Sonic Heroes

 GameCube
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 295 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 194 out of 295
  2. Mixed: 79 out of 295
  3. Negative: 22 out of 295
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. TreasureOrTrash
    Sep 8, 2023
    10
    Treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Jimbok3rr178
    Apr 13, 2023
    7
    Honestly I think some of the levels are great but the game feels so slippery at a lot of points oh and screw tails
  3. Dzusch
    Feb 2, 2023
    5
    After playing the game on the console, you understand that it is not interesting. Maybe someone likes a platformer in a fast-paced game about supersonic Sonic. Okay, but the physics here are so bad that you can't even try, the game will launch you into space by itself. The plot, I can't say much because I almost didn't find it here! I know that some geniuses may find some deep plot here,After playing the game on the console, you understand that it is not interesting. Maybe someone likes a platformer in a fast-paced game about supersonic Sonic. Okay, but the physics here are so bad that you can't even try, the game will launch you into space by itself. The plot, I can't say much because I almost didn't find it here! I know that some geniuses may find some deep plot here, but it's just a joke, nothing more! Game More is less. Mixed emotions because the gameplay asks for better… Expand
  4. Ejameson5
    Jan 8, 2023
    9
    It will Glitch from time to time but it is a fun sonic adventure game and all the different game modes are fun to.
  5. FeelStar
    Nov 25, 2022
    8
    Sonic Heroes is a really good title with a lot of good and some bad. The game attempts a new gameplay style by playing as 3 characters at once. The controls of the game seem really off at first but soon become natural as it goes on. The level design, soundtrack, and graphics are all on point here with them, even managing to make combat a really engaging element of the game. The gamesSonic Heroes is a really good title with a lot of good and some bad. The game attempts a new gameplay style by playing as 3 characters at once. The controls of the game seem really off at first but soon become natural as it goes on. The level design, soundtrack, and graphics are all on point here with them, even managing to make combat a really engaging element of the game. The games however has constant moments of annoyance to it with things such as the bosses, special stages, slight jank, & 4 stories that aren't different enough to warrant playing them all to reach the end. Still I had a real good time and most people are bound to have some fun too.… Expand
  6. KrillerBomb
    Nov 25, 2022
    10
    An awesome game with one of the best soundtracks of gaming ever to exist!!!
  7. Heracross93
    Oct 11, 2022
    6
    A hassle to complete with the main story and significant gameplay issues: expect many deaths which are not the player's fault.
  8. MaikaChan48
    Sep 1, 2022
    10
    Easily one of the best experiences I've had in a Sonic game. The variety of characters, excellent music, and amazing level design. Everyone should give this game a good college try before deciding on if they want to continue to play or not.
  9. FireBroFilms
    Aug 15, 2022
    6
    ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
  10. pissbaby22
    Jul 29, 2022
    10
    My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time MyMy favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time My favorite game of all time… Expand
  11. Goorman1996
    Jun 23, 2022
    10
    I don't know what to say, but yes, this is Sonic, and this is a classic thing. First I got that game when I was about 7-8 years old. My father bought it for me. Still to this day, sometimes, I enjoy play in it. It is not only the classic — it is a nostalgic one. Recommend without a doubt!
  12. MrDeibus
    Jun 3, 2022
    8
    Although it lacks a much needed coat of polish, Sonic Heroes is still a great platformer with a ton of cool gameplay mechanics.
  13. Tigre-Assyrien
    Apr 9, 2022
    0
    i am playing this game right now, wich was a part of my childhood, but i dont care about feelings and nostalgia, yeah the music and menus are a nice throwback, but the actual game? the gameplay? controls? this is an absolute joke its unplayable not just by today's standards,
  14. grimreapersims
    Mar 15, 2022
    7
    ....................................................................................................................................................................................................blank
  15. MetalReviewer
    Mar 7, 2022
    8
    Charming, fun, full of memorable characters that never stop entertaining, and a return to form for the Classic style. The soundtrack also slaps so hard, man. Unless you're sensitive towards slippery controls, this one's an underrated blast. Check it out if you please.
  16. E102Gamma
    Nov 15, 2021
    3
    Lets start with the positives:
    Music - Excellent as always
    Art direction - As good as one can make it in 2003. The levels look amazing. Story - Back to basics in all but one campaign. Its not exactly a plus but this was the very first big Sonic game released on all the major consoles of the time. It would make sense to hold back on the exposition, lore, and world building. Now then,    Lets start with the positives:
    Music - Excellent as always
    Art direction - As good as one can make it in 2003. The levels look amazing.
    Story - Back to basics in all but one campaign. Its not exactly a plus but this was the very first big Sonic game released on all the major consoles of the time. It would make sense to hold back on the exposition, lore, and world building.

    Now then, everything else. This was the very first time the heads of Sonic Team promised to bring Sonic "back to his roots" a promise that would be made nearly every single time the series got a new game. I don't believe they understand what the phrase means. In the game, the player controls three characters at a time. Sonic Team wanted to make a game focused around a single gameplay format, like the classics, but they didn't want to relinquish any of the supporting cast so this was the result. Sonic Heroes was made on the same engine as Sonic Adventures 1 and 2; two games that pushed the engine and the Dreamcast to its absolute limits. Now the team had to get it working on four separate pieces of hardware. What resulted is a game less stable than both of the prior installments at their worst. Both of the Adventure games' instability can be excused because:

    1. It's often easy to avoid.
    2. All the characters control comfortably and have a very simple move-set.
    3. 3D was still in its early stages. Nearly all 3D games of the 90s had plenty of instability. Comparing 90s 3D gaming to everything afterwards is like comparing NES games to the SNES.

    Most of the flaws with the Adventure games were excused in their time because 3D was still a developing innovation. There were hurdles that couldn't be jumped over, but by 2003 those hurdles had been all but demolished and to see Sonic Team still struggling to climb over them was disappointing. I won't talk about the gameplay in detail. Its main problems are instability and obnoxious controls. The four selectable teams on the menu are separate campaigns in disguise. Don't be fooled. You have to play the game 4 times in order to see the end of the story with little to no variation. It's like having to play Sonic 3 as Sonic, then Tails, and then Knuckles in order to play Death Egg Zone onward.

    Levels - 3
    Visuals - 8
    Story - 6
    Bosses - 0    … Expand
  17. 2bitplayss
    Nov 11, 2021
    8
    i recently played it for the first time and its a lot of fun i really liked this gimmick and i like that they choose this with more characters then having a lot of different play styles because i would probably not like most of them..

    anyway this game has a fun story great levels and design great music the controls are a little weird in the beginning and i kinda got confused by    i recently played it for the first time and its a lot of fun i really liked this gimmick and i like that they choose this with more characters then having a lot of different play styles because i would probably not like most of them..

    anyway this game has a fun story
    great levels and design
    great music

    the controls are a little weird in the beginning and i kinda got confused by switcing characters
    (you press y to switch to tails for example but now i want to be knuckels so i press y again because i assume it rotates in a circle but instead i switched to sonic becauming confused and pressingg random buttons.... but once you get used to that its a really fun time)
    overall a great sonic game    … Expand
  18. SSJRhandy
    Sep 25, 2021
    8
    Really solid title
    This was my introduction to Sonic If you wanna play this game
    Play it on Gamecube and stay away from PS2 port
  19. ShadowRose
    Sep 16, 2021
    6
    It is a good idea for a Sonic game as I like the array of Sonic characters but it can be a bit repetitive and annoying some times since you have to play thought 4 stories of similar stages and not to mention the poor controls but I still like the game a fair amount to play it as it is not to bad since the idea was pretty good. Overall it is an okay game for sonic fans.
  20. ReviewerGames
    Aug 1, 2021
    9
    Sonic Heroes is solid. It has good gameplay (despite being a bit slippery), the teamwork mechanics were well implemented, and it has one of the best OSTs in the series. That yes, I mean a degradation in the scenes and in the voice actors of some characters.
  21. FighterBro
    Jul 15, 2021
    8
    Sonic Heroes has to be one of my favorite Sonic games it being my second favorite. The game offers you multiple stories like Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix. Each have a certain amount of difficulty like Team Sonic being normal and Team Dark being a harder version of Team Sonic. The level design in this game is amazing and well done for the whole working togetherSonic Heroes has to be one of my favorite Sonic games it being my second favorite. The game offers you multiple stories like Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix. Each have a certain amount of difficulty like Team Sonic being normal and Team Dark being a harder version of Team Sonic. The level design in this game is amazing and well done for the whole working together gimmick. My only complaint is that switch to different rails could be wonky, special stages don't control good but are bareable, and that the combat can be mashy but other than that Sonic Heroes is a amazing game that offers a lot of replay value.… Expand
  22. Steph64
    Jul 1, 2021
    10
    Actually pretty fun game once you get down to it,the vibrant colors, awesome soundtrack, everything just flows really well.
  23. StNishigo
    May 4, 2021
    3
    Sonic Heroes does not stand the test of time, not that it was incredible when it first released, but I may have given it a moderate score of 5 or 6 at it's release.

    One of the biggest problems with the game is with the big jumps. It's hard to tell where you are landing which artificially increases the difficulty. The next biggest problem is a that the game expects you to beat it 4 times    Sonic Heroes does not stand the test of time, not that it was incredible when it first released, but I may have given it a moderate score of 5 or 6 at it's release.

    One of the biggest problems with the game is with the big jumps. It's hard to tell where you are landing which artificially increases the difficulty. The next biggest problem is a that the game expects you to beat it 4 times with characters that play almost identically. The later levels force you to either skip as much as you can or play at a snails pace because combat is not rewarding and can be very punishing.

    The story is forgettable and not worth the multiple playthroughs. Skip this one and find something better to play. Almost any Sonic game will do it.    … Expand
  24. Criti-Wise
    Mar 7, 2021
    8
    This game can give quite a fun time to anyone playing it. The levels are enjoyable, the music is solid, and the story makes sense. The controls lack polish however, and seem like a downgrade from the previous 3D titles. However, with the introduction of the team mechanic, you almost forget about the unpolished controls. The animation isn't that great though, even for its time.
    Anyway,    This game can give quite a fun time to anyone playing it. The levels are enjoyable, the music is solid, and the story makes sense. The controls lack polish however, and seem like a downgrade from the previous 3D titles. However, with the introduction of the team mechanic, you almost forget about the unpolished controls. The animation isn't that great though, even for its time.
    Anyway, would I recommend this game? Yes I would, but you can probably do better.    … Expand
  25. Ben-Ben
    Mar 2, 2021
    4
    It's an okay game that has the classic Sonic Charme but the fact that you have to play every stage four times is really annoying. If it was just Team Sonic and Team Dark, the game would have been so much better but it's required to complete all stories to get to the final boss. Another thing that's just stupid is that they that they now have set lines wich they repeat over and over again.It's an okay game that has the classic Sonic Charme but the fact that you have to play every stage four times is really annoying. If it was just Team Sonic and Team Dark, the game would have been so much better but it's required to complete all stories to get to the final boss. Another thing that's just stupid is that they that they now have set lines wich they repeat over and over again. To finish of, the controls are questionable and the special stages suck ads.… Expand
  26. Raknner44
    Feb 22, 2021
    0
    Los personajes se caen hasta con las acciones automáticas. No puedo creer que no hayan pulido eso. Cuando era chico me parecía buen juego pero porque en mi PC me corría muy lento. Ahora que lo juego a su velocidad original me doy cuenta de la realidad.
  27. nelson2004
    Feb 19, 2021
    8
    This game holds up so well nearly 20 years later, Gameplay is fun, consistent, and challenging. The music is easily some of the best in the series with rich, up-beat, and atmospheric tracks for each zone. The game also has a cheesy and simple plot but is balanced out with some good character interactions and the best voice acting from the dream-cast era cast. (That sounds kinda redundantThis game holds up so well nearly 20 years later, Gameplay is fun, consistent, and challenging. The music is easily some of the best in the series with rich, up-beat, and atmospheric tracks for each zone. The game also has a cheesy and simple plot but is balanced out with some good character interactions and the best voice acting from the dream-cast era cast. (That sounds kinda redundant lol.) The Graphics are quite good for the era. My only problem with the game is the control of the speed characters, they're a bit too fast and slippery for the levels in my opinion.… Expand
  28. GameDudeGuy
    Feb 4, 2021
    7
    Sorry Sonic Heroes Fans i just dont like this game a that much i know many people like it but its just not for me Sonic and everybody else look like plastic toys and its just not my favorite game altough i do think its the the most memorable
  29. JamesDrawsThngs
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    At some point in the early 2000s, some people thought that Sonic had lost his classic edge by the time the Adventure series had begun making its rounds, perhaps due to Adventure elements of SA1, the multiple playstyles of each game or the heavier emphasis on story. I suppose Sega thought the same as after SA2 they decided to go back to basics so to speak. While not an outright return toAt some point in the early 2000s, some people thought that Sonic had lost his classic edge by the time the Adventure series had begun making its rounds, perhaps due to Adventure elements of SA1, the multiple playstyles of each game or the heavier emphasis on story. I suppose Sega thought the same as after SA2 they decided to go back to basics so to speak. While not an outright return to the classic formula, Sonic Heroes was meant to be more akin to that era than the previous 3D games. From a presentation standpoint, it absolutely succeeds in that regard. Gameplay, however, is more of a mixed bag.

    To continue that thought with the presentation, the game looks positively stellar, and perfectly nails that classic look they were going for. For my money, the environmental design and vibrant color pallet make this a more visually impressive game compared to SA1 and 2. Character models, though, look too shiny and waxy for my liking, and the in-game cutscenes get the job done, but don't leave much of the impression (CG cutscenes still look solid, if a bit too compressed). In fact, story takes a massive backseat compared to the Adventure series. Sonic and company are off to either defeat Eggman, find their friends, or pay the rent. That's all there really is to it. So, if you were a big fan of how story-driven the previous games were, you'll be disappointed here. Voice acting varies in from solid to ear grating (Cream...), and the general writing is very childish much of the time. Sega were definitely trying to target a much younger audience this time around. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is really great stuff, bringing back a wider range of musical styles that fit the theme of a stage like in SA1.

    You control four teams of three, each acting as their own difficulty. Team Sonic is normal, Team Dark is hard, Team Rose is easy and Team Chaotix can be BS. Each team contains a speed character for, well, speed, a flight character and a power character for strength and gliding. Each character from each team function rather similarly to one another, but each can also have their own unique attributes or methods of attack. You'll need to periodically switch between characters to get passed different obstacles. When you get into the groove of the game's mechanics and start blasting through stages, that's when the game is at its most fun. It also helps that this is some of the best designed levels in a 3D Sonic game, with many of them very open-ended allowing for multiple paths to take.

    However, just as soon as you start to get into a groove, that's when things start to get rocky. Firstly, the control is not nearly as refined as the Adventure series. It feels a lot more loose in comparison, and you accelerate far too quickly which can lead to many instances of either running into enemies or falling off of stages. However, the controls in the main stages are nothing compared to the special stages. In order to reach the last story in the game, you'll need to do these special stages to nab a Chaos Emerald, and these are by far the worst parts of the game. The controls in these stages are far, far worse, ranging from either super loose or super stiff with no middle ground, which makes chasing down the emerald far more frustrating than it should. Physics also take a huge hit, specifically during the pinball stages where it becomes agonizing either just trying to get up a board or trying not to fall off into the abyss. Boss fights aren't anything special, either, as most boil down to a pathetic character battle, a mook rush, or facing one of Eggman's creations (Egg Emperor does put up the most fight, but also has its issues)

    Then there's the different teams themselves. Personally, Team Sonic and Team Rose are the best teams in the game. Team Sonic has just the right amount of challenge, while Team Rose has the right amount of stage length. Team Shadow, though, has stages lasting over 10 minutes and filling said stages with more spikes and awkward enemy placements. Oh, but they don't compare to Team Chaotix. What makes this team special is its different mission types, like collecting X amount of stuff or getting through a level undetected. Many of the things you are tasked to find/destroy can be very well hidden, and if you miss them, you gotta scour the entire stage over again, and at that point you might as well restart, because otherwise you'll be there for nearly 20+ minutes.

    Sonic Heroes is kind of all over the place in terms of quality. One minute I can be having a grand old time burning through the stages, soaking in the beautiful scenery and listening to great music, while other times I get so frustrated that I wanna stop playing. While certainly not a bad game by any stretch, it is not my first choice for 3D Sonic.    … Expand
  30. neojotic
    Aug 26, 2020
    7
    At the time of it's release Sonic Heroes got a lower mixed reaction from fans and critics alike. The game faced the inevitable criticism by living in the shadow of Sonic Adventure series.

    The game is a fresh unique concept and includes many characters from the franchise. Knuckles Chaotix characters are brought back to the series - a group that casuals wouldn't know or value. The    At the time of it's release Sonic Heroes got a lower mixed reaction from fans and critics alike. The game faced the inevitable criticism by living in the shadow of Sonic Adventure series.

    The game is a fresh unique concept and includes many characters from the franchise. Knuckles Chaotix characters are brought back to the series - a group that casuals wouldn't know or value.

    The graphics see an update since the Adventure series and the platforms/levels are new and fresh and utilize all three members from the user's team.

    There are multiplayer options but they lack when being compared and contrasted to Adventure 2 Battle's multiplayer modes.

    In retrospect Sonic Heroes is the first installment of the downward motion of the Sonic 3D series however, it is one of the better titles. In the shadow of bigger and better titles at the time it may have been overlooked but if you're going back to collect for Gamecube I wouldn't exclude this title. It's a fun game.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best GameCube Game of 2004
4
#4 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2004
2
#2 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 49 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 49
  3. Negative: 1 out of 49
  1. Weekly Famitsu
    80
    8 / 8 / 8 / 8 - 32 gold [Vol 786]
  2. GMR Magazine
    70
    The glorious 3D speed rush is still broken by moments where you will csream with rage inspired by whatever sadism or idiocy has kept Sonic Team from fixing its camera and control schemes after five years of 3D Sonic games.
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer
    60
    The camera is crap, the scale is awkward, the story and characters are basic and cringe-worthy, the combat is tedious, the platforming and puzzling is too basic, and I was well bored of it by the time I conquered the final level with the first of the four Teams, which wasn't even that long after I first grabbed it out of the shrink-wrap.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »