The GameDaily One-Minute Review

Representing a shift back towards more traditional Sonic games, a number of poor design decisions hamper Sonic Rivals. The lack of variety amongst its characters, both in terms of ability and level order, gives each playthrough a repetitive twinge. The tedium of Challenge Mode only calls more attention to these shortcomings, requiring multiple replays of the same level in order to unlock the much-needed variety of Circuit Cup. Meanwhile, a pointless card collection system brings the game down even further, as do its various technical flaws. Despite these qualms, Sonic Rivals still manages a few moments reminiscent of the old Sonic games, but they're not nearly as frequent or as long-lasting as one would hope.