"Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity - Does it Compare to the Original?"

Okay, to start off, SR:ZG is the sequel to the not-so-best-selling Sonic Riders for the GC, PS2, Xbox, and PC. This game improves on many aspects, but leaves some untouched. But, before I start droning on, let's begin.

Gameplay:
Gameplay has almost been completely redesigned from the original, canning the original air meter and replacing it with a gravity meter, which thankfully, doesn't run out on it's own, nor forces you to to run when it is empty. Two new moves have been added to the mix, the Gravity Dive, and Gravity Drift. Gravity Dive allows you to use gravity to give you a long burst of speed that depletes your meter. Gravity Drift, uses gravity to allow you to turn sharp 90 degree corners on a dime. The can use the Gravity Drift to access all new areas, such as the ability to ride on certain walls.

One major thing that really brings the game's score down is the new method of attacking. It actually removes your board and forces you to run along the course. While this does let you access on-foot only extras, they're almost never any faster than the original courses, and the only real benefit is a few rings, and then it plops you along somewhere in last place.

Gameplay Verdict: 7/10.

Sound & Music: This game has some all new music in it which sounds really great, especially the main theme, Un-Gravitify. However, the game literally reuses many of the racing voices in the game, save for the gravity powers.

Sound & Music Verdict: 7/10.

Graphics: The envoirnments in this game look excellent, there's so much going on at one time, it's amazing that it can handle it all. But, in all terms, it's no too different then it's predecessor. If you could take the HUD from the original and put it here, you probably couldn't tell the difference. Certain cutscenes in the game, however, are absolutely stunning and look beautiful, even on the Wii's graphical engine.

Graphics Verdict: 7/10

Wi-fi: Eww, the Wi-Fi in this game sucks. It's not live player vs. player racing like perdicted, instead, you can download another player's ghost and race them. Joy. Nothing says fun like getting your ass handed to you by someone who can finish the entire race in about a minute.

Wi-Fi Verdict: 3/10.

Overall Verdict: 6/10

Buy, Rent, or Forget: Rent it first, and buy it if it's something you can get into.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/24/08

Game Release: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (US, 01/08/08)