Support NeoGAF

[enzo_gt]

Let me start by saying, the game itself is not really that bad. Yeah, it's an endless runner, so there's a certain barrier of depth by the nature of the controls and it's meant to be something you just fool around with without taking it too seriously, but in a lot of ways it captures the essence of everything good in the Sonic franchise. Tight controls, satisfying control over your character, surprisingly good difficulty curve and rail-switching gameplay that is the core of what makes Sonic unlike other platformers. The controls are very responsive, and it's been a while since slamming Sonic down to do a spin dash has felt so satisfying. There are even, strangely, nuanced things like the game giving you performance feedback on small things like a small sparkle on the character if you execute a combo or entire string perfectly.

But as I've been playing, I've been noticing a few problems. For one, the game drains battery like nothing else. With a good run I'll be down 2-4% on my iPhone 5 with the back of it heating up significantly. Not cool, and probably not safe. The currency system is a drip feed, as you can only get one red star ring per day, which means every day you go to play, there's a cap on the meta-progress you can make (regardless, I'm pretty close to unlocking the last character after playing for months). Uses for rings and challenges dry up quickly and new characters/content are months inbetween.

The biggest problem though, is that there are so many different, often redundant modules for ads. The best part? Most seem to occur at fucking random, or you'll be surprised you get hit with one somewhere unexpected after getting used to regular instances of there being ads. It became fascinating to me at some point and I started to document them:

1: Your typical Vungle ad, from when you choose to watch a 10 second commercial to get a free revive. Okay, not bad, a lot of games do this and it's fairly inoffensive.
2: The same Vungle ad module for getting a free revive, but for some reason this time it's smaller and has a black header. Presumably was originally meant for non-iPhone 5 sized screens?
3: Now we start getting into ads popping up randomly as you browse the menus. Note the black background and X very far into the corner and how it overlays the entire screen.
4: Ad that randomly appears when you're browsing menus and seemingly uses a different kind of menu from all the Vungle ones.
5: It's like the previous ad, but for some reason the menu it's overlaying is darkened. Because.
6: Another ad that pops up randomly as you browse the menus or when you finish a run. For some reason uses a unique module that is unused by other ad types.
7: Another ad that randomly pops up as you browse the menus or after a delay of seconds after you finish a run (so while you're already browsing the menus), again using a different module to present the ad. This time having the SEGA logo on it, for some reason, promoting a game that can't even bother to tell you it's name.
8: After you win or after you redeem a daily reward, the game blesses you with an ad to celebrate your victory.. in an endless runner.
9: Perhaps the most offensive of all, the ad that appeared as I was starting my run.. the game is running in the back as this ad popped up. You win? Win an ad? Also uses the same module/framing as the previous ad. This has only happened once, may have been a one-off glitch, but the only thing consistent about this game is it's ability to get an ad to you.
10: HEY YOU SHOULD TOTALLY BUY THESE POWER UPS
11: HEY YOU SHOULD TOTALLY BUY THESE POWER UPS BECAUSE THEY'RE EVEN BETTER RIGHT NOW
12: HEY YOU SHOULD TOTALLY BUY SOMETHING TO REMOVE THESE ADS, something that always appears once you finish a run, or sometimes is replaced by an ad for power ups, and you cannot return to the menus or proceed past the score summary screen without tapping it (you don't have to buy anything and it doesn't redirect you to the store, but you still have to acknowledge it)
13: HEY YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GIVE US YOUR FACEBOOK INFORMATION that pops up at least once upon a fresh launch of the app (maybe not an ad, but annoying)

So yeah.

 

[213372bu]

Must be an iPhone thing, on my Android the only ads you see pop up when you want a revive. As far as Facebook goes, it only asked a few times in the Tip section.

But of course I haven't played it in a few months, maybe they added more in the updates? Overall, uninstalled it because there weren't much content updated. I was expecting more zones or bosses but they never came. Sucks that you see those many ads, it's one of the best runner game of its type.

 

[Dicer]

Android versdion isn't NEARLY that bad, holy fuck, lol

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

The android version is definitely just as bad when I play. It really seems to vary though and the last month or two it's gotten so much worse. I've had it where almost every time I die and it shows me the score, when I hit continue it plays an ad just because. Not an ad to revive, just randomly starts playing an ad.

Edit: Also, red rings suck but not as bad as you say. The biggest thing is you benefit through other factors. I think after playing 4 days in a row it is you get 5 red rings for free and you get them by completing levels of the challenges they give you. Those are the real ways to start collecting red rings, the one a day thing is pretty much worthless. They stupidly enjoy punishing you for not wanting to play it constantly and only playing when you have an urge to. I see why they do it but all it does it turn me off it instead of playing it more often.

 

[Patently Right]

I re-installed Sonic Dash maybe a few months ago on iOS and these ads are what prompted me to uninstall it. There's maybe one ad for every two taps on the menu (or at least that's how it felt like). Even replaying after a round is a chore thanks to the multiple taps necessary.

Hell, I think this might've been that game which showed me 2 consecutive pop-up ads when all I wanted to do was start playing.

 

[jooey]

thanks for the ads

 

[Mr-Joker]

I played this game once it made me feel sick about the mobile market that I just went back and played Sonic Rush, the better game.

 

[enzo_gt]

Must be an iPhone thing, on my Android the only ads you see pop up when you want a revive. As far as Facebook goes, it only asked a few times in the Tip section.

But of course I haven't played it in a few months, maybe they added more in the updates? Overall, uninstalled it because there weren't much content updated. I was expecting more zones or bosses but they never came. Sucks that you see those many ads, it's one of the best runner game of its type.

Yeah, I thought the game could have a LOT of potential because of the different zones. I was just picturing a Chemical Plant-esque zone (even if they didn't change the backgrounds) that they could patch in, but nothing. Characters are too far in between, and they only recently added another boss (Eggman), who is a reskinned Zazz anyways. I think the zone switching is part of what gives this game great pace compared to other endless runners too.

The android version is definitely just as bad when I play. It really seems to vary though and the last month or two it's gotten so much worse. I've had it where almost every time I die and it shows me the score, when I hit continue it plays an ad just because. Not an ad to revive, just randomly starts playing an ad.

Edit: Also, red rings suck but not as bad as you say. The biggest thing is you benefit through other factors. I think after playing 4 days in a row it is you get 5 red rings for free and you get them by completing levels of the challenges they give you. Those are the real ways to start collecting red rings, the one a day thing is pretty much worthless. They stupidly enjoy punishing you for not wanting to play it constantly and only playing when you have an urge to. I see why they do it but all it does it turn me off it instead of playing it more often.

The thing is, you run out of challenges pretty quickly. They're helpful for getting a character or two, but after that it's just more one red ring a day for the rest of them. And even for one of the later challenges you have to even spend money or red rings to get a certain power up (super boost) to complete a challenge and be able to get onto the next tier to keep reaping those bonuses. A lot of strange decisions that go next to a lot of other good decisions about this game.

 

[noquarter]

So, my daughter has been playing this from release. I was playing it with her to help her unlock Sonic's friends, but she wasted the red rings while I was at work.

Now, since playing this game, there have been so many updates, pretty impressive for a free game, imho. To start, hoe to get red rings. Used to be the 4th day and challenges were the only way. Being able to get them 1 a day is nice.

They have added boss battles now. These are pretty cool, just survive to the end. Nice thing is my daughter can't read and is a huge Sonic fan and called Eggman Robotnik, brought a tear to my eye.

They've added a new level. Got tired running through the Ruins and Greenhill Zone, so nice to see a beach.

They've added more characters. This is the only new thing that could cost money, so nice the updated the way to get red rings.

Then the ads. We are playing on iPad and don't have nearly the problems with ads as OP. Just an ad every ten or so runs and the ad for reviving, which is new and I like.

Theyve also added new ways to spend rings, which is nice. We didn't really spend them that often, so nice to have something else to spend them on.

Was thinking of making an RTTP thread, but this thread is pretty new. Worth going back to and glad she still plays it.

 

[Purple Cheeto]

I deleted this game after I noticed it started swapping around the close ad button which was causing me to accidentally click on ads. Eff that noise.

 

[bobawesome]

I downloaded the game on two separate occasions and deleted it each time I saw an ad. My reasoning for downloading it the second time was that I may have been overreacting. Nope.

 

[Anth0ny]

mobile games utopia