Sonic Shuffle Launch: More Fan Reaction

First off, we have new scores to tell you about…Videogames.com (GameSpot) gives Shuffle a 4.5 out of 10; and the same goes with SegaWeb. Ironically, on GameSpot’s reader reviews section, out of 18 ratings, the average score is 8.4 out of 10. On Friday, Kulock of The Moogle Cavern stated that he thinks the IGN review is ludicrous:

Okay, there are some mediocre load times (I think IGN was just spoiled on Mario Party, come on, it only takes a few seconds to load when something special happens, like a friggin’ section of the level is added on (Riot Train). It could be a little better, but IGN should NOT have docked about 5 points (comparing it to the other grades) in the final total over LOAD TIMES. The worst load time is like… seven seconds!? This is so horrible you have to KILL sales of the game?

…So, for this, IGN gave Sonic Shuffle a rating three full points lower than Crash Bash, a game loudly “bashed” for being boring and uninteresting. Sonic Shuffle does more with a game board than Mario Party could ever dream of (removing routes, adding entire pieces, 3D camera movements, et cetera), it’s graphics range from not bad to incredible (some nice use of light sourcing in some mini-games), and you’re not FORCED into a regime like Mario Party (“everyone goes through a turn, minigame, everyone goes through a turn, minigame, everyone go-“), the amount of games that you play can change from game to game, it was a different approach to the idea. And damn, when you do get to the minigames, yes, some are complex, but they feel like mini “games”, not “distraction”.

And let’s jump to the DC Tech Pages, where Liquid Rain shares thoughts on the title:

I think Sonic Shuffle is more of a thinking man’s Mario Party. It was just before I was stuck on the final Precioustone on Emerald Coast, Amy was one step away from it and I had to get there from about 11 spaces away. So I used a Six Force March force jewel to force Amy someplace else, then a Speederald to move. I didn’t have the right cards to get to 11, so I positioned myself 4 spaces away to use my last card, which was a 4. (Knuckles and Tails were too far to even get there with a Hi-Speederald) I wound up getting the Last Preciousstone which put me in 1st place all the way from 4th. Needless to say, the last Battle with the last Precioustone had me tensed. If I lost that Battle, I would’ve been sure to lose it to Amy.

We’ll bring you more Shuffle thoughts throughout the week.