Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

[Rodster]

I want this game

http://wii.ign.com/articles/757/757110p1.html

Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on


Besides the hugely fun implementation of the Wiimote control, Sonic and the Secret Rings also feels like a true Wii title from a visual standpoint. Most of the Wii's launch titles failed to wow us graphically, so it is nice to already see games coming out of third-party developers that look like they were actually developed with the Wii hardware in mind. Sonic and the Secret Rings certainly meets this criteria. The game ran at a brisk 30 FPS with nary a drop in framerate to be found. All of the levels are extremely detailed and have a lot of action going on at the same time. There were nice lighting effects throughout the levels which we played, and some slick motion blur every now and again. While the game may not be quite as visually detailed as its Xbox 360 and PS3 cousins, it is definitely pretty, and one of the best-looking Wii titles we have yet laid eyes on.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

I'm hoping this actually turns out good because I really want to play it.

[Jonesy]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Damn shame how crap the recent sonic games have been, hopefully this one can turn things around.....

Is it just me or does Sonic just not suit the 3d type game anywhere near was well as the old 2d sidescroller? I think they should just make a new 2d version with insane backgrounds, explosions and speed and it would be a great game.

[Rodster]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Damn shame how crap the recent sonic games have been, hopefully this one can turn things around.....

Is it just me or does Sonic just not suit the 3d type game anywhere near was well as the old 2d sidescroller? I think they should just make a new 2d version with insane backgrounds, explosions and speed and it would be a great game.

Nope it's just not you. Sonic has always excelled as a 2D scroller. The best 3D Sonic was on the Dreamcast and that one wasn't perfect either but it was by far and away better than any Sonic game recently released.

If it weren't for the plethora of Sonic games the 2D/3D DS version might have gotten more looks. If you have a DS get that version it's old school Sonic on 2 screens, and you can find it now for like $10-15 new.

[Fetter21]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Damn shame how crap the recent sonic games have been, hopefully this one can turn things around.....

Is it just me or does Sonic just not suit the 3d type game anywhere near was well as the old 2d sidescroller? I think they should just make a new 2d version with insane backgrounds, explosions and speed and it would be a great game.

I agree, why change what you already know works. Sonic and Mario brothers just works better 2D, so much like they do for the handhelds they should keep 'em like that and make some new ones. New Super Mario Brothers was a great idea. I suppose maybe there is only a market for that on the handhelds now.

[aukevin]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

I don't know if I like how Sonic is always moving and you just change his direction. I kinda wish that I had full control of him to start running whenever I want. But that's how Sonic games are, I was just hoping for a little change this time. But I guess rings would be pretty easy to get if that was the case, LOL. I think visually the game looks great.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

New Trailer and New Screens at IGN.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Fresh, here you go:

IGN = 6.9

http://wii.ign.com/articles/766/766214p1.html

Closing Comments
Sonic and the Secret Rings is my favorite entry into the franchise since its 2D roots. That's high praise for some, I'm quite certain. Bearing that in mind, if you really liked the Sonic Adventure titles for Dreamcast or GameCube, I think you will find much more to be excited about in this Wii-exclusive undertaking. I can tell you that the experience is more fun and more beautiful than any other – at least, as far as I'm concerned. But that being true, there are still flaws – big ones – and I'm less willing to tolerate and forgive them now that 3D games have fully evolved and we've seen exactly what great developers can do in the third dimension. Sonic Team has taken a giant step in the right direction here, and of that there is little doubt, which is why I hope that more time and attention goes into the camera system and level designs for the inevitable sequel.

I want to take moment to specifically explain the score. For me, Sonic and the Secret Rings offers moments of greatness where I find myself caught up in the intensity of the experience and, oppositely, moments where I want to pull my hair out or throw the Wii remote down because of imprecise control or insulting design choices. I think that some gamers, particularly diehard Sonic fans, will be able to get past these drawbacks and enjoy the great times, which are also in supply. However, for me it's really pretty simple. Call me harsh, but I don't believe you should be forced to deal with the bad to enjoy the good and hence, I've scored the game with that in mind.

[aukevin]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Fresh, here you go:

IGN = 6.9

http://wii.ign.com/articles/766/766214p1.html

Closing Comments
Sonic and the Secret Rings is my favorite entry into the franchise since its 2D roots. That's high praise for some, I'm quite certain. Bearing that in mind, if you really liked the Sonic Adventure titles for Dreamcast or GameCube, I think you will find much more to be excited about in this Wii-exclusive undertaking. I can tell you that the experience is more fun and more beautiful than any other – at least, as far as I'm concerned. But that being true, there are still flaws – big ones – and I'm less willing to tolerate and forgive them now that 3D games have fully evolved and we've seen exactly what great developers can do in the third dimension. Sonic Team has taken a giant step in the right direction here, and of that there is little doubt, which is why I hope that more time and attention goes into the camera system and level designs for the inevitable sequel.

I want to take moment to specifically explain the score. For me, Sonic and the Secret Rings offers moments of greatness where I find myself caught up in the intensity of the experience and, oppositely, moments where I want to pull my hair out or throw the Wii remote down because of imprecise control or insulting design choices. I think that some gamers, particularly diehard Sonic fans, will be able to get past these drawbacks and enjoy the great times, which are also in supply. However, for me it's really pretty simple. Call me harsh, but I don't believe you should be forced to deal with the bad to enjoy the good and hence, I've scored the game with that in mind.

I'm gonna pick this up today and give it a try. I'm not the biggest Sonic fan in the world, but I think the game looks fun. Gamespot gave it a 7.6 which is a lot better than IGN's score. IGN gave a couple higher scores to games I ended up not liking very much, like WarioWare (8.2) and Elebits (8.3), and a 7 to Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam which I really dug. The more vids that I've watched of Sonic it looks like the style of game I might like with the Wii, and if it turns out not to be so good, I'm sure I can sell it on ebay and get most of my money back for it.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

I'm gonna pick this up today and give it a try. I'm not the biggest Sonic fan in the world, but I think the game looks fun. Gamespot gave it a 7.6 which is a lot better than IGN's score. IGN gave a couple higher scores to games I ended up not liking very much, like WarioWare (8.2) and Elebits (8.3), and a 7 to Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam which I really dug. The more vids that I've watched of Sonic it looks like the style of game I might like with the Wii, and if it turns out not to be so good, I'm sure I can sell it on ebay and get most of my money back for it.

Please post impressions as I hear that this Sonic from reading the reviews is nothing like the crap that was released on the XBOX360 and PS3.

[aukevin]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

Please post impressions as I hear that this Sonic from reading the reviews is nothing like the crap that was released on the XBOX360 and PS3.

I will but I don't know how much my impressions will matter to Sonic fans because I'm not much of one. I have only played two Sonic games my entire life, the original and a Gamecube version. I'll be playing purely from the standpoint that it looks fun to play as a Wii game, I really have no investment in previous Sonic games and what they are all about like I do when it comes to Zelda or Mario games.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

I will but I don't know how much my impressions will matter to Sonic fans because I'm not much of one. I have only played two Sonic games my entire life, the original and a Gamecube version. I'll be playing purely from the standpoint that it looks fun to play as a Wii game, I really have no investment in previous Sonic games and what they are all about like I do when it comes to Zelda or Mario games.

I just want to know how the camera is and the gameplay controls. The 360 version was just attrocious.

[Misfit]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

This Sonic title definitly sounds like its the best the series has seen on a home console since Sonic and Knuckles. However, it is dissapointing that after all of this time Sega still can't address the camera issues that have plagued the Sonic franchise since '99's Sonic Adventure. I'm going to pass on this one in hopes that Sega corrects the problems for a sequel.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

This Sonic title definitly sounds like its the best the series has seen on a home console since Sonic and Knuckles. However, it is dissapointing that after all of this time Sega still can't address the camera issues that have plagued the Sonic franchise since '99's Sonic Adventure. I'm going to pass on this one in hopes that Sega corrects the problems for a sequel.

I just think that Sonic needs to go back to being a 2D game, but with 3D backgrounds.

[aukevin]

Re: Sonic and the Secret Rings Hands-on

I haven't really seen what the camera issues are. The game is pretty fast at times and you don't see some rings or jumps until you are right up on them, but I thought it was suppose to be that way. You can play the same level over and over in order to pick up items you missed or get better times, and you get to learn where the turns and jumps and stuff are and you can anticipate them. I played for about an hour and a half and had a pretty good time.

As for controls, it's kinda like a racing game since you are pretty much moving forward the whole time, you just steer left or right. I haven't gotten far enough for all the power up moves, so I'm not sure how good they control. The jumps take a little practice, you're flying along and you have to press and hold the 2 button to jump. You press it down and the Sonic does this little slide deal, when you release he jumps. Depending on how long you held two down and he slides is how high you jump. It's a little awkward at first, but I started to get it. It's not very natural though, it probably will be after a while longer. When you are in the air, you thrust the wiimote forward and you do this mid-air dash that shoots you forward, this is also kind of the main attack (at least early in the game) called the homing attack.

The storytelling part of the game is kind of like Elebits if you've played that. Just a bunch of still scenes with dialog in the background telling the story. It'd been better if it was moving scenes in between the levels instead of just images changing.

Overall it was a fun first night with the game.