Team Sonic Racing

[regemond]

Honestly surprised I couldn't find an impressions thread for this, especially considering how fantastic previous entries in the series were.

 

Anyway, I got this (and CTR) in a racing sale on Xbox, mainly because my kid keeps going on about how much he loves playing it on Switch in his mum's, so I thought it'd be a cool way for him to show me something he likes. He bounced off it when he realised I'm better than him. I'm hooked, though.

 

Is it as good as Transformed? God no. But is that familiar Adventure mode that combines traditional races, Grand Prix events and cool little challenges still present and correct? God yes.

 

I'm trying to take down some of the harder achievements. Up to now I have two that less than 1% of people have earned. I don't think it's because the challenges are especially difficult (although there are one or two that I've been stuck on). I think it's probably because tons of parents would have bought this for their kids without realising there are some damn punishing things to take on.

 

I suppose this post would be pointless without a shit sandwich, though, wouldn't it? So here's the filling.

 

It feels so. Damn. Slow. It doesn't matter if you hit a boost plate, use a wisp (more on those in a second), or manage to powerslide into one of those cool Sonic blue boosts as you straighten out of a corner. Nothing feels as fast as it should be. To the point I got irritated and started shouting 'why the fuck are you in a car when you can run faster than this you stupid blue cunt?' Some events give you a boost start. It feels like it moves at about the speed of a geriatric in Tesco on a Tuesday afternoon. A lot of reviews from when it came out said the same thing, and I just don't understand how it can feel this sluggish.

 

Now. The Wisps. These are the Mario Kart-style power ups that these racing games use. The only difference between them is the colours. I haven't noticed any difference in their shapes. So while you're racing it's hard to see what they do, unless you know each one already. This is a pain in the ass when you're neck and neck with that annoying crocodile dude.

 

Final complaint. The best-named Sonic character is nowhere to be seen. Sonic Advance 2's Cream the Rabbit. The joke from Games TM has stuck with me since I read the review all those years ago. "No idea if that's a name or instruction."

 

As the other piece of bread on this poop butty, when you get into a rhythm with each course it's really satisfying. The ring challenges especially. I really like the flow as you move from powerslide to powerslide.

 

Will I get all of the achievements? God no. Will I keep playing until I hit the unattainable goals? God yes.

[DisturbedSwan]

I have nothing to add as I've not played this, but for folks interested this is included with PS+ this month.

[mfnick]

I bought it at launch because I loved Transformed so much & this was by Sumo again if I remember rightly? Thought it was mediocre - shit though so sold it. 
 

I’m sure there’s some enjoyment there but my tolerance for mediocre racing games has dropped significantly over the years. 

[Maryokutai]

I agree, it was too much of a downgrade after Transformed to look at it objectively. It's by no means a bad racer but looking at what they achieved with the previous game and then seeing this it's hard to not let the disappointment sour the experience.

 

But then again the team aspect isn't really fun in singleplayer either because it only allows a single strategy and you basically have to play every race the same way (send items to your teammates until your Ult is full and the fire it off about at about 70% of the last lap to get first/second/third places).