Xbox 360

Sonic the Hedgehog

Beyond that, there's really very little to report about Sonic The Hedgehog on Xbox Live Arcade. There's a single 'All Time Best Score' leaderboard, but no attempt at injecting new modes, new difficulty levels or any kind of multiplayer, thankfully. It matters not. For your 400 points you get an absolute nailed-down classic that is, in many respects, just as much fun today as it was back when it was released. Sadly, you can't talk about Sonic without also making reference of the fact that it has been released on goodness knows how many compilations for, comparatively, a fraction of the cost, and that most of you will have played the bloody thing to death. But sod that argument for a moment: this is undiluted, old-school platforming goodness at its most refined for a few quid, and a true landmark title that any fan of the genre should have in their collection. And with a free trial available for the doubters, it'd be rude not to have a peek.

There is no hedgehog more famous and recognizable worldwide than Sonic. Not even Ron Jeremy. But SEGA's golden 'hog has fallen on dark times over the past few years with numerous sub-par outings. Thank goodness for Xbox Live Arcade, where Sonic's greatest moments have a chance to live again. For 400 Microsoft Points (US$5), kids can find out why Sonic the Hedgehog was such a sensation a decade ago. Though the "Vintage Collection" of the original Sonic the Hedgehog offers no extras, it delivers a perfect port of the game that helped make the SEGA Genesis a hit.

While Sega has, over the years, refined the Sonic formula into a supersonic rollercoaster ride, this is still a fine piece of platforming, something that is in curiously short supply on XBLA. For 400 points, or $5 American, it's a pretty good deal for what still stands as a seminal platforming experience.

Ce premier Sonic sur console nouvelle génération est une grosse déception. Peu jouable, à la difficulté mal réglée et aux niveaux peu intéressants, on aura beaucoup de mal à le conseiller, même aux inconditionnels du hérisson bleu. Si les développeurs continuent de nous proposer des Sonic aussi peu convaincants, ils risquent bien de dégoûter les joueurs de ce personnage phare des jeux vidéo. Il est grand temps de se ressaisir messieurs !

It's probably too much to ask for a good 3D Sonic the Hedgehog game. Unfortunately this next-generation reboot is not the Sonic resurrection that fans of the series were hoping for. There's always next time ... though, that game will probably suck, too!