It’s not a popular opinion, but Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was up there with Mario Kart in our eyes – and just a pointed snout behind Crash Team Racing, which is still gaming’s greatest ever kart racer, of course. Team Sonic Racing comes with credentials, then – even if it is lacking the sickly sweet fanservice that made its predecessor such a joy.
The twist here is the way that the title plays, because this isn’t your bog-standard sprint to the finish line – as its name implies. Instead, you’ll be cast as one of 15 characters in 12-player races whereby you’ll work in squads. If it sounds familiar then it probably should – we literally just reviewed Onrush, which is also a team-based affair.
Groups will be scored as a collective, and you’ll need to collaborate if you hope to fare well. Zipping past your teammates will give them a speed boost, while you can share items between you. Got no use for that turbo that you just collected? Then give it to one of your allies at the back of the pack and help them to move further up the field.
You’ll all be working together to increase your Ultimate bar, which when filled will award your team with a turbo boost. It’s a shame that the ridiculous fanservice is all but out, but if developer Sumo Digital can make good on its team-based promise and nail the crucial handling, then Team Sonic Racing will surely find its audience – especially on a console where arcade racers are in short supply.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 22
I dont think the opinion that Transformed is fantastic is unpopular.
In fact most people I see rate it above Mario kart 8 so...you know...is a good game and all that. Certainly more content.
This looks interesting though I do worry it may overcomplicate what should be simple racing. I cant image sliding through a quick menu while driving to assign power-ups.
@b1ackjack_ps I imagine so, but it'll still be based on the team racing concept.
I think it sounds really fun.
Most kart racers have the same opponents reach the same places in each race, so 2-3 racers constantly challenge you while the rest battle for the dreg points. Sounds like something this racer is going to not have then?
@Savino I'd say in content it's better than 8. Most definitely the base version, this actually had a Battle mode.
In content, you had the admittedly long but present world map thingy for unlocks. There was an EXP system and ways to modify how each racer felt.
8 Deluxe on the other hand doesn't have that single player, but it maintains 4 difficulties like Transformed, but has the frankly inferior cast of characters. 8 of them are Bowser Jr for crying out loud and who asked for Baby Rosalina?
All opinion of course, but Transformed felt like a more defined game.
@Cassetticons Assuming the AI manages to pull off the team aspect.
@Knuckles-Fajita Yeah thats what I think. Could be good if the team AI actually... works...
Will be a blast in MP though.
@b1ackjack_ps Man, it better...
@Cassetticons The multiplayer will be fantastic (On systems with good online).
From kotaku: Sonic, Tails and Knuckles for Team Sonic, and Shadow, Rouge the Bat, and Omega for Team Dark - sigh. I just cant conne t to any of those characters beyond the classic trio. Really sad they are not persisting with the sega all stars route.
At this rate a return for CTR with traditional kart racing will be seen as a standout feature.
@adf86 Let's hope it's actually coming. Surely they have to do this.
"Crash Team Racing, which is still gaming’s greatest ever kart racer, of course"
lol, surely you don't count the SNES Mario Kart in that equation do you?
I've played quite a lot of kart racers over the years (one of my favourite game types for a while) and Mario Kart 8 is definitively the best entry in the genre for me.
Like Onrush, it's cool that they're (seemingly) trying to create something new, but again personally I just want a good old fashioned racing game with cartoon mascots.
Nice! Looks really good. And I'm sorry, but y'all are crazy for thinking that MK8D is not the epitome of the Kart genre
I LOOOVED Transformed! The maps, the cool shotcuts, the music, the campain. There was so much good gameplay in it!
Chocobo Racing ftw
Yeah I don't think it's that unpopular of an opinion, most people who aren't die hard Mario loyalists acknowledge how close Transformed comes close to Mario Kart's quality. Perhaps a better example would be that Transformed is better than CTR?
But seriously though, this game seems like it's going to live up to both of the All-Star games when it comes to quality, and it's nice to see that it's got it's own twist on the gameplay and not just redoing things that were done before. Seems like Jun Senoue might be coming back as main composer too, which is great since he's been mostly absent from newer Sonic games soundtracks.
btw there's some gameplay footage here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMT3_32oRLY
Transformed was a great game, MK8 is comfortably the king though especially Deluxe which fixes it's one blemish with a real battle mode.
I was initially hoping for an on foot racing game or at least have it incorporated in some way, even with their nonsense reasoning. Removing other Sega characters is a huge mistake as most of Sonic's cast is rubbish bit more so because of the team aspects and all of the fun combinations they could have come up with. Ultimately as long as the racing is great and its a smooth 60fps that's all that really matters
So, it's like Sonic Heroes teams but racing?
Huh. I'll have to see the whole team thing in action during E3. I'm not entirely convinced by it.
@Savino @Knuckles-Fajita As someone who played the pants off of both MK8 and Transformed with my kids (and solo when they were in bed) in my opinion MK8 is the better game.
The courses are much more memorable. The items/weapons are far superior. The battle mode in Deluxe adds more variety and the vehicle customisation is more unique and extensive. Also it is far more kid friendly.
I think Transformed is still a fantastic game though and I got some mighty “nostalgic feels” with some of the courses and characters in Transformed. This actually gave the game quite special meaning to me personally.
However, it was also a lot harder for my kids to pick up and play. Unlike MK8 where they could unlock everything (except gold vehicle parts), on Transformed I had to unlock most of the characters as the difficulty ramped up quite fast. Even for me some things were challenging. I think my son preferred Transformed though.
I will definitely pick up this new sonic racer and enjoy it mightily.
Right now my all time favourite “kart racers” are...
1. Sonic R
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
3. Crash Team Racing
4. Diddy Kong Racing
5. Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed
@kyleforrester87 Pod racing ftw
I know this is a Playstation site, but Mario Kart is the king of those types of game. Always will be.
@get2sammyb Does the game have a story mode?
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