Gameplay
The game introduces several new gameplay elements. Unlike most Sonic games, where players control one character, three
characters are available at any time to choose from, as the player may switch the party's leader freely, whilst the other
two characters follow.[2] Each character has an individual ability - speed for fast stages, power for breaking objects, or flight for reaching
high platforms - and the player must use these abilities to traverse the fourteen stages.[2] Each ability is also represented in the interface by colour; blue for speed, yellow for flight, and red for power.[3]
Each team also has a Team Blast skill, which can be performed when the Team Blast meter becomes full. This can be
achieved by performing such actions as destroying enemies or collecting rings.[2]
] Teams
In addition to controlling three characters, the player may select one of the four teams available to use at the beginning
of the game; each team has one member capable of the aforementioned skills, but follow a different, yet intertwined, storyline.[2] Each team also has a unique Team Blast skill.[2]
GameCube version of Sonic Heroes.
[] Team Sonic
Team Sonic is the title team of Sonic Heroes. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles receive a letter from Doctor Eggman telling them of a new ultimate weapon that will be ready within three days, challenging them to stop him. The three band
together to foil Eggman's plans.[4] This team and associated levels are designed to be of medium difficulty, and contain high-speed sections.[4]
Their Team Blast consists of Knuckles throwing Tails, who spins to gain momentum, and throws Sonic, who attacks surrounding
enemies multiple times. During the final boss, each team member, under Super Transformation, performs the same attack as Sonic.
] Team Dark
Rouge sneaks into one of Eggman's bases after hearing that Doctor Eggman is accumulating valuable treasures. Instead, she
finds Shadow the Hedgehog, encased in a capsule and without memory of who he is, and comes across a robot, E-123 Omega, bent on destroying Eggman's robots. Realising that all their problems lead to Eggman, the three anti-heroes team up.[5] This team and associated levels are designed to be of hard difficulty, requiring skill and concentration to endure
heavy battle.[5]
Their Team Blast is known as Chaos Inferno, and consists of Shadow performing Chaos Control, with Omega firing large lasers, and Rouge rotating the top half of her body. It also freezes time momentarily once complete,
so that all enemies are frozen in place.
Team Rose
Each character of Team Rose is trying to find someone important to them; Amy searches for Sonic and hopes that defeating
Eggman herself will impress him. Big is searching for his amphibian friend, Froggy again, and Cream is seeking out Cheese's lost brother, Chocola. With a picture in the newspaper (of Froggy and Chocola being carried
off by who they believe to be Sonic) as their only clue, the three join up to find their lost companions.[6] This team and associated levels are designed for younger players, with shorter missions.[6]
Their Team Blast sees Big bouncing Amy and Cream on top of his umbrella with a flowers raining down on them. All three
members level up by one and grants them temporary invincibility, high running speed, and a shield.
Team Chaotix
Team Chaotix is composed of quiet, ninja-like, and disciplined Espio the Chameleon; their headstrong music-loving leader Vector the Crocodile; and the air-headed flying ace Charmy Bee. They run their own detective agency, and receive a mysterious package with a walkie talkie in it. A stranger gives the team instructions through this device and claims that if the job he has for them is completed,
the Chaotix will be "rewarded handsomely". Espio is wary of the job, but Vector, with dollar signs in his eyes, reminds him that they "never turn down work that pays".[7] This team and associated levels provide a different experience, as most are mission-based, and are only complete when
the mission target is met.[7]
Their Team Blast sees Espio, Charmy, and Vector singing and playing instruments badly, causing all of the surrounding enemies
to explode, whilst ring bonuses are received for each enemy destroyed. Collecting rings also refills the gauge, potentially
allowing the player to perform another Blast immediately after the first is complete.
Reception
PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Heroes.
Reviews of Sonic Heroes were mostly average to positive, depending on the platform; Metacritic averages range from 64% for the PlayStation 2 version (based on 29 reviews) to 73% for the Xbox version (based on 28 reviews).[8] Game Rankings averages ranged from 60% for the PC version (based on 18 reviews) to 74.5% for the Xbox version (based on 95 reviews).[9]
Reviewers noted several positive aspects to the game. These included the gameplay style; whilst the transition to 3D has
been noted as rough for the Sonic franchise,[3] Sonic Heroes came close to the series' 2D roots.[3] Sound design was also praised, described as "inexorably linked" to the experience[3] and "at least very pristine" with "perfectly implemented" sound effects, running in Dolby Pro Logic II.[2] Graphics design and environments were also highlighted, described as colorful, vibrant and cheery,[3] with consistent art design and an exceptionally vibrant color palette.[2] Framerate was also consistent for the Xbox, Gamecube and PC versions, although a drop in framerate in the multiplayer
component was noted.[2][3]
It also attracted several negative criticisms. Often cited were the game's camera control system, described as "uncooperative"[3] and "terrible"[10]. Camera control compounded an additional problem regarding the controls relative to the camera's position, such that
pushing forward may or may not move the character in the same direction the camera is facing.[3] Falling from the level's platforms into the deep pits below was also criticised.[3][10] The game's voice acting also came in for criticism, described as "horrendous"[2] and "the biggest misstep in the sound design".[3]
In addition, the PlayStation 2 version received lower average scores.[11][12] Clipping and graphic faults were cited, whilst the framerate was also lower than the other versions.[13]
In 2004, Sonic Heroes was the sixth bestselling game in the United Kingdom overall, and a full year after its release,
was still at number eight in the all-price chart.[14] The game ultimately sold well enough to enter all three consoles' "best-sellers" lists: Greatest Hits/Platinum for
the PlayStation 2, Platinum Hits for the Xbox, and Player's Choice for the GameCube.[15] The game was also released in a package with Super Monkey Ball Deluxe on Xbox.[16]
Development
The game uses the RenderWare engine so that the game could be programmed and ported easily to the Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and PC CD-ROM.[1]
The game's designer, Takashi Iizuka, stated that he did not want to make Sonic Heroes another Sonic Adventure title,
as he was worried only core gamers would buy the title, instead preferring to create a game for general users to adapt to.[17]
