Sonic the Hedgehog

 Xbox 360
Metascore
46

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 38
  3. Negative: 22 out of 38
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  1. IGN
    48
    It offers a few good ideas, and a handful of exciting moments, but none of this helps the game recover from a catastrophic loss in control.
  2. Official Xbox Magazine
    45
    Sonic is still the fastest mascot on the block, and his audience desperately wants to root for him. But his latest namesake game is big on rushed disappointment and much too light on fleetfooted pleasure. [Jan. 2007, p.79]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. GameZone
    45
    Even dedicated fans of the blue hedgehog will long for the classic controls that made this platform game such a joy to play.
  5. GameSpot
    44
    Sonic the Hedgehog may share its name with the Genesis original, but this game is even more broken than most of the other recent Sonic games have been.
  6. GamesRadar+
    40
    Every installment has us hoping for a return to glory, but each one further craps on the hedgehog's legacy. The redeeming qualities here are few and far between, and it's just plain not fun.
  7. Gaming Target
    40
    It’s just broken. It’s so broken in fact that one wonders if they weren’t trying to intentionally botch the game- it’s just that bad.
  8. DailyGame
    40
    Sega's not alone in milking classic franchises, but Sonic is definitely one that should stay off the next-gen systems. Nothing personal; the experience just doesn't translate well.
  9. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    40
    I could've dealt with the much-lauded adventure elements, subpar graphics--even that clown Shadow--but the bottom line is that this feels more like some hack job created by a bunch of Sega interns as opposed to a game from a competent developement studio. [Jan. 2007, p.95]
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  10. DarkStation
    40
    A next-gen Sonic platformer would have been a godsend, but Sega somehow manages to screw this up with an insanely frustrating camera and serious framerate issues.
  11. Boomtown
    40
    There’s no easy way to put this, but Sonic the Hedgehog is quite possibly the worst Sonic game ever.
    All this publication's reviews
  12. MS Xbox World
    35
    An absolute disaster for any reasonable fan of the series. The game is unfinished, annoying, disappointing, soulless, frustrating and to top it off includes my favourite gaming character only to ruin it!
  13. Edge Magazine
    30
    The consistently poor controls of Sonic’s 3D outings make it seem like Sonic Team has convinced itself that this is how this aspect of the franchise should rightly be, and everyone else should just learn to deal with it. [Christmas 2006, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. 360 Gamer Magazine UK
    30
    It’s not particularly next-gen visually, the loading times are so slow, and it has the most infuriating try-and-die mechanic of any 360 game we’ve played. If you’re a Sonic fan then you might glean some brief pleasure from this, but it is likely to disappoint and infuriate rather than entertain.
  15. GameSpy
    30
    Sonic doesn't crash and it doesn't look horrific, and that's about all that recommends it. Maybe the 20th anniversary will be better.
  16. VideoGamer
    30
    Sonic has been on a slippery slope for years and SEGA has done nothing about it, and this has culminated in what can only be described as a complete disaster.
  17. PALGN
    30
    One of the worst games of the year and an insult to the original Sonic game.
  18. Gamers Europe
    25
    This is an absolutely diabolical game, a bloated, leaden, enjoyment-free shambles which Sonic Team should be ashamed to have their name on and you should under no circumstances part with any money for. The only way it could have been any worse is if a representative from Sega had put an actual dead hedgehog in every box.
  19. Detroit Free Press
    25
    Throw in some horrendously long loading times, a muddy story line and dialogue that will make you laugh in agony, and you have a train wreck of a video game. Not even fans of Sonic's classic adventures will be able to look past the stench this game leaves in its speed wake.
  20. Eurogamer
    20
    What should have been a dramatic return to form for Sonic, as signalled by the hugely promising trailer videos from earlier this year and the bold decision to use the original Sonic the Hedgehog name, has turned out to be an absolute mess.
  21. Gamestyle
    20
    This is absolutely awful. The Sonic franchise has been dragged through the dirt so often, and this serves to add insult to injury. This game is utterly bland, soulless and broken beyond repair.
  22. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    19
    Along with the Engrish translation, ear-torturing voice acting and mindless, lifeless soundtrack, Sonic the Hedgehog is a broken, hideous mess, splattered in the middle of the gaming motorway.
  23. Gaming Age
    0
    SEGA's decision to rush one of its most beloved franchises to the next-gen market has ended in a broken product that does not even deserve a rental.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2006
2
#2 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 911 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 343 out of 911
  2. Mixed: 178 out of 911
  3. Negative: 390 out of 911
  1. SuperKurzacz
    Dec 13, 2011
    10
    I got this game and since I got it I never stopped playing it .! I think it is a great game .It takes a long time to beat it .but it is reallyI got this game and since I got it I never stopped playing it .! I think it is a great game .It takes a long time to beat it .but it is really awesome.… Full Review »
  2. SonicManEXE
    Dec 2, 2012
    1
    Sonic the Hedgehog, more commonly known as "Sonic 06". ...What can I say that hasn't already been said? This game is a buggy mess that,Sonic the Hedgehog, more commonly known as "Sonic 06". ...What can I say that hasn't already been said? This game is a buggy mess that, honestly, feels unfinished. Not only was this game rushed to store shelves for a lost cause, but it was doomed from the start. What do you think of when you see or hear of Sonic? I, personally, think of a cartoon; a fictional universe with no necessary rhyme or reason to how it operates. It's been like that since the beginning, and even though the Adventure games introduced urbanized locations (and people, for that matter), they mixed... quite well, actually, with Sonic's universe. Or at least, that's how I feel about it. When planning Sonic 06, the developers thought it would be just GREAT if they were to make everything realistic. This, along with the 15-17 different gameplay styles in this game, was more than enough faulty game design to have this game instantly fail.

    The plot is a completely different story, on the other hand. Sonic Team must have been so focused on the art direction during the whole development cycle, because this game's story is HORRENDOUS. It's practically nonexistent. It's terribly written with plotholes galore, and it's over the top, even more than SA2 and Shadow's plots. I can go into much more detail, but I think ClementJ642's seven-part review of this game on YouTube does a much better job than what I could ever do. There're no fancy words to describe it: it's just bad. Plain, old, bad writing. Going back to what I mentioned at the top, this game was rushed for a reason. A very unnecessary one, but one nonetheless: they wanted to release this game for both the fairly-new Xbox 360 and brand-new PS3 by the PS3's launch. They went right into development on this game after Shadow the Hedgehog (the video game) was released. Next-gen consoles and a short development time: I think you can see how we ended up with what we got. It's a miracle we can actually finish the game, if you think about it.

    You will see people around the internet praising this game for extremely questionable reasons. While I can't tell you their motivations, I CAN tell you that what I'm saying is the truth: my nostalgia goggles are off, I've been researching this for a very long time, and you'll find that what I'm saying agrees with most of the respectable reviewers and commentators on YouTube and such.

    I WOULD give this game a 0, but the soundtrack is fantastic. Besides that, it just wouldn't be fair. This is honestly better than Superman 64, but it's certainly no Super Mario Bros. 3 (or Sonic 3, for that matter).    … Full Review »
  3. sonicheroes123
    Aug 22, 2014
    8
    let me make this clear. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2006 Is a GOOD game. the story sucked yes there are (hilarious) glitches yes but i love nearlylet me make this clear. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2006 Is a GOOD game. the story sucked yes there are (hilarious) glitches yes but i love nearly everything else i kinda liked silver's levels shadow's were good and i loved sonic's story the boss fights were okay and mephiles is a cool character so overall Sonic The Hedgehog 2006 is a good game… Full Review »
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