While Mario and his kitschy cohorts handled the transition from two- to three-dimensions with aplomb, none of Segas 3D Sonic games have ever recaptured the mercurial spirit of the fleet-footed Mega Drive classics. And while Secret Rings is cruelly flawed, its still a huge improvement on Sonics excreable Xbox 360 and PS3 outings, and the blue streaks finest 3D adventure to date.
Ditching the traditional set-up in favour of motion controls, playing Secret Rings sees gamers tilting the Wii remote from side-to-side to steer Sonic as he sprints towards a goal, a simple system that reclaims the bewildering blend of platforming and racing that made the series famous and fixing the erratic stop-start gameplay that marred recent editions. The games RPG elements where you evolve Sonics skills also bring a fresh dimension to the gameplay, and the lush graphics are the best the Wii has to offer this side of Zelda.
Sadly, the occasionally sluggish controls and spasmodic in-game camera mean Sonics Wii debut is far from perfect, but Secret Rings still shows theres plenty of life in the old hedgehog yet.