This new game's got problems, but also introduces Sonic's most innovative stuff to date for this generation.
It's not completely ideal, however. The camera perspective can be annoying, especially when you're trying to jump from platform to platform. Once section, for instance, has Sonic jumping across clouds. But they appear to be further out than they actually are due to where the camera is placed. As a result, he falls off and, yep, lost life.
Others work much better, like the tunnel sequences, where you can actually run around in a 360-degree fashion. But, then the platforming segments come, and you need cracker-jack timing to get through them the first time without losing a life. It's a bit like trial-and-error, which could be a headache for some.
At least the sound is impressive. The music is amongst Sega's to date for a Sonic game, changing constantly through a number of themes. It's just a shame the voicework doesn't keep up. It sounds like something you'd hear in a cheesy Saturday morning cartoon program – which would make sense considering the big "S" is bringing Sonic back to them sometime next year, I suppose.
As for gameplay, it's a mixed bag. In Lost World, you actually have to hold down the right trigger to run. That may not make sense – he's run so naturally in past games – but with the new exploration theme, it kind of melds in. That's not to say it isn't frustrating – we've lost a few lives because we didn't know the proper judgment to stop before falling off a platform – but once you get used to it, it's pretty good.
