However, boss battles, the main characters, and a special stage are rendered in 3D, creating a 2.5D effect.

The player controls either Sonic the Hedgehog or Blaze the Cat, who differ in terms of special abilities.

[3] In the tradition of past Sonic games, gameplay consists of moving quickly through levels, collecting rings and defeating enemies.

[4][7] Levels in the game are divided into "zones", each consisting of two acts of normal gameplay then a 3D boss battle.

[8] The game features special stages the player can access via certain handles in order to obtain the Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic Rush introduces a "Tension Gauge" on the left side of the screen which is filled by doing tricks and defeating enemies.

As the world begins to destabilize, Sonic and his friends help Blaze realize the meaning of friendship.

The two destroy the Egg Salamander, restoring the dimensions to normal, and Blaze returns to her world, now better understanding her powers.

[4] Yuji Naka, Sega's executive managing director, announced the game at Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2004, along with Project Rub.

[12] A demo of the newly titled Sonic Rush was featured at E3 2005,[13] and won video game publication IGN's "Biggest Surprise" award.

[17] Composing the music was a challenge for Naganuma, who had to work under the limitations of the Nintendo DS' sound chip.

[18] The final boss music in the soundtrack, "Wrapped in Black," used audible excerpts from Malcom X's "Message to the Grass Roots" speech.

[3][4][11] GameSpy staff writer Greg Sewart offered a similar opinion, also praising the game for its "gorgeous graphics".

GameSpy's Greg Sewart, although giving a mostly positive review, complained that "it's so fast you almost can't tell what's going on most of the time.

[7][23] The game's music was well-received, called "bright [and] buoyant" by 1UP.com and compared to that of Jet Set Radio by GameSpot.