The GHZ Forum

Just as we were starting to think that Shadow had taken over the Sonic franchise for the remainder of 2005, Sega makes the surprise announcement of an all-new racing game featuring Sonic and friends. The latest issue of Famitsu reveals that Sonic Riders is being developed by Sonic Team for a Winter Japanese release on the Xbox, PS2 and GameCube this winter. Serving as producer is Yuda Koshi, a veteran of Sonic development who's also worked on Puyo Puyo and Space Channel 5.

In Sonic Riders, Dr. Robotnik has set up a speed challenge, and all the Sonic characters, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Storm the Albatross, Jet the Hawk, Miles "Tails" Prower and Web the Swallow, have decided to compete. To the victor goes a Chaos Emerald.

Unlike the classic Sega Saturn racer Sonic R (now appearing as a game in Sonic Gems Collection), Sonic Riders promises an "eXtreme" experience. Yes, Sega is actually using this buzz word that we thought had died two years ago to promote the game. Sonic and friends speed through tracks on air boards, using individual special moves to strike down opponents.

Air is a big element of Sonic Riders. Your board's "fuel" source is air. You can fill up your air at various points on the course, but to race well you'll have to use another means of replenishment: performing tricks with your board. You'll also want to make use of turbulence from racers who are in front of you. By riding your rival racers' turbulence, you get a burst of speed and can even make your board leap into the air (sometimes finding shortcuts in the course). Your air supply remains fixed when riding turbulence, making this a tactic that you'll want to employ as you play the game. Turbulence isn't all good, though, as players can generate irregularities in their turbulence, knocking those who are along for a free ride out of the course.

Sega is planning a whole lot of gameplay for Sonic Riders. Expect numerous tracks, including such Sonic fare as Splash Canyon, Egg Factory, Green Cave and Sandy Ruin. The game will offer a number of different modes, including two and four player split screen.

Sega of Japan will be holding a press conference in Tokyo on Friday to show off some of its upcoming plans for the Sonic series, and we expect Sonic Riders to make an appearance there, followed by a showing at the Tokyo Game Show. Sonic fans, stay tuned for much more to come.

Air is a big element of Sonic Riders. Your board's "fuel" source is air.

You can fill up your air at various points on the course

but to race well you'll have to use another means of replenishment: performing tricks with your board.

Splash Canyon, Egg Factory, Green Cave and Sandy Ruin

...including Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Storm the Albatross, Jet the Hawk, Miles "Tails" Prower and Web the Swallow, have decided to compete.

Esrever wrote:The real question is: which game will be worse? On the one hand, we Grand Theft Shadow packing oversized, poorly rendered heat. But on the other hand, we have Web the Swallow.

It's a tough call.

By riding your rival racers' turbulence, you get a burst of speed and can even make your board leap into the air (sometimes finding shortcuts in the course). Your air supply remains fixed when riding turbulence, making this a tactic that you'll want to employ as you play the game. Turbulence isn't all good, though, as players can generate irregularities in their turbulence, knocking those who are along for a free ride out of the course.

G.Silver wrote:When exactly has Sonic ever not been extreme? It was pretty "extreme" in 1991 when an edgy-looking blue hedgehog was able to run through 360 degree loops in 2D. It was pretty "extreme" when he shot himself out of a cannon, landed on a snowboard, and slid down a mountain. It was pretty "extreme" when his eyes turned green and he started brandishing a creepy grin and his limbs got all bendy, and then he got arrested, jumped out of helicopter, and then shredded all over what appears to be San Francisco on a board-shaped piece of scrap metal.

Gwilym wrote:But why the hell are they on boards when you know, they can all run super fast? Same thing could be said about drift - but cars are better than boards in any case.

Gwilym wrote:But why the hell are they on boards when you know, they can all run super fast? Same thing could be said about drift - but cars are better than boards in any case.