shadow or Metal Sonic (writing Silver to be another rival of this type was part of the character's initial problem). 

Either way, Jet's voice was just what the character needed. Higher, "bird-like" with energy and confidence, it was clear this was not a new Shadow or Metal Sonic, but an entirely new and hilarious addition to the cast. The only criticism I have for it is that at some points, he sounds too much like Darkspine Sonic or Werehog Sonic (as a result of sharing Sonic's voice actor, Jason Griffith). As a whole it helped make the game and a lot of the quotes memorable, though.

The actors did a fair job with the other characters like Eggman and Amy. Bella Hudson's voice for Wave is sassy and girlish, but more mature than Jet's--just as it should be (Wave is 4 years older). Dan Green does a lower take for Storm but also throws some power into the role. Maybe it's because of the sound effects rather than dialogue, but Tails is a bit more annoying (than in Sonic X).     

Visuals and Graphics

The epic opening cutscene is a legend rivalling that of Sonic CD. It's easily one of the most memorable parts of the game, if not one of it's best qualities. It makes me wish all the cutscenes were animated. 

Unfortunately the actual 3-D cutscenes haven't aged that well, or the graphics in general. Say what you will about 06, it did have better visuals for being released within the same year. 

Final Thoughts

• Jet is a unique and underappreciated rival. In many ways, I can't help but feel TSR should have been another Riders game.  
• Then I remind myself of his new voice...
• Of course, how could the guy improve after only having like one chance to voice the character? 
• On the other hand Griffith only had 1-2 chances to voice Jet and his version is still superior... 
• The opening is 100% AWESOME.
• Omachao narration=annoying
• Focusing on the two teams rather than clutting the game up with many others (*cough*cough*FREE RIDERS*ahek*Heroes*grum*Rivals 2) helped balance the game's different characters without reducing Sonic's role in the process.  

Final Ranking: B

The opening alone is worth an S rank. The music and characters are great. But the plot (while not bad) is more average, and then the gameplay is too complex/annoying in some parts. And the graphics are crap. So it levels out into an average B.  

AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA!

Shadow the Hedgehog Review

Rank @ End

Summary

Edgy!

Gameplay and Level Design

The gameplay is pretty good. It's got the speed of a Sonic game mixed with other elements. The guns are easy to adjust to, and there are many types. Sometimes choosing the right weapon means the difference between a A and C Rank (Hint: choose an Alien Weapon over a GUN one, even if it doesn't have as much ammo--it packs a better punch). The vehicles are more disappointing. The cars/cycle are fair, and the hovercraft would be okay if it were a bit faster. But the odd "jumping" and shooting ones are a invitation for disaster. Chaos Control and Blast are awesome for giving invincibility and unlimited ammo alone, but are even better considering their abilities. 

The missions could be a hard/easy, and it really depends on each specific one. As a whole I think it was a good idea because they are technically optional and fit into the plot so that they are not as random/forced as missions in, say, the Secret Rings. 

I like the visible designs. There are a lot of distressed scenes and spins on familiar locations. The maze that is the level layout, however...for most it's manageable, but Mad Matrix, The Doom, and some others are hard to navigate. Having 80% of the path covered in toxic waste in levels like Prison Island wasn't the best plan, either.    

Story and Characters

The main idea of an alien invasion makes for an action-driven plot. Unfortunately Black Doom lacked "Mephiles" level creepiness. I think having a "lacky" or even treating Doom's Eye as a different character would have helped keep the leader more of a mystery (instead of a demanding son of a bXXXX). Except for being tied to a "promise" that he knows nothing about, Shadow does not have a good reason to side with the Black Arms. 

Adding some "behind the scenes" with GUN and the President may have been an attempt to mature things. It would be fine, if not for the constant 2 cutscenes that ALWAYS play after Westopolis. I like the GUN Commander because it explains GUN's overzealous behavior in SA2. Sir, the hedgehog we caught just escaped from one of our helicopters because we wouldn't give him pizza. A HEDEGHOG?! MOBLIZE THE TRUCK, NOOOOW! But sir, that Truck will crush the cars parked-- I GAVE YOU AN ORDER SOLIDER! Yes sir!    

The flashbacks proved interesting, but considering all of the talk about the past and it's importance, I kinda' wish there was more of it. It feels like more time is spent with Shadow thinking he is an android than with Maria's death or promise. 

Overall, I think the different paths was a smart move, but it makes it hard to tell what's "canon." I wish one of the endings would have been the "true" events (the neutral-hero one, maybe?). The last story is a bit long to watch, and I'm not sure if it's worth it. The Black Doom reveal is cliche, and I almost wish the villain had explained so at the beginning to confuse Shadow then. The video with Gerald and Maria was the best part of Last Story, plot-wise. After Shadow's huge quest to "find the truth," he decides to throw it all away? I like it in retrospect, but at first I really didn't like how he tossed Maria's photo.    

I liked that the supporting cast was either able to help, or could be ignored. There is a large cast and it's cool to see Shadow bond with characters he wasn't really seen with before like Knuckles and Espio. Still, story-wise Rouge's character is underused. At least Omega got a role in the android plots. She's there for the fight with Doom in the dark end, but not in the cutscene? What's with that? And I think she would have fit in the neutral-hero end better than Vector. 

Music and Voice Acting

The tracks really fit the situation. Central City and Westopolis are intense. Lost Impact is slower and more mysterious. More of a electronic vibe is used for the levels that take place in the digital dimension. The entire game does not have the same diversity in genres as a traditional Sonic game, but while being mostly edgy-rock and guitar-heavy, it's awesome. The vocal tracks, including the likes of "I am All of Me" and "Never Turn Back," are possibly some of the best in the series ("Chosen One" is particularly fitting), though it's a shame some of them had to be "lost." Sadly that resulted in the neutral-dark path not really having its own theme.

This game (along with Rush) was the first to feature the 4kids cast. I'd say it was a move for the better...but I can see why people were upset. Jason Griffith's Shadow voice is perfect, but his Sonic voice here is a bit odd. Instead of saying "Yo!," for example, it's a drawn out "Y-ho!" Rebecca Honig (usually Cream) voiced Maria in this game differently than she did in Sonic X. It's not bad, but I'm not sure if it was better than her voice in SA2. Some characters like Tails are louder/annoying while others like Cream are hard to hear. It wasn't their best, but generally the cast did alright.   

   

Visuals and Graphics

I liked the grungy menu, but by the time I got to the fire in Shadow's eyes I felt like it was too far. CG cutcenes look good, but why did they waste time on the Eclipse Cannon scene? I don't care if it's an Independence Day reference, "real" Maria's deserved that quality. 

The graphics aren't good. The designs are cool but the execution is clunky and looks like garbage.  

Final Thoughts

• This game is misportrayed as overly violent and edgy to the point of cheese. They overdramatized things especially in the intro and with the box art, I'll give them that. But the guns aren't realistic in the slightest, and are quite an improvement from Gamma/Tails/Eggman's weapons. 
• Oh, and the "assassinate the President" mission was shooting a plane that will survive if the mission is completed or not.
• I did not mind Shadow swearing. I found "damn, not here," relatable. But it was a bad idea for the other characters (Sonic, Knuckles, Espio) because it seems unnatural (especially Sonic). 
• I kinda's wish the game HAD been rated Teen, just so people would not XXXXX about it. 
• It's pretty hypocritical, too, because fans will say the guns and swearing were mistakes and than rant about the dub of Sonic X censoring swearing, alcohol, and death.   
• Though it wasn't seen as a good move at the time, I like the 4kids cast a lot. They'd get better more in the 2007 range. 
• I get why fans were upset with what happened, in particular with Ryan Drummond (who wasn't even informed of the change!). But even though Griffith's Sonic was different, it was still that "Sonic-type" of voice that Drummond, Jaleel White, and even the OVA guy seemed to have. The change to Roger Craig Smith's deeper, 2010-esque take on Sonic was so much more radical. 
• It was cool to have two sorta' warring factions fighting, but it'd be BETTER if they acknowledged the player. If you're helping GUN, do they have to shoot at you?! The Heal Canon can help, but really?!
• It was cool to see the different sides of Shadow. 
• Expert Mode is pretty cool and the instructions could be funny.
• Forget Heroes and Generations. This is Charmy's best game.  

 

Final Ranking: B

I gotta' say, I was on the fence between giving this a B and a C. I guess the replay value gives it the edge (no pun intended). 

An experimental game, Shadow the Hedgehog is not without its faults. It is fun, though. The plot was not perfect, but having aliens invade remains a better point, and the mission/plot structure isn't bad. I'd have to say the gameplay is pretty good for a modern game, and easier than many other shooter-games. Shadow had its own, "darker" theme and stuck to it, which I think is fair since it's a spin-off. Still, it's not gonna' work for people who look for more variety.    

Sonic Rivals 2 Reveiw

Rank @ End

Summary

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Visuals, Level Design, and Graphics

The graphics are horrible. The game art/card art or whatever is fine, but other than that...visually, this handheld game may be one of the worst. As far as setting, they try to do new things, but the graphics are just so bad they are barely salvageable.  

On the other hand I liked the different "racer"/etc outfits. Looked neat/funny. 

Gameplay

The idea of racing the other characters is a clever way to capitalize on the idea of speed. This type of gameplay, where almost every level is a race where the players also attack each other, likely inspired many of Sega's future apps. It's a neat idea, and if it worked as well as the Metal Sonic race of Sonic CD or a 2-D version of the Sonic/Shadow race in SA2, it would be awesome. Unfortunately it's not at the same quality. 

Even though the controls should be simple, they can get confusing. Press this button, press that button! I liked the special moves, but some work better in this case than others. For example, Tails' flight is virtually useless because of the level design--not a good choice. If the "rush" boost wasn't used so much nowadays, "Sonic Boom" might not bother me, but this version of the boost seems so inferior. I think Shadow's "Chaos Control" as well as Silver's "Psychic Control" are the best. 

Even though it's 2-D, it does not play out nearly as smoothly as the classic games or the Advance or Rush series. There are also rival fights/challenges that would be nice as a bonus mission but are instead required and therefore unwelcome. The boss fights varied from being what I'd expect to something more frustrating.     

Story and Characters

Each character is linked to another. Playing Sonic's story, for example, also means playing as Tails, even though Tails has a separate story. This is a little excessive--maybe it should have been one story per pair rather than per character. 

Sonic and Tails have a pretty basic story, but the character interactions are funny. This game is kind of like Heroes in that sense, driven by the characters involved. Only instead of all working together, the different pairs turn on each other, ha ha. 

The plot involving Rouge and Knuckles is like SA2, and though they are allies it works just as well. Silver and Espio seem like and odd combination, but it was a smart way to include the two. Shadow and Metal Sonic may be Sonic's biggest rivals, but it's still odd to see them together. Since Metal doesn't talk, it's more of Shadow's story (which is fine by me!) but Metal proves he isn't totally worthless in the end. 

Like with the first one, it would be nice if there was more of an explanation with Nega. Also, while I like that some characters get "the full story" and others think it's just Eggman, I think Sonic should have at least been suspicious. Considering Heroes and the first Rivals, being fooled a 3rd time makes the Sonic seem like an idiot. 

Music and Sound Effects

The music is pretty harsh and not very memorable. The Mystic Haunt one was okay. "Race to Win" is awesome/impressive for a handheld, but it could get annoying being in the first level. 

One of the main advantages in comparison to the last Rivals game and the Rush series is that the cutscene audio is not as limited. Whereas previous games just had small clips ("getreadytobeschooled," etc), every character had several sayings and spoke during the cutscenes. Though the cutscenes were still limited, it was nice to actually hear the characters talk.    

Mike Pollock handles the shift between Eggmans with ease. Pete Capella seemed to perfect his version of Silver, which wasn't that bad to begin with. I've begun to wonder if it was maybe a script issue rather than voice acting, but this is another case where Kathleen Delaney's Rouge voice better than in Sonic X. Amy Palant's Tails has the opposite effect, though. Her voice for him was great in season 3 but seemed higher-pitched in the games for some reason. Most of the voice acting was perfect, and the cast did a good job. 

Metal Sonic had no voice, so he was basically voiced by Eggman, lol. 

Final Thoughts

• This is a good game for those who like the characters and their various personalities and abilities. However, Sonic's own role isn't the biggest.
• I liked that even though, for example, Shadow and Rouge were not allies in this game, they weren't at each others' throats, either. The same could be said for Knuckles among Sonic/Tails.    
• It would have been interesting to see a Rivals 3 (---with Blaze the Cat). Maybe they could have upgraded things. 
• The races in Sonic Generations were inspired from these.   
• Silver calling Tails HALF-PINT is the best Silver quote. "It's no use" is nothing. 

 

Final Ranking: C 

This is another case where the characters make the game very enjoyable, but eliminating that does not leave much behind. Barfy graphics, cute plot. 

Okay, I guess he noticed the laugh was off...

Quote of the Month

"You...it can't be..."
--Princess Elise, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)