Sonic Forces Speed Battle – Review

Sonic Forces Speed Battle is a competitive multiplayer runner game in which you collect rings, power ups and race to the finish. We love this game very much due to all the variety in characters and costumes. In my review you’ll find out more!

Why Sonic Forces Speed Battle?

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle is a competitive multiplayer runner game based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Unlike traditional Sonic platform games or endless runner titles, this game focuses on racing against other players in real time. The goal is simple: run fast, avoid obstacles, use power-ups, and reach the finish line before your opponents.

The game is designed primarily for mobile devices and features quick races that usually last only a few minutes. This makes it easy to pick up and play during short breaks while still offering exciting and fast-paced gameplay.

In each race, four players compete on the same course. Characters run automatically while players control their movement by swiping left or right to switch lanes, swiping up to jump, and swiping down to slide under obstacles. These simple controls allow players to focus on timing and strategy rather than complicated mechanics.

While running through the course, players collect rings and pick up power-up items. These items can be used to attack opponents or defend against incoming attacks. For example, players might throw obstacles onto the track, launch projectiles, or activate shields to block attacks from other racers. These abilities add a competitive element that makes races unpredictable and exciting.

One of the game’s biggest highlights is its large roster of playable characters from across the Sonic universe. Players can unlock and race as many fan-favorite characters, including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Blaze, Silver, Rouge, Cream, and Dr. Eggman. Each character has unique abilities and special attacks that can influence how a race plays out.

Because each character has different strengths, choosing the right character can become part of the strategy. Some characters may be better at attacking opponents, while others are more focused on speed or defense.

As players win races and complete challenges, they earn rewards that help them unlock new characters and upgrade existing ones. Upgrading characters improves their abilities, making them more effective during races. This progression system gives players goals to work toward and encourages them to continue playing.

The game also includes different tracks and environments inspired by locations from the Sonic series. Players race through colorful areas filled with loops, springs, ramps, and hazards. The tracks are designed to feel fast and exciting, capturing the sense of speed that the Sonic franchise is known for.

Visually, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle is bright and colorful. Character models are detailed for a mobile game, and the environments are lively and energetic. The animations during races are smooth, helping the game feel fast and responsive.

The music and sound effects also match the high-energy nature of Sonic games. Fast-paced music plays during races, helping build excitement as players compete for first place.

Another fun aspect of the game is the online multiplayer competition. Because players race against real opponents, every race can feel different. Some players focus on speed, while others try to slow down their rivals with attacks. This variety makes races feel dynamic and competitive.

However, the game does have some drawbacks.

Since the game is focused on multiplayer races, the gameplay loop can eventually feel repetitive after many matches. Players repeatedly run similar tracks and perform the same actions, which may feel less exciting over time.

Another issue is that races can sometimes feel chaotic. With multiple players launching attacks and obstacles at the same time, it can be difficult to avoid everything. This can lead to sudden losses even if a player was performing well.

The progression system can also slow down after a while. Unlocking certain characters or upgrading them may take a lot of time and repeated play.

Additionally, because the game is designed for mobile devices and quick matches, it does not include a deep story or long single-player adventure like some other Sonic games.

Despite these limitations, the game still provides a fun and competitive experience.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 1-player with online match making on one Android or IOS device, or 4-player on multiple Android or IOS devices.

Pros

Real-time multiplayer races against other players.

Large roster of Sonic characters to unlock and play.

Simple controls that are easy to learn.

Fast-paced gameplay that captures Sonic’s speed.

Bright visuals and colorful environments.

Character upgrades and missions provide long-term goals.

Cons

Gameplay can become repetitive after many races.

Multiple attacks during races can make matches feel chaotic.

Unlocking and upgrading characters may take time.

The game focuses on quick matches rather than a full story adventure.

Summary

Overall, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle is an exciting multiplayer runner that combines the speed of Sonic with competitive racing mechanics. The variety of characters, fast gameplay, and unpredictable online matches make it a fun experience for fans of the series. While it may not offer the depth of larger Sonic games, it succeeds as a quick and energetic mobile game that keeps players racing for first place.