Sonic Riders

Written by James Dauer  on November 29, 2005

First Impressions: Finally, a game where you saddle up and ride hedgehogsЕ wait a minuteЕ

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The idea of a Sonic the Hedgehog racer isn't a completely new one. Sonic has been in the racing scene ever since the Sonic Drift series debuted back on the Game Gear. When it appeared on the Sega Saturn, Sonic R actually looked like it held some promise- too bad the characters all ran slow and couldn't turn. Now, in Sonic Riders, Sonic and his ilk will compete to see who is the fastest hover boarder this side of Green Hill Zone. Despite the pitfalls of his previous racing titles, this new addition to the Sonic racing series looks like it might just give the franchise the kick it needs to make its way back into the mainstream.

Sonic Riders features the old crew of Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, along with a whole new characters and old familiar Sonic Team faces such as Super Monkey Ball's Aiai. All must compete in a special futuristic grand prix in order to win a super Chaos Emerald. The purpose of the Super Emerald is yet to be known, perhaps it cures cancer, prevents halitosis, or maybe it will allow Sonic to make a successful out of genre game. Either way, each rider appears to have a special character specific attack, and each can select to ride from a different set of boards, all with different benefits and drawbacks. Many of the boards will need to be unlocked as the player progresses through the game.

Some of the mechanics of the gameplay remind me of the SSX series. The hover boards' speed is determined by an air tank that holds only so much air. Much like the boost in SSX, players will need to perform multiple tricks while in midair in order to fill the tank up. If the tank empties, Sonic can expect to come in last place. Other ways to fill up the tank include collecting Sonic's trademark rings, and drafting (riding closely behind) opponents. Also, much like SSX, there is no acceleration or break button. Acceleration is accomplished by pressing up on the left analogue stick, and deceleration is performed by pulling back on the stick. Clearly the game will be played like snowboarding in air.

The levels appear to consist of the usual post Sonic Adventure fare. Sonic will be racing around vast cityscapes, sandy ruins, and industrial playgrounds, just to name a few locales. The graphics so far are stunning, and the sense of speed is exhilarating.