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Not Always a Fun Ride

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's hard to recommend Sonic Racing games. You'd think that Sonic the Hedgehog would be great for a racing game. The Sonic games have been all about speed. Therefore, Sonic should pratically own the racing genre. However, in the past, Sonic Racing games have not been on the top of many gamer's list, and unfortunately, Sonic Riders isn't going to be high on your list either. It's much better than the previous attempts at a Sonic Racing game, but plenty of small things keep it from being the overall joyful experience you'd want it to be.

First things first, the plot is just about the same as it is in every Sonic game. Sonic and pals are on a hunt for the Chaos Emeralds. This time, however, they're after the Babylon Rogues to retrieve or something like that. A racing game really shouldn't have to have a plot other than to race. Not to mention it's very identical to many other Sonic games in the series. As you begin the game and all, you'll quickly forget about the storyline. As I said, a racing game doesn't need one to be good, and in Sonic's case, it almost hurts the game.

The gameplay is when I'm absolutely left at a standstill. It's great to be able to pull of some tricks as Sonic and company. They look really cool. It's easy to get into the gameplay, but just as easily, you'll soon find yourself frustrated. You race on hoverboards. Throughout each race you've got an air meter that you can use to boost yourself. This sounds really great, and it would be if you didn't have to use it so much. And once you've used up all your air meter, your character goes at it on foot. I wouldn't have a problem with it, but perhaps they should've done the air meter to the point where it begins to gradually refill. There are pitstops, but going to them takes the fun out of the race, and ultimately slows you down. This is Sonic, I don't want to go slow. Speed is what Sonic is all about. To make up for this, however, you can ride off of another player's turbulence, which will ultimatley give you a boost. The only problem being you lose control, however in some cases it's not a problem, and it's rather helpful.

Likewise, some of the track designs are poor. Combine that with a few loose controls and there's a problem. For one, taking corners is frustrating. Especially because they come so sudden, and sometimes you might be faced with a pit right around a corner. If you're riding on someone's turbulance while you round a corner, you lose control and ultimately go off course, and then you've got to wait to be reseted. Likewise, I find myself constantly going into walls while taking a corner. Again, this slows you down considerably. I don't have this problem in most other racers, and with Sonic Riders it's much harder to learn how to take corners. There's just no perfect way to do it.

There are also a lot of objects in your way. This is to be expected of any racing game, so I won't penalize Sonic Riders here. It does take a while to get back on track upon running into these objects and it uniquely adds to the challenge. However, the game isn't that challenging, really. Most of the computer players race in a fairly predictable manner, and while you'll end up having to use your boost at the beginning, you'll get the computers pattern down quickly.

Luckily there's multiplayer in this. And multiplayer is a very satisfying experience in Sonic Riders. It's a lot more fun to race against your (most likely) unpredictable friends than it is the predictable computer. The game also gets credit for it's unlockables. More extreme gear, and some hidden characters. Some of them classic characters that Sonic fans know and love. So the unlockables are kind of cool and worthwhile.

The game also looks good. There are times of slowdown, but that's no bother (at least in this game). For the most part, it's colorful, vibrant, and detailed. While some of the courses are frustrating, they've definitely got a good look and feel to them.

So to put it simple. Sonic Riders is for the Sonic fan. If you love Sonic, chances are you'll like this game. It isn't the best racing game out there, but it is the best Sonic Racing game out there, and so hardcore fans might want to get a hold on to it. There are moments of frustration, but not so much you shouldn't by the game. If you're more serious about your racing games, then Sonic Riders probably isn't for you.

The Good
+Good graphics
+The game is fast
+Plenty of unlockables

The Bad
-Frustrating courses
-Predictable AI
-A racing game doesn't really need a plot. Here, it doesn't hurt Sonic, but it definitely doesn't help the overall game.

What a suprise!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is a 1,000,000 times better than shadow the hedgehog!

Presentation: 8.0

Riders features a storyline told through crispy FMA sequences, slick menu work, lots of options and characters, and a multiplayer mode. Engine-based cutscenes could use some work.

Graphics: 8.0

On the one hand, the game runs at 60 frames and employs some respectable particle and texture effects. On the other, it lacks geometry detail and textures blur up close, which dates it.

Sound: 7.5

Surprisingly acceptable. Some cheesy guitar riffs remain, but there are also some ambient tracks that better fit levels. Sound effects and voice-overs are overbaked, but appropriate.

Gameplay: 9.5

Lacking an identity. Riders are ethier a full-fledged racer or an engaging snowboarder, but a shallow compromise of both. But only the diehard will likely appreciate this game.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5

A good single-player game is complemented by a host of multiplayer modes and the ability to buy new gear for riders.

Overall: 8.7

Feeling The Rush

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It is hard to imagine the thrills that Sonic The Hedgehog has performed for gamers of all ages since his debut 15 years ago. While Sega has truly dominated in the status of Sonic's career, many companies like Sony and Nintendo have really started to capitalize with the promise of this great clasic character. Yet, most of the games are just truly about his platforming excitement, there have been a few in the wave of racing that tests Sonic and company to see who is the real fastest one around. Sega had that testiment before with Sonic R from its Saturn era. Now, there is another blue speed demon racer with Sonic on it, but is that just as fast & furious.

Sonic Riders for the Xbox is a wild and outrageous racer that goes beyond just running on the feet like Sonic R did. This time around, you're on air boards that hover in the air, and just more than amazing to Sonic's speed. The object of the game is that you can compete as Sonic, Tails, as well as newcomers Jet the hawk, Wave the swallow, and Storm, and many others through 16 different unlockable tracks that test your speed, accuracy and agility of speed and power. The testiments come through Story Mode, where you can play as Sonic and his heroes, or the rouges Jet and his crew, in a wild speed chase for the quest of the Babylon Treasure. There is also the mission mode that puts your speed, and control to the test in the thrill of the chase, and the abilities to pass certain requirements.

The graphics and sound are just amazing, and show and deliver the upbeat thrills of Sonic and company with grit and determination. The control is tricky to pull off at first when pulling tricks, and staying on the tracks, but it is easy to get used to. There are just also a lot of great unlockables such as Sega classic characters like Shadow the Hedgehog, Aiai from Super Monkey Ball, and Nights from the Sega Saturn classic, and just some great air boards too.

All in all, Sonic Riders is a fairly good racer, that has just so much to play around with. Nevertheless, I just wish there could've been a lot more in the thrill of the chase to play around with. Still, it is a great gamne for Xbox owners, or for anybody who loves the speed of Sonic.

Graphics: B 1/2+

Sound: B

Control: B-

Fun & Enjoyment: B

Overall: B 1/2-

Sonic's running out of speed fast

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Sonic the Hedgehog's legacy started in 1991 with a game of the same name, taking its place as SEGA's competitor to Nintendo's popular, portly, platforming plumber Mario. For years, Sonic's thrill lay in his speed, loops, and attractive 2D visuals. All of the sudden, 3D happened and I personally don't think SEGA ever realized the proper way to reinvent Sonic for the next generation like Nintendo did with their mascot. I still think they're missing their jump by a mile. Sonic Riders is not a good game by any stretch, and I think that someone in the development squad at SEGA needs to learn what unemployment feels like, because they're losing a lot of lives by missing that same jump.

Sonic Riders puts you in control of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and a few of Sonic's enemies as you race through several different levels on a hover board. Of course, as always, Eggman is up to no good, but he sets up a seemingly harmless Grand Prix with the entry fee of a Chaos Emerald from each contestant. He has a hidden agenda that our heroes are far too ignorant to catch (yet again, e-gad!) and it's up to Sonic and company to save the day. Only this time, it's all done on hover boards.

I want to emphasize that final sentence of the previous paragraph. This is where the SEGA developers should have felt that initial "something isn't right here" feeling. Sonic Riders is a hover board racing game. SEGA needed to take a lesson from Kirby Air Ride. You race each other on slippery, uncontrollable hover boards rather than the speedy feet that got Sonic into popularity in the first place. The result is a few hours' worth of frustration with slippery controls, a cheap trick system, and downright annoying tracks. Few of the tracks even showcase some of the things that made Sonic so exciting, like loops and corkscrews. In fact, Sonic Adventure's levels had several more of these obstacles than Sonic Riders does. It makes me wonder why SEGA didn't go somewhere with the levels creatively, because it would have made the game a lot more exciting.

The biggest problem in the game is how the boards control. Imagine putting a surf board on a frozen lake, running full-speed at it, jumping on, and trying to control yourself as you skid uncontrollably across the ice. It's hard. It's not fun. It's not what a video game should feel like. If I want to do something "fun" without control, I'll cattle prod a rhino and hop on, not spend $50 on a video game. There were times where I actually had to pause Sonic Riders or take it out of my Xbox console because the controls were becoming so frustrating.

Unfortunately, the game doesn't look or sound much better than it plays. Sonic Riders has the same colorful scheme and the same flashy neon signs, the same green forests, the same sandy deserts, and the same fiery volcanoes as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. It makes me think that SEGA took the latter and designed their graphics engine around it. Keep in mind, Sonic Adventure 2 was a Dreamcast game. Anyway, the music also sounds the same as always; aside from a few tracks, most of the music is sleazy, cheap, back-alley techno. The voice acting is decidedly childish, with Tails being as relentlessly annoying as always. Even the sound effect for picking up coins is the same familiar "ching" but I have to say, I'm getting a little annoyed with that these days.

SEGA is 0-for-2 on good Sonic games in the last few months. Aside from Sonic Rush on the Nintendo DS, they haven't put out a fantastic, or even acceptable, Sonic game for years. What's the deal? Is it really that hard to take such an iconic, impressive, and lovable character and make a good game out of his speed and intensity? Is it really a better idea to throw a hover board underneath him and his friends and take away any feeling of control? Seriously, what were they thinking? Sonic's creator Yuji Naka should be so ashamed. I really don't like being so harsh on a video game, but Sonic Riders isn't worth your money. It isn't worth your time, and it isn't worth having Sonic's name and image plastered on the cover. If you want to play a mean trick on your kids, buy them Sonic Riders - they might enjoy it just as much as Shadow the Hedgehog.

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