Sonic rushes his way onto the Nintendo DS
In many ways, the game-play remains the same as it was in past games. Sonic runs, spins, and jumps his way through a variety of differently-themed levels. However, there is now even more emphasis placed on the speed aspect; Sonic now bursts through the levels faster than ever. In fact, he is already running when a stage first begins.
While much of the game-play retains the elements of past games, Sonic does have a few new moves in his arsenal . The most notable is the speed dash, which gives Sonic a huge speed boost and surrounds him with what appears to be a blue flame. Using the move at the right time allows players to clear larger gaps and damage any enemies that happen to be in the way. While in the air, pressing buttons will make sonic perform aerial tricks, which helps to recharge his "dash" ability.
Another new feature worth mentioning is that the levels use both screens. When Sonic hit's a ramp or loop, he can run from the lower screen up onto the upper one. Likewise, he will land in the lower one if he falls off the upper one. This also adds a strategic element to the game. For example, while in the upper screen, the player can check the lower screen to see if there is a deadly pit below. While in the lower screen, players can look at the upper one to know about approaching aerial enemies.
The bonus game in Sonic Rush pays tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which was for the Sega genesis. Anyone who played it will instantly recognize the half pipe level that requires Sonic to run straight forward and collect a set amount of rings. Unfortunately, Sonic Rush now requires players to use the touch screen to navigate Sonic to the rings and away from obstacles. The mini-game would have been more fun without having to use the stylus at all; it's clear to see that Sega just tacked-on a use for the touch screen.
The graphics are in 2D, but they're some of slickest pixels yet seen on the DS. Sonic animates very well and his movements have a fluid-like quality to them. They truly take advantage of the DS' graphical power; the Game Boy Advance was never capable of producing such sharp visuals.
Whenever Sonic encounters Dr. Robotnic, the boss battles are done in 3D. Like the side-scrolling scenes, the 3D boss battles are very well animated. The graphics remain smooth and there isn't the slightest hint of any slowdown. Each boss battle is unique and requires a different strategy to win. Learning to dodge each bosses attacks and exploit their weaknesses gives the game a more rewarding feel.
The music in Sonic Rush is just as fast-paced as the game itself. Each level's music has distorted voice clips and a very peppy feel. The music effectively keeps the player awake and gives each level a more exciting feel. Sega did an excellent job of matching each level with a piece of music; they blend together in such a way that whoever is playing will become more immersed in Sonic's little world.
Sonic Rush takes the best elements of old-school Sonic games and pumps them up with a large graphical boost and few new moves. Veteran gamers will be pleased to see how the game remains true to the original and newcomers will have an excellent first experience with the series. This is Sonic's best hand-held game to date.