When the many devotees of SEGAs blue hedgehog frontman heard about Sonic Rush they could scarcely maintain their collective composure. Many felt that the eye watering speed and action of the original Sonic games on the Mega Drive did not carry over as effectively as it might have done. Just as Mario fans do, many of them began to long for a return to the old, simple days of the 2D platformer.

The DS is fast becoming, if not all things to all men, at least a lot of things to a lot of people. And these two gangs of retro enthusiasts are not to be disappointed if they own everybodys favourite clamshell console. A new 2D Mario Brothers is to grace the machines twin screens, while Sonic Rush, a reprise of the platform action that made the blue dude with tude famous.

Sonic Rush makes full use of the space afforded it by the DSs famous twin screens, with the be-trainered slug eater running down plunging dives and steep inclines, looping and jumping all the way and as usual in search of some jewels, in this case the powerful and mysterious Sol Emeralds.

Our hedgehog friend Sonic is joined by the (fully playable) guardian of these stones herself, Blaze the Cat, her name no doubt referring to her red-faced shame at losing the jewels which she was charged with protecting. Or maybe to the fact that shes no slouch when it comes to running. Whatever, it seems that cats and hedgehogs, unlikely as it seems, can be friends.