This is by far my favorite Sonic game, and it astonishes me that more people don't talk about it. The main gameplay is airtight, with some of the best levels and bosses in Sonic, and the island travel mini games are severely underrated. I don't care if they slow the game down, they're fun, and the only thing that puts this game above Rush for me.
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If you ignore everything regarding emerald collecting for the true endgame and true final boss, this is the best Dimps Sonic game. Unfortunately, it takes just as long, if not longer than the amount of time it takes to beat the main game, and the special races can get quite BS to the end AND it requires a lot of sailing and building and grinding! Good thing the level design is as good as it is...
Dimps's magnum opus. Sonic & Blaze are both blasts to play as, the level design is way more refined, the three of the four boats offer a lot of competently designed fun, and the bosses are some of the best I've ever seen from this series. It only falters near the end with the black material grind, the Whisker and Johnny boss, and the mildly unsatisfying Pirates' Island theming (as the final "zone" of the game). I really think Dimps should've made a different final zone following Pirates' Island especially since the Big Swell boss already exists. As far as I can tell though, this is the most competently designed Sonic game since the Genesis and will always deserve better than it got.