Review Zone

The Review Zone is a feature in Sonic the Comic and Sonic the Comic Online dedicated to reviewing new video games. Early editions were handled by Tony Takoushi and David Gibbon, although Takoushi was later replaced by the

likes of Jenny Fromer, Vincent Low and Nick Protz. Richard Burton also supplied a few early reviews.

The format of reviews in this feature were almost identical in every issue. The start of the article would show the "key", indicating what the abbreviations of each Sega console was and what exactly each percentage rating meant (from "Mega City!" down to "Yawnsville"). Each game would be accompanied by the game's title, the console, type of game and number of players it accomodates. After the review would come the reviewer's name (or initials) and the "Fast Fax". This would contain individual scores for graphics, sound and playability. As well as this, the reviewer included the game's Raves (positive aspects) and Graves (negatives). Later editions would feature "spike ball" graphics with either their thumb up or down. Finally, the review would receive a score to fit in with STC's rating system.

Early editions of Review Zone spanned an average of four pages, with individual reviews crossing pages to make a lively feature. Towards the end of the Mega Drive's run, when the Saturn was the only competing Sega system, the Review Zone began to wind up with fewer games to feature.

Sonic the Comic Online reintroduced the Review Zone, although largely just featuring one game every issue. This game would almost always be the most recent Sonic game to be released and the format was almost exactly the same as the print edition's version. Stuart Gipp became the comic's Review Hume, but would eventually be replaced by Iain Stewart. Although almost all reviews are provided by Stewart, occasional ones are produced by Drew Middlemas, Shadic, Seumidh MacDonald and others.

As of Issue 257, reviews no longer contain a score (apart from the Sonic the Comic 'game' that broke the rating scale). In Issue 260, a film was reviewed for the first time, namely Wreck-it Ralph, a film that contains cameos from the video game versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Doctor Robotnik.

List of reviewed titles

Title	Score (%)	Platform	Reviewer	Issue
Tom & Jerry	70	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 1
Road Avenger	75	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 1
The Flintstones	85	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 1
The X-Men	70	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 1
James Bond - The Duel	79	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 1
Jungle Strike	85	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 2
Final Fight	75	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 2
Batman Returns	85	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 2
Night Trap	75	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 2
Steel Talons	80	MD	Richard Burton	Issue 2
Double Clutch	70	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 3
Afterburner 3	75	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 3
Flash	80	MS	Tony Takoushi	Issue 3
Wonder Boy in Monster World	80	MS	Tony Takoushi	Issue 4
Streets of Rage 2	80	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 4
Time Gal	60	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 4
Micro Machines	95	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 5
Master of Darkness	75	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 5
GP Rider	65	MS	Tony Takoushi	Issue 5
Outrun 2019	70	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 5
Galaga 2	65	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 5
Mazin Wars	85	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 6
Sega World Tournament Golf	75	MS	Tony Takoushi	Issue 6
Summer Challenge	80	MD	Richard Burton	Issue 6
Shinobi 3	85	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 7
Make My Video: INXS	70	MCD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 7
Gunstar Heroes	80	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 7
Bubsy	88	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 8
Ultimate Soccer	75	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 8
Ranger X	80	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 8
Robo Aleste	75	MD	Tony Takoushi*	Issue 8
Jurassic Park	75	MD	Tony Takoushi	Issue 8
Ecco the Dolphin	85	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 9
Jurassic Park	70	GG	Tony Takoushi	Issue 9
Home Alone	75	MS	Tony Takoushi	Issue 9
Fantastic Dizzy	90	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 9
Streetfighter 2	90	MD	Tony Takoushi**	Issue 10
Aladdin	90	MD	Tony Takoushi**	Issue 10
Landstalker	80	MD	Tony Takoushi**	Issue 10
Wimbledon	75	MD	Tony Takoushi**	Issue 10
Ren & Stimpy	70	GG	Vincent Low**	Issue 11
Battletoads	85	GG	Vincent Low**	Issue 11
Road Runner	65	MS	Vincent Low**	Issue 11
Sherlock Holmes 2	75	MCD	Vincent Low**	Issue 11
Cosmic Spacehead	90	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 12
Sonic Chaos	85	MS/GG	Vincent Low	Issue 12
Ottifants	70	MS	Vincent Low	Issue 12
B.O.B.	73	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 12
Asterix and The Great Rescue	70	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 12
Sonic Spinball	80	MD	?	Issue 13
Thunderhawk	93	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 14
Chuck Rock 2: Son of Chuck	87	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 14
Masters of Combat	90	MS	Vincent Low	Issue 14
F1	92	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 14
Ottifants	70	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 14
Sonic the Hedgehog CD	90	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 15
Silpheed	85	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 15
Ecco the Dolphin	90	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 15
PGA Tour Golf	54	MS/GG	Steve May	Issue 15
Gauntlet IV	78	MD	Steve May	Issue 15
Buggy Run	80	MS	Vincent Low	Issue 16
Donald Duck 2	75	MS	Vincent Low	Issue 16
Toe Jam & Earl 2	85	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 16
Davis Cup World Tour	92	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 16
Eternal Champions	85	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 17
Joe Montana's NFL Football	65	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 17
Wonderdog	80	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 17
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine	80	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 17
Greatest Heavyweights	80	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 18
Pebble Beach Golf	80	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 18
Ren & Stimpy	88	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 18
Gods	86	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 18
Zool	83	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 18
Sonic the Hedgehog 3	?	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 19
Prizefighter	75	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 20
Wiz 'n' Liz	61	MD	Steve May	Issue 20
FIFA International Soccer	95	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 20
Sensible Soccer	80	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 20
International Rugby	76	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 21
Micro Machines	92	MS/GG	David Gibbon	Issue 21
General Chaos	87	MD	Steve May	Issue 21
Winter Olympics	68	MD	Jenny Fromer and Nick Protz	Issue 22
Dino Basher	76	MS/GG	David Gibbon	Issue 22
Jungle Book	85	MS/GG	David Gibbon	Issue 22
C.J. Elephant Fugitive	79	GG	David Gibbon	Issue 23
Aladdin	85	MS	Vincent Low	Issue 23
Subterrania	85	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 23
Road Rash	90	MS/GG	David Gibbon	Issue 24
Barkley: Shut Up & Jam	83	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 24
Virtual Pinball	80	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 24
Prince of Persia	79	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 25
James Pond 3	87	MD	Steve May	Issue 25
Castlevania - The New Generation	87	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 25
Skitchin'	88	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 26
Battlecorps	86	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 26
Soulstar	91	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 26
NBA Showdown	84	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 27
Bubba 'n' Stix	76	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 27
Normy's Beach Babe-o-Rama	62	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 27
Dune 2 - The Battle For Arrakis	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 28
The Lost Vikings	86	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 28
PGA European Tour Golf	81	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 28
Streets of Rage 3	85	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 29
Shining Force 2	75	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 29
Marko's Magic Football	79	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 29
Art of Fighting	75	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 30
Body Count	75	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 30
McDonald's Treasure Land	80	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 30
Mutant League Hockey	86	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 31
Sensible Soccer CD	93	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 31
Pete Sampras Tennis	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 31
RBI Baseball '94	84	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 32
Combat Cars	93	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 32
World Cup USA '94	80	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 32
Champions World Class Soccer Endorsed by Ryan Giggs	65	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 33
Mario Andretti Racing	85	MD	Steve May	Issue 34
Daffy Duck in Hollywood	55	MS/GG	Vincent Low	Issue 34
Sonic Spinball	80	GG	Vincent Low	Issue 34
Hardball	73	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 35
Taz in Escape From Mars	70	MD	Vincent Low	Issue 35
The Incredible Hulk	90	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 35
Dragon	90	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 36
Super Street Fighter 2	92	MD	Steve May	Issue 36
Radical Rex	78	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 37
Yumemi Mystery Mansion	75	MCD	Vincent Low	Issue 37
Drop Zone	86	GG	David Gibbon	Issue 38
S.S. Lucifer	84	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 38
Ballz	86	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 39
Jungle Book	92	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 39
Bubsy 2	85	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 40
Sylvester & Tweety Pie in Cagey Capers	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 40
Urban Strike	91	MD	?	Issue 41
Earthworm Jim	94	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 42
Power Rangers	59	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 42
The Lion King	90	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 42
Mickey Mania	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 42
Sonic & Knuckles	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 43
Sonic Triple Trouble	87	GG	David Gibbon	Issue 43
Shaq-Fu	75	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 44
International Tour Tennis	83	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 44
Rebel Assault	78	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 44
Hurricanes	60	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 45
Micro Machines 2	94	MD	Nick Protz*	Issue 45
Ernie Els' Golf	90	GG	David Gibbon	Issue 45
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure	86	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 46
Ristar	86	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 46
B.C. Racers	79	MCD	David Gibbon	Issue 47
Power Drive	81	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 47
The Pirates of Dark Water	83	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 48
Rock & Roll Racing	81	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 48
The Smurfs	87	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 48
Asterix and the Power of the Gods	83	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 49
Mega Swiv	92	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 49
Sonic Drift 2	67	GG	Jenny Fromer	Issue 49
NBA Jam Tournament Edition	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 50
Beavis and Butthead	83	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 50
Speedy Gonzalez and the Cheese Cat-astrophe	68	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 51
The Scottish Open	91	32X	David Gibbon	Issue 51
Brian Lara Cricket	73	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 52
Mr Nutz 2	80	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 53
Knuckles' Chaotix	88	32X	Nick Protz	Issue 54
The Adventures of Batman and Robin	82	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 56
Judge Dredd	87	MD	Jenny Fromer	Issue 57
Wayne Gretsky and the NHLPA All Stars	90	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 57
Street Racer	93	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 58
Comix Zone	91	MD	Nick Protz	Issue 60
Marsupilami	86	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 62
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters	82	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 66
Zoop!	89	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 66
Waterworld	77	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 67
Pete Sampras Tennis '96	90	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 68
Micro Machines '96	98	MD	Neil Bryant	Issue 68
FIFA Soccer '96	90	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 70
Toy Story	85	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 77
The Ooze	70	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 78
Magic Carpet	94	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 78
True Pinball	86	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 79
Gex	84	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 80
Wipeout	99	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 80
The Horde	82	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 81
Brian Lara '96 Cricket	82	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 81
World Cup Golf: Professional Edition	87	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 82
Euro '96	93	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 82
Sonic the Hedgehog 2	91	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 83
Sonic & Knuckles	87	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 83
Panzer Dragoon 2	93	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 84
Starfighter 3000	86	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 84
Olympic Summer Games	87	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 85
Baku Baku	90	GG	David Gibbon	Issue 85
Slam 'N' Jam	90	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 86
Shining Wisdom	84	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 87
Tin Tin in Tibet	81	MD	David Gibbon	Issue 87
Ecco the Dolphin	94	PC	?	Issue 88
Comix Zone	82	PC	?	Issue 88
Worms	85	MD	Jenny Fromer/Nick Protz	Issue 89
Road Rash	87	SS	David Gibbon	Issue 90
Pocahontas	85	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 91
Pinocchio	70	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 91
Discworld	85	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 92
Virtua Fighter Kids	95	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 92
Sonic 3D	95	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 93
Fighting Vipers	95	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 94
Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble	70	MD	Chris Jones	Issue 94
Destruction Derby	75	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 95
Worldwide Soccer '97	92	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 96
Sonic 3D	85	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 101
Saturn Bomberman	81	SS	Chris Jones	Issue 107

List of reviewed titles in Sonic the Comic Online

Title	Score (%)	Platform	Reviewer	Issue
Sonic Heroes	93	GCN, PS2, XBOX	?	Issue 229
Sonic Battle	68	GBA	Stuart Gipp	Issue 230
Sonic Advance 3	94	GBA	Stuart Gipp	Issue 231
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon	90	GBA	Ed Reynolds	Issue 232
Sonic Gems Collection	88	GCN, PS2	Matt Harris	Issue 237
Sonic Rush	96	DS	Rebecca Gunn	Sonic the Poster Mag 2005
Shadow the Hedgehog	89	GCN, PS2, XBOX	Stuart Gipp	Sonic the Poster Mag 2005
Shadow the Hedgehog	-100000	GCN, PS2, XBOX	Sonic the Hedgehog	Sonic the Poster Mag 2005
Sonic Riders	92	GCN, PS2, XBOX	Iain Stewart	Issue 239
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)	80	360, PS3	Iain Stewart	Issue 241
Sonic and the Secret Rings	91	WII	Iain Stewart	Issue 243
Sonic Rush Adventure	82	DS	Iain Stewart	Issue 244
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games	74	WII	Shadic	Sonic the Poster Mag 2007
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams	50	WII	Iain Stewart	Issue 245
Sega Superstars Tennis	80	WII, 360, PS3, DS	John Taylor	Issue 246
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity	25	WII, PS2	Iain Stewart	Issue 247
Decap Attack	79	MD	Iain Stewart	Halloween Special
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood	79	DS	Iain Stewart	Issue 248
Sonic Unleashed	40	WII, 360, PS2, PS3	Iain Stewart	Issue 248
Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection	90	360, PS3	Iain Stewart	Issue 249
The House of the Dead: Overkill	80	WII	Drew Middlemas	Issue 249
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1	79	WII, PS3, 360	Iain Stewart	Issue 253
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (iOS edition)	Unrated	IPAD, IPHONE	Seumidh MacDonald	Issue 253
Sonic Colours	77	WII	Drew Middlemas	Issue 253
Sonic Colours	85	DS	Stuart Gipp	Issue 256
Sonic Generations	Unrated	360, PS3, PC	Stuart Gipp, Iain Stewart, Nam, Seumidh MacDonald	Issue 257
Sonic the Comic: The Official Game of the Comic	102	360, PS3	Jamie J	Sonic the Easter Special
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II/Episode Metal	65%***	PS3, 360, iOS, other phones	Stuart Clack	Issue 258
Sonic Adventure 2	Unrated	XBOX LIVE, PSN, STEAM	Mike Corker	Issue 259
Wreck-It Ralph	Unrated	FILM	Adamis	Issue 260

"*" - This game did not have a credited reviewer, so has been assigned one from the reviewer's scoring conventions. "**" - These may have alternatively been written by Gibbon, as there were no individual credits. "***" - Clack gave this no official score, but stated he would award it a "mid-sixties" score had he done so.