Review: The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

Translate

This strange yet fantastic entry in the Sonic canon comes from SEGA's The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog. While an April Fool's joke, this visual novel soon became incredibly popular with its audience thanks to the amazing mystery, charming art style, and clever writing.

Instead, it is set on the Mirage Express, where Sonic friends plan to have a murder mystery party but whoops, turns out Sonic is "murdered" for real. As a new character, you dip your feet into the case along with Tails and other polygonal Sonic buddies. The story has surprisingly good writing and humor with nostalgic value and plenty of engaging sleuthing.

Visually, rich, which incorporates high vintage Sonic aesthetics infused with the shiny feel of a modern visual novel. All characters are beautifully drawn, while the animations bring them to life in their interactions. Plus, mini-games: fishing rings while avoiding barriers—the nostalgic echoes of Classic Sonic gameplay falling just short of delighting the ears in their dialogue-led parts.

Its main aspect is accessibility. Controls are so simple that both casual players and longtime Sonic fans can easily appreciate it. The script is very witty and full of side references to Sonic's history, great evidence that the game is a labor for the developers and forever-infected enthusiasm.

The only downside is that it is really short, probably finishing for a majority within about two hours. Not much one can say though since it is free, so. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog has earned its place in the catalog of must-have experiences for fans of Sonic and fans of visual novels. An innovative and cool twist on Sonic's own franchise shows that Sonic can survive beyond mere platformers.

Rating: 9/10

Posted on 03/03/2025228 Views