Sonic & All-Stars Racing

[DaytonaUSA]

I'll be buying the game this week. I really suggest people try out the demo on the PSN (or Live). Even the Wii and DS versions are supposed to be good. One of the few games I truly loved on the Wii was Mario Kart Wii. But there was one complaint, and it's always been my complaint with the series... it's too slow. Often times I feel completely bored with the pace, even at the faster CCs (then again this is coming from someone who's favorite franchise is F-Zero, so take from that what you will).

 

This game totally alleviates that. I'm not totally sold with the weapons after gameplay... most probably simply because the Mario Kart icons are so deeply etched in my brain, but I did like how they seem to be a bit more balanced. People in front actually get useful items, and aren't limited to pointless items like traffic cones (or bananas in MK).

 

Furthermore, judging from the demo and what I've seen so far, the environments are more on par with a current generation offering than Mario Kart. In fact, that was the only reason I didn't like Mario Kart on the Wii (specifically Wii version, no the series).. simply because graphically, I knew they could have done quite a bit better with the hardware. That, and the artistic direction is getting kinda repetitive, and it all feels a bit "been there done that".

 

For a game though that mimics Mario Kart, the environments are something that Mario Kart should really take a look at. Besides some framerate issues in the demo, I was speechless. It was exactly what I thought Mario Kart should have done with their franchise, and some of the topsy turvy streets reminded me a bit of the better track layouts of Kirby Air Ride, but with more things in the background.

 

 

 

I'll give my further opinion once I buy the whole retail game, but I'm curious if anyone else bought, or is going to buy this. Judging from the demo, I'd really suggest a play. Just be sure to find the shortcut or you can kiss 1st place goodbye.

[Video]

Good to hear someone has positive info on the game. Didn't think of live, but I saw it in the store and wondered if it was any good. (and MarioKart was the first thing that poped into mind) Sounds like I may be picking this one up for my 360, and probably DS later.

[+Cafeman]

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/157927-sonic-sega-all-stars-racing/

 

There was some talk in the above thread, concerning the demo.

 

Anwyay, I bought the game on Xbox 360 last week and just like the demo, it didn't disappoint; rather, it has seriously won me over. I'm not a big Mario Kart fan to be honest so I can't really comment on a comparioson, but S&SASR is not just a me-too Mario Kart clone but its the real deal, a SEGA love fest wrapped around a fun kart racer that is obviously inluenced by the excellent Outrun 2. Really, Sumo Digital has given us a splendid racer, one that *feels* like a SEGA racer should feel.

 

I've played through the beginner Grand Prix, several missions, and several online races. Next time I play I'll be progressing Advanced Grand Prix and probably work on the Time Trials to get more familiar with some tracks. I've unlocked almost all the characters - there is some great animation and All Star moves for each. I love racing while listening to Super Sonic Racing or Palmtree Panic! I have LOL'd many times at the animations - gotta love the hurricane kicks and high-fives of the Virtua Fighter/Shenmue characters.

 

I'm no master of the gameplay yet, but it seems there are a lot of techniques which can be learned to truly excel. For example, you really have to know how to drift as much as possible and also pull of in-air tricks, or find ways to kind of chain these together, to keep your boost going. I find the tracks to be excellently designed, and with excellent visuals. There is plenty of variety - from the more open and flat courses to the twisting and maddening ones (MONKEY BALL tracks, I'm thinking of you!), and also some very trippy experiences in the Samba Di Amigo tracks. The physics seem like you might be able to exploit them to your benefit; I've bounced off bumps and backgrounds a few times in such a way that I could pull off an extra trick, for example.

 

Oh, and the demo was rather challenging, but thegame's early races are more forgiving, so don't worry about that.

 

I love the online rankings for best times in time trial mode! It reminds me of trying for A emblems and the fastest times playing Sonic Adventure back on DC.

 

I'll post again after I've played a few more days worth, time is at a premium right now. I hope for lots of DLC and for a sequel someday with even more characters and world themes.

[DaytonaUSA]

Awesome to hear the game is as good as the demo . I can't wait to get my hands on this. I know it sounds silly, but it felt and looked so good, it's on the top of my new games list. Think about what just came out and what's just about to come out and that's a huge compliment haha.

[+Cafeman]

I am extremely satisfied by this game. Even though I've never been a big Kart racing fan, I'm loving this.

 

Yesterday I beat the Advanced Grand Prix with all A's, and I'm now working on the Expert GP. Beat several more missions - there are over 60 missions and these are a great addition along the lines of "Crazy Box" on DC Crazy Taxi. Played online via Xbox Live, and although I simply cannot win any race, I have fun. Also unlocked all the music and all but 3 of the tracks (the tracks all appear in Grand Prix, but you can't pick them in Time Trial or 1-race mode for practice until you purchase them with Sega Miles).

 

The game can get frustrating when you are trying to do well, but keep getting hammered by items! I have learned that you can use items against items - if you hear something approaching from the rear you can throw back a land mine cone, or shoot backwards a green boxing glove, or activate your shield, to save you. Those other items can hit the incoming one. Now, I don't know if that is a common rule for Mario Kart too because I never really gave any MK much time.

 

In the first Sonic Whale Island course, there are two twin ponds early on. A killer whale leaps between these. I have learned how to hit a certain rock on the 2nd pool and jump over it, shaving seconds off my time! But, I found the rock needs to be hit at a certain speed to function as a jump, or you'll fall in the water and lose time. I couldn't pull it off with Jacky/Akira at all, but have done it with Sonic and Banjo. I don't think motorbikes can do it. I also found a great shortcut in the last Whale Island track, but I'm not familiar enough with the track to actually steer to the shortcut in time! There is a section of railing on the docks that you can steer through, and there is a path.

 

I think I've got the drift and tricks gameplay down pat, now I have to find all the shortcuts and I believe that'll help me compete online. Another thing I just realized -- if you drift-charge your boost to level 3, you can kind of take out opponents with the boost. Another strategy for online that I haven't succeeded in utilizing well, yet.

 

After a week or so of playing here my opinion on Sega & Sonic All-Stars Racing: it's excellent. Here is my 'review' of the Xbox 360 version, done in old-school style:

 

Graphics: 95%. Fantastic art, design, and animations. Fantastic ideas! Bold and wonderful color-filled sections, also moodier and edgier motifs. There is slight room for improvement with frame rate and some jitters, but these are only the tiniest of observations.

Sound: 85%. Top quality character remarks, music and sound FX. Can thankfully mute the talkative announcer. Great use of surround sound. But to get a perfect grade in my book, it needs more popular Sega tunes - imagine if SOR2 or Outrun tunes had been used! Or more Sonic 16-bit tunes and less Billy Hatcher tunes. A couple tracks really lit my SEGA fire, a couple I'm ho-hum about, but regardless Sumo has given us lots of choices and variety.

Gameplay: 90%. Sumo Digital deserves major props for its efforts to improve on the Kart-racing mold and throwing that familiar "Sega Racing" feel into this game. Track designs are excellent with unlistable subtle details about each, and there are several styles of racers to experiment with. Online mode is lots of fun, but would be even better with some more options (choose same character, mute voices, watch in-progress matches). I am impressed by the mix of drift and tricks to gain boost, and also the use of boost to not only go fast but break through objects/ opponents.

SEGA Factor: 99%. This game is LOL ROTFL material! I still laugh at the martial arts kicks and and handstands by Jacky , Akira, or Ryo. The All-Star moves are were an innovative and fine idea. These are always amusing, will catch up a poor player, but don't always cause you to automatically win. If you don't notice all the hard work that went into the backgrounds and animations of SSASR, you aren't paying attention. Rather than whining about missing favorites, I suggest you consider it a treat to race not only with the Sonic crowd but with obscure characters like Ryo, Opa Opa, Alex Kidd or the Bonanza Brothers. I'm glad they didn't "forget about NiGHTS", and its a treat to listen to stuff like Palmtree Panic or Super Sonic Racing while you race.

 

Overall: 90%. An "A" caliber game with innovation and fresh approach, a 5 pound bag stuffed with 10 pounds of SEGA goodness. Even SEGA fans who think they hate kart racers should at least give it a try. I have high hopes that after a little while, some exciting DLC will come along to extend the fun even further.

[MagitekAngel]

I find it gently ironic that it took Sega to reinvigorate Nintendo's behemoth kart king. I'll definitely give this one a look.

[Jms5118]

i definitely want to play this, unless it's Mario Kart these games tend to drop like a rock though so i'll wait for a price drop

[DaytonaUSA]

I finally bought it on Saturday. Sorry about the long wait. Cafeman sums it up pretty well .

 

Basically, this game is nothing short of amazing. I was honestly bored with Mario Kart Wii when I purchased it. It was by no means a bad game and I had a lot of fun with it, but it just felt a bit "been there done that" and the courses, while mostly new, still felt recycled. It didn't feel like a "next gen" interpretation of the game, just the same game we've been playing for years and years with a new skin.

 

This game is everything I could ever expect from a modern interpretation of Mario Kart. First off, one of the biggest things I love about the game is the Shop. Here you can unlock characters through using Sega Miles points, points you earn as you race online or offline by doing well. It's a very simple system, but it works VERY well. The characters are varied and timeless, and there really isn't a single throw-away character among them, which was a problem for me in Mario Kart. Unlike Nintendo, Sega looked back at some of it's popular franchises and used characters that people would actually want to play as. In fact, it's character line up simply feels more geared to older people who have grown up with these games, instead of the high pitched whiney voices of the "baby" mario characters that riddles the roster line up in Mario Kart.

 

Now for the courses, ooooh the courses! I can't tell you how not only beautiful, but fun and challenging these can be! There is one course that's a desert course, filled with right angles that's very hard to do well in (especially online). But it's always my fault when I do poorly. Basically meaning the track design is stellar. This is also something that beats Mario Kart as many of it's tracks if not all of them are extremely easy to navigate, leaving the only challenge in the competition with the other characters. In Sonic and Sega All Star Racing, the tracks AND characters provide a challenge and the feeling of boredom you get while playing Mario Kart never comes to light in this game.

 

In fact, part of the reason why I think it's not boring is because of the very thing people hate about the game.. the announcer. Even when I'm in first place by half a mile I feel like I am in an exciting race, well informed of what's happening behind me. In Mario Kart, you often have a soft music and the ever constant hum of your engine as you drive through the course. I never felt "safe" in this game, even with the progress bar above me to see where people where in relation to me. I always felt like I was being pursued, which is great!

 

Speed is an important factor. Some review sites have said it's just like Mario Kart, but it's not. You literally go about 4 times faster than you ever dod in Mario Kart. In fact, some of the courses would be impossible to play if they were in Mario Kart as you wouldn't be able to go fast enough to get through them (like through very wide loops). The game in it's over the top courses and blazing speed reminds me a bit of F-Zero GX on the Gamecube.

 

Control wise the game is independent of Mario Kart as well, and infinitely more rewarding. The boost/slide system feels more like Outrun than Mario Kart, and it feels much more gratifying and detrimental to success to use them than in MK.

 

Weapons are, again, like Mario Kart (god I've typed that title's name a lot..) and seems to be one of the few things that feel very uninspired, except for the All Stars move. This move is something your specific character/s can use if they're in a pinch that enables them to get to the front of the line. Sure Mario Kart has something similar, but these feel much more glamorous and fun to use as you tear through the pack. Each attack perfectly matches the persona of the character and feels very balanced. You will never use one of these attacks and go from 8th place to 1st. It helps, but you can't cheat the system by exploiting it by getting weapons that mess with players in the lead to the point where you always win ...like Mario Kart (FU blue shells!).

 

Online is pretty good. It would be perfect if I wasn't booted out of game lobbies all the time because of a connection issue. Luckily, I've never been kicked out of a game once it's started, and finding a new game to join is very easy. At least on the PSN, there's hardly anyone, if anyone using mics, so there's never the persistent drone of hearing 10 year olds screaching in this game. The online system does NOT keep your stats for who's won X number of games and lost X number of games. At first I kind of missed this option, but then I realized how great it is as it doesn't really give anyone a reason to troll the system... online is only there to have fun, nothing more. There are no bragging rights, which is actually welcome. You do receive Sega Miles points though, which is very welcome.

 

 

 

All in all this game is better than Mario Kart in every way. I'm not being bias, I grew up only with Nintendo systems and Mario Kart is one of my favorite franchises of all time. However, it's finally... FINALLY been beat at it's own game. Mario Kart ranked much higher than any clone before it, including Crash, in my eyes.. but Sega has something here and it's a joy to play. My only hope is that this becomes an established franchise for Sega. I can't remember a game by them in recent memory that nailed every point. For once, there's nothing I would have done better in their game if I had the ability to make it, and that's a wonderful feeling.

 

For 10 dollars cheaper than most retail games, you owe it to yourself to buy this. Show some support. This game is more deserving of your money than most of the titles out there right now anyway.

[wccw mark]

i loved the demo of this game.i think i need to pick this game up tomorrow.

[+RandomPerson]

Played it for the first time last night. Really good game. If you like kart racing games you will love this title. Tight controls, nice graphics, wide variety of play and replay value.

[+HammR25]

This game is on sale at Best Buy for $20 for both the PS3 & Xbox 360. I picked up a copy of the 360 version.