he breakneck velocity of Sega’s attitude-driven mascot has decelerated to a modest jog. Rather than focus specifically on the blue blur, Sega desired to encompass the entire Sonic universe in this release. An unwise decision, if I may say so. With six different playable characters, the complexity of the quest transforms into a series of minigames. The Sonic levels are as explosive as ever, although the control isn’t nearly as refined as it should be. The rest of the stages in the game are poorly concocted and void of fun.
To spice up the GameCube version, Sega implemented an array of two-player minigames. From split-screen racing to heated battles, these multiplayer bonuses are just as aggravating and poorly designed as the main quest. Other than the Sonic levels, which are few and far between, the only aspect that truly drew me into the quest was the ability to raise and nurture the adorable little Chao pets. This obscure break from the game is quite deep and more finely polished than the game itself. I have a feeling that kids will thoroughly enjoy this release, but it’s way too easy and too far off the beaten track to entice hardcore gamers or fans of Sonic’s nostalgic exploits.