《音速小子：音爆》（英文名：Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric，日文名：ソニックトゥーン 太古の秘宝）是由Big Red Button Entertainment開發，SEGA於2014年11月獨家在Wii U平台推出的動作冒險遊戲。是「音速小子（Sonic）」系列的分支企劃「Sonic Boom」的一部分，該企劃同時包含動畫影集、漫畫與多款遊戲，旨在重新詮釋經典角色形象與世界觀，並吸引新一代的年輕玩家。

故事設定在一個與傳統Sonic宇宙不同的平行世界，主角群包括Sonic、Tails、Knuckles與Amy。某日，Sonic在追逐反派Dr. Eggman時，意外喚醒沉睡在古代遺跡中的邪惡機械生物Lyric。Lyric是冷酷且擁有高科技實力的古代反派，他企圖用機械軍團征服世界。為阻止這場災難，Sonic與夥伴們必須踏上旅程，探索遠古遺跡、揭開失落文明的祕密，並攜手對抗Lyric的威脅。整體劇情風格偏向輕鬆幽默，融入大量對話與角色互動，試圖打造更具敘事感的冒險體驗。

在操作與玩法方面，與傳統的Sonic系列高速奔馳路線大相逕庭，更偏向3D動作冒險與平台解謎遊戲。自由操作四位角色，每位角色擁有專屬技能，例如Sonic能高速衝刺，Tails可利用飛行器在空中滯留，Knuckles擅長攀爬與破壞障礙物，而Amy則能使用鐵鎚攻擊與探索隱密通道。可隨時切換角色，以應對不同地形與敵人。此外，加入「能量鞭索」系統，可用來抓取敵人、啟動機關或穿越懸崖，試圖強化關卡解謎與戰鬥的變化性。

然而，這些創新在實際執行上卻未能達到預期效果。整體節奏緩慢、關卡設計重複，戰鬥與解謎流程過於冗長，與Sonic系列過往所強調的爽快感相去甚遠。操作手感不夠流暢，鏡頭運鏡也常常讓玩家感到困擾。儘管支援Wii U GamePad的雙螢幕操作與Off-TV Play功能，但整體表現仍未能彌補其設計上的缺陷。

在市場與媒體評價方面，普遍遭到負評，被視為Sonic系列的一次失敗嘗試。發售後即被批評畫面表現粗糙、Bug頻繁，甚至出現影響進度的重大錯誤。許多評論指出遊戲不僅無法傳達Sonic系列應有的節奏感與魅力，連基本的遊戲設計也顯得倉促與缺乏打磨。美國遊戲媒體如IGN與GameSpot給予極低的分數，強調其技術問題與乏味的玩法令人失望。儘管遊戲的動畫風格與角色語音獲得部分年輕玩家肯定，但無法挽救其整體品質。

最終，《音速小子：音爆》成為Wii U平台上口碑最差的主機遊戲之一，也間接影響「Sonic Boom」企劃的發展方向。對於長期粉絲而言，缺乏系列傳統的速度感與挑戰性，而對新玩家而言，遊戲本身也難以構成持久吸引力。整體而言，這是理念大於實現、嘗試創新卻未臻成熟的作品，在Sonic的歷史中留下爭議性的紀錄。

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Japanese title: ソニックトゥーン 太古の秘宝) is an action-adventure game developed by Big Red Button and published by SEGA, released exclusively for the Wii U in November 2014. It is part of the Sonic Boom subseries, which includes an animated TV show, comics, and multiple games. This project aimed to reimagine the classic Sonic characters and world while appealing to a younger generation of players.

The story takes place in an alternate universe separate from the traditional Sonic the Hedgehog timeline. The main characters include Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. One day, while chasing Dr. Eggman, Sonic accidentally awakens Lyric, an ancient robotic villain who had been sealed away within a mysterious ruin. Lyric is a ruthless, technologically advanced antagonist who seeks to conquer the world using his mechanical army. To stop this disaster, Sonic and his friends must embark on a journey to explore ancient ruins, uncover the secrets of a lost civilization, and confront Lyric’s growing threat. The overall tone of the story leans toward lighthearted humor, with a strong emphasis on character interactions and dialogue, creating a more narrative-driven experience than previous Sonic titles.

In terms of gameplay and mechanics, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric differs significantly from the fast-paced platforming that the Sonic series is known for, instead adopting a 3D action-adventure and puzzle-platforming style. Players can freely switch between the four main characters, each possessing unique abilities: Sonic can perform high-speed dashes, Tails can hover with his flight gadgets, Knuckles excels at climbing and breaking obstacles, while Amy wields a hammer for combat and can navigate hidden pathways. The game also introduces the Enerbeam, a whip-like energy tool that can be used to grab enemies, activate switches, or swing across gaps, aiming to add variety to combat and puzzle-solving.

However, these innovations failed to meet expectations. The slow-paced gameplay, repetitive level design, and overly drawn-out combat and puzzles made the experience feel far removed from the exhilarating speed and excitement that Sonic fans expect. Unresponsive controls and awkward camera angles further frustrated players. While the game supported Wii U GamePad features, such as dual-screen functionality and Off-TV Play, these additions did little to compensate for the game’s fundamental flaws.

In terms of market reception, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and is widely regarded as one of the worst Sonic games ever released. The game was criticized for poor graphics, frequent bugs, and game-breaking glitches that sometimes made progression impossible. Critics also pointed out that the game failed to capture the signature speed and thrill of Sonic gameplay, while its core design felt rushed and unpolished. Major gaming media outlets, including IGN and GameSpot, gave the game extremely low scores, citing technical problems and uninspired gameplay as its biggest shortcomings. While some younger players appreciated the cartoonish art style and voice acting, these positives were not enough to salvage the game’s overall quality.

Ultimately, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric became one of the most poorly received Wii U exclusives and had a lasting impact on the Sonic Boom project’s direction. For long-time fans, the game lacked the traditional speed and challenge expected from the series, while for new players, it offered little lasting appeal. In the end, this title stands as an example of ambition exceeding execution, marking a controversial chapter in Sonic history.