| Sonic and the Secret Rings | |
|
Sonic and the Secret Rings boxart. | |
| Publisher: | SEGA |
| Developer: | Sonic Team |
| Platform: | Wii |
| Rated: | ESRB: File:RatingPending.png Rating Pending |
| Genre: | Platformer |
| Release Date: |  March 15, 2007 February 20, 2007 Spring 2007 |
| Series: | Sonic series |
Sonic and the Secret Rings is a Sonic platforming game, that is exclusive to the Wii. Instead of having a free roaming environment, Sonic and the Secret Rings is on-rails, that is, you follow a set path. This makes it more like the traditional 2D version of the series, and eliminates the slow emerald finding levels in Sonic Adventure 1 and 2.
Themes
- Arabian Nights: A sandy oasis and the main theme in the game.
- Dinosaour Island: An area that takes place in the past.
- Evil Foundry:
- LevitatedRuin:
- Pirate Storm: An area that takes place near a stormy ocean full of pirates.
Moves
Two new moves allows Sonic to speed time up, and to slow time down. He is also able to do many of the attacks that he was able to do in previous Sonic entries, such as run very fast, the spin attack, and others.
Customizable skills
In January of 2007, SEGA revealed that Sonic would have around 100 skills. These skills will do multiple things, such as how Sonic handles, to special abilities, and so on.
Mini-games
In 2006, SEGA revealed that there would be a certain amount of multiplayer mini-games that you and your friends were able to play. In January of 2007, SEGA revealed that there would be forty of these mini-games. The mini-games also include popular characters from the Sonic universe, such as Knuckles and Amy.
E3 Preview
At E3 2006, with the Wii, the Sonic game was there. The preview was called Sonic Wildfire, and was a demo. To watch the video, head to http://www.watchwii.com/Sonic_and_the_Secret_Rings.html and scroll down. The game was said to be a launch title at the time, but is to be released March 2007.
Reception
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 70% |
| Metacritic | 69% |
| MobyGames | 71/100 |
| TopTenReviews | 2.91/4 |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | B |
| Allgame | 3/5 |
| Computer and Video Games | 8.2/10 |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 6.5/10 |
| Eurogamer | 8/10 |
| Famitsu | 32/40 |
| Game Informer | 5.5/10 |
| GamePro | 3.75/5 |
| Game Revolution | C- |
| GameSpot | 7.6/10 |
| GameSpy | 3/5 |
| GamesRadar | 8/10 |
| GameTrailers | 7.6/10 |
| GameZone | 7.5/10 |
| IGN | 6.9/10 7.9/10 (UK) |
| Nintendo Power | 8.5/10 |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 81% |
| Play Magazine | 7/10 |
| X-Play | 2/5 |
Sonic and the Secret Rings has received mixed to positive reviews. Several critics praised the game's visuals, although equally common were criticisms directed at the control scheme, both for its steep learning curve, as well as what some have called "loose and unresponsive mechanics." Another source of frustration for many critics, such as IGN, was the fact that the game frequently forces Sonic to stop and walk backwards, and that the camera, frustratingly, remains in the same position, preventing the player from seeing what he's backing into. A general theme that can be picked out of many reviews, even the positive ones, is that the missions are occasionally frustrating and that the difficulty seems to spike randomly, something X-Play, in particular, took issue with. X-Play also disliked the mission structure, claiming that the game forces players to spend the bulk of their time playing what they referred to as "leftovers."
Several critics considered the game, in spite of its occasionally frustrating controls and mission structure, a step in the right direction for the series which has been declining in terms of popularity and critical reception for the last several years.
Sonic and the Secret Rings was the 13th best selling game of February 2007 in North America, with 83,000 copies. As of September 2008, the game has sold 1.2 million units worldwide.
Screenshots Gallery
