Sonic Battle

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Jan 5, 2004
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 28
  3. Negative: 3 out of 28
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  1. AceGamez
    90
    A charming game with a riveting plot and, most of all, a fun and challenging engine at heart.
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  2. Pocket Games
    90
    Stuffed with enough game modes and options to make many console fighting games jealous. [Spring 2004, p.46]
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  3. Deeko
    90
    It offers up quite an astounding amount of depth for such a pint sized fighting game and allows for some truly exciting multiplayer madness.
  5. Nintendophiles
    88
    Not only does this game offer probably the best multiplayer Game Boy experience since "The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords," but the story mode, challenge mode, and excellent gameplay make it a great single player experience as well.
  6. Play Magazine
    83
    The fighting constantly evolves and always has an angle beyond mere versus encounters. [Mar 2004, p.72]
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  7. IGN
    80
    It does try hard to be what Smash Bros. is, and even though the game doesn't quite reach the same status Nintendo and HAL created for the Nintendo consoles, Sonic Battle has enough stuff to make it one of the top original fighters on the Game Boy Advance system.
  8. 1UP
    80
    A fun game to bash around with, and it's one of the best Sonic offshoots the series has seen so far. If you can get over the odd balance, you'll find that it's also one of the best pick-up-and-play fighters on the GBA, too.
  9. GameZone
    78
    Even though the controls are tight and responsive, you’ll be left wondering why your character didn’t pull off a move that you entered. Button mashing will probably work fine for most players, instead of trying to work on a particular move.
  10. GameSpot
    77
    A good substitute for "Super Smash Bros," and while you may find it lacking in certain areas, the fast-paced design and raucous battle mode more than compensate for the majority of the game's wholly subjective shortcomings.
  11. Inside Gamer Online
    76
    Sonic Battle’s strong point is definitely its visuals. Everything has more detail than you’d think with a GBA game.
  12. GameSpy
    75
    A solid and pleasantly deep arena beat-'em-up with lots of longevity, and through the presence of the Hedgehog and his posse adds absolutely nothing to the game, it's nice to see them getting work in these tough economic times.
  13. Worth Playing
    75
    A surprisingly creative, fun take on mascot-driven fighting games.

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
14
#14 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
26
#26 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 56
  3. Negative: 4 out of 56
  1. ZXSth
    Feb 27, 2023
    7
    A surprisingly deep and interesting Sonic game that throws a wrench in what one might expect from a Sonic game. While certainly full ofA surprisingly deep and interesting Sonic game that throws a wrench in what one might expect from a Sonic game. While certainly full of arbitrary 'padding' (and unnecessarily lengthy as a consequence), the gameplay is above average for what could be reasonably expected of a fighting game on the GBA, and plays like an isometric Smash Bros. game with some light role-playing mechanics. While not necessarily excellent and occasionally frustrating, Sonic Battle is a reasonably enjoyable fighting game that inches towards excellence, but reaches something just shy of it.… Full Review »
  2. MetalReviewer
    Mar 7, 2022
    8
    A simple enjoyable beat-em-up with a surprisingly great plot behind it. If you enjoy simply flinging characters into walls, this one's up your alley.
  3. E102Gamma
    Nov 15, 2021
    3
    Sonic Battle was the first game on the Game Boy Advance I ever owned and it was fine at first but once I started playing the story modes ISonic Battle was the first game on the Game Boy Advance I ever owned and it was fine at first but once I started playing the story modes I gave up once Rouge kidnapped Emerl. The difficulty spikes in this game is the biggest problem. The AI of your opponent never improves. The game's challenge is beating the same character over and over. Sometimes under a time limit, sometimes with a handicap. The fight itself isn't challenging unless you're playing as Emerl. The combat is clunky and unsatisfying and the RPG gimmicks are starting to feel very stale in these post - Saturn Sonic games. The 3D environments might have looked impressive for the time and the art style is indeed very neat. It's just a shame that this game is such a bore and sometimes a frustration to play.… Full Review »
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