Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Several months back I wrote a review for a game I wasn't expecting a whole lot from in the form of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing. You can read my review HERE. I was in for a surprise by playing a game that may very well have knocked off Mario Kart as my favorite kart racing game.

So news breaks that the game will be followed up by a sequel in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed which continues to ape the formula of the most recent Mario Kart by having the karts "transform" into various other forms of transportation. Besides cars and motorcycles, they will morph into planes and boats which allows for a wider range of tracks that will span an even greater amount of SEGA games.

Already, there have been a couple more characters joining the fray including Gillius Thunderhead from Golden Axe and a Skies of Arcadia addition in Vyse. SEGA says there will be at least 20 tracks, with 16 of them being brand new ones such as a Panzer Dragoon inspired level. I personally look forward to more Samba de Amigo tracks as they were absolutely trippy in a fun drug-induced sort of way.

While most of it sounds like it will play the same way, there have been some minor tweaks that mostly play out in the various kart-styles that will affect how a player drifts and performs tricks while in the air. The other change that has been released is the All-Star move that usually occurs the further back in the pack a racer is that has them perform a character-specific action that usually demolishes other players and moves them up front quite quickly. Instead of the insane amount of rubber-banding that can occur from this, the All-Star move is now based on the number of tricks performed, stars gathered during a race, and successful drifting. These actions add to a meter that every racer has and once that meter is full, the All-Star move can be performed. So now anyone in the race has the chance to gain one, and not just those close to last. However, those that are further back will have more chances at getting the moves as the meter will charge faster for them.

So suffice it to say, I'm quite excited for this new game. The new kart transformations make me envision riding the waves with Ecco the Dolphin jumping beside me, driving in a car made of Bayonettas hair while the entire track is flipping end over end as it falls through the sky, driving through the House of the Dead, and simply something with Seaman in it. Don't know what, just more Seaman. Everyone loves Seaman.

As of right now, there's a tentative "late 2012" release date, but I'm sure we'll see more at E3.