Sonic Heroes

Sonic Heroes (Original Xbox) is a 2004 3D platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It introduced an innovative “team play” mechanic where players control a trio of characters (e.g., Sonic/Tails/Knuckles on Team Sonic, or Shadow/Rouge/Omega on Team Dark), each with unique abilities that combine speed, flight, and power to navigate diverse, multi-path levels — a fresh twist on the Sonic formula . The Xbox version, like its GameCube counterpart, runs smoothly at 60 fps in 480p, showcasing well-detailed environments and character models, though occasional clipping and camera issues persist. Critics and fans appreciated its fast-paced action and catchy soundtrack — the title theme alone leaves a lasting, cheesy charm, yet many noted overly long levels, repetitive boss fights, and inconsistent camera control that occasionally hindered the experience. Altogether, Sonic Heroes stands as one of the more enjoyable 3D Sonic outings of its era—ambitious in scope and fun in execution, but still marred by technical quirks typical of early 3D Sonic experiments.