• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Shadow the Hedgehog - IGN review

F

Father_Brain

Banned
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/667/667942p1.html

Closing Comments
Shadow the Hedgehog is proof that Sonic Team needs to get with the program if it plans to compete with legitimate current and next- generation software. This is Sonic Adventure with guns and less polish, and players today are far more discerning than they were six years ago. Diehard Sonic fans will cling to the fact that the title still conjures up corkscrews and loop-de-loops, as well as an impressive sense of speed when Shadow really gets moving, and this is all true. But this doesn't make up for the game's long list of shortcomings, from stupid level design, unrefined controls and useless gunplay to disappointingly outdated graphics.
IGN's Ratings for Shadow the Hedgehog (Xbox)
7.5 Presentation
Gorgeous cinematics and a clever branching storyline feature. Mixes most of the major Sonic characters into the storyline. Basic menu work.
5.0 Graphics
Dreamcast-esque. Lots of level variation and the framerate holds together on GCN and Xbox. (PS2 is another story.) But the visuals lack polygon numbers, texture detail, and fluid animation.
5.0 Sound
Forced 80s' rock music mingles with overcooked acting. At least the characters feature voice work, though. Runs in Dolby Pro Logic II.
4.5 Gameplay
Fundamentally flawed and dated mechanics. Thrill-ride level designs and sense of speed still captivate, but less so. Everything else needs work. Broken camera system worsens the experience.
5.0 Lasting Appeal
A smart branching storyline invites gamers to replay the title to unlock new levels, but few players will have the patience to bother.
4.9
Poor OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)
Click to expand...

IGN actually gives a major game a below-average score? I'm surprised.
 
What in the world was Sonic Team thinking with this title?!

The sad thing is that this game will still sell moderately well on the GC. I pity those who unwittingly are bought this game or buy it themselves.
 
It's like they didn't even try to improve the camera, graphics and other things from the SA games. You'd think Sega would handle one of it's premium properties with more care. Gamespy also gave this a two out of five, so it looks like there will likely be a lot of negative reviews. A 4.9 from IGN is like a F-
 
Every now and again there is some justice.

The bottom end of the scale is there for a reason, people. We gots to take a stand and use that motherfucker.
 
FoxNews sure was right. I bet 360 fans will think twice about buying a console that doesn't play this right out of the box.
 
Delicious. I know a few people who will be especially unhappy at the IGN forums. The fact that ANYBODY was anticipating this game disgusts me.
 
la%20bomba%202%20(testata)2.gif
 
roll6sq.gif


Back to 2D please Sega. Why can't they understand that 3D games in the Sonic universe don't work? That next generation Sonic game is a bomb waiting in the wings, imo.
 
Wax Free Vanilla said:
That next generation Sonic game is a bomb waiting in the wings, imo.
Click to expand...

Yeah, those in-game preview videos looked nothing like the target rendered trailer. It looks like it plays exactly like Sonic Adventure, and looks like how Sonic should have looked this gen. Not looking forward to it at all...
 
Nightbreeze said:
What the hell happened to SEGA? I used to fucking love this company.
Click to expand...

That's just what I was thinking. I mean DAMN, they just seem out of touch with most shit lately. Still, that's actually a much worse score than I would have thought.
 
I'd be surprised if Edge give this more than a 3. Yeah, thats right, Edge, the only reviewers who know how to use a 1-10 scale.

Why IGN can only score games between 5-10 is beyond me.
 
YES

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

JUSTICE IS SEVRED

I will personally campaign against this game in any capacity neccesary. Sega's trach will never prevail!
 
Father_Brain said:
IGN actually gives a major game a below-average score? I'm surprised.
Click to expand...

Same here. I guess Sega's check was lost in the mail.

If IGN's is this low, I can't wait to see GS's. :lol
 
Holy crap Sega... :(

I knew Shadow looked bad and I knew it was going to score low but I was thinking 6ish...

Holy crap Sega... :(
 
I'd like to know what Yugi Naka thinks about this. He must be disgusted, there's no way he would've wanted to sell out this bad. That guy should jump ship to Q.
 
Wax Free Vanilla said:
roll6sq.gif


Back to 2D please Sega. Why can't they understand that 3D games in the Sonic universe don't work? That next generation Sonic game is a bomb waiting in the wings, imo.
Click to expand...

Why is it that when a series has difficulty translating to 3D people immediately give it all the 'it will never work in 3D'. If there's one thing the GBA Sonic games showed is that sticking it in 2D doesn't necessarily create an instant classic either.

The Sonic Adventure games were flawed and haven't aged that well granted, but they still were a solid base that showed that the potential for a good 3D Sonic game was there. What Sega have failed to do though is realise this, address the flaws of those games and evolve the series further. Instead they try to shoehorn in increasingly stupid gameplay gimmicks, while ignoring the problems that the game does have, most obviously the camera, and not bother polishing the final product or updating their graphics engine to something that's acceptably 2005, not 2001.

Hopefully this bombs hard and Sega put some actual effort into next-gen Sonic.
 
jj984jj said:
Don't worry, IGN also thinks Dimps did Sonic Rush.
Click to expand...

Uh, what? DIMPS did Sonic Rush, they're just not credited on the box, no? Sega was hesitant to give them credit for the GBA Sonics too.
 
Musashi Wins! said:
Sega is dead and gone in any meaninful sense. I know it hurts.

It's just a name like Atari or something at this point.
Click to expand...

Virtua Fighter 5, Afterburner, PSU, Virtua Tennis 3, that Yakuza game etc. disagree.

Talk about drama queens. A crappy Sonic game and suddenly it's Sega are dead. Okay they haven't been firing them out like they were when they were a hardware manufacturer but I'd defy anyone to say that Sega have done nothing worthwhile at all since going third party. Virtua Fighter 4/Evo, Super Monkey Ball and PDO spring to mind as the immediate choices.
 
What are you talking about people? Chisto seems to like it.

By Chisto said:
Shadow the Hedgehog
OMFG!!!!!! This is the best Sonic/third person shooter/plataform game ever made!

This Review's Trust Rating: 3/5 stars (average of 7 votes)

November 16, 2005 - Amazing, I just can't stop playing!! (I´m playing right now).
This is a great game, It had a better storyline that Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 and is GOD DAMN FUN!, and the multiplayer is just perfectly awesome, sometimes it feel like Star Fox Assault (in battle mode) but is more deep, with more weapons, vehicles and powers.
And the storyline is amazing, is entertainment, intense, dramatic, its awesome, you will have great surprises during the game.
Man!! I did't give this game a 12 because I can't.

10 Presentation
A new Sonic 3D game (featuring Shadow) without those "find the emerald shards" or "find froggy", only Sonic type gameplay, but with guns, vehicles, super powers, a deep storyline and multiple choices.

9.8 Graphics
The CG theater scenes are beautiful (some of the best graphics that I have ever seen), the real time graphics are not so good but the special effects are beautiful.

9.7 Sound
The sound is GREAT!! the stages music its fantastic and the songs are awesome, much better that the ones in previous Sonic titles. The voices were OK (very well considering that is a new voice cast).

10 Gameplay
Its incridible, you can punch someone, shoot it with a gun, or a bazooka, or slash it with a sword or run over it with a vehicle. The boss fights are of the best that I have ever seen, are awesome.

10 Lasting Appeal
Play it a thousand of times, with differnt paths and 11 different endings. Plus the multiplayer is freaking funny, you could be playing it with your friends for hours!! this game will never bore you!!

10 OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average)
Click to expand...
 
CamHostage said:
Uh, what? DIMPS did Sonic Rush, they're just not credited on the box, no? Sega was hesitant to give them credit for the GBA Sonics too.
Click to expand...
Well only IGN has mentioned Dimps so far, and Sonic Rush does not play like any of the GBA games so... either Dimps FINALLY got it right, or Sonic Team did more this time around maybe fooling around with a bit of Dimps' code from the GBA games.
 
Die Squirrel Die said:
Virtua Fighter 5, Afterburner, PSU, Virtua Tennis 3, that Yakuza game etc. disagree.

Talk about drama queens. A crappy Sonic game and suddenly it's Sega are dead. Okay they haven't been firing them out like they were when they were a hardware manufacturer but I'd defy anyone to say that Sega have done nothing worthwhile at all since going third party. Virtua Fighter 4/Evo, Super Monkey Ball and PDO spring to mind as the immediate choices.
Click to expand...


There's no garuntee even those games will be any good any more. There's been plenty of SEGA games in the past years that everyone all thought would be awesome just like those you mentioned. Games such as Sonic Heroes, Billy Hatcher, Shining Force Neo, Spikeout, etc. Guess what they came and passed and most were down right terrible to average.

Personally I'm excited to play Phantasy Star Universe, but only becasue PSO owned my ass for like 4 god damn years. Trust me I want SEGA to make excellent games probably more then you do, but I will no longer be blindly hyped for them, they must earn it.
 
That screen shot's a bad indication of the game's overall visuals. It really is a great looking game for the most part. It just plays like shit.
 
Nightbreeze said:
There's no garuntee even those games will be any good any more. There's been plenty of SEGA games in the past years that everyone all thought would be awesome just like those you mentioned. Games such as Sonic Heroes, Billy Hatcher, Shining Force Neo, Spikeout, etc. Guess what they came and passed and most were down right terrible to average.

Personally I'm excited to play Phantasy Star Universe, but only becasue PSO owned my ass for like 4 god damn years. Trust me I want SEGA to make excellent games probably more then you do, but I will no longer be blindly hyped for them, they must earn it.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying that the games are guaranteed to be great, but the signs are positive, much more so than for the games you listed as ending up being dissapointments.

Sonic Heroes? Yes it was looking positive for a while. Billy Hatcher got a lot of undue hype because it was still GC exclusive while Sonic went multiplatform. The excitement on SFN died almost stone dead when the game was confirmed as being an ARPG not an SRPG, and it's only really since people have played it and enjoyed it that it's started to be seen in a more favourable light. As for Spikeout, a lot of the buildup on that came from the arcade version. Then there was the long delay between announcement and unveiling and then when it was finally shown it looked pretty poor.

I was more just saying that because Shadow is rubbish doesn't invalidate Sega totally. Some people are still clinging to the Dreamcast days (or even further back), and that makes them blinkered to the handful of gems that Sega have dropped since going third party. You don't see people declaring Capcom dead based on Beatdown or SquareEnix irrelavant because of Mushashi Samurai Legends (or whatever it was called exactly).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

IGN Steam Controller Review 9/10 : 'It’s the PC controller to beat.'
Review  2 3
100
653
GymWolf replied
IGN Review: Code Red "is a bad game"
2
76
984
Heimdall_Xtreme replied
IGN reviews the "new" Commodore 64
13
572
IbizaPocholo replied
Saros | Review Thread
Review  8 9 10 11 12
586
2K
ByWatterson replied
Motorslice | Review Thread
Analysis Review  2
70
278
Sticks replied
Top Bottom