The Observer, March 9, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 20
Sonic's still stumbling in Secret Rings
Sonic and the Secret Rings was going to be the game that would turn Sega's franchise around. It's almost common knowledge in the gaming community that the blue hedgehog's "next-gen" adventures have been behind the times, but this Wii sequel seemed to be heading in the right direction. Shadow, Tails, and all of Sonic's other furry sidekicks were no longer sharing the spotlight. Secret Rings would emphasize speed above all else, a necessity for a series once famous for "blast processing." Best of all, the on-rails progression would capture the feel of the simple 2D classics that put the Genesis on the map. Sadly, Secret Rings has not fulfilled its potential. Though the game has its moments, this supposed revival is plagued with questionable design decisions and frustrating missions.
The controls are the most infuriating aspect of Secret Rings, but not because of the motion-based turning and homing attacks. Any movements handled by the Wii remote register well. However, jumping feels completely unresponsive at times. In previous Sonic games (even the awful ones), he could jump instantly with a single press of a button. This time though, the developers decided to require players to hold down the jump button to charge, à la Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. At breakneck speeds, this just doesn't work. Another issue arises when you take into account the linear level design. Rather than offering multiple paths (again, a staple of the classic games), if you miss a platform, you'll need to back up. This process is very clumsy, as the camera just cannot keep up. Though some early Wii games have unwisely shoehorned motion controls when a traditional analog stick would have sufficed, Secret Rings just doesn't use the remote enough.
Once you adjust to the awkward controls, Secret Rings becomes much less frustrating. This time around, Sonic can "level up" by gaining experience in each level. What initially seems like a gimmick eventually lends Secret Rings its depth. Upgrades for Sonic include smoother turning, extra rings, and of course faster top speeds. The mission structure is less welcome. After completing a world, you'll be forced to play through it again under special conditions before you can proceed. Collecting one hundred rings or destroying a few dozen enemies is not unreasonable, but some of the later races against a computer-controlled spirit require complete memorization and even a degree of luck. None of these missions are as enjoyable as the initial run through each world, and I found myself wishing for more main settings rather than this unnecessary padding.
Secret Rings may have some gameplay issues, but it's no slouch when it comes to graphics. This is easily the best looking game I've seen so far on the Wii. It helps that the Arabian Nights theme is consistent throughout, as all of the settings feel as if they're in the same world. Even the cut-scenes look nice, since they are done with a storybook style rather than unnecessary CG. The music on the other hand is atrocious. The main theme that plays over every single menu is ridiculously cheesy; it may warrant a few chuckles, but anyone with fond memories of the 16-bit soundtracks will be brought to tears.
I feel obligated to mention the multiplayer mode, but it was clearly an afterthought. This Mario Party style competition is not worth your attention, especially considering that the Wii will soon have its own official Mario Party sequel (for better or worse).
Despite my numerous complaints, I still had a fun time with Sonic and the Secret Rings. The controls and level design are sloppy, but building up momentum and cruising down hallways will always be exhilarating. Even so, I couldn't help but wish that this sequel was a traditional side-scroller the entire time I was playing. Secret Rings is considerably better than the train wreck 360/PS3 game, but this still isn't the same Sonic we fondly remembered from Sega's glory days.
