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Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

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8.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 55 critic reviews
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Based on 31 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Sega

Developer: BioWare

Genre(s): Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: September 30, 2008

Summary

Sonic and friends have banded together with leading RPG developer BioWare to create a stylish blend of strategy and speed for Sonic's first RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. The game mixes a rich story, hand-painted visuals, fast-paced team combat, and wireless collectible trading into a uniquely compelling adventure. Players customize their party and characters, choosing from Sonic, Tails, Amy Rose, Knuckles,Shadow, Rouge, and more, and prepare to defeat a menacing new enemy. Rhythmically tapping anddragging with the stylus in Sonic-style battles, players level up and use Rings to buy new specialattacks as they progress through 20 different and beautifully hand-drawn areas including new andclassic Sonic locales. With an engaging storyline, lightning fast attacks, high production values, and impeccable visuals, Sonic Chronicles allows gamers to experience Sonic in a whole new way. [Sega]

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What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

1UP

Sonic Chronicles' light action elements provide plenty of fun puzzle-solving and exploration opportunities without cramping the fairly traditional RPG style.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

Had Sonic Chronicles simply been a standard RPG with generic characters in it, it would still have been a fantastic title. The fact that it actually features familiar faces and backgrounds only adds to the enjoyment.

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Zentendo

A welcome return of a quality Sonic title that brings back memories of first playing Sonic 1 on the Sega Mega Drive. With great graphics, great gameplay and a developed storyline that’s not overly serious, Sonic’s a great addition to all gamers. The only downside is the somewhat odd battle system.

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Gameplayer

If you like either Sonic, or RPGs, you have to buy The Dark Brotherhood. It’s as perfect a handheld RPG as we’ve ever played.

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

If there’s one game to get this month, Sonic Chronicles is it. It’s brilliant in every way, and we can’t get enough of it.

Game Informer

Sonic Chronicles is good for dedicated (and lapsed) fans, the BioWare faithful, and anyone just looking for a decent RPG on DS.

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Meristation

Sega’s blue hedgehog comes back with his most unlikely incarnation: an RPG. Developed by BioWare, Sonic Chronicles is a good game, with a great pace, an interesting roster of characters, many things to do (especially side quests, BioWare’s favourites), and charming visuals. Sonic is back at his best, and we hope it’s the beginning of a new era for the hedgehog.

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GameFocus

Graphically the game is every bit a Sonic game, with the bright colors and key level design choices you will recognize from the other Sonic games. There are plenty of big loops and curvy tracks which add to the entire experience. The characters you play with such as Sonic and Tails as well as the ones you fight the robots and even the basic animals you will fight are all designed well and animated very well. The game is done so well graphically, and even if you did not know you were going to look at a Sonic RPG, you could just see a couple of screens and easily see that the game is a Sonic game.

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3DJuegos

At last, Sonic discovers the RPG games world in a title which disguises the blue hedgehog's universe with some of the best BioWare features. The result is probably one of the best Sonic videogames of the last years and an inevitable purchase for the fans.

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Games Master UK

Shines with hog-tastic potential, but the actual 'role playing' bits need beefing up. [Nov 2008, p.70]

VideoGamer

If you're a Sonic fan Chronicles really is an essential purchase. It's one of the best Sonic games we've played in ages (given the quality of some Sonic games in recent years this doesn't come as a surprise) and, despite it not being as in-depth an RPG as we'd hoped, it's really a lot of fun while it lasts.

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Nintendo Power

Sonic Chronicles may annoy you at times, but it certainly won't ever bore you. [Nov 2008, p.96]

Thunderbolt

It’s a bit formulaic in its design, but levels are a nice slice of gaming on the go that require almost no level grinding.

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RPG Fan

An odd and unique fusion of Eastern and Western RPG conventions, Sonic Chronicles is a difficult game to qualify. On one hand, it's weak when compared to other Bioware titles, and even some other RPGS, such as the easily comparable Mario RPG. On the other hand, though, it must be evaluated based upon what it really is: a handheld Sonic RPG.

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AceGamez

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood could have been awful, but it's not. It's a joy to play, every bit the Bioware experience but mixed in with the instant arcade style thrills of Sonic's glory days on the Mega Drive.

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Level7.nu

The decision to hand of an rpg featuring Sonic and pals to experienced developer Bioware was a good decision. Great characters and beautifully crafted environment make up the atmospheric experience and combined with the engaging battle system Sega finally has a new game with Sonic in that's actually any good. The only major flaw here is a somewhat low difficulty level.

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PTGamers

Sonic Chronicles may be hard to recommend to those who fancy Sonic for its sheer speed, but this is an RPG that uses the characters in completely appropriate ways.

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Wii Brasil

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a must for any of the hedgehog's fans. And to all other players, it's worth a try. Bioware did a great job which deserves to be seen by everyone.

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MEGamers

We can call this the best Sonic game in years considering the pretty low quality platform Sonic games we have played recently. This game still has some issues to deal with however.

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G4 TV

It would have been a pretty good RPG without a bunch of famous characters in it, but the characters add plenty of visual charm and personality to the game.

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NGamer UK

Despite being a slow starter, it reboots the Sonic franchise with style. There are plenty of solid foundations here for a potentially brilliant sequel. Go to it, Bioware.

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NZGamer

The presentation of the game is probably its strongest point – it simply looks really good.

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Gamers' Temple

Sonic Chronicles is not a bad game by any means, and I had a fantastic time when the combat worked like it promised it would.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Falling short of the excellence usually offered by Bioware, as it invests in some repetitive elements of exploration and combat, this game has a simple mechanic, puzzles and a nice tactical element in battles. Despite the story’s slow start, in general it makes good use of the Sonic universe, presenting many known characters. [Oct 2008]

Kombo

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is one of the best Sonic titles in recent years.

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Gamer 2.0

Let’s get this straight, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a solid RPG through and through, but it doesn’t really play like one.

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WonderwallWeb

A decent first attempt at a Sonic RPG, perhaps not good enough to appeal to the masses, however it should keep Sonic fans satisfied.

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GameDaily

Little of the BioWare magic for telling an engaging story through impressively written dialogue and deep characters was used, and repetitive battles and too many generic enemies don't help matters. And for a game about a speedy hedgehog, it too often plods along slowly.

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GameSpy

Hardcore Sonic fans will definitely want to check this one out, as it offers a strong storyline and entertaining writing that's on par with the best fan fiction.

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GamePro

All in all, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a fairly easy and light RPG that I'm sure younger gamers will have a blast with.

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Gamer.nl

Sonic Chronicles is a solid Roleplaying Game. Especially the use of color, fluid combat and the diversity in mini-games are really persuasive. On the other hand, the story is hardly worth following and feels rather dull. But, in all fairness, Sonic Chronicles will give you lots of gameplay, even if you don't like blue hedgehogs.

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Total Video Games

With easy RPG dynamics, Sonic Chronicles is a title that will only really appeal to fans of the fastest hedgehog in the known universe or younger DS gamers.

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Eurogamer

Sonic Chronicles is undeniably a nice-looking game, and its slick presentation makes for an enticing experience to begin with. The longer you play, however, the more the cracks start to show, and what seemed like a potential minor classic is soon reduced to just "pretty good".

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Cheat Code Central

A noble effort by the folks at BioWare to translate the lore of SEGA's beloved hedgehog and his cronies to an RPG format. Largely, the game succeeds at providing an interesting experience. However, it seems to be too simplistic for its own good, lacking the depth of gameplay needed to make it truly special.

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Boomtown

It’s also an excellent introduction to the RPG genre for Sonic fans or those that usually find them too overwhelming and don’t want to spend hours levelling up their characters.

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Gamervision

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a decent first attempt at giving the speedy hedgehog a new genre to explore, but the game lacks the addictive and challenging elements that make RPG fans want to keep exploring and progressing.

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N-Europe

A fun RPG while it lasts, but can wear thin over time. Great visuals and level design help overcome some missed potential.

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D+PAD Magazine

BioWare has created a rare beast with Sonic Chronicles; a beginner's RPG that is pitched perfectly for the hedgehog and handheld’s younger followers to identify with, while still possessing its developer’s unmistakable sheen of quality.

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Cubed3

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a solid role-playing experience, but it's ultimately an overly lightweight one that is unlikely to truly grab the attention of genre veterans.

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DarkZero

Considering the initial shock of a Sonic RPG, and the potential, I think that SC could’ve been a bit better in most aspects but TDB definitely lays solid foundations for the probable sequel. It really is an RPG but delivered Sonic style; fast and fun.

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games(TM)

There are better RPGs out there, there are better RPGs on DS, but better Sonic Adventures? You’d be hard pushed to find one. [Dec 2008, p.114]

Play.tm

This game could only really be suitable for Sonic fans and younger gamers. Sonic aficionados will love a change of pace and a slight return to form for the blue spikey wonder. It also forms a fantastic introduction to the RPG world for kids as it is lightweight enough that they won't get bogged down by statistics yet it'll still introduce them to the basic concepts of RPGs before they move onto some of the true favourites on the DS (such as the Final Fantasys and the forthcoming Chrono Trigger).

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GameTrailers

Sonic Chronicles is an admirable attempt to revitalize an aging franchise, but it ultimately suffers from an identity crisis and never really hits its stride.

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Game Revolution

Even with all the minor gripes, aside from the unfortunate plot spoiling, the JRPG elements are traditionally solid and keep the title from falling into the art of the rip-off.

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Variety

Surprisingly fun and competent, though far from the shot of adrenaline the franchise needs to return to its former glory.

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PALGN

Charming, but simple and repetitive. Sonic fans may find some fun, but there are far better RPGs to be found on the DS.

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GameSpot

Sonic's first foray into the role-playing realm is a laudable effort, but it ultimately falls short of its potential.

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Worth Playing

A complete average, if not slightly subpar, RPG. If it wasn't for the fact that it had Sonic characters in it, it wouldn't stand out at all. The combat system is interesting but flawed, the gameplay is slow and rather tedious and the plot is as cookie-cutter as they come.

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IGN

On the gameplay front though, players will need to suffer through tedious point-to-point fetch quests with very little story to push the experience, and a battle system that gets too repetitive far too fast.

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Destructoid

It has a lot of good ideas, but none of them are fully fleshed out and turned into truly great gameplay additions. The story is forgettable, the equipment and level ups may as well not even be there, and everything just feels half-finished.

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Pocket Gamer UK

The problem with the game is that it plays to none of Sonic's strengths while simultaneously underlining all of the franchise's most famous faults. You're ultimately left with the conclusion that actually a Sonic The Hedgehog role-playing game probably isn't a very good idea. That said, BioWare has done the best it could with a difficult brief.

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Edge Magazine

How do you craft an RPG around a character defined entirely by movement? We’re not sure that you can, and BioWare hasn’t proved otherwise. [Dec 2008, p.96]

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Something is missing in this hedgehog’s story. Technically perfect game, but lacks in enjoyment – there are no challenges no thrills ... no fun. [Nov 2008]

NintendoWorldReport

The storyline, art direction, and world exploration are top-notch here, but the tiresome combat sucks the life out of an otherwise enjoyable adventure.

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GameShark

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood isn't a bad game, it's just a disappointing one. If you're a diehard Sonic fan, it's probably the best outing containing your favorite blue hedgehog in years, regardless of how low a benchmark that may be.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 31 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Joey R gave it a9:
I won't even bother to counter all the flawed arguements of the nay-sayers of the Sonic franchise, I've been doing that all year. But I do feel strongly that Sonic Chronicles is a great game: a unique blend of RPG slowness with the high-speed adrenaline rush of Sonic. The story was good and appealed to me both as an RPG fan and a Sonic fan (yes: diehard, as diehard as you can possibly get). It's better than a lot of RPGs I've played. Very fun and engaging!

Keith P gave it a10:
I really like Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. The game is not boring. I would recommend this game to people who are fans of Sonic the Hedgehog.

David gave it a0:
This game was the worst Sonic game I have played. RPGs are meant to be slow, and Sonic games are meant to be fast. The music was poor and the end was a ripoff.

James W gave it a9:
After the atrocities of the console games, the DS has become the hedgehog's best friend. The Rush games were great, and so is this. I actually prefer it to the Final Fantasy genre!

Khoi P gave it an8:
Game was fun... Kinda repetitive. I wish the little Elite Beat kind of actions were available during regular attacks too. I'm used to it for other games to just sit and watch but mman, it was boring to watch a blue ball go across the screen after clicking attack because you don't have enough PP.

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Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

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