Solid gameplay and excellent graphics make Sonic Rush Adventure a worthy, if predictable, sequel. But where's Naganuma?
Apparently creating a straight sequel to Sonic Rush wasn't enough for Sega, who chose to add the 'Adventure' moniker this time around. As anyone who has played a Sonic game before will tell you, 'adventure' is really a euphemism for 'crap storyline'. Sonic Rush Adventure's plot is so terrible, it borders on offensive- you can look forward to a daft tale filled with bearded robo-pirates, island-dwelling koalas and the most irritating Sonic sidekick since Charmy Bee.
But don't despair! You can skip the story entirely and get on with enjoying the game instead. Taking on a nautical theme, in Sonic Rush Adventure you'll travel to various islands (some tropical, some not) collect lots of rings, smash up lots of enemies and run very, very fast. Virtually nothing about the core game has changed since its predecessor, but considering how enjoyable Sonic Rush was that's certainly no bad thing. Sonic Rush Adventure looks excellent, with some very impressive 3D graphics that will give your DS a good workout. However, the music is nowhere near as good as that of Rush and before long you'll be turning the volume down. It's a shame, but by no means a deal breaker.
The most drastic change to the Sonic formula is how Sonic travels from one level to the next. The ever-present and ever-annoying Tails provides the transport, including a jetski and submarine to cruise the oceans in. Plotting a course on the 'Sea Chart' using the DS stylus, you then use the touch screen to steer or blow up pirate ships along the way. This could quite easily have descended into tedium, but it manages to break up the action with a refreshing change of pace that feels neither tacked on nor gimmicky. There are countless hidden islands and Chaos Emeralds to be found, so it's well worth taking the time to explore.
Sonic Rush Adventure is a lot like Sonic Rush, only much bigger and shinier. If you're looking for a DS game with addictive gameplay and longevity to match, Sonic Rush Adventure is as good as it gets.