Sonic Rumble Review

Sonic the Hedgehog is an iconic character that has seen its fair share of titles and spin-offs throughout the years. With games like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and Sonic Frontiers under its belt, it’s clear to see that the franchise is not afraid to experiment with new experiences.

Enter Sonic Rumble, the latest effort set for a global release on mobile devices and PC on May 8. Offering a fresh new take that introduces fans of the blue blur to a frenetic multiplayer affair, will this free-to-play title see the same success as its recent releases like Sonic x Shadow Generations?

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

Rumble is definitely the right word, as Sonic Rumble delivers a fast-paced, competitive battle royale experience, where up to 32 players compete across three elimination-based rounds. Each round presents unique objectives designed to narrow the field, culminating in a final showdown made even more interesting because players will have to collect rings along the way, and whoever has the most rings when all three rounds end will be crowned the victor.

While the game shares similarities with other multiplayer battle royale titles, its distinct Sonic identity sets it apart. The characters alone are enough to make this game enticing, where you can play as Shadow, Amy, Tails, Knuckles, or other characters from the Sonic universe. Characters can jump, attack, and pick up special items to use throughout a level, making platforming one of the main aspects of the game.

Thinking Sonic Rumble is easy because of how it looks is not advisable, because the game can be extremely competitive. Judging from our time with the game, some matches could be a quick dash to the finish, but more experienced players will often show up and challenge you and your skills to the highest degree. Sometimes luck is also involved, but as the game opens up to more players, be prepared for a more competitive environment!

The game also integrates classic Sonic abilities, such as the homing attack, allowing players to zip across objectives and break obstacles. Some levels even encourage cooperative play, requiring teamwork to progress. Quite noticeable is that some of the stages and their obstacles are designed with certain catch-up mechanics that allow players lagging behind to get back into the race. Players will move slowly in snow-covered levels, but as the snow melts away when players pass by, those running behind can move at a normal pace.

Sonic Rumble features an intuitive control scheme that players can pick up and instantly learn in a few minutes. Players can navigate the map effortlessly, utilizing jumping, double jumping, and attacking to overcome obstacles. Attacking fellow players is also possible through special items found in scattered boxes throughout the map, causing them to drop their rings and briefly knocking them down, creating opportunities to gain an advantage.

One neat thing to note is how Sonic Rumble employs an actual level design that is similar to the levels in other Sonic games. Some levels, especially in the Run level type, will have alternate paths to take that may introduce different obstacles but also more rewards. These levels look good and are presented well, maintaining the series’ charm while hosting chaotic battles between several players.

Sonic Rumble also offers various stage objectives: A Run level will be a straight-line race to the finish while collecting rings along the way, while Survival stages will continuously knock players out until a certain number of players are eliminated. There are also team-based affairs, which can get quite frustrating because your teammates may inadvertently become the cause of you losing, which is unfortunate, but such is the nature of these battle royale titles! These stages culminate in a level called Ring Battle, where players will need to outsmart the others while moving around platforms and obstacles to see who has the most rings at the end of a time limit. It’s quite an exciting way to end things, where a winner is not determined until the final seconds. It’s a tension-filled affair that gets unexpectedly competitive, and is a sign that the game’s underlying design hits a sweet spot.

Despite its engaging mechanics, the game lacks Sonic’s signature speed, an unusual complaint for a franchise built on breakneck speed. While the slower pace supports level design and objectives, some stages could have better utilized Sonic’s trademark speed to enhance the experience. The overall pace of the game is quite slow despite the stages lasting only a few minutes, and while it’s enough to get players excited, the sense of speed is just not there at all.

Play Dress Up

Sonic Rumble’s progression revolves around unlockable rewards, allowing players to customize their avatars with skins and cosmetic items inspired by iconic Sonic characters. These skins can be acquired using Rings, the game’s primary currency, which enables players to purchase various customization options. The system is straightforward, supported by tutorials and events that make unlocking characters like Sonic and his companions easy and fun.

The game offers extensive fan service, featuring collectibles such as Chao buddies, themed skins like Popstar Amy and Chrome Shadow, avatar icons, emotes, win effects, stickers, and more. Some rewards are even tied to seasons, which makes some skins all the more enticing to obtain. Grinding the free battle pass is inevitable, but the progression in Sonic Rumble is well-paced, often unlocking an item or two after a match ends so that players always feel rewarded. There’s also a premium battle pass track for players who want more rewards.

A unique feature in Sonic Rumble allows players to collect multiple skins of the same character. For instance, obtaining three Sonic or Amy skins unlocks a special visual effect that enhances their appearance. At some point, I got into a lobby with players who had shining avatars that looked like flashing RGB lights, highlighting the vast number of customization items in the game. No complaints with the amount of unlockables, as there’s a TON of things to collect here!

As can be expected, Sonic Rumble has built-in mobile game monetization, where players can purchase special Red Star Rings to use for special skins and cosmetics. It’s hard to judge whether pricing will be expensive since no Red Star Ring bundles are on sale at the time of writing, but items that Red Star Rings purchase, like skin shards or legendary skins, can cost anywhere from 99 to even 999 rings.

Stage variety is certainly one thing that could be improved. Certain levels, such as Frozen Factory, appeared more frequently than expected during gameplay. While objectives varied, a broader selection of stages would enhance the experience. Other available levels include Desert Ruins, Chemical Plant, Silent Forest, and Lava Mountain, offering a decent range of environments.

Stage diversity and post-launch content updates are crucial to long-term success in multiplayer battle royale titles. Sonic Rumble’s ability to maintain consistent updates and fresh content will be key in sustaining player engagement, so it’ll be interesting to see how consistent the development team can be with updating the game. During this review period, a crossover event unlocking new Skins from the SEGA classics Super Monkey Ball, Altered Beast, and Fantasy Zone was made available, which is certainly a nice addition.

Playing Sonic Rumble on the PC using a controller felt perfect, but jumping feels a bit floaty, which could be challenging in some platforming sections. I have not played this on mobile devices, but despite the game being tailor-made for mobile devices, it would be hard to prefer touch controls over using an actual controller.

Verdict

Overall, Sonic Rumble is a fun offering that brings the many characters in the Sonic Universe into one chaotic and competitive romp. The levels are vibrant and creative, keeping the series’ identity intact with various elements taken from previous titles, and the gameplay is simple and easy to pick up and learn.

While it has a unique identity that uses Sonic-themed mechanics and systems to differentiate itself from other battle royale titles, it loses its signature sense of speed, opting for a slower affair with measured platforming and obstacles due to the genre.

It remains to be seen how much support Sonic Rumble will receive in the coming months, as its overall longevity and health will rely heavily on map and mode updates. Still, its launch offering looks enough to hold out for a bit, with various events and crossover goodies across SEGA’s various IPs.

*Sonic Rumble was reviewed on a PC and Steam Deck with a review code provided by the publisher.