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Sonic Rush is a 2D platform game released on Nintendo DS on November 15, 2005, developed by Dimps and published by Sega. This is the very first episode of the Sonic saga released on DS, and follows the Sonic Advance episodes previously released for Game Boy Advance. This game introduces a new character named Blaze the Cat who came from a parallel universe.

All attempts to control the world with the Chaos Emeralds were a failure, thanks to Sonic and his friends, so the Machiavellian Dr.Eggman then decides to go to another dimension and steal the Sol Emeralds of which Blaze is the guardian. Once the Sol Emeralds in his possession, Eggman returned back into the Sonic's world. Blaze, nevertheless, managed to follow him through the dimensional gate. Then she got acquainted with Sonic. Being lone and aloof, she refused the Sonic's help, claiming that it is none of his business, and that she must fulfill her duty alone. But during her journey she will learn that friendship is an essential thing and that it is important to have someone she can rely on. Sonic will then live his own adventure and will face a mysterious new opponent named Eggman Nega.

The game is divided into two separate adventures, one in which we take control of Sonic, and the other of Blaze. In each of these two stories the player has to move through 8 levels. There are the same stages in the journey of each main character. The 9th and final stage is only accessible after having finished the game with the two main protagonists and recovered all the chaos and Sol Emeralds in various bonus levels that are hidden throughout the game.

Sonic Rush has a gameplay similar to the old Sonic on Megadrive and the episodes on Game Boy Advance, with regard to standard levels. The trips are therefore in a 2D environment with a horizontal and vertical scrolling. But the characters and enemies are modeled in 3D. The two screens of the console are well used. The player can move from one to another by crossing the stages. Very well-built, these levels put forward speed, the trademark of this series. At the end of all levels (each consisting of 2 stages, called "zones"), the game switches to full 3D and the player must confront a boss.

The stylus and touch screen are only very little-used. They are only used in the different menus of the game and during bonus levels.

Finally, Sonic Rush is a great 2D Sonic in the right line of his predecessors. This game does not go out on a limb and remains faithful to the series, and that is a good point for the fans of the blue hedgehog.

Sonic Rush reviews