Parents' Guide to

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Sub-par Sonic game hits too many speed bumps.

Game Nintendo Wii U 2015
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Game: Screenshot #1
  • Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Game: Screenshot #2
  • Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
February 1, 2015
age 10+

10 and up.

based on the tv series this action/adventure game sonic boom rise of the lyrics is an average game with some boring levels that are not even challenging even to some die-hard sonic fans this game can be beating in like 10 hours long this game is for young kids and older the only thing this game has is some cartoon violence other then that these game could of been better the positive message is about teamwork the role model is that sonic and his friends are good guys vowing to protect their world from evil.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

The first title on the Wii U console to utilize the CryEngine, Sega's SONIC BOOM: RISE OF LYRIC serves as a prequel to the television series wherein Sonic and his team unite to fight Lyric, a giant serpent-like creature. Sonic and his friends -- Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks (each of whom has a unique power) -- must explore, fight, and collect items to destroy the threats to their world. Played mostly from a third-person view, the game folds in combat, platforming, and puzzle solving as gamers fight through multiple environments.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (5 ):

Unfortunately, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric isn't good at all. The game suffers from many issues that mar the experience, such as choppy frame rates (which drag you down to a near standstill in some cases) to short draw distances (so you can't see what's coming up in front of you). It also has a bad camera (which obscures your view instead of helping you see what's going on) as well as poor pacing and jarring shifts from gameplay to cinematics. The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, even though each character has a unique ability and the Enerbeam, a high-tech whip of sorts, can help you zip-line, swing, and throw enemies. Even the characters make a comment about the repetition with the line, "OK, this is getting old!" The co-op multiplayer (up to four people) is a great idea but falls short in execution, mostly because of the frame-rate and draw-distance issues. Too bad for Sonic fans, but this seemingly incomplete and sub-par game should be left in the bargain bin.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of violence in media. Is the constant combat in Sonic Boom OK because it's cartoonish, or should a game for kids not advocate violence of any kind?

  • Talk about teamwork. How can you and your friends use your skills and talents to solve problems you face in everyday situations?

Game Details

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