Common Sense Media Review
Atrocious design problems sink Sonic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 52 kid reviews
Kids say that this game is a divisive title that many consider flawed due to glitches, poor mechanics, and an underwhelming story. However, some players appreciate its engaging narrative and character depth, insisting that despite its shortcomings, it can still be enjoyable, particularly for older children.
- glitches
- poor mechanics
- engaging narrative
- controversial story
- varied opinions
- playable for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG for Xbox 360 takes the classic Sonic \"need for speed\" formula and adds next-gen graphics, multiple characters, and a compelling story. Unfortunately, something went horribly wrong in the execution. While speed is Sonic's trademark, in this game you only really achieve that by using booster ramps.
Is It Any Good?
The camera angles stink -- most of the time, the camera sticks to the player, but when you are faced with the task of defeating a robot more than four times your size, you won't even begin to know how to contain him on your screen, much less attack him. On other occasions, Sonic will be going too fast for the camera, which will, inevitably, lead to death. The quirky controls can be every bit as frustrating. Another problem: the checkpoints are few and far between and extra lives are unheard of.
Sonic does do some things right. You can control a cast of vastly different characters. The graphics, at times, look like they belong on an Xbox 360, and the cut-scenes look really great. But take everything into account, and even diehard fans of the series will have trouble making it through the entire game - this one's not even a renter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the disappointment of playing a bad game. Is it more frustrating than seeing a really awful movie? How could the game have been much better? What are the worst parts? Which games get it right? If you like the Sonic character already, are you a little more forgiving about this game's quality or even more disappointed?
Game Details
- Platform : Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Sega of America
- Release date : November 14, 2006
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate