Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice

Our favorite blue hedgehog returns once again amidst the poorly received crop of games based around his name. Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice is an action-adventure platformer attempting to revive interest in what seems to be an increasingly jaded series. So is this going to finally be the game that reignites the potential of the franchise?

Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice follow the story of the TV series of the same name, adopting the classic game's mechanics into a modern visual arena. But this game has a lot to make up where its predecessors are concerned, immediately putting pressure on the outcome. Let's race into the world of Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice and see if amends have been made against the questionable titles as of late.

Breaking the Ice with Fire

The first thing that any series fan will notice about Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice is that the game isn't trying to break any boundaries in terms of gameplay. We've seen too many Sonic titles try to be innovative and edgy with their games, only to do more damage than good. This title returns to the classical mechanics of the more celebrated games, much to fans' content.

Of course, you'll play as Sonic the Hedgehog on his quest to thwart Doctor Eggman's plans for world domination. You'll traverse a series of levels racing through challenges, overcoming obstacles, and defeating enemies that get in your path. Yes, it's the same game as the classic titles, but some additional features shake up the gameplay.

Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice features multiple playable characters with different abilities such as flight and, more importantly, the use of fire and ice blocks to accomplish tasks. Does it add anything exciting to gameplay? It still feels like a classic Sonic game, but it spices things up more and makes levels more interesting.

There's also an attempt to appease fans by adding additional content such as special stages, multiplayer modes, minigames, and a series of challenges. So Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice isn't something that will wow its players, but it's a decent step to set the increasingly estranged franchise back on the right track.

Hot or Cold?

There has been a conscious effort not to go too wild on the gameplay here. After all, most Sonic games of late have not been particularly well-received. Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice come across as an attempt to reinvigorate the idea that these games can still be fun and are in touch with their classic roots.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Classic Sonic gameplay is back in form
• Colorful and immersive visuals
• Gameplay diversity with different characters and techniques

Cons:

• Essentially another Sonic game that doesn't offer too many unique elements
• Not much of a challenge to complete
• The narrative isn't very inspired