Gaming

By Holly Jackson

As Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been released in cinema, I decided to give the films a go. The series has been extremely well received, and I can see why, but as a lifelong Sonic fan, I was disappointed.

My main qualm with the films is simply that I don’t feel as though Sonic, a blue talking hedgehog, belongs in the real world. At the beginning of the first film, there is a fleeting moment where we see Sonic in Green Hill, the beautiful island from the original video game series. I was very impressed with how the games’ Green Hill Zone was brought to life in the film as the flourishing, nature-filled island in which Sonic grew up in. However, this was short-lived, as Sonic is quickly transported into Green Hills, America – a much more dull and bleak setting in comparison. Of course, there are animated scenes within the Sonic video games where we see him running through the streets of San Francisco and more, but their cartoon-like appearance is what really gives them charm. There are so many amazing settings within the Sonic video games that would have brilliant potential for action to take place (i.e. Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, Water Palace) but we simply don’t get to see this in the films. Why not keep Sonic within his own world? As the old saying goes ‘If it ain't broke, don’t fix it’.

Another issue I had was the lack of the characters we see within the video games making into the films. Sure, Tails, and Knuckles feature in the second film – but where are Shadow, Blaze the Cat, Amy Rose, Silver, and the others? What I would have loved to see is a film where Sonic teams up with his friends to defeat Dr Robotnik and his other enemies within their own world, rather than see him befriend human beings to defeat Dr Robotnik and to an extent, the government. I suppose what I believe the film lacked here was the element of escapism that is provided by the video games. Although Jim Carrey certainly portrays an excellent villain in his role as Dr Robotnik, I was mildly disappointed that his character bears little resemblance to the Dr Robotnik which fans are familiar with. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the characterisation of Sonic himself – his character acts and speaks exactly as you would have expected him to.

My experience watching the Sonic films ultimately left me with two questions. The first being why Sonic? As far as the plotline goes, it is quite a simplistic and classic hero-villain story with some heartwarming moments along the way which don’t necessarily tie into the video games. This idea for a film series could’ve been effective using an entirely new character, minus a few details that are specific to Sonic such as the few characters that are used and of course, the chaos emerald and rings. My second question is - why not just animate the entire film series instead of just Sonic, Tails and Knuckles? This would’ve allowed Sonic to thrive in his own world, been more visually appealing, and potentially provided a place for more of the original characters to feature.

In summary, the films are of course a great hit, and they are fun to watch - if you haven’t already, just don’t expect them to be like the video games. The best way I can describe my own experience with the Sonic films is by likening it to when you read a book, only to find the film version is nothing like you had anticipated it to be.

impressions By HOLLY jACKSON

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga released on Nintendo Switch at the beginning of April and is available at £49.99 (which unfortunately seems to be the standard price for a decent Nintendo Switch game) as a Switch game card or a digital download. It has since topped over 3.2 million sales, so I thought I’d see what the hype is about.

The game recreates all 9 Star Wars films (of course, in Lego) allowing you to follow the storylines and play through their key moments as different Star Wars characters. Players are offered a vast, open-world experience that is vivid and charming for players of any age. You can roam around freely and explore what the different places have to offer. Each location is exciting and vibrant and looks great even on the small screen of the Switch, albeit a little fuzzy at times. So far, the game has run very smoothly on my Nintendo Switch Lite with no faults. Some players have reported a few minor bugs, but fortunately nothing that significantly hinders gameplay.

The Skywalker Saga is easy to play. Despite its lack of challenge, it is a very enjoyable experience due to the plotline it offers and its attention to detail. Its characters are brilliant, and the voice-acting and humour is very engaging - you won’t want to skip through it. The characters really add to the lore of the game and truly bring it to life - even the NPCs who simply roam around. The storyline combines action with light-hearted moments - I found myself embarking on a mission to then casually waiting on tables in a café before setting out on another adventure. Additionally, the audio of the game is impressive - the soundtrack alongside the diegetic sounds that occur through gameplay combine smoothly with the dialogue effectively immerses you within the Lego Star Wars universe, offering escapism.

In terms of how long you can expect to play the game, the main storyline is estimated to take around 18 hours to complete, although I’m sure you can eek it out for longer if you wish by completing extra storylines. For those who aim to complete absolutely everything, this game could keep you busy for up to 80 hours.

All in all, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a delightful game offering a fun and immersive experience that is worth purchasing.

By HOLLY jACKSON

Good news! If you’ve been playing titles such as Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite or Age of Empires IV on your PC since they were launched up until the 28th February, Microsoft is offering new members a 3-month trial of their PC Game Pass. Whether you’ve played these games through the Microsoft Store or Steam, you’re eligible. However, if you’ve previously been subscribed to Game Pass, you won’t be able to take advantage of this offer.

PC Game Pass includes plenty of exciting titles. If you’re an Age of Empires fan, you’ll be pleased to know that there are several of the games available on there. Likewise, you’ll find plenty of Halo games. There are also some big titles such as various Star Wars games, The Sims 4, and Life is Strange: True Colours.

If you haven’t already, you may as well check out this free trial before it’s gone. There are rumours suggesting Game Pass may see a significant price increase (although these have yet to be confirmed) so it’s worth taking advantage of offers while you can just in case.