Sonic Rush released during the 'Dark Age' of Sonic, the same year Shadow the Hedgehog came out.....but unlike that edgy adventure, Sonic Rush stands tall as one of the strongest 2D Sonic games out there.
It is the logical evolution of the Advance series and lead to a series of three enjoyable games (being this, Rush Adventure and Colors DS) being created alongside establishing a core ability Sonic uses in future console adventures.
Lets get started, as your boost'n adventure is right there, ride on
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This game started out as a DS tech demo called Sonic DS....creative name :l. Anyway, it was a 3D on-rails title that was demoed in 2004 to show off Sonic on the DS and it was impressive, Sonic running in 3D. It looks to be using Heroes' Seaside Hill Zone as a base.....
It wasn't much but it was still impressive.
Fast forward to 2005 and Sonic Rush was announced, being developed by the team behind the great Sonic Advance series
. But it looked to be a lot faster with Sonic and newcomer Blaze the Cat having the ability to use a move called the 'Sonic Boost', the music sounded 'different' from past Sonic titles, the characters could use tricks, the characters are 3D models on top of 2D backgrounds/stages. Things seemed different for 2D Sonic and many were wondering how this would turn out.....and when it released in Fall 2005, people loved this! Got high reviews across the board and people really liked the new character of Blaze. Nice start for this new handheld series of Sonic
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Normally I would cover the story first, but I have to cover the gameplay first, as it really is a big leap and massive different compared to the Classic and other Dreamcast Era 2D games.
The core gameplay is an evolution of Advance 2, where the R Action ability and Sonic's Boost ability being fleshed out into major mechanics. Sonic's boost is not mapped to the Y Button and whenever you are in the air, you can mash the B button to make tricks which builds up the boost meter and you can use the R button to preform tricks too but you have the up trick (which lets you go up in the air) and a forward trick (which flies you forward).
Sounds a bit like Advance 2, and that is how the R Button worked in that game too, so its nice seeing it carry over
. The core 'feel' for the game is a bit more stiff compared to Sonic Advance. Rolling is still useful but the game really wants you to use the Boost, which allows you to run into foes and send them flying. It also makes you go faster, of course XD!
Sonic and Blaze feel different from each other gameplay wise; Sonic feels more or less like he did in the Advance games but you have the ability to homing attack with the R button when near foes/air dash while Blaze is really useful for platforming. Her R tricks send her flying up or right and she has a really useful hovering ability if you hold down R.
Between all of this, the characters feel great to play as despite clear differences between Sonic Advance control wise. I don't mind that difference, because it works with the level design focus.
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The way levels work is that Sonic and Blaze run through very linear stages that tunnel them forward and.....it works. Sometimes you have issues, like the ruins level having combat rooms where you fight robots, but most of the time, the tunnel-like level design works out great due to the focus on the trick system, boosting and going super fast.
And the game also has a good amount of standard platforming too latter in the game, though its over bottomless pits (which makes Blaze great, as she can carefully hover in the air before landing on them).
This does lead to something I have point out; this is clearly 'different' from the Classic series. I say this as it is the first time the series 2D titles really shift in different directions. Sonic Advance 2 and 3 start going away from the Genesis Era gameplay, but they still had Classic like elements (the Sonic Boost in Advance 2/3 working like how it 'should' work in that style of game; you have to EARN your speed with careful platforming and control).
Sonic Rush is the first 2D game that goes in a completely different direction for the 2D Sonic series.....and it works. It works really damn well I have to say. So, good job on Dimps and Sonic Team's part
! Rush Adventure and Colors DS continue to balance the speed/platforming with this style as they came out, but Rush set up a strong foundation to build off of. - - - - - - - - - - -
The story is pushed toward the end of the thread as....its really nothing more then Sonic and Friends stop Eggman from taking over the world. But we get introduced to two new characters; Blaze the Cat and Eggman Nega.
Blaze the Cat is if you mix Knuckles role as a guardian and Sonic ability wise (can run fast, powerful, ect). She is the princess of her world; the Soul Dimension, and she came to Sonic's world to find the Soul Emeralds, important items that Eggman Nega took from her. So, she sets out to find them across her journey.
She is joined by Cream the Rabbit and meets Amy, Knuckles and other Sonic characters, insisting that she asks Sonic for help gathering the Emeralds. But she refuses until she comes face to face with the Blue Blur, and they have a face off.
After a really intense fight (and your hand hurting after mashing Y over and over again :'(), they team up and in typical Dreamcast-Era Sonic fashion, you gather the Emeralds for both characters to turn super and fight the Eggmen.
I really like her character and her design is very striking. She is a great contrast to Sonic and I really like the dynamic she has with everyone. She interacts with Sonic more in Rush Adventure but for this game, she and Sonic form a nice friendship.
Eggman Nega is......well, another Eggman :l. Is there really anything else to add to that XD?
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Presentation is interesting, as Sonic is famous for pushing the hardware he is on. Sonic Advance and Sonic Battle have some of the best sprite work on the GBA, so Sonic must impress on the DS, right
?
He does, with 3D models against 2D backgrounds but it looks really nice and blends well. The animations for Sonic and Blaze are detailed to and this shown during 3D boss fights after clearing two acts in each zone.
They are a visual marvel for the DS and they are in 60FPS (I think....); very impressive considering the DS was still only a year old!
Music is something I'm a bit mixed on. One one hand, its really great to see the Jet Set Radio composer getting more work! This is his first hand working on Sonic and it doesn't disappoint
.Right There, Ride On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyPT7b6ngmg&index=1&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
Back 2 Back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMeafEWN2jo&index=9&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
Vela-Nova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpLWceWXFvo&index=18&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
Wrapped in Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5MDYGl_m4&index=20&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
New Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_2YGa9zcI&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B&index=23
Metal Scratchin': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Ie7RofBYQ&index=15&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
What U Need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx0CQDc2rMU&index=13&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
Jeh Jeh Rocket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhq0IpvyMQk&index=7&list=PLD73D6600FBF2D70B
It sounds nothing like Sonic.....but that is what I love so much about this soundtrack. It sounds different from past Sonic games.....but it fits the series like a glove. The techno beats and odd vocals work so well with the various levels and this makes the OST a treat to listen too. Wrapped in Black is one amazing final boss theme honestly and Jeh Jeh Rocket is so damn catchy XD!
My only issue is.....well, I didn't like this OST when I was younger. It felt so odd to me when I first played it in 2005 but upon repeated playthroughs as I got older I fell in love with this soundtrack. It fits Sonic so well and its a shame the Rush Adventure OST sounds nothing like this.
It still rocks, but still, sounds different
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The last thing to cover is the special stages and Sonic is the only one that runs through them.
You use the touch screen on the DS to move Sonic left and right......just like that original Sonic DS prototype. Maybe that was a test version of Rush's special stages? Nah.......
Anyway, they are a lot of fun and while they get harder, Dimps FINALLY makes getting into them easy
! THANK YOU! 
All you have to do is fine a rainbow spinning thing in a act and once you latch on, hold the Boost button until Sonic flies into a portal. You need at least one full boost bar (you can have up to three) to get into the special stages but still, much MUCH easier to get into.
Dimps only got better with special stages as the DS and 3DS games went on so, kudos to them for listening to feedback people gave them over the BS you went though in Advance 2 and 3.
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Overall, I love the Rush series
. It does so much right and its so much fun, that you can fly through zones in one sitting if you want to . One of the best 2D Sonic ventures out there and while it doesn't compare to the Genesis games or even Advance 1, I love the game the same way I love Advance 2.
Its a game that does something different and creative with the 2D Sonic formula but like Advance 2, it does that very well
. At least I think it does !
Before we collect some secret rings, we are going to fly in the sky with one final non-Sonic Sonic Team adventure; Ristar!
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