Ever since 2020, the Sonic franchise has been on an insane comeback. Starting with a widely successful trilogy of movies, the release of the best-selling 3D game, and back-to-back 9/10’s from game journalists, I think it’s safe to say the Blue Blur is on top of the world. And with the release of this year’s Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, I would say he’s not slowing down anytime soon!
Sonic’s Racing History
Now Sonic is no stranger to racing games, from Sonic Drift back on the Sega Game Gear, to Sonic Riders on the GameCube, and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing: Transformed. Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is the latest entry in this sub-series, and it’s a combination of many mechanics from past games.
It brings back racing on land, sea, and air, along with the return of Extreme Gear hoverboards from the Riders series. All of this comes together with the main mechanic of this game: Crossworlds. During the three laps of a track, the leader of the pack will choose the Crossworld, and the entire second lap becomes an entirely separate track, before returning to the base track for the third lap.
Gameplay
From a gameplay perspective, this makes every race unique. Another new addition is gadgets. You’re given a set number of slots to add perks to your ride, like faster boost charge, item enhancements, and handling options.
As for how the Extreme Gear controls compared to cars, I’d say it kind of handles like the bikes in Mario Kart, offering a more lightweight feel and allowing you to cut through the air.
The Roster
This game features the biggest roster in series history. You’ve got 23 main racers, plus special unlockable characters once you beat all of the rivals. Rivals are selected at the start of every cup, and you’ll even get a special interaction at the start of the Grand Prix between your character and the rival.
On top of that, plenty of characters are being added post-launch, like virtual pop star Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5, and Ichiban from Yakuza.
Alongside all the free updates, there’s also a Season Pass with new characters, tracks, music, and cars. Some of my favorite inclusions are Mega Man, the TMNT, Aang, and SpongeBob SquarePants. With all this variety, there’s bound to be a character that’ll get fans of other franchises intrigued enough to pick up the game.
Online Play & Festivals
The game also offers cross-platform online matchmaking, so no matter what console you’re on, you can play with friends and other users.
One of my favorite things is the online festivals. Whenever a post-launch character is added, an in-game festival is held where special races unlock stickers, music, and online title plates based on that character or franchise.
The Music
Sonic as a franchise has some of the most well-known music in pop culture, from Live and Learn by Crush 40, all the way to Undefeatable featuring Kellin Quinn, the lead singer of Sleeping With Sirens.
The opening theme in Crossworlds is definitely the weakest part of the soundtrack, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it for how corny it is. I really like the variety in the soundtrack, I think some of the tracks like the Cyberspace remix have fantastic instrumentation, especially with the addition of the saxophone solo. I think by far my favorite music track from the game is Kronos Island: Final lap, which is a remix of I’m Here from Sonic Frontiers.
Personal Experience
Back in February, I had the opportunity to playtest the game for a night and deliver feedback, and I absolutely loved it. I remember waking up, seeing the email, and going absolutely crazy. Watching the game evolve from then to now was truly a sight to behold and really made me feel like I was a part of something important.
From what I’ve played so far, my standout tracks are Kronos Island, Radical Highway, and E-Stadium, with my favorite Crossworlds being Dragon Road, Cyberspace, and Digital Circuit.
Currently, the characters I find myself playing the most are Hatsune Miku, Sonic the Werehog (a transformation from Sonic Unleashed), and Silver the Hedgehog.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I would say this game is absolutely phenomenal. I’ve found myself many times on school nights having to force myself to stop playing so I’m not up until midnight.
For me personally, this game did a lot that Mario Kart World didn’t. In my opinion, this is a must-pick-up this holiday season to drift across land, sea, air, and dimensions, whether on your own, with friends, or with family.
