Why am I reviewing a game that’s been out for a while now? Because it gets an undeserved bad rap from pretty much every other reviewer, and I think it’s time the other side was presented.

Despite its terrible reviews, this game was the driving force in my decision to get an Xbox 360, and I do not regret it. This game has its flaws, but it is still a worthy successor and the first real sequel to the Dreamcast classic, Sonic Adventure 2. Graphically, while the game is not breathtaking outside of cutscenes, it shows a clear improvement from previous generations. The in-game graphics are only slightly better than Wii’s Sonic and the Secret Rings, and while that’s very good, the 360 and PS3 can do better. Still, it’s great to see Sonic’s quills (he calls them that, and not “hair”, in a cutscene in Secret Rings) actually flying up in the wind; the characters even have teeth now! The non-engine cutscenes are a whole different ball game; they look absolutely breathtaking.

Gameplay for Sonic is classic Sonic platforming as you remember it from SA2, with Shadow and Silver having their own additions. Shadow ditches the spin attack for a multi-strike homing attack, and while he’s gotten rid of guns, he still drives the occasional armed vehicle. Silver is very different; he attacks solely through admittedly clumsy psychokinesis. Silver’s attack method is hard to get precise, but it’s a good way to make classic platforming fresh. The controls could be tighter; it takes a while to avoid falling off ledges because of the uber-sensitive turning. Still, for the most part, the controls fit the fast-paced action.

And fast-paced the action is. The beautiful levels streak by, especially in Sonic’s super-speed segments. Occasionally, players will switch to one of six “amigo” characters, two for each main character: Tails and Knuckles for Sonic, Rouge and Omega for Shadow, and Amy and Blaze for Silver. I have yet to finish the game, so I haven’t yet played as Omega or Amy, but I can comment on the others. Knuckles and Blaze are more combat-based than movement-based, so their attacks can sometimes carry you over the edge of the stage, but they’re a blast to control. Tails and Rouge are not so great; they’re pretty slow, and they attack by way of clumsy bombs (in Tails’ case, Dummy Ring Bombs that will trick you into thinking you’ve lost your rings the first few times). Tails and, if I’m not mistaken, Blaze and Omega actually have levels of their own in the game.

The levels are large and varied. The size is both helpful, because it makes the game last longer, and harmful, because it means the finicky controls can net you a Game Over before you finish.

Overall, while the game has some mechanical and other minor problems, it’s a solid entry to the Sonic franchise and a truly engrossing game. I give it a 4 out of 5.