Sonic Colors Review

Story - 6/10
The story in Sonic Colors follows the main hero, Sonic the Hedgehog, and mildly Tails the Fox (thank goodness) on a pretty generic cartoon story. The story opens with Dr. Eggman opening a new theme park encompassing 5 planets. His motive is to do something for the world to make amends for his past evil deeds. Well we find out rather quickly the true plot is to capture these aliens called Wisps. The story is as I said, kind of corny at best, something you may see on an episode of a children's cartoon show or something. Not a great story for adults, but the story is rather unimportant in the Sonic series, as demonstrated by past entries.

Gameplay - 8/10
The gameplay in Sonic Colors can be bitter sweet at times. This is the first "big" entry in the Sonic series that has tried to correct the Sonic formula back to it's 2D roots. However if you're looking for retro Sonic play, you're really not going to find it here. There are 3D and 2D parts to each stage, weighing more heavily on the 2D sections (this is a good thing). The 3D parts aren't terrible in their entirety. It's fast paced, not super cheap as the more recent entries have been, but the controls are really unresponsive, especially when you need precision. When you're moving fast you don't notice it quite as much, but turning and just moving about in anything but a straight line doesn't go over smoothly. The 2D portions are where this game shines.  At first things will seem really dull, but that's just the warm up. The wisps take some getting used to, but once you have each one figured out, they aren't super hard to control, and actually add a fresh idea to Sonic that isn't terrible...like werehogs.

Visuals - 9/10
Sonic Colors may not live up to the limit pushing graphics of games like Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid Other M, but it is far from a bad looking game. Many of the cut scenes look great, even on a HDTV. The stages are full of animation, colors, and lights, you can tell work was done on them, there's plenty of detail. Hell, there's even a part of the opening where Sonic makes a remark on the beautiful view and it really is.

Content - 7/10
This is truly your typical Sonic package. You've got a main story mode with plenty of acts to keep you busy, and some form of multiplayer. In the spirit of modes, there really isn't a whole ton here, but what is here is what you'd expect. 

Audio - 8/10
The game starts out with your typical Sonic rock music from most of the recent games, which can be good or bad depending on who you are. The rest of the music in the game I personally found great. None of it gets on my nerves, and a lot of it was material I'd love to have heard in the new Sonic 4 game. But where I was really impressed was the change in voices for both Sonic and Tails. Sonic still has a cocky voice, but it's not quite as nerve shredding. Tails is the one who truly got the upgrade though. He now has a post puberty voice that is more fitting and a lot less annoying. Overall I'm very impressed with the audio in the game.

Multiplayer - N/A
Having not tried it yet, I cannot in good conscience, give it a grade. However, the multiplayer only has a co-op mode where one player plays as Sonic and the other plays as a Red Sonic. From what I've heard and seen with my own eyes, the co-op isn't terrible, but isn't good either. It fails from there just not being enough room for two Sonics.  

Lasting Appeal - 7/10
As mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of modes in this game, and what is there won't keep you busy for a long time. However the wisps are what truly gives this game some re-playability, aside from the obvious of going back and trying to perfect your score in each act. The wisps are found through the game, but earlier levels may have secret areas you couldn't access before due to not having the appropriate wisp to uncover or use it. This gives you some reason to go back and explore, on top of just getting that high score you want. 

Overall - 7.5/10
Sonic Colors is definitely a big step in the right direction for the Sonic series. The 3D areas are far superior to prior games, even if the controls suffered a little. While the 2D isn't a carbon copy in the least of Sonic 4 (which really isn't a bad thing at all), it feels fresh without deviating from what new and old Sonic fans want to see. If you're looking for a new retro 2D Sonic game akin to the old Sonic games, Sonic Colors won't be the game you're looking for, that one would be Sonic 4. However if you want a fresh taste of Sonic that doesn't completely suck, try Sonic 4 out this Christmas.
  
 

PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Great Adventure - Review

Story - 6/10
The story in  PokéPark is pretty bland and makes use of the already well known animal kingdom of Pokémon as characters. The story sums up to basically being about Pikachu (as our man hero) going around the "PokéPark" collecting these shards that he was told to collect by Mew in a dream. The story really isn't terrible, and certainly out does stories of other games that actually require some sort of engaging story, but it's definitely not top notch. The story however is sufficient for children, who are probably the target audience for the game.

Gameplay - 7/10
Gameplay is really where this title shines and falls at the same time. In the game you traverse the world, the "PokéPark", as Pikachu. First it'd be good to note that the controls for Pikachu while traversing the main world are very awkward. You use the wiimote turned on it's side, which keeps things simple for small kids, but limits the controls considerably. You are forced to use the D-pad to move around, which isn't the most precise directional input. Pikachu also moves at a snail's pace, and in order to move quickly you must press 1 multiple times to activate his "dash" ability. That wouldn't be so bad if the dashes weren't in the form of little speed boosts that are really hard to navigate precisely, especially on the D-pad.

The game is set up in different zones, each of a different environment and each environment contains different minigames you can play. Now this is where the game is good and bad at the same time. You have the option to befriend many many pokémon from the long catalog of pocket monsters to use in these minigames. In order to recruit, you have to take part in different tasks. Sometimes it'll require you to do something crucial to advancing in the story line, so you pretty much have no choice. And sometimes it'll involve a "skill game". These skill games usually involve one of 5 main games including: a platforming race, tag, hide-and-seek, quiz, or battle. I found the platforming races to be fairly simple after you get used to controlling Pikachu, hide-and-seek also being simple as the pokémon you're seeking is usually yaking it's mouth off, and quizzes are painfully easy. The battling and tag is where you'll really find any sort of challenge while recruiting, and that's not saying much. Once you boost Pikachu's speed boost ability to the max (or even half really), tag matches become a breeze. Battles are pretty easy too after you boost your health and get a feel for how to dodge, but being in the shoes of a 3D pokémon battle is still epic none-the-less.

After you recruit your pokémon you have to participate in minigames. Some of these are actually fairly polished and a lot of fun, not to mention you have your choice of a lot of different pokemon for each event. Some of the minigames include racing, surfing, flying, and snow boarding, there's actually even one that's like brick breaker. While some of them are fun, half of them are really short and some of them feel like it doesn't matter a whole lot which pokemon you choose as they are all the same, just some are better at doing the exact same thing. There isn't anything special about choosing one over another other than skill, which is a little disappointing. If the game had taken a more Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games approach to these minigames, they may have been a bit more fun. For example, the snow boarding, surfing, and flying could've been more fun if they were multiplayer and more mariokart-esque. It's a lot to ask of the game, but it really would've made this game a blast to play if it focused more on making the minigames multiplayer and less repetitive, it would've been near perfect.

Visuals - 7/10
The visuals in PokéPark are what you'd expect to find in a wii title, nothing too exciting. Something else I found disappointing were that some of the animations of the Pokémon looked literally like animations I had seen in Pokémon Stadium 1 & 2 years ago on the N64. Better graphics obviously, but I wasn't sure to find reuse of the same animations charming or lazy. However it is very fun to run around and battle other pokémon in 3D.

Content - 8/10
When I stop to think about it, the game really does have a lot of content, it's just that some of it gets reused to the point where it becomes boring. There are a lot of minigames to play and nearly 200 friends to collect, not to mention you can do "skill games" any time you want with almost any other Pokémon in the game. There is definitely a lot of content in the game, it just would've been nice to see it more polished in some areas.

Music -  8/10
The music found in PokéPark is grading at first. The music isn't necessarily under performed, it's just a little too cheerful and playful, it sounds like a child's toy for sure. However as you get through the game, some of the tracks are actually really well put together and catchy. I was actually impressed at how bad the music ended up not being after I got passed the first main song or two of the game. The voice work is also voices from the anime series and not the 8-bit noises from the handheld games. Some may see that as a plus or minus, I saw it as a good thing.

Lasting Appeal 7/10
Despite the fact that there is a lot to collect here and a lot of replayability, this game is just a little to repetitive to play over and over again. However it's target audience is children, and I'm sure I would've played the hell out of this game as a kid, so I guess it has succeeded in this area to some degree. It really could have benefited from some sort of multiplayer option though.

Overall - 7.1 /10
The reality of this game is, it's built for a certain audience, and that audience will eat this game up. However for old Pokéfans, this game will come across as too easy and too repetitive. If you're a true blue Pokémaster, go ahead and pick it up, but probably a better option for your kids than for yourself.
  

Blacklight: Tango Down - Review

Story - 4/10
The story in BTD, is really just there as an explanation for the ruined cities, high-tech armor, and different factions. Otherwise the story in this game isn't really that great or relevant, and I'm sure nobody is going to take the time to go through the single player campaign, unless they do it co-op style. Otherwise, the story mode is bland and nothing special.

Gameplay - 7/10
I'll be completely honest, at first when I played this game, I absolutely hated it. If you're looking for a Modern Warfare experience here, prepare for a big surprise. The game is very fast, characters move quickly, and die quickly. If you thought that the COD series was fast paced, than you haven't seen this game. At first I really hated this fact, as it's very difficult to snipe or camp in this game, but the more I played, the more it grew on me. After awhile it started feeling more like Golden Eye on the N64 than it did a new suited up game, it went back to the days of real "running and gunning", as it's very fast paced. Just to put things in perspective, I usually get around 5-20 kills in MW2 when I play in Death Match (depends how skilled my opponents are). During BTD, after my first few games, I was averaging a minimum of 20 kills up to 32 per game, and I wasn't coming in first, I was more in the middle. It's because killing and respawning happens very quickly in this game. Overall some of the gameplay mechanics leave a little to be desired, but the game offers a really great experience once it grows on you. One thing I did really love, is the controls are literally the exact same as Modern Warfare 2, so there's no learning curve for the controls, just the gameplay itself.

Visuals - 7/10
Alright, my complaints about the graphics are fairly minimal, and more less about the hype than they are about the graphics themselves. The graphics in this game are very good for a 15 dollar PSN/XBL game, I'll definitely give it that. However in many advertisements and reviews of this game, I heard that the graphics were on par with a "retail fps game like call of duty". This is simply not the case. The graphics are actually good in some areas, but terrible in others. I found that the game itself is really dark, making it hard to see, and the font they chose for the text is ridiculously hard to read, especially on my 19 inch standard definition tv. At times the animations look kind of like Doom or Quake animations, which is kind of hard to excuse when people are praising it as looking like a retail game. Once again, I'm in no way saying these visuals are terrible, because they really are good for a 15 dollar downloadable title. They just aren't what they're made out to be, that's all.

Content - 10/10
I'll be honest, the content in this game is amazing for the 15 dollars you're paying. There are tons of guns with lots of customization options, plus a ton of different tags and armor to collect. There is also 12 maps (13 on the PSN version), and a couple different modes. The amount of content for the price is nothing short of amazing, nuff said.

Music - 7/10
The audio in this game is nothing real special or memorable, there isn't much voice acting aside from your typical grunts and moans from player's characters. The music isn't the coolest thing since ice, but it's fitting for the surroundings, and is suitable for the game that's being played. Otherwise, there isn't much to complain about.

Multiplayer - 7/10
The multiplayer is really the soul of this game, and the centerpiece, seeing as the single player campaign is kind of crap. You have your typical death match, team death match, and what not online, and you have up to 4 player split-screen co-op offline. Here's where it gets me though, there's no split-screen local play at all. This wouldn't irritate me if it weren't for the fact that they did include split-screen co-op, meaning that it was completely left out. I love to play online, and this package would suck without the ability to do so, but the fact I can't have a fun game against 3 of my buddies locally sucks. They kind of dropped the ball on leaving it out. Also the online I found to be very laggy at times, which in a game that's based online, it's not good. It was pretty often at first, but cooled down later, hopefully this is something they'll get on soon.

Lasting Appeal - 7/10
There is truly a lot of content in this game, and due to it being an online game, it's a game you'll be coming
 back to more than once. The only thing it really doesn't have going for it is the fact that it simply isn't a retail game like MW2, BBC2, or Medal of Honor. I just don't see there being enough of a fan base to keep the game alive for a long time. Had they included local split-screen, I'd give it a better score, because this is definitely a fun and different experience that I'd love to play with friends at parties.

Overall - 7/10
Blacklight: Tango Down didn't really choose the best release date for the PS3, as Medal of Honor is out and Call of Duty: Black Ops is right around the corner. Otherwise I'd say this game is a great game to cure your fix till the next fps game is out. However that shouldn't discourage you from making a purchase, as this game is a very different and an equally fun experience. If you have room for only one FPS game in your heart, then you may want to pass this one up, but if you have a few fives in your wallet, this may be a wise purchase for you. My recommendation would be to download the demo. The demo offers you 20 minutes of gameplay, allows you to play online with other owners of the game, and if you do decide to purchase it, all the items you unlocked in the 20 minutes of demo you played, all the customizations you made, will all transfer over. Also if you like Doom or Quake, I'd seriously take a look at this game, I have a feeling you may really like it.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 - Review

Story - 8/10
In this review, the story score is a reflection mostly of the game's story, but a little on the story mode as well. The story of this game starts off at the beginning of Naruto Shippuden as one would assume. It's cut into 7 chapters that the player must go through, and the scenes are executed fairly well when compared to the story modes of other shonen anime fighters. The story expands all the way till the end of the Pain story arc, so it covers quite a bit of ground. They also did a really great job at explaining past events, in case you're not fresh on Naruto's past through the use of clever flash backs that aren't super often either. However the story mode is not without it's short comings. There is entirely way too much walking to be done. There were some points in the story mode that I had no idea why they would even make you walk from point A to point B, especially seeing as there are no random encounter battles. I would've liked to see more puzzle aspects and more platforming in the map traversing parts of the game, but since this is a fighter I can pardon the omission of them. However, I cannot pardon all the irrelevant, waste-of-time walking that I had to do. Probably one of my favorite aspects about the story mode was the giant boss battles you encounter. These were executed in a way that felt very fresh. The input moments got a little old, but the actual fighting parts were visually pleasing, and fun to do.

Gameplay - 10/10
The actual fighting is where this game truly shines as probably the best Naruto fighting game as of yet. At first you'll probably think the mechanics are rather basic with only one melee button, a projectile button, a chakra (or power gathering) button, and of course a jump button. However the mechanics grow deeper and deeper as you play. You can set up some really sick combos and the way the fighting sequences take place really makes you feel like you're in the shoes of the cast of the game, allowing you to do all sorts of acrobatic dodges, throws, and special attacks. If there has ever been a game where I felt like I was playing as the anime character it featured, this one is it.

Visuals - 10/10
Simply put, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is a beautiful game. The gameplay and cut-scenes look like they were taken right out of the anime, there are even parts of the game where I would have a difficult time not believing it was taken out of the anime. The visuals in this game are absolutely amazing, and any company still making cell-shaded games needs to take a look at what Cyber Connect has done with this game.

Content - 8/10
With a cast of 40+ characters and I believe 18 stages, as well as other numerous collectibles, this game is far from short on content, there is truly a lot to collect here. However I've only owned the game for 2 days and I've unlocked all but 3 characters, and I believe the stages are all unlocked from the beginning. This isn't a huge ordeal, but it gives you less of a reason to play the game for a more extended period of time. I'd also like to make it known, because other popular gaming sites *cough IGN cough* have stated that you can only unlock characters through story mode. This is however untrue, you can play any battle where you are awarded points, certain amounts of points will unlock you characters. This way is far more tedious and takes longer, but you can most definitely unlock characters without touching the story mode.

Music - 8/10
The music isn't anything incredibly amazing, but it's what you would expect from the Naruto anime, which I personally enjoy the music from the show. If you're not into the ninja chant and akatsuki organ music, you may not like the music, and you also may lack good taste. Also, don't make the mistake of playing with the English dub like I did. The English cast is the one I'm used to, which is why I used it, but some of the actors emotions in their voice hardly mesh with the facial expressions of the characters, and the actual words and mouth movements....well, they're horrible, it's like the dub didn't even try to look good at all. However the Japanese dub sounds good and looks good, it'd definitely be the wiser choice.

Multiplayer - 9/10
Seeing as this is a fighting game, the multiplayer aspect needs to be good. This game has local and online multiplayer, which both seem to work fine. Actually playing your friends in this game is much more exciting, seeing as they are less predictable and smarter than the game's AI. The one minor complaint I have is the lack of a 4 player melee mode. It'd be really awesome and intense to do a 2 on 2 or free for all match with your friends, unfortunately that's not an option.

Lasting Appeal - 8/10
While there is quite a bit of content in this game, the rate you acquire it is too fast. Otherwise that's really my main complaint. The only thing that could really keep you playing this game more is some customization options (which it actually does have a little allowing the use of "ninja tools"). The online mode is great, and Naruto fans and non-fans should be able to enjoy playing. 

Overall - 8.7/10
Obviously this is an anime game that will most likely only appeal to fans of the show and manga. However it's unfortunate this game will not get the attention it deserves. This game has a brilliant fighting mechanic, deep gameplay, and beautiful visuals. It's a top-notch fighting game, Naruto fans need to own it, and they should probably convince their friends to get it too.
  
            

Kirby's Epic Yarn - Review

Story - 6/10
Honestly, the story in Kirby's Epic Yarn is pretty much a bed time story. It's not deep at all, it's really just used as an excuse for why Kirby is now made of yarn and enemies are also. However where I must give it credit would be at the fact that the story is creative. The story involves Kirby being warped to a world called "Patch Land" by a wizard. Patch Land is broken into several pieces, and it's up to Kirby to find the magic thread to sew Patch Land back together. It's a fairly original story, but completely uninteresting. It get's the job done though.

Gameplay - 9/10
Old school gamers will fall in love with this game quickly. The game is widely a 2D side scrolling platformer, and a lot of work went into it. Kirby loses his ability to suck up enemies and utilize their powers, but he can now use thread like a whip to destroy and roll up enemies to be thrown. He also can transform into different items to help him traverse the world, each transformation is easy, fun to play, and controls very well. The only real problem with the gameplay is, you can't die. The only penalty for getting hit by an enemy is the loss of your collected beads. This is similar to Sonic the Hedgehog, where you collect rings till the end of the level, and if you get hit they fall out everywhere, except in Sonic, when you get hit without a ring you die. In Kirby's Epic Yarn, you can get hit as much as you want, you won't die. This provides a lot less difficulty for the game, however you are awarded a medal at the end of the level depending on how many beads you collected. So there is some incentive to not lose them.

Visuals - 10/10
This game isn't an HD PS3 or 360 title, but the visuals are still very creative and gorgeous to look at. Everything on screen looks like it was taken out of an arts and crafts store. Kirby, enemies, platforms, and backgrounds are all made of buttons, yarn, zippers, and fabric. It all is done incredibly well too, the game definitely pushes the Wii. Overall, this is a very visually pleasing game.

Content - 8/10
Kirby's Epic Yarn is a fairly short game. If you play for hours on end, it may take you 2 days to beat at most, but if you space things out, it'll last you a little while. There is a lot of music to collect though, and you are given an apartment you can decorate with patches you collect at the beginning of the game, there's a ton of patches to collect. It doesn't give you the most interesting content to collect, but it does give the perfectionist something to come back for.

Music - 8/10
The music in Kirby's Epic Yarn is pretty good for the most part. Everything sounds well done, and it has a lot of new tunes to keep you happy. There are a few old songs in there too that have been updated, but not a whole lot more than a jingle here or there. My main issue with the music is that it's all very happy, and sometimes the music gets a little too gentle and quiet. To put it the best, the music can become boring at times.

Multiplayer - 10/10
The game doesn't have a true-blue multiplayer mode to be seen, however it has a 2 player co-op mode that plays pretty well. Not unlike New Super Mario Bros. players can lift each other up and carry one another, as well as throw the other. Player 2 plays as "Prince Fluff" who is basically a blue Kirby with a crown. He plays the exact same, so there isn't much variety there, but you don't really need it. One neat thing about the co-op is, when one person falls behind, they get carried back to the center, it's a rather cute method of doing so too.

Lasting Appeal - 7/10
As I said with the content, there isn't a ton to keep you coming back unless you're a perfectionist, and the game doesn't take long to beat. Also the co-op is fun, but it's not the same as the co-op in New Super Mario Bros that is 4 players and playable at parties. So there isn't much to get you to come back and dust this game off, but what is there is good enough considering how well everything else is put together.

Overall - 8.3/10
Kirby's Epic Yarn may seem like a kids game at first glance, but this is a truly great 2D platforming experience that any young kid or adult can enjoy easily. It's also the first Kirby game that Kirby fans have had on a console in a long time. That being said, it's a great choice for hardcore and casual gamers a like. This is definitely one you'll want to pick up for your Wii collection.

         

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep - Review

Story - 9/10
The story in KH:BBS is everything you've come to expect from the series. It follows the events 10 years prior to the beginning of the original Kingdom Hearts on the Playstation 2. Though in this story you follow 3 young keyblade wielders, and each of them have a different story that you can play. All three stories come together, and while they each visit the same worlds, the areas in the different worlds vary and the bosses are different too. Each story will run you maybe 20 hours, so overall the story could take you 60 hours to complete. That being said, the story feels the length and is more on par with it's console predecessors than it's hand-held counterparts. The one issue I had with the story was that there were certain elements that felt similar to another popular franchise, thus taking away from it's originality a little. Otherwise it's a great story that you would come to expect from Square Enix and the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

Gameplay - 10/10
The way Square Enix has incorporated the Kingdom Hearts battle system on the PSP is almost a thing of beauty. The controls work very well with the limited buttons compared to the PS2 controller, and the attack system is almost, dare I say, even better than any system in the Kingdom Hearts series to date. I also found unlike the bosses from previous games, I actually had a little difficulty with some in BBS. The gameplay is definitely exceeding of any expectations I would have for a Kingdom Hearts game on the PSP.


Visuals - 8/10
While certainly not pushing any boundaries, the graphics in this game are pushing close to the same quality of 
something you would expect on the PS2, in-fact I dare say they look just as good as KH1 did. While they're good, the environments feel a little empty, there's nothing really highly detailed, but the Kingdom Hearts series isn't really known for realism.

Content -10/10
The amount of content they squeezed into this game is amazing, it would be hard to get bored with it all. Aside from your single player campaign, there is keyblade ship racing, a board game much like monopoly, and online play for co-op or versus. The package really comes with a lot, and most likely more than you'll even take the time to play with. Once again exceeding my expectations.

Music - 8/10
While expected, BBS tends to recycle a few old tracks already used multiple times in previous Kingdom Hearts games, but it does manage to pull out some new ones as well. The new music that is there is great and what is expected from the series. Also it's worth mentioning that the voice work in the game is excellent. The performance quality is done incredibly well.

Multiplayer - 9/10
Finally we have online multiplayer in a Kingdom Hearts game. While Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days managed to include a multiplayer mode with co-op and versus, it lacked online play. In BBS we finally get just that, an online mode where you can throw down with other players online. While you are allowed to customize the colors of your armor, you are limited to the body of whichever character you are currently using of which there are only 3 options in the first place. I would've liked to see a full body customization for your online player, but what we did get is great itself.

Lasting Appeal - 9/10
As I said earlier on in the review, this game could run you around about 60 hours, racking up quite a bit of time. While the online play is there, it probably will seem a little gimmicky to most people, so I don't for see too many getting much more playtime out of it, but if they want to, the option is most certainly there. You may not come back to play this game every month, but it aught to keep you busy for awhile until the next Kingdom Hearts game releases.

Overall - 9/10
This is a must have for your PSP, and a definite must have for any fan of the Kingdom Hearts series. Everything is done incredibly well, and the game stands up very well to the console counterparts. This game is hardly worthy of being put on the spin-off level of the other handheld Kingdom Hearts games, this game is easily worthy of having been a console game. There's a few things to nit pick about, but this game goes above expectations for sure.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 - Review

Story - N/A
Sonic 4 lacks a real story, but this is a series that wasn't built on an engaging story, or emotional attachments to characters. This is a game that's a throw back to it's predecessors before it, and it mimics them very well without an interesting or deep tale to follow. If you want an interesting story, you won't find it here.

Gameplay - 8/10
While this game is meant to be a sequel to retro versions of the past, it hasn't come without some new updates. I found the physics to be very different from the old-school sonic games of the past at first. This game keeps the same laws of running and jumping that we know from the old games, but Sonic seems to take a little longer to speed up and longer to slow down once he has built his momentum. This isn't entirely a bad thing, it's just different, and I think in a game that is trying to appeal to it's retro counterparts, they should have left that aspect unchanged. Also there is a new addition of a homing attack move from the newer iterations allowing you to target enemies and other objects. While deviating from the path once again, I found this as a welcomed addition to keep the classic gameplay fresh, however purists may not be as humored. Overall much is the same here gameplay wise, similar maps, bosses, and even the items remain unchanged. In the end I'm pleased with the gameplay mechanics.

Visuals - 8/10
There is absolutely nothing ground breaking about the visuals in Sonic 4, however the 3D effects on similar stages from a 2D/16-bit era looks great, and you can tell a lot of detail went into making this an authentic Sonic experience.

Content - 8/10
When you consider this isn't a full retail game, there is a little space for forgiveness on the lack of a flood of content in this game. But being priced at 15 dollars, this game could have benefited from another level. With only 5 levels at 3 acts and a boss a piece, this game feels like it's maybe worth a buck or two less. What you get is enough to keep you entertained though, and it's only the first episode of a series, so we can expect more coming in the future.

Music - 7/10
Music in the sonic series can be rather hit or miss, this is true to the old-school sonic games and the newer 3D makes, and this game is no different. Some of the music is very similar to old sonic game scores, this is good and bad. Some sound right out of a sonic game, but are new and fresh, while some of the music sounds almost like the exact same song. That's not entirely a bad thing, but some of the music in the game is a little boring. Let's just say it meets expectations, but nothing that I'm going to fall in love with.

Lasting Appeal - 6/10
Aside from the provided online leader boards and the collection of all 7 chaos emeralds, there isn't a lot here to keep you coming back. Sonic vets should be able to beat this game in 2 hours give or take. Unless you're determined to have the top online scores, there's really nothing here to keep you coming back aside from nostalgia. But for 15 bucks, it gets the job done.

Overall - 7.4/10
This game isn't a perfect sequel, but it does a lot more right than it does wrong. The verdict for this game is for you to get on your Wii/PS3/360 and buy it, and if you're a Sonic fan it's a "no-brainer".

Welcome to AnonCritic

Today marks the grand opening of my illustrious anonymous blog where I will be reviewing all things that I deem as relevant to myself. This will include all types of media including most notably video games. Followed by other media including music, movies, and television. I've also decided on reviewing restaurants when I visit them, and maybe even doing other reviews of other products just for fun. Currently I am not taking requests, but as soon as I have figured out all the options of my blogger account it will be an option.