Shadow the Hedgehog

The Good
Many people say this game was the beginning of the end for Sonic. Do I agree? Well......no. While it isn't perfect by any means, it is a heck of a lot better than critics say. And I mean a LOT better.

The gameplay feels like Sonic Heroes but you can only play Shadow and you have one partner who you can only control with a 2nd controller. But in ways, it is different. For instance, the guns and vehicles (which I didn't have any problems with). I really don't see why everyone complains about these. I also don't see why everyone wants Sonic to be exactly the same as he was on the Genesis. Same is boring. Sega tried something different, and I think it worked.

The graphics were good (especially the CGI cinematics), but not great. I noticed that the models were too shiny (this isn't as big of a problem on GameCube as it is on the PS2 for some reason), and the lip-sync in gameplay cutscenes is pretty crap, but overall, the graphics were good. (On a side note, the frame rate is MUCH better on GameCube than the PS2.)

The music was very good. It was catchy and fit the area's feel. It could make the game very epic at times.

Now for the big one... the voice acting. I didn't find it terrible like others did. In fact, I think they actually did better than on Sonic X!!! In fact, the only intolerable actress was Charmy's. Shivers

The Bad
There are problems like people say. For instance, the story mode is frustrating because you have to go through every stage to get to a boss. It will take you a LONG time to complete the over 300 endings!!! I know, it's madness hint, hint! The bosses themselves are annoying.

Also, the cussing, while I didn't mind it, was unnecessary. But people DID freak out a little too much about it (IMO). I mean, the worst word is Damn. That's it. They say hell, but come on.

The AI is really stupid. No matter who's side your on, you will get attacked by everyone. The only way to stop this is to use the Health Cannon. It only works permanently on humans, though.

The 2-p is also really lame and generic. I guess you could have fun, but since a 2nd controller on the GameCube version can control the partner in 1-p mode, it's kind of useless.

The Bottom Line
Overall, this game is FAR too criticised, when in fact it is a decent game. If you aren't a hardcore old, childish Sonic fan and can take some "extremeness", go right on ahead. But only for Gamecube!!!!! I repeat, ONLY FOR GAMECUBE!!!!!!!!

The Good
The action stages are very different to the the other Sonic video games. I find it, very fair that the player can be either good or evil, as with video games these days you don't really get that chance. Shadow's enemies can be in fact, the Sonic Team gang, if the player gives Shadow his own path.

The Bad
As always, the English voice cast was rubbish, but that's besides the point.

I do believe that Sega has made this video game to close to a movie about James Bond, with the guns the player can use. Black Doom reminds me of a Star Wars character, he seems to be saying in his own to Shadow, ''I am your father''.

The one thing I found very strange, that this game seems to take after Sonic the Hedgehog for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I still think Shadow has lost his memory in that video game, as he does not remember Professor Gerald or Maria, for that matter.

The Bottom Line
I would say the game has a close storyline to Sonic Adventure 2, as it has a much more darker atmosphere.

The video game is only for 12 years and over, maybe an 11 year old, could play this. Some levels are a bit hard, but the boss levels appear to be easy.

The Good
What I loved most about the game was it gave my personal favorite character his own game. Shadow the Hedgehog has all of the speed, excitement and twisty roads you would expect to find in a normal Sonic game. The use of guns I thought wouldn't work to begin with, but as the story and the main character is so dark, it somehow worked.

Another thing I liked about the game is the various routes you can choose to complete the game, which gives it an RPG feel. The main thing that really give the mood is the music of the game. The main theme works so much I put it on my iPod (sad, eh?).

The Bad
It took me about 2 months to realise that you had to defeat the 10 different bosses at the end of the game to get the last story. I also think that each different story is, although challenging, far too short, i.e. only five levels per story.

The Bottom Line
This, I feel, is a must have for hardcore Sonic fans (like me). However some aspects of the game, like the use of firearms, may not be suitable for the younger fans.