Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom

Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom is an endless runner platform video game developed by Hardlight Studio and published by Sega, exclusively for mobile devices, and is the sequel to Sonic Dash. Unlike its predecessor, the cast and levels of Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom are derived from the Sonic Boom television series, though the gameplay elements remain. The game was given a soft launch on Google Play on 1 July 2015 for the Android, with an iOS release following on 9 October, and is currently offered for free via the Google Play and iTunes stores.

Gameplay
Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom uses many of the same gameplay elements from Sonic Dash. The game is an endless runner, where the player directs the playable characters through never-ending 3D levels, collecting rings and avoiding obstacles, mines and enemies. The playable character automatically moves forward at all times, so the player has to utilize the characters' skills and movements to avoid or overcome obstacles. The goal is simply to run as far as possible without hitting a wall, falling off the course, or taking a hit with no Rings in the characters' possession.

Like its predecessors, Rings can be collected throughout the levels or purchased via microtransactions. Accumulated Rings can be used to purchase further content in the game, such as items and upgrades. Throughout the levels Red Star Rings can be found (only ten can be found on the course per day); however, players can purchase them as well, or obtain them from Prizes. They are used to buy new playable characters, every fifth upgrade for a character, and can also be used to prolong gameplay and to purchase other incidentals such as Event tickets and storage for upgrades. There is as well an additional featured called the Boom Boost which can grant extra bonuses. These can be purchased for $1.99 and will last one week. Special Item Boxes can also be collected throughout the courses, providing bonuses during play. Each item automatically activates when collected and expires some time after.

Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom features both enemies and levels/environments taken directly from the Sonic Boom television series. As new features, the game introduces Team Play mode where the player gets to race with up to three characters, which can be exchanged at Junctions (where rings are also banked) and earn higher scores, the Enerbeam mechanic where tilting the device will swing the runner along Ener-Rails, and special unlockable powers for the characters such as Amy's Hammer, Knuckles' Jump Up & Slam attack, Sonic's enhanced Dash and more. The game also includes magical beings called "Sprites" which the player can collect and evolve to improve their run, similar to the Chao in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.

Scoring mechanics
Players are awarded points during gameplay, and new high scores are recorded after a run. Furthermore, scoring high during the "Score Chaser" event can increase a player's rank and unlock greater prizes. One point is earned per meter travelled, and a hundred per enemy destroyed. The game also offers points for achieving combos - actions performed in quick succession, such as destroying enemies or narrowly dodging obstacles. Twenty points are awarded for each action, increased by ten after every fifth.

Points are multiplied according to a player's Global Score Multiplier (GSM), and points of a given type (distance, enemies, or combos) may be multiplied further by individual Character Score Multipliers (CSMs), each of which adds the base 100% value of the score. For example, a GSM of 200% becomes a 3x multiplier, whereas a total "distance" GSM of 300% becomes a 4x multiplier; together, they make a 12x multiplier for the points earned from the distance travelled. Players can increase their their GSM primarily by acquiring XP from opened prizes. Unlocking extra characters and leveling them leads to higher CSMs as all characters in a team contribute.

The highest GSM possible is 1000% at level 41 (25% gained per XP rank), although prizes are awarded for gaining further levels. Each character's GSM may reach a maximum of 700%.

High scores
In subsequent updates to Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom, a high score listing was added to the game which the players can get themselves on. This list includes default high scores for the characters from the Sonic Boom television series. As the player closes in on one of the default high scores during a run, a countdown appears on the side of the screen that shows how many points are left before the player beats the character's high score.

Character Levels
By spending Rings or Red Star Rings, characters can be levelled up. Doing so increases the characters' Character Score Multipliers, making it easier to gain more points whilst they are a member of the player's team during a run. Raising a character's level will furthermore sometimes add to the player's Global Score Multiplier level. Level 5 grants 100XP, level 10 grants 150XP, and level 15 grants 250XP.

Items

 * Rings
 * Red Star Rings
 * Orbs
 * Tickets
 * Powerups
 * Enerbeam
 * Magnet
 * Score Doubler
 * Shield
 * Super Ring

Playable
These are the playable characters of Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom. Each character has a special ability that generally impacts the game as they are running, and boosts the score the player receives as long as they are part of the team:

Non-playable characters

 * Dr. Eggman
 * Lady Goat
 * Mayor Fink
 * Stratford
 * Walrus Male
 * Wild Cat

Enemies

 * Buzz Bomber
 * Crabmeat
 * Motobug

Levels
Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom originally consisted of two levels, each making up an endless road with no set goal. With the subsequent updates to the game, this number has been expanded to four. By using the Junction sub-level, one can move between levels. The levels in the order of their introduction are:
 * 1) Junction
 * 2) Village
 * 3) Eggman's Lair
 * 4) Mountain

Sprites
Sprites are magical beings and the companions for the characters. Equipping them will unlock special abilities that provide support during a run; up to three may be used at a time. Some can only be used once (One use), whereas others can be used repeatedly (Forever). Forever Sprites can be levelled up and evolved to improve their abilities.

Sprites can be obtained by completing certain events, unlocking prize packages, waiting for a Sprite Bottle to grant a free Sprite, or by purchasing Sprite Bottles using Red Star Rings.

Missions
During regular play (outside of event mode), two missions are assigned at a time - one from each of the lists below. Missions from the first must be completed within a single run, whereas missions from the second may be achieved over the course of multiple runs.

Completing a mission awards a prize at the end of play (either Paper, Bronze, or Silver. Prizes offer XP to the player's Global Score Multiplier in addition to Rings, Red Star Rings, Sprites, or Boom Boosts), and moves the player on to the next mission in the list. When completed, each list repeats from the top.

Events
By paying tickets, the player can participate in new Events and Daily SEGA Challenges to earn special Prizes. To attend these events, the player will need an internet connection; the rest of the game can be played offline. Upon finishing the event, the player will enter a leaderboard where the top fifty players get extra prizes when the event timer expires.

Event goals vary, as do the prizes. Short events, with a Sprite Bottle as an award, are offered regularly (multiple times per day) and have short durations. Events with more valuable prizes may last multiple days.

Shadow's Run
An Event that first appeared on December 9, 2015, "Shadow's Run" introduced Shadow the Hedgehog as a playable character to Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom. During this event, the player controls Shadow for a run through the Village (whose inhabitants have been imprisoned) during the sunset. The objective of this event is to destroy 2,500 mines.

By completing Shadow's Run, players can unlock Shadow as a playable character permanently. Since its introduction, the event has occasionally returned.

Amy's Dash Smash
In June and July 2016, the event known as "Amy's Dash Smash" made an appearance. During this event, the player controls Amy for a run during normal levels. The objective of this event is to destroy 1,500 obstacles while Dashing with Amy. By completing Amy's Dash Smash, players can unlock Amy as a playable character permanently.

Knuckles' Badnik Blitz
In June 2016, the "Knuckles' Badnik Blitz" Special Event was introduced. During this event, the player controls Knuckles for a run through the Jungle. The objective of this event is to destroy 1,500 Badniks with Knuckles. By completing Knuckles' Badnik Blitz, players can unlock Knuckles as a playable character permanently.

Sticks' Combo Charger
On May 6, 2016, the "Sticks' Combo Charger" Special Event was introduced. During this event, the player controls Sticks for a run through the Mountain. The player's objective for this event is to get the highest combo they have achieved in one run. This event is especially suited for Sticks' Special Power, the Protected Combo. By completing Sticks' Combo Charger, players can unlock Sticks as a playable character permanently.

Tails' Ring Rush
On October 9, 2016, the "Tails' Ring Rush" Special Event was introduced .During this event, the player controls Tails for a run through the Eggman's Lair. The player's objective for this event is to collect 5000 Rings. By completing Tails' Ring Rush, players can unlock Tails as a playable character permanently.

Holiday Event
For the holidays of 2015, Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom was decked out in the spirit of the season. This included redesigned levels with snow, remodeled characters with holiday outfits, holiday-themed events, special Christmas objects on the tracks and the release of a unique Holiday Sprite named Flurry.

Bauble Battle/Egg-mania
From December 19, 2015, players were able to fight Dr. Eggman in a Special Event Boss Battle. Here, the player chases after Eggman as he hurtles different bombs at the playable characters. The objective is simply to keep combating Eggman and counter his hazards to achieve the highest score possible. The event also features the motif from the 2015 holiday events. After the holidays, this became a permanent event, albeit with a regular setting.

Prizes
Prizes are awarded for completing Missions or Events, as well as for daily logins and some other occasions. Each prize provides XP for increasing the player's Global Score Multiplier, and contains usually a random amount of Rings, or Red Star Rings. Others instead offer Sprites or Boom Boosts, sometimes even as additional gifts. Noticeably, Sprites Bottles do not award XP, Rings, nor Red Star Rings; they instead provide either any "One Use" Sprite or level 1 "Forever" Sprite.

The "Christmas Boxes" were offered around the end of 2015 as Daily Login bonuses or event prizes. Greens always offered a one hour Boom Boost (so long as they were received as a login bonus), Gold produced regular Rings, and Red granted a Red Star Ring. Each additionally gave one of the two special Christmas-themed Sprites, either Sparkle or Flurry.

Reception
The game has received mixed to average reviews. Some praise the good graphics, solid frame rates and use of the Sonic Boom franchise. Others, however, criticize it for lacking original ideas, and have pointed out that it is just another "recurring endless runner". As of December 2015, the game has received over eight million downloads.

Staff

 * Hardlight: Nick Adams, Tom Anderson, Neil Armstrong, Joel Atkinson, James Booth, Luke Boscott, Daniel Darnbrough, Dmitry Deryabin, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Dawid Esterhuizen, David Foster, Simon Foster, Tom Gaulton, Alastair Graham, Scott Griffiths, Yordan Gyurchev, Neall Jones, Sebastian Livall, Lara Mazzolari, Andrew McKenzie, Louis McLaughlin, Mark Milton, Ashley Morgan, Scott Orchard, Andrew Paul, Stephen Quinney, Daryl Reeves, David Rodriguez, Harinder Sangha, Richard Smith, Ryan Simpson, Chris Southall, Joseph Stone, Richard Sugden, India Swift, Gordon Theobald, Neil Topham, Paul Twynholm, Ruby Urlings, Craig Yates, Scott West, Sam Whitfield
 * In Memory of Ali Davidson
 * Sumo Digital: Steve Allen, Ash Bennett, Darrell Blake, Paul Carter, Carl Cavers, Andy Chapman, Wayne Ellis, Neil Fielding, Jon Georgious, James Graves, Damian Hibbard, Luke Hodgkinson, Sean Millard, Darren Mills, Paul Porter, Sitara Shefta, James Sutherland, Luke Thompson

Trivia

 * This is the first sequel in the Sonic franchise that does not take place in the same continuity as the first game; whereas Sonic Dash took place in the continuity of the main Sonic game series, this game is set in the Sonic Boom continuity.
 * This is the first Sonic Boom game in which Shadow is a playable character.
 * The trailer for Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom uses clips from the episodes "Guilt Tripping", "Cowbot", "Dr. Eggman's Tomato Sauce", "The Curse of Buddy Buddy Temple" and "Late Fees" in the Sonic Boom television series.

Videos
Gameplay Trailer =