Sonic Racing: Crossworlds

Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $69.99 – Available Here

Overview

The console wars of the past may be just a memory, but Sega has still been chasing Mario from generation to generation, trying to gain a footing in the kart racer genre. Fresh with the momentum of the massive Sonic movie franchise’s success, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds has been heavily marketed and pulled at by the publisher for over a year, finally seeing a release across all modern platforms. Is this the racer that finally rivals the plumber with the red hat? Let’s find out.

Story

There is no story whatsoever in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds. Despite that, I still feel like I got “something” from the experience with a bit of a narrative. You see, each racer featured is connected to the massive Sonic franchise. From the originals to even the deep cuts, if Sega felt they would look good with a kart and a character slot, they were enlisted. They take with them their distinct character quirks and rivalries from past games, spoken through voice lines on and off the track. Sure, it’s not exactly a narrative, but it is something for fans of the blue wonder to take away, as this game is littered with fan service. Do we get an explanation for the DLC characters? No, but we understand monetisation in this day and age, and I think the more appeal and eyeballs Sega get with this one, the better. 

Gameplay

Before I even begin to speak about the gameplay here, it is equally, if not more, important to speak about the core experience of Crossworlds. Customisation is everywhere. You can customise your kart appearance. You can change and unlock “gadgets” that bring alterations in-game mechanics. Outside of menus, this world is yours to change however you may see fit. Gadgets are by far the most interesting of the lot, so we will speak there first. Every racer has a default card that has up to six slots in it that can be assigned techniques and boosts, known as a gadget. Some offer greater benefits than others, which can take up multiple slots. Others simply provide limited improvements to speed, power, and so on – mainly giving the player mild “by a nose” results if they have the skillset to take advantage of that particular addition. 

It sounds complicated, but it’s really not. It’s a simple system that allows every individual player to tailor their playstyle to a specific set of mechanics. This makes every race feel interesting and unique, as every player goes in racing the same courses and with the same controls, but gains their own customised buffs to their liking. You would think that this would cripple the game’s meta immediately, but instead it provides a real sense of depth and strategy to what would otherwise be just another kart racer. I can’t tell you how many times I tweaked and changed my own starting items and speed boosts with my main, only to try a completely new character with a fresh card moments later. There is an addictive nature to one’s own sense of progression here that goes beyond laps, making it hard to put the game down once you understand the gadget system in full.

For the racing part, what we have here is a truly polished kart racer that is honestly one of the most polished titles Sega have ever created for the genre. Each character race with its own inherent buffs, such as Sonic being speed, Rouge being technical, and Knuckles with power, but those races with buffs can be played in any race without much room for disadvantage. The main gimmick here is charging drifts, as holding the trigger buttons down while hitting a corner can give a decent boost to the player. In air or water, holding down the same buttons will offer a jump or spin, which can also boost if you nail a trick while in mid-air. It’s not just about finishing the race successfully, but taking advantage of the track design in order to stay ahead. 

Items are also littered all throughout each course. Some are simple boosts, while others are truly treacherous, such as a magnet that slows you down, random super attacks, and even the ability to take out both first and second place contestants with a smash of a button. This is a game where players will quickly fall back to last and still have the potential to rebound, which can be a good and a bad thing, depending on your preference for racing mechanics. The good of it is accessibility. Anyone can pick up and play and get “good” within minutes of play and still have the same odds to win. The bad is that skill is not really a major factor in winning. Instead, players must rely on quick strategies developed while they are in mid-race to overcome the chaos.  If you are looking for realism here, you are in the wrong racing game. If you are looking for a ton of fun, Crossworlds surely has something for you under the hood.

The tracks are wonderful, by the way. Each track changes as you progress, blending perfectly into the next without much issue. It’s a seamless transition that I never got bored with, even though a few tracks just feel like they were not designed well enough for the game itself. Grand Prix mode puts together four races for each cup, which all have three tracks in each race. There are multiple difficulties, mirror mode, and so on, making this game feel expansive and full of content from the start. I can’t tell you how much I just kept unlocking things that I was actually excited to try out and use. New gadgets, new paint tools, new cars. The multiplayer mode itself is neat as well, as it assigns teams and offers new unlocks for those willing to face themed challenges together. It is really hard not to find something to do within all of it, and that is before you even step into online mode.

Audio

Can I still be singing this soundtrack in my head as I write this review? Absolutely. Sega has cultivated a masterpiece of a soundtrack, blending famous Sonic music to add familiar beats for longtime fans with some of the best original music that really captures the excitement of each race. Crossworlds also features some amazing voice work, giving a nice, yet still minimalistic sense of character to each racer. Seeing old rivalries return after Sonic smashes Robotnik with a boxing glove never gets old, and you can tell how much care went into it all makes sense for veterans of this franchise.

Visuals

These courses are stunning. Each one is fully animated and bursting with colour and charm. Some are original or at least based on a concept from the Sonic universe, while others are almost ripped from the games themselves. There is a lot to see here, and thankfull,y the racers look just as good in their vehicles and gliders as they take to the track. Never once did I have an issue with slowdown (outside of online), as the animation and framerate held up without any issue during my lengthy time with the game.

Overall

Some can say this is a Mario Kart clone, and you are right to a degree, as some things have been taken directly from that experience. That said, Crossworlds is its own thing and feels much more competitive and deep than Nintendo’s offerings. This may be the most fun I have had in a Kart racer since the days of Mario Kart 64 and Double Dash, and being that this is from a different franchise, it is refreshing to see Sonic finally get something to click in this genre that hopefully gives him staying power. Full of content, fan service, and even headscratching additions from other IPs, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds isn’t a continuation of the past, but instead what feels like a true start to another brand finally stepping up to challenge Mario for his famed foothold on this wacky genre.