Reviewers were generally divided over the team-based gameplay. "GameSpy" argued it was well-balanced and thought it greatly increased the replay value. "IGN" offered similar praise, praising its easy-to-learn, strategic controls. "Game Revolution" wrote the system added diversity. However, "IGN" also thought it was not as ambitious as expected and did not change the overall experience. "GameSpot" agreed the controls were easy, but considered the large number of teams unnecessary: "no one cares about these peripheral characters... People play "Sonic" games to play as Sonic the Hedgehog". "1UP" found the concept was more repetitive than innovative. "Eurogamer" considered the gameplay original but "boring and obvious" and thought that the controls were clunky and unorthodox. While "Eurogamer" argued "Sonic Heroes" was not difficult, "Game Revolution" described it as hard to a fault, exclaiming they " all the time."