Xbox Gaming in South Africa

It must be tough to be Sonic. At his peak he was an unstoppable force, almost single handedly shifting millions of Megadrive consoles in his role as Sega's mascot. Since then it's been hard work trying to recapture the magic of those early days, and it would appear that the hedgehog's debut Kinect appearance isn't going to change that.

• GameTrailers: "Sonic's Kinect debut ultimately proves that there's no such thing as a free ride. Even those most enamored with Sega's fading mascot should be wary." - 4.5/10
• GameInformer: "Sonic Free Riders, though an ambitious attempt to bring a controller-free entry to the racing genre, is a challenge to enjoy. Here’s a word of advice, Sonic: Ditch the board and stick to your platforming roots." - 5.75/10
• GameSpot: "They're simply not responsive enough for the fast action, which makes this game consistently aggravating even after sinking hours into learning how everything works." - 4.5/10
• IGN: "The tracks are well designed, the level of board customization makes the game more robust than many racers, and the numerous multiplayer modes keep the game entertaining past the main missions. It's not amazing, but it's definitely one of the games you should get to round out your Kinect collection." - 7.5/10
• Joystiq: "Video games are, at least at a basic level, supposed to entertain and provide enjoyment. In this case, the fun begins and ends with whatever you can imagine the experience could have been like." - 2/5
• Metacritic rating: 57/100

It seems Sega has some work to do before Sonic will have what it takes to return to his former glory. Still in the mood for some Kinect hover boarding, supersonic hedgehog style? Give this one a spin - it's in stores now.