Okay, so here’s the thing with Sonic games. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I kinda just let go and roll with whatever craziness they throw my way. Played Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds at Summer Game Fest for like, an hour. Surprisingly? It’s good. Really caught the essence of what kart racing should be. Fast-paced, chaotic races, those maddening powerups, and a vibe that somehow nails the Sonic universe. What else could I ask for? Yet, there’s more breadcrumbs, more layers I didn’t even know I wanted.
So, this CrossWorld mechanic? Wild. Starts normal, same ol’ track. But then, bam, first place gets the power to warp the whole race somewhere else. Seriously! One minute you’re in icy territories under the aurora borealis, next you’re dodging laser grids in a volcanic hellscape. Third lap? Back to usual. It’s like an adrenaline shot of unpredictability. You might get used to it eventually, but hey, it keeps you guessing each time.
About these worlds you zoom through—flying, hovering, surfing. It’s all in there. You’re not just stickin’ to the ground anymore. Loved the flying; adds this unexpected layer of vertical chaos. The game? Visual overload fiesta for your eyeballs, if I’m being honest. Almost too much going on. But that’s part of the charm, right? More spectacle, less competitive sweat.
And the competitive angle? Well, it’s there. Customizing your kart is legit. Change up the body, tires, boosters, tweak that speed, or handling. Then there’s perks — yes, perks on a kart — six slots, different combos. Tried a three-slot booster and a two-slot speedy recovery thing. Works like a charm, especially dodging rockets. Real kart nerds will go nuts with this.
Four race Grand Prix and each win earns you points. Simple, right? But wait, suddenly there’s a rival declared mid-series? Gets all aggressive on you. And that last race? Worth more points, so if you’re lagging behind, there’s that last-minute hope. I wonder about other modes they’ve cooked up. Because for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds to stick around, they’ll need more than just flashy gimmicks.
Oh, and the roster? Beyond Sonic. Sega’s tapping into its rich back catalog. You got Ichiban from Yakuza, Joker from Persona 5, even the queen Hatsune Miku. Sonic world meets Miku on a hoverboard? Sold. They should put her in more stuff, like, all the time. Crossover characters aren’t new for Sonic racing, but Sega’s lineup has grown. Feels fresh in a way that… I don’t know, makes sense?
Does Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds need to flip the genre on its head? Nah, not really. It’s staking its ground as a joyous, breezy kart racer that loves its Sonic (and Sega) roots. Just a good time, I swear. Looking forward to drifting along when it hits the shelves on September 25, across all recent PlayStations, Xboxes, Nintendo consoles, and PC. Can’t wait to see y’all on the track!
