VideoGame A Refreshing Experience/Return to Form
So! The Sonic Rush Series.
Although some didn't like them, the Sonic Rush games were an interesting return to the classic 2-D Sonic games. With varied levels and the different playstyles of Sonic and Blaze, these games are nearly guaranteed to have a Best Level Ever for most.
Although opinion is important on whether you like the style of the classic games, for those that are nostalgic about the Classic era of Sonic, or want to have a Sonic game in the original style that is portable, this is the game for you.
VideoGame Has More Depth than it appears to
The Rush games, often portrayed as the epitome of "hold right, boost to win" gameplay by many an upset Genesis Sonic fan, might surprise anyone who's looked past trailer footage, especially with the first game. Though I won't deny that the platforming and exploration was toned down, the boost, in some respects, makes the games harder. Sure, you'll plow through any enemy you come across, but you'll also be moving so fast that you'll careen into lower paths and bottomless pits without superhuman reflexes, so these games aren't devoid of challenge.
Not to say that platforming and exploration is completely gone either. There are plenty of difficult jumps to be made and alternate routes to take in every level. Parts of it can even be more difficult than the Genesis games, such as the end of either act of Altitude Limit, where the player must jump through a series of constantly lowering platforms over an instant kill laser. Neither Sonic nor Blaze has a particularly high or quick jump and if you're too slow, you will die, so that will most likely catch newcomers off guard.
There's definitely fun to be had, though. The special stages from the first game in particular are the most fun I've ever had with a special stage in any Sonic game, despite being typical half pipe fare. Many levels contain gimmicks that, while not particularly original, still provide a nice change of pace (with the exception of the first game's "kill X enemies" rooms, which didn't belong at all), as did some of the missions in Rush Adventure. And finding the best path to speedrun a level is still as satisfying as ever; you just don't have to work as hard for your speed now.
The graphics of the games are acceptable, though the second game suffers from the same problems Super Mario Sunshine did in overuse of the "tropical island" theme. There's some interesting variations, but for the most part, you may as well be on Isle Delfino. I adore the soundtrack of the first game. Techno-funk suits Sonic perfectly. The second game is a bit blander, but there are a few noteworthy tracks, such as Big Swell. And in keeping with 2D Sonic tradition, the stories are cute, inoffensive, and an excuse to make you go fast.
I'd recommend the second game to casuals, and the first for those looking for a challenge. They're some of the best handheld Sonic games to date.
VideoGame Sonic Rush is Modern Sonic at its finest
When I first got Sonic Rush for my DS Lite (the first one, which went kaput) I was thrilled. The game is very fast-paced, and despite what you might think, has some very technical sections. The first game, which is harder, was less story-based and more about "gotta go fast" (I regret nothing!), the special stages were great, and the boost was fun to master (It can be abused, but I've learned when to slow down for efficency). The music... oh the music... it's just... to awesome! My problem is the replayability. Sure, there are time trails, but after I beat the final final boss, I just couldn't feel the thrill anymore.
Now on to Adventure, while introducing one of the more fun characters (Marine the Raccoon), the obligitory sailing could get tedious at times. The story is a little more fleshed out, but you could always skip the cutscenes. The music isn't as great, well except for the first zone and regular boss theme. The game introduces the idea of taking off at the beginning, which takes some practice to get the timing. The bosses were still fun, and the gameplay, while easy, was still addicting. The game had better replayability with over 100 missions (101 to be exact, and the last one is "clear all missions!). Some of these missions, however, got you Sol Emeralds which are required to take on the final final boss. Internet leaderboards are great for competitive types. I would give the games 9/10 and 8/10 respectively. Both are great games and are definitely must haves for any Sonic fan.
VideoGame Diamonds in the Rough
the mid 2000s were not a good time for Sonic. At best the games were mediocre, and at worst they were among the worst they were unfinished messes. The Rush games are probably the biggest exception to this rule. I'll be reviewing both of them here seeing they're quite similar, but will point out when I'm referring to a single game and not both.
The gameplay is everything that makes the 3D boost games fun: incredible speed, level design that flows very well and hazards that rely on fast reactions and memorisation of the stage to get an S Rank, but there are a few things that make Rush shine compared to them. The Trick system needed to charge the meter means the game relies much more on timing than games like Forces which give Boost out like candy, and the lack of bottomless pits due to the game's 2D nature means a lot less of the unfair deaths Unleashed sometimes had. My only issue is that Sonic and Blaze don't feel very distinct from each other, and while I can only think of one place in the games where Sonic's Homing Attack was useful I can think of countless moments where Blaze's glide, high jump and superdash were. That said, with the core gameplay being this fun I can gloss over that.
Rush unfortunately falls behind Adventure in it's bosses. The bosses have very long invulnerability periods and just drag on, having far too much health for a boss that can't be hit most of the time. Adventure is far better in this regard, having bosses that are much more interesting to fight and making use of the DS's dual screens in some fun ways.
Naturally, it wouldn't be a DS game without touchscreen support. The first only has it in the Special Stages, which are a nice throwback to Sonic 2 (even if the last one is That One Level ), but Adventure uses it all the time due to the fleet of vehicles you explore the world with. These are Adventure's weakest part (especially the sailboat sections and the encounters with Johnny), but are still alright, and the way the scenery changes as you travel is admittedly pretty neat
As for everything else, it's up to Sonic standard. The story in Rush is mostly an Excuse Plot, although Blaze is a really nice addition to the Sonic canon. Adventure tries harder to have a plot, and while it has some neat ideas it never fleshes them out, Whisker is far less entertaining than Eggman and Marine, while not completely annoying, is far from my favourite character (although the sudden random swearing did make me like her a bit more). The music is great, but while there are some bangers like Jeh Jeh Rocket, Wrapped In Black, and Sky Babylon, I prefer the rock of the other games. It's good, just not my style.
Overall, these are fantastic games that I highly recommend to anyone with a DS, and shows that even in a franchise's darkest hour, some light can still shine through.