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Team Sonic Racing

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Team Sonic Racing
Developer(s)Sumo Digital
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Richard Acherki
Composer(s)Jun Senoue
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)
ReleaseQ4 2018
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Team Sonic Racing is an upcoming kart racing video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is being developed by Sumo Digital and will be published by Sega for Arcade, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows in late 2018.

Gameplay

File:Team Sonic Racing Gameplay Screenshot.jpg
An example of gameplay in Team Sonic Racing

Team Sonic Racing is a kart racing video game featuring single-player and multiplayer modes.[1] The player selects one of 15 characters from the cast of the Sonic the Hedgehog series[a] to control and participate in races using sports cars on courses thematically based on locations from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. There are three types of racing classes: speed, technique, and power. Each has their own unique abilities; for example, technique racers can drive over surfaces like grass without slowing down.[4] Gameplay is viewed from a third-person perspective and the player runs over panels to get speed boosts, performs tricks in midair, and drifts to make sharp turns. Power-ups based on the Wisps can be collected from canisters with "?" marks, granting players temporary offensive and defensive advantages.[2][5]

The game differs from traditional kart racers in that it focuses on team-based gameplay: the player is part of a team of racers and they must work together. Instead of simply winning races by finishing them fastest, teams get points based on how they worked together; thus, the most efficient team wins. Four teams of three compete, for a total of 12 racers at a time.[2][5] Outside of the standard Grand Prix, Time Attack, Exhibition modes, the game will also feature a "Team Adventure" mode.[1][6] Vehicles will have customization options as well.[7] The game supports four-player local multiplayer and 12-player online.[1]

Development

Team Sonic Racing is being developed by Sumo Digital for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.[8][6] It will be the Sumo Digital's third racing game featuring the Sonic intellectual property (IP), following Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012).[9] The majority of the staff, however, did not work on the previous games.[4] Unlike the Sonic & Sega All-Stars games, which featured various Sega franchises, Team Sonic Racing will solely focus on Sonic characters and elements.[10] Sega's community manager Aaron Webber said that Team Sonic Racing is not a sequel to Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed and is "very, very different" from previous Sonic racers.[11] Series producer Takashi Iizuka explained that the team wanted to make a game that took place solely in the Sonic universe, which is why it does not bear the Sega All-Stars name.[12] Webber added that they also wanted to expand the world and character roster of Sonic.[13]

According to lead designer Richard Acherki, the game is being programmed using a modified version of the in-house game engine used to develop the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing games.[4] Sumo Digital wanted to create a racing game that stood out compared to others. Observing other games, they found that team gameplay was very popular; noting that racing games were largely single-player experiences, they decided to combine the concepts to create a unique and exciting experience.[4][12] Iizuka echoed these sentiments, saying the development team was not inspired by other kart racing games like Mario Kart 8 (2014) because they wanted to make a game that emphasized teamwork instead of a "a network game". He cited Splatoon (2015) and Overwatch (2016) as examples of the teamwork that Team Sonic Racing was striving for.[14] The game does not support cross-platform multiplayer; Iizuka stated this is because of technical constraints.[12]

The soundtrack will be composed by Jun Senoue, his first major work in the Sonic series since Sonic Generations.[15] The game's theme song, "Green Light Ride", was performed by Senoue's band Crush 40.[16]

Promotion and release

Rumors of a new Sonic-themed racing game arose in January 2018 when an internal Sumo Digital memo leaked, containing information on an "unannounced karting game" for an "established global IP".[9] Their history with Sonic caused speculation that they were developing a new entry in the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing series. This was rejected by Webber, who stated he "saw rumors floating today about another SART game. Just wanted to confirm it's not a thing!"[9][17] Despite his response, multiple toy production companies alluded to a future Sonic kart racing game in February 2018.[18] In early February, a representative from Zappies reported at the Spielwarenmesse toy fair in Nuremberg that a third Sonic kart racing game was in development and that the company was planning on making toy figures for the game.[9] Similarly, later in the month, a separate toy company, Diamond Select Toys, also alluded to 2018 toys based on a Sonic racing video game entry.[19]

Multiple journalists noted that Webber's comments may have just alluded to the Sega All-Stars name and that he did not discount the premise of a new Sonic racing game,[9] and further rumors of a game without any other Sega IPs involved arose in the same month.[20] A Sonic related announcement was scheduled for March 16, 2018 at the South by Southwest convention.[21][22] The game was not announced at that time, but a trailer on the Sonic Twitter account teased a new racing game on that same day.[23] In May 2018, after leaking in a Walmart retail listing,[1] Sega announced Team Sonic Racing would release for the Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in the fourth quarter of 2018. A demo version was playable at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018.[8][14]

Reception

Eurogamer's Martin Robinson expressed disappointment that Team Sonic Racing did not include any non-Sonic characters as playable racers, which he believed was one of the best things about Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing and its sequel. However, he remained optimistic, believing Sumo Digital's experience with Sonic would ensure the game would be a similar, "fundamentally brilliant arcade racer".[10] At E3 2018, Hardcore Gamer nominated it as the show's best racing game, but it lost to Forza Horizon 4.[24]

Notes

  1. ^ Characters confirmed to be playable are Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Shadow the Hedgehog, Rouge the Bat, E-123 Omega, Big the Cat, Chao, and Amy Rose.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gach, Ethan (May 30, 2018). "Walmart Leak Reveals Team Sonic Racing [UPDATE: Confirmed]". Kotaku. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Gach, Ethan (June 14, 2018). "Team Sonic Racing Could Be A Lot Weirder". Kotaku. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Doolan, Liam (June 23, 2018). "Big The Cat, Chao And Amy Will All Be Playable In Team Sonic Racing". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Rosenberg, Jared (June 18, 2018). "Team Sonic Racing Interview with Richard Acherki". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Graebar, Brendan (June 15, 2018). "E3 2018: You Can't Win With Speed Alone in Team Sonic Racing". IGN. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Osborn, Alex (May 30, 2018). "Team Sonic Racing Announced". IGN. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  7. ^ McWhertor, Michael (May 30, 2018). "Sonic's next game is Team Sonic Racing". Polygon. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Saed, Sherif (May 30, 2018). "Team Sonic Racing is official, coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch this year". VG247. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e Wales, Matt (February 5, 2018). "Evidence of new Sonic Racing game mounts". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Robinson, Martin (June 5, 2018). "Team Sonic Racing is another arcade racer that wants to reinvent the genre". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Sato (June 4, 2018). "Sega Explains Why Sonic Rides A Car In Team Sonic Racing, Shares More On Its Characters". Siliconera.
  12. ^ a b c Shacknews (June 5, 2018). Team Sonic Racing - Developer Interview (Interview with Takashi Iizuka). GameHubTV. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  13. ^ Sonic Stadium (June 24, 2018). Sonic Stadium @ E3 2018 Interview with Aaron Webber (Interview with Aaron Webber). Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Garst, Aron (June 13, 2018). "'Team Sonic Racing' Dev on How Game Is Like 'Overwatch,' 'Splatoon'". Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  15. ^ Gallagher, Mathew (June 7, 2018). "Jun Senoue lead composer on Sonic Team Racing". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  16. ^ @crush40 (June 11, 2018). "TEAM SONIC RACINGの新しいトレイラーが公開されました！よろしくどうぞ！A new "Team Sonic Racing" trailer featuring a new Crush 40 song "Green Light Ride" had been published! Enjoy!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (February 6, 2018). "Sounds Like We Might Be Getting A New Sonic & All-Stars Racing Game Soon". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  18. ^ Tamburro, Paul (February 20, 2018). "A New Sonic Racing Game is On its Way, According to Toymaker". GameRevolution. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  19. ^ GameCentral (February 20, 2018). "Sonic All-Stars Racing 3 game in development claim rumours". Metro. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Hayes, Matthew (February 5, 2018). "British Toy Company Claims a New Sonic Racing Game Is Coming This Year". Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  21. ^ Moyse, Chris (February 6, 2018). "Toy-makers add fuel to Sonic All-Star Racing speculation". Destructoid. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  22. ^ Jenni (March 16, 2018). "SXSW Sonic The Hedgehog Panel Will Announce Upcoming Projects". Siliconera. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  23. ^ Wales, Matt (May 16, 2018). "Sega unleashes new Sonic Racing teaser". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  24. ^ HG Staff (June 20, 2018). "Best of E3 2018 – Day Two: Indie, VR, Racing, Sports". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
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