• Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Nov 15, 2005
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 206 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 14 out of 206
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  1. Jan 29, 2020
    10
    Sonic Rush. This game defined a generation. The 90's kids had Sonic 3 & Knuckles, but the kids of the 2000s had Sonic Rush as THEIR 2D game. And what a glorious game it is to hold that title.

    This game is what truly introduced the boost mechanic, and did so in a 2D environment. It completely evolved the Classic Sonic formula and made it something modern. Being able to preform tricks, an
    Sonic Rush. This game defined a generation. The 90's kids had Sonic 3 & Knuckles, but the kids of the 2000s had Sonic Rush as THEIR 2D game. And what a glorious game it is to hold that title.

    This game is what truly introduced the boost mechanic, and did so in a 2D environment. It completely evolved the Classic Sonic formula and made it something modern. Being able to preform tricks, an amazing story arc for the newly introduced Blaze the Cat, just genuine fun.
    Easily the best Sonic game of all time and definitely worth you picking up.
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  2. MarlonB.
    Oct 14, 2008
    9
    Hands down this game has revolutionized the Sonic franchise! When I played Sonic Advance I thought "hey, this isnt half bad" Then the sequels which truly made me feel like a bad ass with the incredible speed they brought, but that NOTHING compared to what Sonic Rush brought! Take the speed of Sonic Advance, multiply that by "holy pepperoni?!" & you got Sonic Rush. It aint called Sonic Hands down this game has revolutionized the Sonic franchise! When I played Sonic Advance I thought "hey, this isnt half bad" Then the sequels which truly made me feel like a bad ass with the incredible speed they brought, but that NOTHING compared to what Sonic Rush brought! Take the speed of Sonic Advance, multiply that by "holy pepperoni?!" & you got Sonic Rush. It aint called Sonic Rush for no reason. But Speed isnt the only thing this game brought, the tricks (oh the tricks!!) now that is the milk in my cereal! In the game when you jump or you're on a rail you gotta do tricks. Its simpler than it sounds, a simple press of the b, a, or r button. but of course these tricks have a purpose, the more you do, the more your rush meter fills. Now you can be boring & speed Sonic up the advance way (run till the after images show up) or you can use your tricks to your advantage press y or x and RUSH to get an instant speed boost! this with the amazing level design makes Sonic Rush an instant classic. there parts of the level though where you jump & you're doing your tricks and all of a sudden an enemy is there to ruin your combo, but they're easily ignorable. the game has its minor flawss though but again, they're minor but are what prevented the game from getting that perfect score. for example, the boss fights. they're either very easy or extremely irritating. the fact that I can only hit the boss when he (or she, blaze) is in position really makes it slow paced, and if i miss, i gotta wait till he's in position again, ugh! and then there is blaze. nothing really terrible about her but if you ask me, seems like she is begginer oriented with her no bonus levels, slower speed yet superior aerial abilities which really makes versus mode unbalanced. foix that and this would be a perfect game. Sonic Rush is most definitely a must have for ANY sonic fan!!! Expand
  3. Apr 20, 2011
    8
    Sonic Rush is a great game. It's fast, exhilerating, and action-packed with a trick system to refill your boost gauge. Many old-school fans would dislike the game for its linear level design and focus on speed, but I honestly like it regardless and I believe any casual gamer will adore it as well.

    However, it does have a list of problems besides that. Most of it involves a heavy
    Sonic Rush is a great game. It's fast, exhilerating, and action-packed with a trick system to refill your boost gauge. Many old-school fans would dislike the game for its linear level design and focus on speed, but I honestly like it regardless and I believe any casual gamer will adore it as well.

    However, it does have a list of problems besides that. Most of it involves a heavy emphasis on bottomless pits and poor enemy placement. There are times where they just put enemies right on the track in front of you, where you are going too fast to react. The boost does it best to alleviate the problem (considering that you're invincible when you use it), but then it leads to the bottomless pit problem, where you would speed right off a ledge and land on a falling platform with no time for a first-time reaction and ending up falling to your death. Levels like Altitude Limit will easily frustrate. You can easily avoid these problems by learning the level layout as you play, but that doesn't change the fact that the problem's still there.

    Nevertheless, it's fun and interactive. Definetely worth taking a look at.
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  4. Jan 12, 2014
    9
    This is platforming to the most extreme level. The game's many long levels have been crafted perfectly to give you a real "rush" like feeling. The basic story may only take you 8-12 hours to beat, but the story isnt really over then. If you do something (can't say), then something will happen, greatly extending the hours to play, and you won't get bored with it! The multiplayer is alsoThis is platforming to the most extreme level. The game's many long levels have been crafted perfectly to give you a real "rush" like feeling. The basic story may only take you 8-12 hours to beat, but the story isnt really over then. If you do something (can't say), then something will happen, greatly extending the hours to play, and you won't get bored with it! The multiplayer is also amazing as you get to race around with your friend, very rush-like! I highly recommend this game to all sonic and platformer fans!!!

    Gameplay: 10/10
    Story: 8.5/10
    Music: 9/10
    Presentation: 9/10
    Length: 9/10
    Overall: 9.5/10
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  5. Mar 13, 2015
    10
    Of all the sonic platformers I've played, this is the one I've had the most fun with. The controls, gameplay graphics, and music (especially the music) are all fantastic. While the level design may not be perfect for the same reason most sonic games aren't (taking damage or falling down a pit due to something you couldn't react to or properly see), the fact that the game is very forgivingOf all the sonic platformers I've played, this is the one I've had the most fun with. The controls, gameplay graphics, and music (especially the music) are all fantastic. While the level design may not be perfect for the same reason most sonic games aren't (taking damage or falling down a pit due to something you couldn't react to or properly see), the fact that the game is very forgiving combined with the fact the game takes an effort to properly prepare you for life or death sequences keeps the frustration at minimum; blasting through the levels can be incredibly fun and satisfying. On top of that, this game has some of the best bosses in a platformer I've ever encountered. They're all very well designed, and while the game is guilty of one or two palette swaps, the bosses themselves don't suffer because of it.
    All in all, if you're a fan of platformers or sonic in general, you definitely won't be disappointed. While it's not the longest game, it's fun the whole way through. Definitely give it a shot if you're interested.
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  6. JPK
    Aug 19, 2018
    9
    Great DS Game
    Sonic Rush Is Another Worthy Sonic Game That Has All The Humor And Likableness To It.
  7. Jan 24, 2012
    8
    Sonic Rush showcases the awesomeness of the DS rather well, with fast-paced sonic awesomeness taking place over both screens. I haven't played a Sonic game on a Nintendo Handheld that I haven't enjoyed. It isn't fantastic, just great. Where it succeeds is the gameplay and difficulty, very good. But where it fails is in level design and music. The levels are mostly good, but there are oneSonic Rush showcases the awesomeness of the DS rather well, with fast-paced sonic awesomeness taking place over both screens. I haven't played a Sonic game on a Nintendo Handheld that I haven't enjoyed. It isn't fantastic, just great. Where it succeeds is the gameplay and difficulty, very good. But where it fails is in level design and music. The levels are mostly good, but there are one or two that aren't so great and the game contains what is quite possibly the most annoying soundtrack I've ever heard on the DS. But, it is great and Blaze isn't actually that bad, maybe a tad pointless, but not that bad. Expand
  8. Apr 26, 2012
    9
    This is totality one of the best ds games because this game just has it all great storyline kind of good graphics and there are also two ways to play sonic and blaze and this is the main point of the game the two different characters to play as.With this rating you will see what I mean.
  9. CoreyS.
    May 20, 2006
    9
    It may be short but Sonic Rush has a suprising amount of replay value. This may be the fastest 2-D sonic game yet.
  10. MarkK.
    Oct 6, 2007
    9
    The best Sonic Team have done in years! A must for any sonic fan.
  11. Giorgio
    Jan 6, 2007
    8
    It's sonic. It's fast. It's colourful. It's fun to play! A high-level platform game to add to the DS list. The levels are huge, even if their number is small. 3D bosses are a nice addition, too.
  12. ElliottM.
    Jan 30, 2006
    9
    Combine Ingenius Sonic Level design with all the flair with a simple (Very simple) combo system and you have sonic rush. Definately sonics fastest and most insane adventure yet. Sure it's short for this day, but with 8l evels (and bonus stages), it is just as long as any other sonic fan. This game demonstrates an excellent concept, and should make a worthy addition to any DS library.
  13. NatsuriI.
    Jan 16, 2007
    9
    Three words: Get this game! Sure, there are some hard points where you may take a spill, but the learning curve and difficulty, plus the storyline, makes it all negligible. The only thing missing are the original voice actors. (i.e., Jaleel White)
  14. GioD
    Mar 21, 2008
    10
    Hands down this is the finest Sonic game yet and i take nothing away from the AWESOME gameboy advance Sonic's 1-3. Sonic Rush brings back EVERYTHING that was great about a Sonic game in the first place. Fantastic graphics, a really great soundtrack, multiple missions, and ofcourse blazingly fast speed. Its good to know that even though Sega has messed up Sonic in the past with someHands down this is the finest Sonic game yet and i take nothing away from the AWESOME gameboy advance Sonic's 1-3. Sonic Rush brings back EVERYTHING that was great about a Sonic game in the first place. Fantastic graphics, a really great soundtrack, multiple missions, and ofcourse blazingly fast speed. Its good to know that even though Sega has messed up Sonic in the past with some medicore to moderate games, they can still produce an extremely fun and amazingly polished Sonic game. It's good to have you back in all of your original glory Expand
  15. TonyG.
    Dec 3, 2005
    9
    super fast!! feels like big dose of speed! fixed alot of prevois probs with common sonic level design, spike placement ect. great job! can't wait for part 2! one of the best sonic games to date.
  16. TylerA.
    Jan 2, 2006
    9
    This game was great, it had good speed, sound graphics and soundtrack. The only bad things are the special stages, the touch screen control can be annoying, and the game is too short, I got the game for Christmas and didnt start playing till the 26th and I finished it on the 29th. Still its worth a try.
  17. CameronC.
    Apr 28, 2006
    8
    A crisp start for Sonic on the DS, and a refresher from the last of the Advance Sonic games. Great graphics, good level design, and a usual perfect choice of music. This is a flawless Sonic game, except i was hoping that with all of those emeralds to collect, you would get to control Hyper Sonic once again.
  18. Arlantaniar
    Jan 14, 2007
    10
    The best 2D game from SonicTeam. Music is perfect, levels are interesting, Bosses are hardly-defeating, even subject is good! (I mean, this story is interesting). This game shows, that Sonic team still have a great talant... and the grows up in it with every game!
  19. Zaid
    Nov 21, 2005
    9
    one of the best Sonic games since SOnic and Knuckles. actually no... besides the original SA, the best Sonic game since sonic and knuckles. Don't believe the haters, this is astounding.
  20. Phishor
    Dec 24, 2005
    9
    Great game. I particularly like the extra moves they've added, it adds another layer of skill to the game. Actually, this is best fast paced action game I've ever played. I do have one complaint though, I finished it too quickly. I guess my old skills from the other Sonic games carried over. So I found Sonic Rush to be just a bit short. It's still just as long as any other Great game. I particularly like the extra moves they've added, it adds another layer of skill to the game. Actually, this is best fast paced action game I've ever played. I do have one complaint though, I finished it too quickly. I guess my old skills from the other Sonic games carried over. So I found Sonic Rush to be just a bit short. It's still just as long as any other Sonic game, but that's too short for someone like me... Expand
  21. Tony
    Dec 29, 2005
    9
    A must have DS game. an incredibly well put together soundtrack, with great sound quality. I have always played sonic for the sheer speed of the game that no other 2d platformers had, and this one did not disappoint.
  22. JL
    Nov 25, 2005
    9
    One of the better recently made Sonic Games. The sound track is awesome. 3d graphics great. Nice level design, but some what horrible enemy placement. A refreshing game for DS. Thank you Sega.
  23. Dec 16, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Worth the buy....it could be tricky in some parts but it's a fun game and who doesn't like beating eggman a million times:)...fun game and you can play as sonic or blaze and have different endings Expand
  24. Jan 18, 2013
    9
    Overall, this is a great game and probably the best of the franchise, The levels and are fun, fast and free with so many different paths to sure and use against people on Multiplayer and both characters playble have a good unique skill set. Music is funky and super cool. Graphics are energitic and perfect for a DS game and the boss fights are amazing! You would even feel like beating theOverall, this is a great game and probably the best of the franchise, The levels and are fun, fast and free with so many different paths to sure and use against people on Multiplayer and both characters playble have a good unique skill set. Music is funky and super cool. Graphics are energitic and perfect for a DS game and the boss fights are amazing! You would even feel like beating the game with new scored over and over again and it dosent get boring. Even listining to sound clips are fun and the story is simple and compelling. The only things that went wrong was a huge lack of touch screen for a DS game and there is less thinking and platform. Maybe some extra types of levels other than fast stages would be better as well. Expand
  25. Jan 19, 2014
    8
    Sonic Rush is a great Sonic title by Dimps, It's great fun to go blasting though the levels while boosting, and it is a fun challenge to see how far you can go without running out of boost energy. The only problem I have with the gameplay is how Sonic and Blaze's play exactly the same and how their zones are exactly the same just in a different order.

    The story is basically the typical
    Sonic Rush is a great Sonic title by Dimps, It's great fun to go blasting though the levels while boosting, and it is a fun challenge to see how far you can go without running out of boost energy. The only problem I have with the gameplay is how Sonic and Blaze's play exactly the same and how their zones are exactly the same just in a different order.

    The story is basically the typical Sonic story. Dr. Eggman is evil. Go stop him. Nothing really worth talking about.

    Graphically the game is great. With the very nice looking 2D backgrounds and stages. Sonic and Blaze's 3D models are decent as well. The bosses, which are also 3D models, are also passable.

    The soundtrack is phenomenal. Done by Hideki Naganuma, famous for his work on Jet Set Radio. He brings a soundtrack that is very different from any other soundtrack in the series. Which no game in the series has been able to replicate. The soundtrack is made up of most made up of techno and it sounds amazing. It's very up-beat and catchy. Sound Effects are nothing special. And the voice clips work well enough.

    Overall a great entry into the Sonic franchise, with it's fun gameplay, great graphics, and phenomenal soundtrack. I recommend it to anyone.

    OVERALL-
    8/10
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  26. Dec 17, 2013
    9
    Sonic Rush introduces a new style of play to 2-D Sonic games, and I for one, really enjoyed the outcome. The goal is the same, but the way you go about reaching the goal has changed. Often, it's hard to get Sonic rolling, and all these enemies in the way made it a challenge to do so. DIMPS had the marvelous idea of adding a boost mechanic in which Sonic can tear through just about anySonic Rush introduces a new style of play to 2-D Sonic games, and I for one, really enjoyed the outcome. The goal is the same, but the way you go about reaching the goal has changed. Often, it's hard to get Sonic rolling, and all these enemies in the way made it a challenge to do so. DIMPS had the marvelous idea of adding a boost mechanic in which Sonic can tear through just about any obstacle with the touch of the button and accelerate to greater speeds.

    One would worry that this would create an imbalance in the gameplay. All you would have to do is hit the boost button through the level. To cover for that problem, the trick system was implemented, which has you using the hang time from bumpers and ramps into moments where you're frantically hitting the trick button, which so also happens to be the boost button. You'll find yourself budgeting how much time you have before you hit the ground before you can blast off in a frenzy. Sometimes, it's a danger, and you must carefully finish your tricks before landing, cause otherwise, you may send yourself to your death. The game is smart in forcing the player to think about when to use the boost and when not to. Those that try to just blast through every obstacle will fall right into every trap that this game has to offer.

    Figuring out the most efficient paths and how to effectively use the new boost mechanic leaves you on your toes trying to move faster, yet smarter. The game's worlds are enormous and make good use of the 2 screens. Blaze enhances the game slightly by allowing for a different play style as well.

    Overall, I enjoyed the change in pacing for Sonic. A great way to modernize the 2-D style of gameplay, and full of frantic fun.
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  27. Apr 13, 2014
    10
    This is the best Dimps Sonic game. I can easily pick up my 3DS and play this game and have a good time doing so. If you want the final story, then play as Blaze. I don't do so since the running animation feels weird, and she is much slower.
  28. Jan 3, 2017
    8
    Sonic Rush definitely brings in the DS some attention for the hedgehog. It should be worth noting here that Sonic Rush brings disadvantages to the hedgehog, but some of them could hardly be beaten by their advantages.
  29. Jul 21, 2016
    10
    A year before...that 2006 mess came out we had THIS game! A fast paced platformer with great characters and great gameplay. Try sonic rush and you may love it.
  30. Aug 31, 2016
    8
    O melhor jogo do sonic no nintendo ds, trouxe a blaze para o portatil, graficos bons para o console, infelizmente a sua continuação nao foi tao boa assim...
  31. Oct 3, 2016
    9
    a very enjoyable game the introduction of blaze the cat is great this game makes sonic go fast which is what you want from a sonic game with different versions of zones and music for each character this is a great sonic game to play
  32. Oct 14, 2016
    8
    Quite a good game, but I recommend playing this first before playing the DS version of Sonic Colours.

    Sounds, looks and plays wonderfully! One thing a get annoyed with though is when you get a game over, you go back to the title screen. Games in the older days had this, but this game kind of does it in an inappropriate way.
  33. Nov 10, 2016
    8
    Sonic Rush was one of the first Sonic games for DS. This was the time when DS was still in its infancy. I compare this to playing the original Sonic but better by 1,000,000. Best Sonic game on a Legacy platform. 8/10
  34. Aug 30, 2017
    9
    Sonic Rush is a semi 3D game but the gameplay is classic sonic with new gimmicks that work out perfectly in game. It introduces amazing characters with a decent story. In my opinion a bit better then all the Sonic Advance games.
  35. Feb 12, 2018
    10
    "92% The Best Sonic Game Ever". The european box art says itself and it was right
  36. Mar 26, 2020
    10
    This is in my opinion one of the best Sonic games, fast, fun and with amazing graphics for the DS, as well as one of the most up-beat soundtracks I've ever heard, overall, it's almost a masterpiece.
  37. Sep 16, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think the whole composition of the game is great. With a few tweaks here and there, this could have been a perfect game! Great gameplay, graphics *for the time*, and might I add one of the most KILLER soundtracks to a Sonic game I have ever heard. Expand
  38. Jan 17, 2021
    10
    This was my first Sonic title, and one of my first DS games as well. A must-play for sure; the ost is very unique as well, and the level design is over the top in every single stage. True classic!
  39. Mar 23, 2023
    9
    An incredibly polished and enjoyable take on the typical Sonic formula with some killer music, Sonic Rush is easily the best Sonic game not developed in-house by Sonic Team besides Sonic Mania.
  40. Jul 5, 2021
    8
    It's a really fun game with good stage mechanics, and the game dose have a lot of bottomless pits but I can really look past that with the fun gameplay!
  41. Nov 15, 2021
    8
    Sonic Rush is the very last piece I added to my Sonic the Hedgehog DS library and it is considered, by many, to be the best the series has to offer on the console. It is fun, challenging, but above all else, balanced. The only major flaws this game suffers from are view distance, cheap enemy placement and excessive bottomless pits but these issues never reach the same extremes as theSonic Rush is the very last piece I added to my Sonic the Hedgehog DS library and it is considered, by many, to be the best the series has to offer on the console. It is fun, challenging, but above all else, balanced. The only major flaws this game suffers from are view distance, cheap enemy placement and excessive bottomless pits but these issues never reach the same extremes as the Advance games. The bosses, one of the most consistently poor sections in the series, are genuinely challenging. Sometimes a little too challenging.

    Sonic Rush follows a significantly streamlined story compared to its predecessors. It focuses on only two characters meaning two campaigns. Sonic the Hedgehog and the newcomer Blaze the Cat. Both are identical with control and play the same levels. This was a negative against Sonic Heroes but that was because the game required four playthroughs and that game play wasn't very good to begin with. Sonic Rush is among the few Sonic games I would highly recommend but it isn't my favorite as there are two on this website that I believe surpass it.
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  42. Sep 13, 2022
    9
    89%

    You won’t always crave this game, but it's fun, has detailed level design, a simple but intriguing story, and it introduces one of the series's best characters, Blaze the Cat.
  43. Mar 10, 2022
    9
    sonic rush is a great start for boost era but it's not 3d sonic unleashed is best extension of that.
  44. Mar 8, 2022
    8
    This is my favorite sonic game, but it does have a couple of flaws, one of them being altitude limit. This is one of the worst sonic levels. This level was frustrating and has too many bottomless pits and it's kinda hard to tell if there's a bottomless pit because of the ds screen but also because there's clouds at the bottom, making it even harder. Another problem is the boss fights. TheThis is my favorite sonic game, but it does have a couple of flaws, one of them being altitude limit. This is one of the worst sonic levels. This level was frustrating and has too many bottomless pits and it's kinda hard to tell if there's a bottomless pit because of the ds screen but also because there's clouds at the bottom, making it even harder. Another problem is the boss fights. The boss fights are literally waiting games and the whole selling point of the game is for you to go fast, so it's kinda a problem when you have to wait until the boss reveals it's weak point. It takes the bosses a while to reveal their weak point and when you get hit by their attacks, sometimes your rings fall out everywhere and it's hard to get them back. The rest of the game is so good. Expand
  45. Aug 6, 2022
    8
    gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood
  46. Nov 15, 2022
    8
    Sonic Rush is An amazing Handheld sonic game With bopin music and Great Story. This game introduced "Blaze The Cat" And "The Boost Formula". Gameplay Is Stellar Music Is Fire but A Little Compressed Since its On The DS. If There was anything That I Do Not Like its that Some stages Feel Like You Cannot See what's comming. Mabey if the camera was a bit zoomed out it would be better. Its AnSonic Rush is An amazing Handheld sonic game With bopin music and Great Story. This game introduced "Blaze The Cat" And "The Boost Formula". Gameplay Is Stellar Music Is Fire but A Little Compressed Since its On The DS. If There was anything That I Do Not Like its that Some stages Feel Like You Cannot See what's comming. Mabey if the camera was a bit zoomed out it would be better. Its An 8/10 Very Good! Expand
  47. Dec 11, 2022
    9
    I mean, what's not to love about this game. Sonic plays well, Blaze plays well. It's great high speed action, good graphics (not that that matters), has really good level design and trick system, good soundtrack (which it did win a game award for) and has mostly good bosses. It's a great game. It has a decent story and has a good cast of characters. The only criticism I have is theI mean, what's not to love about this game. Sonic plays well, Blaze plays well. It's great high speed action, good graphics (not that that matters), has really good level design and trick system, good soundtrack (which it did win a game award for) and has mostly good bosses. It's a great game. It has a decent story and has a good cast of characters. The only criticism I have is the abundance of bottomless pits which can be really annoying, especially when speed running the levels.
    Good job Sega and Dimps for bringing this great game to us.
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  48. Jul 7, 2023
    10
    This game to this day still ages fantastically. It is really just fun and introduced Blaze which is one of the best characters
  49. Feb 17, 2023
    10
    This game is FAST. You will be boosting though enemies, grinding on rails and getting funky to still one of the best osts in video game history ever. PLEASE PLAY THIS ONE HELL OF A GAME
  50. May 14, 2023
    8
    One of, if not THE most underrated Sonic games of all time. With great music, fun bosses, and decent level design, Sonic Rush deserves to be put on a pedestal as a mainline game - because calling every portable game a spin-off is just dumb.

Awards & Rankings

12
7
#7 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005
8
#8 Most Shared DS Game of 2005
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 43
  2. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. 90
    An extremely polished DS title. It does a great job offering a fantastic, energetic old-school challenge that keeps the classic gaming style alive.
  2. Sonic Rush moves Sonic's 2D adventures over to the DS, and that positive trend continues with a platformer that focuses on raw speed while still managing to do interesting new things, particularly when it comes to the handheld's dual-screen format.
  3. Sonic Rush is an excellent pick-up-and-play title that's as addictive as any in the series, and has better graphics, sound, and presentation than any title before it.