Sonic Rivals

"How a 2d racing game should be made!"

So, if you've read any of the magazines you probably won't even think about picking up this title - almost across the board it's been given 4s and 5s out of 10. Thankfully I work at a game store and can stick in whatever I want whenever we're not busy. After 20 minutes of messing around with it, I decided it was worth a purchase.

Graphics - 9/10
The graphics in this game look as good as anything the 360 would offer. Crisp 3d designs, fluid animation, and awesome effects make this game at least a must-see. Even better, the framerate never craps out on you. The only reason I don't give this a 10? Some little things, like Shadow's chaos animations, look a little old. He'll throw a little fireball and a door will open. They didn't try very hard, but it's such a tiny part (and only in story mode) that it doesn't matter.

Sound - 10/10
Some of the best industrial rock you'll find on handheld. Probably matches Timesplitters 2 as one of my favorite soundtracks to a game. Though there isn't a whole lot of music to be had, what IS there is amazing, and with some stereo headphones on, it'll really get you into the race.

Style - 9/10
Probably the only Sonic racing game I would even consider trying to play with a buddy. It's nothing like R Racing, which is a good thing. This plays more like the versus modes in Sonic 2, where you're trying to complete a level fastest; however, instead of making a shorter version of a level, these things are absolutely HUGE, and tons of different paths depending on what rail you take, what sort of boost you use, and how fast you're going. It's not an easy thing to take on. Your rival is always there next to you, but unless you really mess up, you're always close to him as well. There are lots of little things to jack with the guy in the lead, like bricks you have to break or blocks to push or girders to knock over. It wastes valuable seconds that mean the other guy WILL be close, or breathing down your neck, when you're done with it.

Replayability - 6/10
Unfortunately, with very few zones in the game it's over pretty quick. It's fun with a buddy, but ultimately you'll probably get bored after you beat it and see how all the characters play. If you're a real collector, though, it'll take you awhile. You win cards after each race depending on your rank (standard S-A-B-C ranking) which is based on rings collected, times you hit your rival, time, and boosts performed. You use these to unlock new costumes and characters, but like I said, you may get bored before you get there.

Overall - 8/10
Definitely worth a try if you've got some money to spend, and at least worth a rent if you can find a Blockbuster with it. It's crazy and fast action that'll remind you of the glory days of Sonic. Now, if only they could make it longer...

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/19/06