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Metareview: Sonic Rush Adventure
Despite one very silly trailer, Sonic Rush Adventure is racking up some decent scores on the review circuit so far. Most reviewers seem to find it more enjoyable than 2005's Sonic Rush, but that's certainly not a universal opinion. Since when is 72% indicative of a bad game? According to NGamer, it's fitting when there are at least a few game-saving features in a pile of crap. Despite the fact that current review scores fall within twenty points of one another, actual opinions differ wildly on the title. IGN -- 80%: "Dimps and Sonic Team continue to prove that 2D is the perfect canvas for the Sonic the Hedgehog design. Sonic Rush Adventure is an improved and worthy sequel to Sonic Rush, definitely the game to get if you haven't already made the leap with the original title. It's a lot of great ideas in fun package...but Sonic Rush Adventure just doesn't hit the market with the same amount of "oomph" as the first game did simply because it recycled a lot from the original title." EuroGamer -- 80%: "It may be a bit repetitious, then, but in contrast to the likes of Mario games, which were always precise harmonies, that's actually something of a boon. Sonic was always jazzier, and one of the criticisms you could level at it was that the older games sometimes did a poor job of harnessing the inherent replayability that really stood them apart from their genre-mates. Rush Adventure comes up with the best way in a while to encourage and capitalise on that, proves less harsh than the first Rush did (the midair dash doing a better job of mitigating against bottomless-pit death), and, apart from a couple of duff watercraft bits, does it all satisfyingly. All in all, a bit of a must-have." NGamer --72%: " ... we'd have thought Sega would relish the chance to iron out Sonic Rush's flaws. To be frank, they haven't, though. Your first clue should be in the name; not Sonic Rush 2, but Sonic Rush Adventure. You already know what this means - so let's give a warm welcome to the return of all that extracurricular nonsense ... Adventure is a step backwards because it seems ashamed to be a Sonic game. You'll find yourself on stupid bouncy platforms, your momentum broken by dodgy 3D mini-games and participating in extreme sports that ceased to be 'rad' when Timmy Mallett was top of the pop. It's saved only by an excellent multiplayer and bits that, despite Sega's efforts, are unmistakably Sonic."
A Sonic product we can all agree with
We know that this promotional t-shirt is meant to appropriate the pirate theme of the new Sonic Rush Adventure, but we think that the design is iconic enough to suit Sonic fans of all kinds, as well as Sonic haters. For Sonic fans, it's a way to advertise your enjoyment of Sega's mascot with a nice, simple logo that doesn't look too Mountain-Dew-extremey or cartoony. But the people who want to make an ironic statement about their perception of the series as it is today may have it even better. While Sonic Rush Adventure adherents will interpret the shirt's image as a Sonic'd Jolly Roger, you can pretend it's a Sonic poison warning! The shirt will be available from Segadirect in Japan on October 18th for a reasonable 1575 yen ($13.85). We don't know if they'll ship outside of Japan or not, unfortunately. [Via Famitsu]
Sonic Rush Adventure gameplay trailer is hot
We loved the first Sonic Rush game, so upon hearing that the title would be seeing a sequel made for the DS was just great news. The only thing we can hope is that the second game is a lot longer than the first title, which was incredibly short. Short, but sweet. But, as for this trailer, looks damn fun, wouldn't you say?
Today's fastest, bluest video: Sonic Rush Adventure gameplay
We had a few concerns with Sonic Rush Adventure -- less with the "Rush" part of the title, and more with the "Adventure" -- but the latest gameplay trailers shows us that SRA is more of a good thing. Nothing wrong with classic Sonic side-scrolling, super-fast action (albeit with a few 3D boss battles and water-sports thrown in for good measure). Still, Sonic hasn't been doing so hot in recent history. Is Rush Adventure the game to pull the blazing blue mascot out of the gutter?
Friday Video: Speeding things up
It's been a slow week here at DS Fanboy. The long holiday weekend and the impending end of summer have made us long for the sun, or at least a lengthy nap. But the weekend is upon, and we need a shot of energy. What better way to jazz things up than a little quality time with Sonic? Everyone's favorite hedgehog is in this week's video spotlight, thanks to a trailer for Sonic Rush Adventure. It's high speed on the high seas!
Music preview and more at Sonic Rush Adventure site
Sonic Rush's soundtrack polarized the platformer's fans, many believing that Hideki Naganuma's funk/hip-hop direction didn't match the blue hedgehog's, others praising the Jet-Set-Radio-style tracks for their fresh approach. We made it a point to cruise down the strip every Saturday, "Wrapped in Black" thumping out of our car speakers at full volume. All the fly honeys would try to chase our car down, screaming wildly like children running after an ice cream truck. Maybe it was the music? Or maybe it was the twenty-dollar bills we were throwing out the window? Who knows? Sega's official Sonic Rush Adventure page has two new songs from the upcoming sequel that you can stream and listen to, free of charge. If you click the islands drawn out on the treasure map, there's also information on the game's story, two online battle modes, and four new characters. There's even a link to Sega of America's Sonic forums in which you can participate in discussions like "Why are Sonic games so bad now?" and "What if YOU had all 7 chaos emeralds?"
Sonic Rush Adventure trailer speeds on by
While all the news revolving around Sonic as of late has to do with the upcoming RPG game he is set to star in, another Sonic title has brought forth a trailer to rest your eyes upon. After looking it over, it would seem that Sonic Rush Adventure is very much going to keep the same flavor as Sonic Rush. Which, you know, is a good thing.
NiGHTS: Magazine Scan of Dreams
A new scan of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams has appeared, thanks to NeoGAF's tireless neo2046. It mostly contains too-small images of NiGHTS flying around, which-- thankfully-- look great. There's some kind of ... peacock creature, maybe?The page highlights NiGHTS' new human counterpart, Helen Cartwright, a young violinist. We assume that, like the previous game's children, she experiences performance anxiety and seeks solace in her dreams. Whatever the motivation, she frees NiGHTS so we can start playing the real game. And for that we must thank the frilly-jacketed, fictional child. The full page is after the break!
Want Phantasy Star? Have $10? Let's make a deal
Phantasy Star Universe isn't for everybody, but those looking for an addictive, Diablo-style dungeon crawler won't find much better on the Xbox 360. Of course, that fact is offset by the addition of monthly fees, which send many gamers running for the hills. If you've been wanting to try PSU but were scared off by monthly charges, then we may have a deal for you. Amazon is currently selling the game for the rock-bottom price of $9.99. Heck, at that price, you could buy the game and play it for 5 months before you exceeded the average price of a 360 game. Not a bad deal if you're looking for some Rappy-slaying action.Of course, the game does have a single player mode as well, so it's quite a bit of gaming for not a lot of scratch.Any takers?[Via Xbox 360 Rally]
Sega announces Sonic Rush Adventure for Nintendo DS
Sega of America has finally and officially announced Sonic Rush Adventure, the sequel to 2005's superb and slightly less adventurous Sonic Rush. And yes, you did just spot the word "superb" in a sentence discussing a modern Sonic the Hedgehog game. The hedgehog's initial DS outing (developed by Dimps) benefited from a breakneck pace, restrained use of touch screen functionality and a 2D perspective for the majority of the game. With any luck, Sonic Rush Adventure won't deviate too much. Though there are pirates this time. From the early look of things, Sonic gets an array of vehicles to maneuver through enemy waters, presumably as a replacement to the classic running-down-a-tube special stages. The press release also makes special mention of 3-D boss battles (which worked surprisingly well before) and "the evil boss character, Captain Whisker." You're probably supposed to take him seriously. Sonic Rush Adventure is developed by Sega Studios and is scheduled for a Fall 2007 release on Nintendo DS. It will support multiplayer racing and mission-based battles over Nintendo Wi-Fi. [Geeky note: The return of Sonic Rush and Jet Set Radio composer, Hideki Naganuma, is unconfirmed at this point.] %Gallery-2606%
Sonic Rush Adventure screenshots & details speed onto the scene
That collective sigh of relief you just heard was the internet finding out that Sonic Rush Adventure won't be a 3D-dominated title. The Sonic Rush sequel will for the most part follow the swift footsteps of its acclaimed predecessor, shooting the blue hedgehog through 2D landscapes that span across both of the DS' screens. There will be 3D segments where Sonic pilots submarines, hovercrafts, and other ships while in pursuit of the game's pirate villains, but we're hoping that these stylus-based portions will be similar to Lunar Knights' space combat, adding a dash of extra flavor to the standard gameplay. Like the original game, each level will also end with massive, 3D bosses. Sega has announced that in addition to supporting Download Play features, Sonic Rush Adventure will also have some Nintendo WiFi Connection functionality. We're not sure yet if this means online leaderboards, versus mode racing, or downloadable content, but we'll keep you updated on their plans. Jog past the post break for the first screenshots of Sonic Rush Adventure.
Sega planning 3D Sonic Rush?
Sega recently filed a trademark on April 2nd for "Sonic Rush Adventure," setting the internet on fire with speculation that a 3D entry in the franchise could be hitting the DS. Personally, we'd be happy with just a plain old sequel to Sonic Rush, which is really the best Sonic game we played since, well ... the original Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast. For those of you who haven't played Sonic Rush, we first ask: why not? It's certainly priced right and we highly suggest you check it out. Second, we ask: would you want to see a 3D Sonic title on the DS? Would you want it controlled exclusively via the stylus, like the upcoming Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword or would you want to control Sonic and company with the d-pad? [Via Sega Nerds]
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams confirmed for Wii this winter
Yes. According to Famitsu, Sonic Team USA will have its sequel to legendary Saturn title NiGHTS ready for a Wii release this winter. NiGHTS 2 will now be known as NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (although that name isn't confirmed for the Japanese market). Famitsu explains that the main attraction of Journey of Dreams is how it provides gameplay with the Wii Remote, where you can glide, drift, ascend, and loop-the-loop without even thinking about the controls. Takashi Izuka of Sonic Team USA is Producer of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. He leaves Famitsu, and the rest of the weeping-with-tears-of-joy world, with this comment: "In 1996, we created the NiGHTS character to achieve a concept of 'being refreshed from being able to fly in the sky'. 11 years later, at last, we have broken our silence. NiGHTS will now fly in a new dream world: new stages, new story, and on the new Wii platform. Please look forward to NiGHTS and friends exploring this brand new adventure." Yes.
NiGHTS Wii screens, interview found in Portuguese game mag
French gaming site Jeux France has what it claims is the first images of the new NiGHTS title for Wii, from magazine scans of Portuguese magazine Maxi Consola. (We're so multicultural.) So far, NiGHTS has been an extremely persistent rumor; this is the either the first concrete evidence of the title's existence or the cleverest Photoshop effort to date.The magazine scans feature an interview with Takashi Iizuka (here written Takeshi), a Sega developer who's had a hand or two in every Sonic game since 1994 as well as the original NiGHTS Into Dreams. Our Portuguese is a bit pathetic, but Play Nintendo has translated the interview. The game is purported to have a two player mode and some online capabilities. Jeux France purports that Sega will make an announcement early April.
Yuji Naka not involved in any new NiGHTS game
As dubious as we find this NiGHTS rumor, the community love for the game has kept it alive and kept gamers hopeful. However, the one man who could truly make a high quality NiGHTS game has no intentions of returning to the franchise.Speaking to CVG, Yuji Naka, the former leader of Sega's Sonic Team, has stated quite bluntly that "at present, I have no intentions" of revisiting any of his old Sega franchises, which includes Sonic and NiGHTS. Granted, Sega could make a new NiGHTS title without Naka, who left the company in May 2006 to form his own studio Prope. But the quality of Sonic Team's work has been questionable at best since his departure.If all these rumors lead to a NiGHTS virtual console release, then consider us excited. However, if Sega looks to add another entry in the series, then we hope the hype wears down (not likely) or that Sega gives this to a new studio. Considering recent releases, we're not sure a NiGHTS game from the Sonic Team will be capable of living up to the fanbase's high expectations.
Sonic Boss Attack mode on Marketplace
Sonic the Hedgehog has a a few pieces of new content available on Xbox Live Marketplace. If you enjoyed the boss battles found in the game with, you might be interested in this. You can download, for 150 MS points each, "Boss Attack"s for each of the game's lead hedgehogs. Apparently, if you've completed Sonic, Shadow, or Silver's respective episode, you can use this content for what seems to be a game mode akin to Heavy Weapon's Boss Blitz, but for individual characters. Do you play the game, and would you pick this up if you do?
New PSU: Ambition of Illuminus details
PSO World reports that a recent issue of Famitsu confirms new details regarding the expansion to Phantasy Star Universe. Entitled Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of Illuminus, the game is set to expand upon the original in many ways. First and foremost, several new weapon types have been revealed, including photon whips. The expansion will also include new weapons from familiar categories (many will be familiar to PSO fans) as well as new Photon Arts and SUV attacks. The game is set to feature new levels, enemies, clothing, and even a casino. Whether or not Ambition of Illuminus will have a single player story mode has yet to be determined. No other new details have been discovered at this time.Anyone out there play Phantasy Star Universe? Is it time for an expansion?[Via TeamXbox]
Sonic and the Spoiled Ending
Well, that didn't take long. Two days after the US release date of Sonic and the Secret Rings, a Sonic fan has made it to the end of the rails and posted a video of the ending on YouTube. We're sure it totally makes sense in context, but we have yet to jump into Sega's latest mascot platformer.Great news for people who only play Sonic games for the stories: we just saved you $50. It's about time Sonic fans had some good news, right? Of course, this is terrible for weaker-willed fans trying to avoid the rushing tide of SPOILARRRS.We dare you to watch the video after the break.[Via Insert Credit]
Would more people buy a PS3 if it were called Vaio-3?
This is kind of in the same vein as the speculation of a PlayStation 3 price cut. By the same vein, we mean they're both speculation. The boss of Sonic Team, behind Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Nintendo Wii, Yogiro Ogawa, claimed that the PS3 is very expensive. Yes, we know... the price argument. Again. Forever. But that's not what the subject line of this post claims is most interesting.Ogawa was asked if the potential and overall abilities of the PS3 as a whole were worth the price. He replied: "Now I think that if Sony had sold the PS3 alongside the Vaio brand, maybe like calling it the 'Vaio PS3' or something like that, it may have been more appealing to the right people. I think that the way in which Sony has chosen to approach the PS3 could have been better. It's very expensive." We suppose that could be true... (as I glance at my aging Vaio laptop) but it's a pretty big departure from the Vaio computer line. First off, there's no standard monitor. You need those. Computers don't need TV's. Well, you guys can make your own arguments here! What do you think? Vaio-3 or PlayStation 3?
Fast hedgehog, slow loading
Like rusty scaffolding glimpsed behind a tarp flapping in the wind, the numerous technical issues in Sonic the Hedgehog are a reminder of the blatantly unfinished work that permeates the platformer. Consider this video a "Men at Work" sign, warning you of loading times that pile up so high, the slightest wobble will send them crashing down on you. It's uncertain as to which possibility is more offensive -- that Sega could release this game convinced it was finished, or that they could release it knowing it wasn't. [Thanks Mark!]
