Four Sonic titles are available to demo or preview at E3 this year, and I was able to play three and take a glimpse at one more.
Editor's Note: This was written after Sonic Colors Wii impressions, but due to technical issues, the Sonic Colors Wii impressions will be up afterward at some time.
Does Sega's new kart racer hold up to the best?
Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing formula is nothing particularly new, but Sumo Digital definitely took one step closer towards perfection of the genre with this game. Racing is a relatively straightforward venture, eight drivers compete in 24 zany Sega-based locales. Players will see areas based on the Sonic, House of the Dead, Billy Hatcher, Super Monkey Ball, Jet Set Radio, and Samba De Amigo series. During each race players will also need to fire projectile weapons, lay mines, and boost toward an all-out war for first place. There's no doubt Sonic and Sega All-Stars has some of the most solid gameplay available in the Kart Racing genre, though finicky videophiles should note that the game also carries a staggering or jumpy framerate. While it's not clear why the framerate is so eratic, most players will become accustomed to it, making it no more than a minor distraction in this excellent racing title.
Fans of Nintendo's Mario Kart series will be interested in Sega's latest experiment, a crossover cart racing game in the vein of Sega SuperStars Tennis.
Clearly, Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing borrows much from Mario Kart, and that definitely appears to be a good thing. There's over 20 racers, with the actual number varying depending on which platform the copy of the game is for. All variations contain Sonic, Amigo, Ulala, Amy, Knuckles, Tails, and about fifteen more characters, but the Xbox 360 and Wii versions contain a few extras: Banjo & Kazooie, as well as Avatars for Microsoft, while Mii's join the mix for Nintendo's home platform.
There's depth, challenge, variety, humor, puzzles, and plenty of sidequests. What else does a gamer need?
As someone who acquired a PS2 during the middle of its lifespan, I was able to experience a wide variety of its offerings. Of the 120-something titles I own for the system, the Ratchet & Clank series has always stuck out in my mind as one of the best series on the system. It combined elements of strategy, satisfying combat, great platforming, and thoughtful puzzle solving into a world full of unique characters chock full of humor. Since the very first title, the two main characters have been on a whirlwind adventure; first together, then alone, only to finally wind up split apart, taking players through two very different and unique storylines.
Players will be able to enjoy the Aussie rocker's live track pack without purchasing the title at Walmart.
AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack is one of many Rock Band track packs that have been released in standalone form to retail outlets. However, given the exclusivity deal AC/DC has had with the mega-corporation, Walmart, when the game released last November, it was limited to just that chain of stores.
Frustrating control and a lack of options produce an undesirable result.
Gravitronix is a simple title created by upstart company, Medaverse Studios. Players will control a small device that can both attract and reflect the floating items on the field. They must keep the items from hitting their shields on one quadrant of the circular field, and ultimately keep the items from penetrating their shields. A single item to bypass the shields will result in loss.
SAN DIEGO-- Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has secured a license from Sega of America, Inc., a leading developer and publisher of videogames, to produce branded videogame accessories based on the Sonic the Hedgehog intellectual property. The agreement gives Mad Catz North American rights to a range of accessories for all current videogame platforms.
