With the Sonic Boom Rise of Lyric release date slated later this year, the pressure is on developer Big Red Button to come up with a 3D Sonic game that's as playable and intense as the ancient Sega Genesis' 2D counterpart.

Sonic the Hedgehog was considered a groundbreaking platformer when it was released on the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis systems. Fast-paced and intense, gamers were blown away with the speed of its pacing. Sonic offered a contrast to the Super Mario Games, which required slow but sure and steady steps.

The 2D side-scroller struggled in its transition to 3D, though. In the most recent attempt to keep the blue hedgehog hip and up-to-date in an industry dominated by first-person shooters and open-world games, Big Red Button announced Sonic Boom, an integrated campaign of toys, TV shows, and a pair of new game installments developed for Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS.

Demo play during the E3 reveal showcased a more versatile game on the Wii U. Samples of gameplay had characters exploring or rushing through levels, aside from the staple boss fights. Speed sections offered a 3D experience which comes close to the 2D games, but especially Sonic Generations.

The Sonic Boom Rise of Lyric release date will offer a laidback title, in comparison to the Sonic Games speed freaks are accustomed to. Initial reviews for the Wii U version consider it an action-adventure game with speed runs thrown in (gamespot.com).

The 3DS (Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal) version is simpler by comparison, a basic 2D puzzle platformer with large-scale levels. Speed isn't everything in the new installment, as Sonic will rely on familiar and new characters to reach sections and acquire items.

The new Sonic titles are Nintendo exclusives, on the Wii U and the 3DS. The Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric release date are simultaneously slated November 25 (comingsoon.net).