*This review is based entirely on the Wii U* Sonic Boom has roared onto the Wii U and 3DS for this fall complete with a TV Series to tie in. While the TV series proves to be entertaining Sonic Boom on the Wii U proves to be an overall frustrating Sonic game in the latest of a long string of flops for the ever struggling franchise.
"Rise of Lyric" is the first produced effort by newcomer Big Red Button founded by veteran game makers from the studio Naughty Dog. As their first run out the gate is a near marginal failure.
In Sega's attempt to spin off Sonic in a separate direction we're treated to a sling of character redesigns from Yuji Uekawa's character designs from the earlier 3D titles. These new designs aren't bad so much as how they are used in the game. The game's graphics are pretty primitive for a next gen console, while the Wii U is given flak for being comparably underpowered compared to PS4 or Xbox it shouldn't matter as Sonic Team has proved before you can push a marginally underpowered console to full potential we saw this in the Sonic Storybook games for the Nintendo Wii before it.
The game suffers from terrible lag and constant frame rate issues. Even though Sonic Generations had frame rate issues too they suddenly don't look half as bad compared to Rise of Lyric. This is especially frustrating when you are surrounded by a host of enemies or on a long stretch of running.
Speaking of running, Sonic does very little of running in this game, as mostly he moves at a very leisurely jog. Speed sections are limited to long stretches of track that don't offer anything interesting except the occasional side path. Speed sections are few and far between as most of the time you'll be exploring the over sized hub worlds. This Sonic game tries to incorporate elements of modern platformers not typically seen in a Sonic game with a large hub world and side quests These large worlds are horribly confusing due to the bland design of them and the lack of any kind of map, quest system or just simple hint bubbles. When given an objective by an NPC it's your job to eventually find where you need to go.
The stages themselves are incredibly platform heavy but most of the time I can't tell whether I'm in a stage or just another hub area because the transitions are so choppy and there are no title cards indicating you are in a stage. No creative names like Speed Highway or City Escape before it, you're just suddenly in a new area with no explanation.
The platforming sections aren't terrible, after all Sonic was born as a platforming and speed oriented game and I've actually missed some of the platforming aspects in recent games, however like games since Sonic Unleashed most of the stage platforming is a 2.5D perspective instead of a full 3D experience.
Rise of Lyric does have a nifty aspect of rotating you through the roster of characters, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy in a similar style to Sonic Heroes before it. This is an aspect I did find enjoyable for the most part. The AI can be really stupid at times the as they won't help you in combat but stand around like an idiot. There's also a shoehorned in vehicle section where you float on a river in a hovercraft. Guess they missed the memo that nobody liked the vehicles in Shadow the Hedgehog or Sonic the Hedgehog 2006.
The story isn't really much, it's a retread of the Monster of the Week scenario but there is surprisingly no effort into developing this whole new universe BRB is trying to establish. Perhaps they want you to watch the TV series but the series episodes are only 11 minutes long so don't count on development there. Perhaps they want you to read the tie in comics by Archie instead. Though Sonic has never been the best with storytelling anyway so it's not a big deal. I gotta say I do like the overly cheesy jokes and snarky charm of Sonic. It takes me back to my childhood days of watching Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog which was filled with those quips. Shadow the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic appear in this game but I think they were added as afterthoughts as they appear once and disappear for the rest of the game and their designs aren't terribly different either.
The music is perhaps the worst in this game. Sonic has always had great music but Richard Jacques writes music that might befit a Sonic movie but is forgettable in a video game. No rock or rap tunes to be found just a cinematic sweeping orchestral score that's not very good anyway.
I've compared Sonic Boom to a lot of previous games because well that's what it does, it rehashes a lot of old ideas from older games only badly. 2.5D platforming and combat styles from Sonic Unleashed, rail track running in the Sonic Storybook games, the team-up mechanic seen in Sonic Heroes and random vehicles from Shadow and Sonic '06. This game is not nearly as bad as the botched Sonic '06 but it shows Sega needs to stop trying to reinvent the wheel and make a decent game in the vein of the classics or the Adventure games. This game is not worth the $50 I paid for it and I don't have any confidence in the 3DS game either.
"Rise of Lyric" is the first produced effort by newcomer Big Red Button founded by veteran game makers from the studio Naughty Dog. As their first run out the gate is a near marginal failure.
In Sega's attempt to spin off Sonic in a separate direction we're treated to a sling of character redesigns from Yuji Uekawa's character designs from the earlier 3D titles. These new designs aren't bad so much as how they are used in the game. The game's graphics are pretty primitive for a next gen console, while the Wii U is given flak for being comparably underpowered compared to PS4 or Xbox it shouldn't matter as Sonic Team has proved before you can push a marginally underpowered console to full potential we saw this in the Sonic Storybook games for the Nintendo Wii before it.
The game suffers from terrible lag and constant frame rate issues. Even though Sonic Generations had frame rate issues too they suddenly don't look half as bad compared to Rise of Lyric. This is especially frustrating when you are surrounded by a host of enemies or on a long stretch of running.
Speaking of running, Sonic does very little of running in this game, as mostly he moves at a very leisurely jog. Speed sections are limited to long stretches of track that don't offer anything interesting except the occasional side path. Speed sections are few and far between as most of the time you'll be exploring the over sized hub worlds. This Sonic game tries to incorporate elements of modern platformers not typically seen in a Sonic game with a large hub world and side quests These large worlds are horribly confusing due to the bland design of them and the lack of any kind of map, quest system or just simple hint bubbles. When given an objective by an NPC it's your job to eventually find where you need to go.
The stages themselves are incredibly platform heavy but most of the time I can't tell whether I'm in a stage or just another hub area because the transitions are so choppy and there are no title cards indicating you are in a stage. No creative names like Speed Highway or City Escape before it, you're just suddenly in a new area with no explanation.
The platforming sections aren't terrible, after all Sonic was born as a platforming and speed oriented game and I've actually missed some of the platforming aspects in recent games, however like games since Sonic Unleashed most of the stage platforming is a 2.5D perspective instead of a full 3D experience.
Rise of Lyric does have a nifty aspect of rotating you through the roster of characters, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy in a similar style to Sonic Heroes before it. This is an aspect I did find enjoyable for the most part. The AI can be really stupid at times the as they won't help you in combat but stand around like an idiot. There's also a shoehorned in vehicle section where you float on a river in a hovercraft. Guess they missed the memo that nobody liked the vehicles in Shadow the Hedgehog or Sonic the Hedgehog 2006.
The story isn't really much, it's a retread of the Monster of the Week scenario but there is surprisingly no effort into developing this whole new universe BRB is trying to establish. Perhaps they want you to watch the TV series but the series episodes are only 11 minutes long so don't count on development there. Perhaps they want you to read the tie in comics by Archie instead. Though Sonic has never been the best with storytelling anyway so it's not a big deal. I gotta say I do like the overly cheesy jokes and snarky charm of Sonic. It takes me back to my childhood days of watching Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog which was filled with those quips. Shadow the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic appear in this game but I think they were added as afterthoughts as they appear once and disappear for the rest of the game and their designs aren't terribly different either.
The music is perhaps the worst in this game. Sonic has always had great music but Richard Jacques writes music that might befit a Sonic movie but is forgettable in a video game. No rock or rap tunes to be found just a cinematic sweeping orchestral score that's not very good anyway.
I've compared Sonic Boom to a lot of previous games because well that's what it does, it rehashes a lot of old ideas from older games only badly. 2.5D platforming and combat styles from Sonic Unleashed, rail track running in the Sonic Storybook games, the team-up mechanic seen in Sonic Heroes and random vehicles from Shadow and Sonic '06. This game is not nearly as bad as the botched Sonic '06 but it shows Sega needs to stop trying to reinvent the wheel and make a decent game in the vein of the classics or the Adventure games. This game is not worth the $50 I paid for it and I don't have any confidence in the 3DS game either.
