For more on Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, check out our full Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric review. Or, for more of the best Nintendo Wii U games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyrics is a "reboot" of the Sonic series that aims to take it in a different direction. A 3D platform/adventure game, Sonic Boom takes a slower pace than Sonic's usual game, with more of an emphasis on puzzles, beating up bad guys (well, robots) and a bit of exploration thrown in for good measure.
Most of the puzzles in the game revolve around the four main character's special abilities: Knuckles can climb certain walls, Amy can balance on pink balance beams, Sonic can roll into a ball and speed dash around the place, and Tails can hover using his tail. With very rudimentary button pressing, platform flipping puzzles in place, and a gentle pace, this is a rather different kind of Sonic game.
In terms of accessibility, Sonic Boom does take a bit of getting used to. Not as highly polished as games like Mario, and paired with some sometimes awkward controls, there's quite a learning curve here, with little in the way of tutorials to tell you what to do, or hints should you get stuck in the puzzles, meaning it's probably best suited to experienced platform players. It's worth mentioning, though, that there is a two player co-op mode here, in which one players uses the GamePad to control their character, and the other uses the TV, which is a very nice touch.
As a Sonic game, there's very little for parents to worry about here, with nothing in the way of swearing, sex, bad language, or real violence. The only enemies in the game are robots, and the odd humanoid-hedgehog, with nothing in the way of realistic impacts or attacks.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Nintendo Wii U
