• Platform: GameCube
• Media: Video Game

Sonic Heroes is basically the action segments from Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 stripped of all the insanely dull pseudo RPG elements but unfortunately still containing far too much storyline and the largest and least interesting host of secondary characters ever seen in gaming. Sonic Heroes also inherits many of the older titles' camera and control problems, although here they are now occasional rather than constant irritations.

All this may seem as if it's painting a rather poor picture of the game, but despite all its problems Sonic Heroes is actually a lot of fun. Its main gimmick is that you actually control three characters at a time, with each one having a special ability of either speed, flight or the ability to smash through blocks. Thankfully this doesn't overcomplicate the controls and instead adds a modicum of depth to the otherwise non-stop running-'n'-jumping action.

You still occasionally get the feeling that the game is trying too hard to fit a round peg in a square hole, but on balance more of it works than doesn't, and it's certainly the best Sonic title since the Mega Drive era. --David Jenkins

Product Description
In Sonic Heroes Sega's legendary mascot Sonic the Hedgehog makes his historic multi-platform debut. He embarks on his biggest adventure ever at his trademark blazing speed and enjoys a new gameplay twist. Sonic and his friends have evolved, adopting a configuration feature that lets gamers control three playable characters simultaneously: Sonic's speed, Knuckles' power and Tails' ability to fly are used to conquer massive worlds. This team-based game play marks the next evolution in Sonic's gaming career, taking platform gaming to a completely new level.

Using the three formations and the powerful moves that each team member has, Sonic and his friends combine forces to battle the ultimate evil: play as one of four teams for a total of 12 playable characters--Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose or Team Chaotix, each with their signature moves and story line. Each team boasts multiple specialised stages with unique missions and CG movies driving each team story forward. You can experiment with team formations to learn the best way to defeat enemies, solve puzzles and navigate massive environments. Each stage contains multiple paths and missions for maximum replayability.