Sonic Rush

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

Generally favorable reviews- based on 206 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 162 out of 206
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 206
  3. Negative: 14 out of 206
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  1. Krossbone
    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.    … Expand
  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. krazeeKidd102
    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.    … Expand
  4. GoombaJMR
    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    … Expand
  5. PringleDringus
    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.    … Expand
  6. wegie125
    Dec 17, 2017
    6
    I've actually never like sonic games in general, there has been a very few selection of sonic games that I have liked and obviously there are reasons for that. The sonic games don't have the best reputation and they definitely don't offer much according to many critics. They have tried so much in so many different directions that it feels like sonic is dead. Many people believe that thereI've actually never like sonic games in general, there has been a very few selection of sonic games that I have liked and obviously there are reasons for that. The sonic games don't have the best reputation and they definitely don't offer much according to many critics. They have tried so much in so many different directions that it feels like sonic is dead. Many people believe that there weren't any good sonic games after the first few sonic games but nobody actually talks about this one and I believe it's because it was pretty much smack in the middle of other games. It wasn't amazing but it also wasn't bad, it offered some entertainment but it wasn't always consistent. It was fun though and I feel people leave it out for that reason.… Expand
  7. Untitled94
    Oct 5, 2017
    7
    I actually wasn't a huge fan of Sonic Rush, but I still kind of like it. The graphics weren't the best, even for DS graphics, and the soundtrack is one of the worst in the series (the worst being the Water Palace music). But the game feels like a Sonic game for the most part. I do still like playing it time to time, but there's other Sonic games I prefer over this one.
  8. JPK
    Aug 19, 2018
    9
    Great DS Game
    Sonic Rush Is Another Worthy Sonic Game That Has All The Humor And Likableness To It.
  9. Happymonk
    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
  10. DavidCharlton
    May 16, 2009
    6
    The stages are entertaining and harken back to the old Sonic style we know and love, but the polygonal 3D boss fights are often tedious, cheap and frustrating, with the boss of the aircraft carrier stage Huge Crisis and the penultimate "unknown" zone being the worst offenders and as fun as the levels are, they lack any of the flare and magic that made the original Mega Drive series soThe stages are entertaining and harken back to the old Sonic style we know and love, but the polygonal 3D boss fights are often tedious, cheap and frustrating, with the boss of the aircraft carrier stage Huge Crisis and the penultimate "unknown" zone being the worst offenders and as fun as the levels are, they lack any of the flare and magic that made the original Mega Drive series so compulsively replayable.

    Another complaint I have is regarding the bonus stages which you are required to complete as Sonic in order to obtain the chaos emeralds. They play out like the half-pipe special stages from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3D Blast, only you control Sonic using the DS stylus, which feels twitchy and unresponsive at best and is particularly problematic later on as the stages get more difficult.

    I'd go so far as to say that you're better off playing Sonic Unleashed. Even the disastrous Sonic '06 had tonnes more replay value than this game. If you hate playing 3D Sonic games, then my advice is to stick with the classics from Sonic's heyday. The reason they are remembered so fondly is because of their lasting appeal. Sonic Rush has none of this.

    Of course it's not all bad. Sonic Rush features some gorgeous 2D graphics even does its best to make use of the DS's primitive 3D capabilities. It's often a great pleasure to blast through such pleasant, colourful levels and I'm happy to say that adrenaline-pumped speed rarely lets up. The levels feature a nice balance of breakneck speed and interactivity, without compromising either (which is part of what made the daytime levels in Unleashed so much fun). The soundtrack is very reminiscent of Jet Set Radio and , depending on your inclination, will either sound fun and catchy or cloying and dated. I must say I enjoyed it though.

    So in conclusion, I would recommend this game to any Sonic fan who owns a DS, but don't set your expectations too high. Sonic still has a long way to go before he can recapture his previous glory.    … Expand
  11. P.Scott
    Jul 12, 2006
    4
    Really disappointing. I know I'm the only person on the planet who thinks this, but Sega seem to have put most of their time into the graphics and nothing else. The voices and music are terrible and the zones suck. The only good things are the boss battles. It looks like it was made just to shove a Sonic game onto DS, and to try and make him look cool. Avoid this, and get the Really disappointing. I know I'm the only person on the planet who thinks this, but Sega seem to have put most of their time into the graphics and nothing else. The voices and music are terrible and the zones suck. The only good things are the boss battles. It looks like it was made just to shove a Sonic game onto DS, and to try and make him look cool. Avoid this, and get the original Sonic Advance.… Expand
  12. RobL.
    Nov 20, 2005
    3
    No touch screen control. Lots of holding right Bad Level design Bad enemy placements Very gimmicky Terrible voice acting and soundtrack The only good bits are the bosses especially the zone 3 boss.
  13. SuperKurzacz
    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.
  14. SuperLuigiBro
    Oct 7, 2020
    0
    okay so i got a story to tell one day after getting my ds lite i played sonic rush and my god this is the best sonic game i played the only thing holding it back is the bottom less pits but it's up there with sonic advance 2 and sonic cd
  15. 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.
  16. MarkK.
    Oct 6, 2007
    9
    The best Sonic Team have done in years! A must for any sonic fan.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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)
  20. 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
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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!
  25. 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.
  26. 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
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. andrewrox
    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
  30. DiscoDiva
    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
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best DS Game of 2005
7
#7 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005
8
#8 Most Shared DS Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. IGN
    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.
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  2. GameSpot
    82
    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.
    Read full review
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    90
    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.
    Read full review
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