You know I think you all are taking this game from the wrong stand poin. If you come at every sonic game thinking heres another sonic game you are looking for the faults in the game. Now If you think, ok heres a new game that happens to be sonic, you will think different. You will look for the high points instead of the low because in reality it is a pretty good game,though a tad short.
I LOVE this game. Hven't had alot of difficulty myself. I thought I would hate lockstep but once I got the hang of it. I ended up loving it I play it every day. It is hard to get perfect on shoot em up and Rhythm Rally.