Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is sequel to 2010's Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and released for PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 on Nov. 18. The game is also expected to release for Windows PC and iOS, but an exact date has not been announced.
The game features various characters from the SEGA's stable of mascots and features a new element that allows player to switch between land, air and sea. The driving is very similar to the original game, but the Boat aspect features true boating physics. Player will have to deal with waves and other elements as they navigate through the water. The Plane mode gives players the freedom of flight and the ability to 'air-drift' around corners and perform aerial rolls.
The game has received positive review so far. Yes, a Sonic game is getting positive reviews. Here is our review round-up for the new kart-racer:
IGN says, "Beyond its obvious appeal to Sega fans, this is a rich, bold and substantial arcade racer that demands your attention. It might not be quite as finely tuned as Mario Kart, but it's a good deal more ambitious, and different enough that it deserves a place alongside it in your gaming library." IGN gives the game an 8.6-out-of-10 score.
Games Radar praises the games developer Sumo Digital and says, "It may suffer from a lack of originality, but the game is definitely worth your attention. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed could have been another mediocre attempt at a kart racer, but its solid controls, plethora of modes and unlockables, and iconic characters allow it to shine on its own podium." Games Radar gives the new kart racer 4-out-of-5 stars.
Joystiq says, "Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed may not be on your must-play list, but it deserves to be. It offers a sizable amount of content all wrapped up and trimmed in excellent game design and lovingly rendered fan service." The give the game 4.5-out-of-5 stars. Joystiq also notes that the game isn't perfect and says, "The 30 frames-per-second racing is kind of a bummer, though the elaborate visuals and character models no doubt necessitated the lower framerate."
Game Informer gives the game an 8-out-of-10 and says, "Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a great variation of the kart-racing theme, and it holds its own against the Mario Kart series. I'd recommend it to not only the few remaining die-hard Sega fans out there, but also anyone who's itching for a more fantastical approach to arcade racing."
On review aggregating website Metacritic, the game has a rating of an 80-out-of-100 for the Xbox 360 version and an 84-out-of-100 for the PlayStation 3 version. The game has slightly lower score of a 77-out-of100 on Nintendo's Wii U.
Check out the game's trailer below and tell us what you think about Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.