Sonic Heroes (GameCube)

Sonic Heroes is basically the action segments from Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 stripped of all the insanely dull pseudo RPG elements but unfortunately still containing far too much storyline and the largest and least interesting host of secondary characters ever seen in gaming. Sonic Heroes also inherits many of the older titles' camera and control problems, although here they are now occasional rather than constant irritations.

All this may seem as if it's painting a rather poor picture of the game, but despite all its problems Sonic Heroes is actually a lot of fun. Its main gimmick is that you actually control three characters at a time, with each one having a special ability of either speed, flight or the ability to smash through blocks. Thankfully this doesn't overcomplicate the controls and instead adds a modicum of depth to the otherwise non-stop running-'n'-jumping action.

You still occasionally get the feeling that the game is trying too hard to fit a round peg in a square hole, but on balance more of it works than doesn't, and it's certainly the best Sonic title since the Mega Drive era. --David Jenkins

Overall impression - 3 out of 5.


Sonic on top form   October 3, 2004
Mr. R. W. Woodward (UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I have to say I am writing this review after just having completed Sonic Heros. I spent the best part of two days playing it and I am pleased to say that Sonic is truely back on form. As for the reviews that say it's too hard I can only assume they haven't played it outside of a shop, as I am (by my own admission) a pretty average player and I found it just about hard enough to keep me interested without becoming frustrating. Any easier and it would be boring and too short. The comments about camera angles puzzle me as you can rotate the camera using the shoulder buttons and I have not found it an issue at all. Graphics are sharp and gloriously colourful! Overall, I have to say I haven't had so much fun with a console in ages (apart from Burnout 3)! If you like platform games, buy this.


Sonic Team have done it again!   September 4, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

When I first heard about Sonic Heroes, I thought that the idea of controlling 3 characters at once seemed good, but I wondered how it would play. Thankfully, it is a great game from the great Sonic Team, and still proves that after 13 years, Sonic still has what it takes.

Being a Sonic fan since the beginning, I have witnessed Sonic in some great games (Sonic 2, Sonic Adventure), and some not so great (Sonic 3D, Sonic Spinball). So how they actually manage to have you controlling 3 characters at once is great. Each character is controlled based on their skills. Sonic for speed, Tails for flying, and Knuckles for strength. Of course, Sonic is still good for fighting too, since he still has his homing attack from the Adventure games.

There are 4 teams to choose from. Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix (whose levels are based around detective missions). Team Sonic are medium difficulty, Dark hard, and Rose easy. The most rewarding team to start off with first is Team Sonic. Don't forget the Chaos Emeralds. Collecting all 7 unlocks the final level. Of course, its not easy to get them all, but once you do, you will be really glad. Its really worth the wait.

But the gameplay is excellent. Its a really good sight when you are zooming down a hill, and two Whales arch over Sonic. Or how about the running up those walls and upside down. Oh yes, there's plenty of that to be done here.

The graphics are brilliant. There really is nothing more to it. They are no glitches, or slow frame rate. There are times when there are about 16 ememies on screen, and the grapics stay the same. The characters look better than they have ever been.

The camera, often the main criticism of Sonic games, is actually good this time. Like on the Adventure games, the camera sometimes got stuck behind a wall while you unexpectedly ran off a cliff. This time it follows you wherever you go. Its not close up on the characters either, so you can see if someone is coming up behind you.

Overall, I give this game a 5. This is one Sonic game that definatly lives up to the hype, and I would reccomend anyone to buy this game. You will not be dissapointed.


Sonic Heroes   August 31, 2004
Martin
2 out of 5 found this review helpful

Sonic Heroes is a fun game to play, hard but fun. Having 4 teams to play with is better than the 2D one. You can control four teams, once you have completed it theres the chaos emeralds if you do the difficult task in finding them all you can unlock meatal sonic and hiper shadow hyper.

Graphic wize its pritty good but some times the camera can get messed up. Theres various cheack points around the level, but it can get annoying when u die and have not reached a check point and still it does not contain the fun and feeling of the 2D sonic the hedgehog game.

Over all this game is fun to play and you might need to know a bit about sonic to understand whats happening or you could just pick up and play and never mind the story line.;)