Wii

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Erazor Djinn will die Geschichten eines Märchenbuchs auslöschen. Sonic reist kurzerhand in die Märchenwelt, um den bösen Geist zu stoppen. Der blaue Igel flitzt selbstständig durch die Levels. Als Spieler müssen Sie nur im richtigen Moment seine Geschwindigkeit bremsen, springen oder angreifen, um möglichst viele Ringe zu sammeln, Gegner zu besiegen oder Rätsel zu lösen. Die Bedienung mit dem Wii-Controller funktioniert gut, nur der Rückwärtsgang macht Probleme. Die Optik und Sound zaubern eine märchenhafte Atmospähre.

Sonic hat mich positiv überrascht! Im Gegensatz zu den Versionen für andere Konsolen hat Sega bei der Wii-Fassung wieder einen kleinen Schritt in Richtung des klassischen 2D-Game-plays gemacht. Obwohl manche Aufgaben hammerhart sind, will man sie trotzdem lösen.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is a return to form for a hedgehog that’s been trying to find his identity for over half a decade now. Note that it may not be the return that everyone was ideally thinking of. It has points where you must grind for levels much like an RPG. It’s also not for people with short attention spans, and its difficulty at times (just a touch below Sonic Riders’s learning curve—you’ll have to practice stages over and over to get them right) makes it not for people who give up at challenging games easily (poor folks). Still, none of these points makes this entry any less valid. This is the best Sonic game since Sonic Adventure, and for once, I can applaud Sonic Team for placing Sonic back on the right track.

As you may have gathered, Sonic's newest outing is an extremely hit-and-miss game. On the one hand, it's a lot of fun. It's a horrible term to use due to how vague it is, but that's the feeling that you'll mostly experience while playing it. Sonic's speed and pace are spot on, each of the environments are varied and exciting, the platforming is excellent and it stays true to what makes Sonic, Sonic. On the other side of the fence though, it pulls little punches and asks a lot of your gaming skills. Like we've mentioned, there are means to resolve this and the difficulty is never unfair, but if you're intent on seeing the end credits you'll need to spend some time learning the locations of every nook and cranny; definitely not something that has universal appeal. Regardless, this is the best Sonic adventure in a very long time, and one that's well worthy to carry the hedgehog's name - and about time too.

"Sonic and the Secret Rings" dá ao personagem uma nova chance para recuperar o status de ícone que tinha nos anos 90. As mudanças radicais na mecânica de jogo que se mantia intacta desde a chegada da série ao universo 3D, mostram que, finalmente, a Sonic Team aprendeu com seus erros.

In Sonic und die geheimen Ringe macht der blaue Igel eine unerwartet gute Figur: Abwechslungsreiches Leveldesign, tolles Geschwindigkeitsgefühl sowie eine schnell in Fleisch und Blut übergehende Handhabung sorgen für kurzweilige Jump'n'Run-Action vor traumhafter Orientkulisse. Allerdings hält das virtuelle Tausend und eine Nacht-Abenteuer auch einige Frustmomente parat: Steuerung und Kamera zicken gelegentlich und um die zahlreichen Aufgaben zu erfüllen, zahlt ihr jede Menge Trial&Error-Lehrgeld. Wer sich davon nicht abschrecken lässt, wird jedoch gut unterhalten, auch wenn die im Comic-Stil erzählte Story keinen Blumentopf gewinnt und einem die Soundkulisse mit ihren unpassenden Rockklängen ziemlich auf die Nerven gehen kann. Dafür gibt es neben etlichen freispielbaren Fertigkeiten und Extras auch noch einen ziemlich spaßigen Mehrspielermodus, bei dem euch in verschiedenen Wettbewerben im Stil von Mario Party & Co. über drei Dutzend Minispiele erwarten.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is a very bold step in the right direction, and we're delighted to see it happen. It's not perfect by any means; it still carries through some of the flaws that have afflicted Sonic for years, such as leap-of-faith jumps and sections which can only be completed by learning the track through trial and error. The presentation also needs work in some areas, and the multiplayer mini-games are frankly crap. However, this is a game about Going Fast and Jumping, and, at last, its designers have realised that that's exactly what we want to do with Sonic. The Going Fast is brilliant, the Jumping is fantastic, and we have big smiles on our faces. Sonic is back.

There are 40 mini-games to unlock as well - of the type which admittedly aren't in short supply on Wii, but are good all the same (naturally, not all of them are brilliant). It's like getting a Sonic game - and a good Sonic game at that - with a better Rayman: Raving Rabbids attatched. So well done, Sonic - we knew we'd see you in another decent game if we just waited long enough.

A return to form for the long running - pun most certainly intended - series? You’re damn right it is.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is a super-fast, super-looking Wii game that really shows off the power of the machine. If you can get used to the trial and error aspect of the single-player mode, it’s a game that won’t fail to impress.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is the finest 3D Sonic game to date, and for many, that is reason enough to warrant a purchase. The game goes some way in erasing the memory of last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog, and points to a brighter future for SEGA’s beloved mascot. Unfortunately, it is also a game hampered by ear bleeding music, a terrible camera and an unrefined control system. A sequel could potentially iron out these flaws and return Sonic to his mid-90s popularity. Yet, in the mean time, Sonic and the Secret Rings will serve us just fine.

These issues aside – we’ll gloss over the appallingly incongruous angst-rock soundtrack and half-hearted multiplayer party game mode, largely out of generosity – there’s no doubt that SEGA’s almost nailed it with Sonic and the Secret Rings. By taking the hedgehog back to his routes – with emphasis now firmly on speed and skill, as it should have been all along - Secret Rings is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable Sonic titles to grace consoles since sprites were the height of fashion. Despite some frustrating flaws, rearing their heads a little too often, Wii owners are in for a fast, fun treat. Here's hoping SEGA's taking notes for Sonic's inevitable next outing.

Whether you remember the glory days of Sega's mascot or are just looking for a new Wii game to bring home, Sonic and the Secret Rings is a solid choice. The gameplay is simple but challenging, and there's something incredibly satisfying about running really, really fast. The minigames aren't anything special, but together with the single-player game, they round out the package nicely. If you're looking for a game that provides a lot of thrills and enough depth to sustain them, you can't go wrong with Sonic and the Secret Rings.

The game's plodding storyline involves a talkative female genie, and the cut-scenes (rendered using still images) are as boring as they are pointless. They'd probably cost the game a letter grade if you couldn't skip them! The music is a mixed bag. Some of the repetitive pop-rock is hard to take, but the soundtrack does cover a wide range of styles. Sonic and the Secret Rings has its share of minor issues, but its innovative gameplay and attractive visuals make them easy to overlook.

Although Sega deserves praise for Secret Rings' innovative single-player adventure, the less said about the four-player party mode, the better. It's another low-budget Mario Party rip-off that stretches out a few weak gameplay concepts into multiple multiplayer contests. Seriously, the haphazard canoeing mechanic barely works -- why make four different variations of it? A few bright spots (a clever violin-playing contest, catching fruit on skewers) don't make up for the poorly executed whole. Stick with the main game -- you can surely do multiplayer Wii-waggling better elsewhere.

One word of warning though: the game is tough, and not in a good way. You better tighten up that Wii Remote strap because you will feel the urge to throw the controller through the television, especially early in the game, before Sonic gets a lot of his abilities. But once you get Sonic up to speed, the game is fun, but still really challenging. It will test your patience faster than a misbehaving toddler, but once you get used to the controls, the customization and the challenges, you'll be glad you gave this game a chance.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is not without flaws, but it stands as the best Sonic in a good long while, and effectively brings Sonic back to his high-speed days of yore. Sonic fans should give this one a look, as it is possibly the best 3D Sonic ever.

Sonic findet zurück zu alter Stärke. Ergebnis: frische Steuerungs-Ideen, knifflige Spielabschnitte und bis auf seltene Ausnahmen ein gut kontrollierbarer Held. Es erwartet Sie ein packender Einzelspieler-Modus, der grafisch schick in Szene gesetzt wurde. Die über 15 Mehrspieler-Modi runden den Gesamteindruck "gut" ab.

Als wahrer Geschwindigkeitssüchtiger ignoriert man sowieso alle anderen Optionen. Zu sehr freut man sich erstmal über das Kernspiel, denn endlich konzentrieren sich Team Sonic wieder auf die Formel „Sonic = Speed“. Durch diesen Rückgriff auf die Anfänge der Reihe zeigt sich der rasende Stachelhäuter unterhaltsam, was man schon lange nicht mehr von ihm behaupten konnte. Besonders auf dem Wii könnte sich die Reihe aus der Talsohle retten und dem Igel ein neues Heim geben, dafür sollten sich die Japaner allerdings noch etwas mehr der Wiimote widmen und vor allem unnötigen Balast wie Story oder Mini-Spiele über Bord schmeißen. Sonic und die Geheimen Ringe macht auf der kurzen Distanz jedenfalls Laune – auf der Langstrecke geht ihm aber die Puste aus. Aber das ist ja nur ein Frage des Konditionstrainings ...

If you were around for them, think of the early days of the blue hedgehog's platforming. If you weren't there, indulge me a bit. Back then, you'd rocket through a stage at full tilt, and then watch as Sonic went running on his own through a spiral – relate that to your controlling him through a pathway in Secret Rings before he blasts up a wall on his own. Moments like that represent Sonic doing what he does best, and they should suffice for old and new fans alike. You just have to give him time to get up to speed, first.

The good news is that Sonic Rings is not only fun but one of the best looking games on the Wii thus far; the bad news is that the game would be a whole lot better if it were designed for that beautiful Wii control pad that we all use to control the classics. While the steering sensitivity is perhaps the best it’s ever been for a Sonic Team game, the jumping in Rings is, to say the least, peculiar. If you can live with jerking the Wii remote forward to attack and come to grips with the jumping apparatus and awkward chase sections, Sonic Rings shines otherwise as a return to what made Sonic a hit in the first place: fast, simple action-gameplay at high speeds. Non-linearity is where Sonic Team has always shined. By game’s end you’ll be happy you came—Rings is filled with momentous bosses and plenty of magic moments—but if you’re like me you’ll be wishing that it was bound to a controller, which would have made Rings like controlling one of the Genesis greats in 3D.

Because of their speedy nature, Sonic games really necessitate fresh surroundings, and especially in an on-rails game, different locales help to give the feeling that you’re actually progressing. Unfortunately, because of that these forced challenge levels work against the game, and that’s a shame, because otherwise Sonic and the Secret Rings may have very well been that comeback game Sonic has desperately needed. As it is, this game is a step in the right direction for the series, but there are too many problems to recommend the title whole-heartedly.

If you were around for them, think of the early days of the blue hedgehog's platforming. If you weren't there, indulge me a bit. Back then, you'd rocket through a stage at full tilt, and then watch as Sonic went running on his own through a spiral – relate that to your controlling him through a pathway in Secret Rings before he blasts up a wall on his own. Moments like that represent Sonic doing what he does best, and they should suffice for old and new fans alike. You just have to give him time to get up to speed, first.

Sonic and the Secret Rings isn't perfect, but after Shadow, Sonic Riders, and the next-gen game crushed our spirits, our Sonic expectations were lowered. Thankfully, Secret Rings gives us the brand of Sonic action we remember and love, with a modern twist. Using the Wii remote just feels natural, too, and although it's not a monumental success, this is a Sonic console game you can feel proud to own. It's been a while since we could make that statement.

Sonic still isn’t quite up to grade with his peers, but at least he’s managed to get around the harsh reprimands of his critics (mostly). Sonic and the Secret Rings is a great addition to one’s Wii library. I’d hope that in the future, SEGA and Sonic Team work on improving this formula rather than that used in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 Sonic the Hedgehog title. Sonic on Wii is much more entertaining, accessible, and most of all, fun.

I want to take moment to specifically explain the score. For me, Sonic and the Secret Rings offers moments of greatness where I find myself caught up in the intensity of the experience and, oppositely, moments where I want to pull my hair out or throw the Wii remote down because of imprecise control or insulting design choices. I think that some gamers, particularly diehard Sonic fans, will be able to get past these drawbacks and enjoy the great times, which are also in supply. However, for me it's really pretty simple. Call me harsh, but I don't believe you should be forced to deal with the bad to enjoy the good and hence, I've scored the game with that in mind.

Après un Sonic the Hedgehog sur Xbox 360 pas loin d'être catastrophique, la Sonic Team a partiellement redressé la barre sur Wii avec un titre nettement meilleur. Certes, on n'atteint pas encore des sommets à cause de contrôles parfois frustrants, surtout lorsqu'il s'agit de bondir sur des ennemis ou de faire une marche arrière, mais on passe tout de même un agréable moment à contrôler le hérisson bleu. Et c'est bien là l'essentiel !

Despite these issues, Rings still manages to be one of the first fun Sonic experiences in some time. The overall experience of navigating through Sonic and the Secret Rings doesn't manage to bring the series back to glory, but at least it gives it some life. Taking the shattered corpse of the Sonic license and assembling those pieces into an almost amazing game, one that barely shows the scars of cruelty that it's experienced, is a feat. This is more of a shambling Frankenstein than a real resurrection for the series, but that's more than Sonic fans have gotten in a long time.

This game got some pretty good buzz out of E3, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. I love my work, but it never feels more like a job than when I have to review a Sonic game. Although the recent PSP title Sonic Rivals showed some signs of life, Sonic and the Secret Rings takes this franchise right back into the intensive care unit.

Maybe it's about time Sonic let Dr. Robotnik keep the Secret Rings, Chaos Emeralds, Chaos, or whatever else people were too stupid to keep from the guy. Trudging through adventures like this, while not as painful as the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 version, makes Sega fans wonder if Sonic's world is better off destroyed. That seems to be what Sega is trying to do.

Despite its many problems, Sonic and the Secret Rings isn't as bad as the recently released Sonic the Hedgehog for next-gen consoles. It delivers pure Sonic action far more often than that weak effort managed, but it's still hard to call it a successful game. For every good moment there's a handful of annoying ones, with everything from the Wii-mote controls to the game structure causing problems at some point or another. SEGA would be wise to persevere with the best aspects of its latest Sonic outing, but by no means should they think they've cracked the 3D conundrum. They're still far from it.

In a textbook example of how not to revitalize a franchise, Secret Rings takes everything that was pure and fun about the Sonic series and flips it on you. The fast and fluid gameplay is now choppy; the transparent interface is now clunky and obtrusive, and the exploration subgame has been replaced by a narrow corridor of traps. The game that was once fun and free-wheeling is now a frustrating quagmire of trials and errors.

Sega forsøger at genoplive deres blå maskot på Wii, men det hurtige pindsvin fejler miserabelt.

Sonic and the Secret Rings brings back the nerve-twitch speed that made the first Sonic game so popular. Loose controls and repeating levels marred what could have been a break out hit for a series that desperately needed one. With more time, a couple of extra levels, and a multiplayer mode that doesn’t make you want to go play outside; the next installment of Sonic for the Wii might just be the one to add to your collection. If there’s anything to learn from here it’s that potential doesn’t make for a fun game.