Sonic and The Secret Rings OST Review

Summary

Sonic and the Secret Rings was Sonic's first Wii outing, and it was a mix of emotions, literally. Sonic struggles to find the emotion-locked world rings while trying to save the world from the request of a genie. She becomes his new friend and guide as the two journey to stop the Erazor Djinn and get rid of the "flame of judgment" that threatens Sonic's life. 

The OST kinda' became infamous for using so many vocals with in the stages with some of the lyrics being cheesy or easy to miss hear. However, the OST surprising emerges itself into the Legend/Arabian Nights idea while also using unique genres and effects. While there is an interesting mix of energies, it fits the games stages and story well.   

Best Song: Unawakening Float (Night Palace)

Runner-Up (s): High and Broken, White of the Sky, The Palace that was Found, It has Come to This, How it Started, Let the Speed Mend It, Blue on the Run, His Fate, The Promise, Miss You, Yellow Sneakers, Purple Pants, Sandstorm 

"Unawakening Float" may be a slower track, but it is more serious and mysterious. This is a mix of some funky sounds with edgy guitar and lyrics. The vocals are calmer, emptier, yet determined. It's suits both the situation (the little time Sonic has left) and the location (a darker, starry location where the Erazor is waiting).   

Worst Song: Pull on It!

Runner Up (s): Power of the Ring,  Villon Classes, Blue Shirt, 

The multiplayer portions had a wackier sound, but "Pull on It!" just happens to be the least likable out of the bunch. Unlike the others, there's not much else to connect it to the rest of the game.   

Best Vocal Song: 7 Rings in Hand

Runner-Up (s): Worth a Chance (original version)

"7 Rings in Hand" is the type of song that makes you want to pretend your Wii remote is a guitar. It's a burst of rock and enthusiasm that embodies the thrill of Sonic's race to save this storybook world.   

Worst Vocal Song: Worth a Chance

Runner Up (s): N/a

"Worth a Chance" is a sad song, and quite beautiful. The piano and everything. But it's not as good as "7 Rings in Hand," and while I like it, I would sometimes get annoyed with it when I just wanted to see the "goodbye" cutscene ("the legendary hedgehog" etc). 

Final Ranking: A

Sonic and the Secret Rings has a soundtrack that is very unique. In the stages there are rich instrumentations, energetic vocals. The cutscene music was great, multiplayer's music is fun, and "7 Rings in Hand" became a Sonic theme to remember. It's a combination that really gives it's predecessor,  06, some competition. 

However while they're still pretty likable, the vocals could be over-the-top and the lyrics could be cheesy. "Wicked Wild" (Dinosaur Jungle) is an example where it might have been better as an instrumental (though I still like of like it for some reason). "The Palace that Was Found" because infamous for it's constant  "who's gonna' rock the place, place?!" I really don't think it's too bad, but it holds Secret Rings from an S rank. 

Quote of the Month

"We've got to stop him...Shahra! Please...lend me your POWER!" 

--(Darkspine) Sonic, Sonic and the Secret Rings

Sonic and the Secret Rings Review

Rank @ end.

Summary

Not as bad as I remembered... 

Plot and Characters

The storybook series, while insanely random, works. Sonic is sent off on an adventure to a new and exciting world. New characters and new versions of characters surface. 

Sonic bonds with Shahra, "the Genie of the Ring," who asked for his help. I like their "promise" and how their friendship grows. Near the end, Shahra even reveals her own wish.    

Also, I like how Shahra is a nice/kind character but isn't perfect, either. She grows fond of Sonic, but is hiding her past with the Erazor and her feelings for him. She has to decide to do what "is right."

While I tend to look at the Erazor as a B-villain, he does do some good for the story overall, such as attacking Sonic/Shahra with the Flame of Judgment. This, along with the "collector of the rings shall offer his life in sacrifice (SAY WHAT? I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SOME KIND OF SACRIFICE?!)" idea adds tension to the plot and keep things moving forward. 

I also like the running-gag of the Erazor calling Sonic a rat; it's hilarious. 

The rings are interesting, but I wish they played on the emotions part a bit earlier. Sonic notices it at the start, but doesn't really identify what it is (rage, etc) until halfway or more through the story. The transformations and effects are unique, but otherwise they're kinda' just the Chaos Emeralds.  

I consider the scene after gathering the rings one of the best pre-final-boss cutscenes. It is very climatic. I guess it would have been more impactful if Sonic didn't undo what happens with Shahra, but this is a story within a story--might as well give it a happier ending. The final 3-D cutscene is awesome--this game did Sonic's attitude well. The "mountain of handkerchiefs" line was not the best, though. Luckily there is a bonus cutscene mid-credits which is a better goodbye.  

Tails and Knuckle are here as Ali Baba and Sinbad ("Sailor of the 7 Seas! Adventurer of Adventurers"). Eggman is also here as King Shahryar. I like Sonic's interactions with them (especially Knuckles), but their roles are rather small/almost pointless compared to those in the Black Knight (more involved). Felt a little awkward with the "king of bones" King Solomon-character.  

 

Graphics/Visuals and Locations

The cruddy graphics have not aged well. 06 probably had better visuals, there. This is most bothersome in the dark lighting of Pirate Storm. Somehow the shinny floors and glass surfaces in Night Palace look really cool, though.     

The levels are set in unique settings that the Sonic series has not touched upon, such as the ash-lined Skeleton Dome and the windy Levitated Ruin. Deserts and jungles have been done before, of course, but they have a new twist. Sand Oasis includes water and buildings, while the palms and cacti of Dinosaur Jungle are joined by--yes--dinosaurs. Each seems to have something to offer. 

This is the first of the Storybook Series, where most of the cutscenes are 2-D. While not a complete animation like the Sonic Riders Opening, the scenes sort of fade into each other--like an animatic? Regardless, the cutscenes are beautiful and have helped the story age well. The watercolor type of theme really worked. I noticed there are a few "cells" reused, but overall it's expressive and shows the action. 

The first 3-D cutscene is not too impressive. Sonic's flame appears/disappears, etc. The ending 3-D cutscene overall looks good for a Wii game, and I like how Sonic is animated to match his personality. 

Music and Dialogue/Voice Acting

The music is kinda' infamous for having lyrics in almost every level. It's a unique blend that keeps the energy up, but does seem kind of random. "How it Started" and "It Has Come to This" are pretty catchy. Skeleton Dome, Night Palace, and Levitated Ruin seem to be the best of the bunch overall. 

"7 Rings in Hand" is awesome but overused with in the game ("Make-believes rebor-click-Make-believes re-click-etc). "Worth a Chance" is...nice, but not as good (as other closings).  

As mentioned, this game did Sonic's attitude well. Both the script and voice acting (Jason Griffith) are a huge improvement of how Sonic was in 06. Shahra's voice during the Lost Prologue instructions sounds a bit off, like the actor (Bella Hudson) was experimenting a bit, but otherwise she did a great job. Overall I think the 4kids/"Sonic X" crew did pretty well with this game, with the exception of maybe Alf Layla Wa Layla--who sounds too distorted or over-the-top to take very seriously ("IT WOULD TAKE A MIRICALE TO AVOID MY ATTACKS"). 

I already mentioned it, but that "mountain of handkerchiefs" line...

Gameplay, Controls, and Level Layout

People criticize the Wii-based controls, but they are actually fair. It makes use of the Wii's various capabilities--that's what they wanted to do. A little arm movement doesn't hurt. Still it's a little complicated with all the different skills. 

It's really the gameplay itself combined with some poor layout choices that make this game a pain. Sonic and the Secret Rings is an auto-run game--the problem? They weren't designing it like one. 

There are countless situations where the forward movement is a restriction or a fast way to die. To be fair, this game doesn't have lives and respawns Sonic near where he died. But it makes the various missions, where death is a one-way ticket to "this just isn't my day," a HUGE pain. 

Often Sonic will run or slide into a bottomless pit because he could not stop. In other places, there are enemies that will need to be taken out in order to move on that Sonic will run past (and into a wall). 

While Levitated Ruin is beautiful visually, it is horrible to play through because of the wind, the spike-rings, and the building-insides. The parts where Sonic has to climb through the various cylinder-type rooms are some of the worst in the game. 

Pirate Storm is arguably worse because of the poor lighting. There is a lot of water/bottomless pits that, combined with the oddness of the jump/skills, is a recipe for disaster. 

Grinding should have been better explained (a simple till of the Wii remote will result in Sonic jumping to the next rail--necessary in some missions). The Magic Carpet and other gimmicks were okay except for the (slow) Flying Pot.  

In general, if more levels were auto-run friendly like Sand Oasis, (most of) Night Palace, and (the outside of) Skeleton Dome, the gameplay would have been smoother.  

Time Break and Speed Break are cool but occasionally they hurt more than help (fall off a cliff, etc).

While I like missions when they are optional, the set up in this game where "pointless" ones are required to move the characters forward is fairly annoying. The scoring system also seems pretty harsh.  

Final Thoughts

• I tend to think that Shahra cured Sonic's cold for him, but they probably should have mentioned Sonic's cold at some point, even as a joke. 
• "This just isn't my day" > "Gotta try harder" (Riders)
•  Even though Sonic and Shahra are just friends, I can't help but think that this is how they should have handled Elise (Sonic 06). There's more development in this friendship than there ever was in that...uh, ship. 
• It's outrageous how this game demands perfection. Many missions are nearly impossible to beat after one death, and are purposely set up for that death. 
• Uhu, the Speed Genie, needs to %$#@!& off

Final Ranking: B

I honestly expected to give this game a C at the most. But returning to it revealed memorable moments and a great balance of humor and emotion. 

While it's not the best of the best, it's still worthy of a high average.  

It's Mephiles the smoke monster

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

There are many opinions on what the "best Sonic" is. Though the characters of the Sonic series mainly stay the same, some have shown development. Including Sonic...at one time, anyway. 

ONE STEP FORWARD

From an Impatient Hero 

The classic games lacked dialogue but still showed personality. Sonic was very impatient, often tapping his foot or even jumping off screen. His appearance was also edgy with attitude put into his various poses. Even making him a teenager was a sharp contrast to Mario's goofy design.

He was a hero, firstly taking on Dr. Robotnik all by himself. Sonic was also a role model for Tails and didn't hold a grudge against Knuckles for all he did in S3.

In the Adventure series Sonic was more laid back, usually drawn into the conflict. Still thick with attitude, he didn't stick around often.

To a "Friendly" Thrill Seeker

By Heroes he was rushing to stop Eggman, though, eager for the thrill. This became a common scenario. The value of relying on others became more obvious for him.

Sonic made friends easily and was willing to help those who needed him. He also looked forward to taking on "new competition," and proving he was the fastest in any field.

To a Defender of Worlds 

Sonic never cared about the risk to him, though he would get angry at a foe, especially if his friends were in danger or harmed.

In games like Unleashed and The Black Knight, Sonic still had attitude and impatience but was also more serious when faced with the weight of certain situations.

"Development" 

While his 90s-based personality was largely the same, Sonic was changing. Sonic started as a hero, of course. An impatient one who gained an appreciation for friends yet became a leader and helped inspire others. Carefree, the hedgehog found fun in his adventures, but began to recognize the difference between an easy fight and a true threat. Sonic was not afraid to fight until the end to save his world (or someone else's).

So though Sonic seems static from a far, his fights with Eggman and other foes left him more mature over the years. It's possible that Sega could have taken this further. But we'll never know because...

TWO STEPS BACK

A Joker

Sonic Colors over-saturated Sonic's humorous nature, and since the game was well received (for reasons I'll never understand), this affected Sonic's future. While always having a bit of the 90s with him in the past, he seemed to adopt 2010 instead ("EPIC").

Ultimately their were so many jokes that they weren't very funny, and the plots became lighter and impossible to take seriously. With the tension gone, there was little reason to play the games or see them as unique.

A Lonely Extrovert

Sonic largely ditched the "leader" idea, not even relying on long-time bud Tails much. He left the fox to do technical work alone instead.

In Sonic Rush Sonic convinced Blaze that relying on others was not only okay--but necessary sometimes. Yet in every game since Sonic Colors he only allowed his friends supporting roles (with the exception of racing spin-offs).

He trusts "classic" Sonic, but that was himself!!! And in Forces he begins to trust the Avatar, but why would "buddy" get priority over longtime friends like Tails or even close rivals like Shadow?  In 06 Shadow admitted he couldn't take on Solaris with out help from Sonic--would Sonic admit the same about Shadow? Not the 2010s, it seems.

When Sharah was seemingly killed in Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic turned dark; he was fueled by the emotions sorrow, anger, and hatred of the World Rings. Yet when his closest friends are all consumed by the "Time Eater," calling out to him...all he says is "not cool."

It's hard to even know if Sonic cares about anyone anymore. In the rare occasions when they are around, Sonic hardly interacts with them.

A Ego Maniac

Sonic is still heroic, but he gained an ego over his many wins. While in Sonic Adventure Sonic had simply left instead of taking credit, and in Sonic and the Black Knight the hedgehog actually passed a test over chivalry, from Colors-on Sonic has excessively bragged that he will always beat Eggman.

He also dismissed the Time Eater as a threat, sighting past wins and claiming it was "no different."

Sonic's always tried to be the best, but he didn't insist upon it like Jet. At least he didn't before. Somehow Sonic became overconfident.

Though TSR arguably portrayed Sonic better (since he was working with his team again), he kept blabbing about racing (winning).

And Stoic

Though Sonic Forces was an attempt at a deeper plot, the blue blur wasn't back on track. The character had been "tortured" and declared "dead," but his personality revealed him as completely nonchalant and even a bit crude.

"Un-Development"

Overall Sonic has been shallower than ever before. "Colors Sonic" (2010) is virtually indistinguishable from "Forces Sonic" (2017). And his unconcerned behavior is unnatural, at this point.

Sega didn't learn from their mistakes, they listened to people complain about them. Instead of thinking about how they could have been improved, Sega simply ignored any game rated poorly without understanding "why."

They choose what was a well-received gameplay style, and cut off most of the characters. Meanwhile they watered down the plot since "simpler" competitors like Mario were well received. Colors wasn't a reboot of any kind, but after it's success Sega acted like it. 

Sonic's become static as a consequence. Hopefully Sega will listen to the complaints about Sonic in Forces and guide the character back--because otherwise he'll never change. 

There's no doubt that each of the cartoons helped bring his personality to focus, no matter if "Thrill-Seeker" or "Ego Maniac." The comics deserve some credit as well. While the new Movie and IDW have shown some potential in trying to reform the character, Sega itself fears risk.

Sonic 06 References/Easter Eggs

Despite being planned as a soft-reboot and wanting to bring Sonic back to his "roots," Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) was a complete failure among fans and new players a like. Though it may not be the horrendous monster everyone seems to call it, it was not the promised "Sonic-Next Gen." 

As a constellation prize, the 15th anniversary game still holds many hints at other games, even though it was supposed to be a "reboot." 

Notable Reoccurring Elements

• Invincibility
• 0 being a life
• Super Sonic
• Super Shadow
• Spindash
• Chaos Spear (modified)
• Flying
• Gliding
• Grinding
• Amy's Hammer

Sonic 1

• The platforms in Spring Yard Zone's boss fight are taken out by Robotnik, and the floor is also targeted in the Egg Wyvern boss fight. 
• The idea of Sonic having a having a human girlfriend originates here; in early plans Sonic had a girlfriend named Madonna. 

Sonic CD

• Time Travel is once again an important element.
• Crisis City revives the idea of a "bad future." 
• With the purple gem, Sonic can shrink and jump high. This idea is directly from Sonic CD's Metallic Madness, where Sonic is scaled down by a laser. 

Sonic 2

• The main theme "Sweet Dreams" is remixed and put at the credits in Sonic's story. 
• Aside from the game's new characters (such as Elise and Silver), Tails appears 3rd (after Sonic and Eggman), as he did in real life.  

Sonic 3

• Sonic snow boards in White Acropolis, as he originally did in Ice Cap. 

Sonic and Knuckles

• Lava Reef's fiery outside and darker inside may have inspired Flame Core. 

Sonic X-treme

• At one point Sonic's love interest--Tiara--was to be a princess, but that was later changed and the game was scrapped. This may have impacted the ideas for Sonic's new love interest, though.  

Sonic Adventure

• Both games are divided into "stories" revolving around different characters. 
• Wave Ocean closely resembles Emerald Coast. 
• The Orca reappears in Wave Ocean. 
• Once again there are chatty humans in hub worlds. 
• After meeting up with Sonic, Tails says "Long time no see, huh?" while after finding Tails in 06 Sonic says "Long time no see!"
• Iblis may have been inspired by Chaos, being an element-powered monster that transforms.
• Knuckles' treasure hunting skills are mentioned.
• Crisis City includes worn Chao in Space 3 signs; Sonic Adventure started the "Chao in Space" gag.   
• Adventure also had the first Chao Gardens, and there are signs in Crisis City mentioning a Chao garden.
• Eggman's "battleship" is another version of the Egg Carrier.  

Like in Station Square, New City was supposed to have cars. These can be found with the "Shadow New Town" glitch, but they crash into everything.  

Sonic Shuffle

• The theme of Light and Dark originated in this game. 

Sonic Adventure 2

• The "Solairs Project" was mostly likely intended as 06's "Project: Shadow."
• Flashbacks are used again. 
• Amy mistakes Silver for Sonic, just like she mistook Shadow for him. 
• GUN is present. 
• The president is mentioned.
• Rouge's treasure hunting skills are mentioned as well as used (in Kingdom Valley). 
• Rouge finds keys to move on; she hunted keys before in Egg Quarters. 
• Sonic rides a metal board in Crisis City, like in City Escape. 
• Sonic can preform a wind move with a gem. Sonic's first wind attack was from this game. 
• Eggman tricks Sonic into giving him the (fake) emerald with Amy as a hostage but traps him. He does the same with Elise except the emerald was real. 
• Canon's Core uses all playable characters except Shadow. End of the World uses all playable characters except Sonic and Blaze.

Sonic Heroes

• Eggman leaves Sonic a recording, similar to the beginning of Team Hero's story. 
• Amy turns invisible, something previously exclusive to Espio.
• Sonic "shares" his super state in both games.
• The version of the wind move for Sonic came from this game.
• Tails says "My head's spinning!" while going through loops in both games.  

Sonic Rush

• Inclusion of "new" character, Blaze the Cat.
• Blaze calling Silver naive is similar to her initial opinion on Cream.
• At the end of Blaze's story, she asks Cream, "We-We're friends, right?" Meanwhile in 06 Silver asks Blaze, "You're my friend, right?"
• The background for Princess Elise may be a nod to Blaze's fire/princess backstory. 
• One gem includes the "boost," though it does not work the same way as in Rush. 

Although there was not explanation for her presence, some unused voice clips suggest Blaze would have mentioned Sonic and talked to Amy.

Shadow the Hedgehog

• While fighting Mephiles, Shadow says, "I know who I am," directly referring to his repeated line, "this is who I am."  
• He also repeats the phrase "Who are you?! And how do you know my name...?"
• Shadow chases Eggman's train in Radical Train like with the Black Arms' tank in Lethal Highway's hero mission. 
• The Shadow/Sonic banter before Flame Core is not unlike the scene after Lethal Highway. 
• The punch/kick move preformed when without a gun is an early version of the move Shadow primarily uses in 06; he uses a version of Chaos Blast. 
• Shadow can/has to drive vehicles in some of the stages.
• Shadow drives through/destroys falling walls in both the GUN Fortress and later in Aquatic Base.
• Westopolis being a distressed city as the first level was echoed with Silver (Crisis City).    
• There is a fire tornado in Crisis City and a dusty one in Glyphic Canyon. 
• The tornado section of Crisis City for Sonic plays a lot like Cosmic Fall, including floating/moving/spinning platforms.  
• Shadow can get past a secret door after collecting 5 keys in each level. These keys resemble the ones Rouge has to find in Kingdom Valley. 
• Rouge comments on Death Ruins, expressing the desire to treasure hunt there some other time. In a similar way, she calls Tropical Jungle "Charming." 
• Shadow's theme is "All Hail Shadow." The original version was his hero-ending theme. 

Expert Mode implies that the Commander wanted to make amends with Shadow; Shadow works for GUN in 06. 

Sonic Riders

• While boarding the player must hold X before lifting off. This is how the jumps were handled in Sonic Riders (though control over tricks are not possible in 06). 

("Early") Sonic Cartoons/comics/etc

•  Sonic would often carry his love interest in a similar way to Elise (also present in Sonic CD).
• When Sara from the OVA wears her "wedding" dress, she and Elise visually look alike (pun intended). 
• Sally Acorn and Sonia the Hedgehog are both princesses, which may have inspired the title for Elise. 
• Despite the Mobian/tomboyish appearance, Sonic's (long-time) Western love interest, Sally, had reddish/brown hair and blue eyes, which may have influenced Elise to have those traits. 
• In the US, Amy was originally named Princess Sally, which again may have some influence on title. 
• Sonic introduces himself as "Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog." He often did the same in Sonic X. 
• Shadow takes off his rings, something originating from Sonic X.
• There is a girl in the hub world who wears a shirt similar to Chris.
• The scene where Eggman sends Sonic & co to the future is similar to the 1st episode of Sonic X were he send them to another dimension (though it was not intentional in that case). 

Similarities to Sonic and the Secret Rings

The game was originally going to be a Wii version of 06 and was made at the same time.

• Sand Oasis is a level in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Two "secret" oasis-es can be found in Dusty Desert.  
• Sonic goes on an adventure with a human-like girl character, though just as a friend. 
• He tells both girls to smile. 
• Sonic is called a rat several times; Eggman calls him a rat in 06. 
• The Erazor mentions "Iblis."
• A character is killed and brought back to life. 
• The events of 06 are un-done by time travel and are forgotten or only partially remembered--as if it never happened. Since only he journeyed to the world, the events of Secret Rings are only remembered by Sonic, almost as if they never happened. 
• Both have a generally "darker" tone.

Cover vs Original: 7 Rings In Hand

"7 Rings in Hand" was the main theme of Sonic and the Secret Rings, appearing in the menu and in the final boss fight. The Crush 40 version was unlocakble after completing the Secret Rings inspired "legend" missions and collecting the World Rings in Sonic and the Black Knight.

Original (Steve Conte)

It's guitar has as significant presence through out. The echo-y intro and vocals allude to the game's situation and setting. The line "7 rings in hand" is repeated often. 

Cover (Crush 40)

Though it bares a resemblance, the lyrics are sung in a new way and the instruments are more akin to that of the Black Knight. In contrast to the first version, there is more of an emphasis on ending words ("Seven Rings in Hand.")

Winner: Tie

I hate to do this again. The original better matches the scenario. Memorable, it immediately catches attention and reinforces the tones of the game. Crush 40's version sounds different, but that is by no means a deal-breaker. The vocals are a bit clearer/easier to understand and the song seems more stable/has better closure. Each guitar solo is epic in their own way.   

If I really had to narrow it down...the original is best for Sonic and the Secret Rings, but the cover is better as a song alone.

Best Villain? Part 2: B Villains

Eggman aside, there have been more villains in the series than most causal fans realize. Some of these were interesting and give Eggy real competition. Others fall a little flat...

I define this type of villain as "Erazor Djinn level," so it seems only fair to start with him. 

The Erazor Djinn has the makings of a good foe. And he is threatening. He's powerful. He's already wiped out half of the "storybook" world as Sonic's jumping to the rescue. After hitting Sonic with a flaming arrow, he basically blackmails Sonic and his new friend Sharah into finding specail items ("World Rings"). 

Still, he is hard to take serious--even Sonic seems to think so. He's way overconfident and continues to call Sonic a "filthy rat." His insults, while humorous, are pathetic. While he does gain a considerable point of power near the end of the game the moment later backfires on the Erazor since he cannot even control his transformation.

The Erazor's end, while satisfying, only further pushes back on his credibility. It's only Sonic dumping the magic lamp into lava (in Sharah's epilogue) that solidifies how serious a threat the villain actually was.  

I KID YOU NOT.

Although the Erazor had the bite, he didn't have the bark, as silly as that sounds. The character was powerful, but strip away his actions and powers and he's nothing more than childish bully. 

Unfortunately the Erazor Djinn is not the only enemy to, despite potential, become lame and easily forgotten. 

Black Doom was an early example of this. His threatening voice and alien appearance fit well with the idea of the character, but his constant nagging and cruel behavior made him an oddity. There is not much of a reason for Shadow to side with Black Doom, and even if he does the alien leader does little to applaud such a thing.

Like the Erazor, Black Doom is strong and manipulates Shadow in different ways like planting false memories or concealing information. At the end of the day, though, he is hard to take seriously and more of a nuisance. 

This is also seen with the Deadly Six. I know less about them than most, but they do little to stand out and behave annoyingly. Zavok appears often in recent times, but is he's far worst than either Black Doom or Erazor Djinn. I don't know if they could get any lamer, and don't get me started on the magic conch...

Infinite is portrayed more as a rival, but unlike Shadow or Jet, he's clearly with Eggman and wants to be evil. His appearance is an odd mesh that may have been inspired by Kylo Ren (who was a wannabe himself). Not the best start. His voice acting is good, able to have an edge to it but also be calm and in control. Not unlike Mephiles. His epic theme song is reminiscent of rivals of the past, like Shadow. But in game he does not take control. 

He's content with working for Eggman; he doesn't even attempt to break away, leaving his motives a mystery. He bullies various characters and makes use of his flashy illusionary powers, but he is a complete coward. He RUNS AWAY. Instead of revealing a tragic, determined, or even greedy past, the cause of Infinte's path to the dark side is that he can't handle losing and doesn't like being called weak. He throws a tantrum. Over being called WEAK.   

"King Arthur" doesn't seem to have much of a personality or an emphasis on turning evil, but at least he's actually revealed as a simple pawn in the Dark Queen's plans. There are a few others, like IX, who also fail to step up.  

So even though I generally think of the Erazor first, there are many other candidates that are arguably more deserving of the title. Like with the games in general, Sega had grand plans that didn't quite work out right. 

Quote of the Month

"Come, Sonic, and FACE ME."
-Erazor Djinn, Sonic and the Secret Rings

Sonicomics: "Sand, Spirits, and Sonic Speed" (Sonic and the Secret Rings)

"Did you know? Secret Rings was released exclusively for Nintendo Wii." You don't say!

When I first heard about the "exclusive" comic with certain SatSR copies, I knew I wanted it. I don't know if I knew much about the comics back then...I just thought it would be a continuation of the game (the ending mentions Sonic having "many adventures" before going home). Either that or Sally or someone scolding Sonic and telling him to stay home and read a book (because of his cold).

Since then I realized neither would be the case, and figured it would probably just be an adaptation of the first cutscene. Surprisingly, it's not.

We get a nice description instead of the abrupt "in another" greeting other adaptations have gotten. The art is disappointing. It's not too bad, but it doesn't blend well with the SatSR style and it's nothing to write home about. The backgrounds seen pretty dark, too. The Storybook Series was done very well visually and the comics can't seem to replicate that. Sharah looks off sometimes, and the Erazor looks hilarious.

Sonic and Sharah bond a little while explaining things a bit. The fact that Sonic mentions Fang tells me the whole "in another" dimension plan wasn't a thing yet. Still, he doesn't mention the Freedom Fighters, so maybe not...

It's nice to have Sonic and Sharah just talk. It's similar to a cutscene, and it fits in before Pirate Storm (as made clear by the end).

Score (S is good, E is bad): B-

It's nice but I find all the re-caping unnecessary. It originally only came with the game, so whoever got it either knew that all already or would very soon.  

Quote of the Month

"I'm NOT a rat! I'm a hedgehog."
-Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic and the Secret Rings

Quote of the Month

"I'm not a rat!"
--Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic and the Secret Rings