Great Video Games

In a frantic battle to the checkered flag, Sonic and friends speed around tracks set in medieval castle ramparts, lush rainforests and bustling cities, all taken from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA. Fan favorites such as Dr. Eggman, Tails, AiAi, Amigo and many more will join Sonic in their custom built vehicles, revving their engines and jostling to stay ahead of the pack. Each character will speed around the track in cars, planes, motorbikes, and in Aiai’s case – a banana mobile! Secret short cuts, swift handling and avoiding strategically placed obstacles are certainly the best way to get to the top of the podium.

User Reviews about Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

Purchased this game for my 6 year old son. He loves it. He likes all the characters and is full of happiness and laughter when playing. -- Great Game

My husband wasn't a big videogamer until I got him hooked on Mario Kart a few months ago. Then he began wondering if there were any similar games out there he could play, that involved cartoony characters and neat, varied courses with big jumps.

After searching high and low (and trying some pretty lame games) I finally bought Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and it is a blast!! The thing he likes most about it, besides the fun of the racing, is the fact that you don't have to win cups to unlock characters and other courses. You rack up what are called Sega Miles, and you get those by playing anything, even time trials. You buy new courses, characters, and music with the Sega Miles.

There are several modes of play. There are the standard cup races, of course, and then there are time trials. There is also a single-race option, where you only race one race, and if you win you get a ton of miles. Also, there is a challenge mode where you have different goals to accomplish to move on to the next challenge. And there are multiplayer options as well but since we only have one controller I haven't tested those out.

The characters are fun, the vehicles very different and neat, and the courses are a blast. It is easy to steer and use the power-ups, and the music is peppy. My husband still prefers Mario Kart, but he ranks this game a very close second. Highly recommended!! -- Great game for Mario Kart lovers!

i usally dont like racing games but this one pulled me in. its soo much fun, i love the tracks there so detailed.the characters are cool .some i never even heard of but theres a lot of them. this game has a lot to offer,and once you beat it you can jus play the tracks with your friends. i deffintly recommend this game especialy people who like racing games. -- love this game!!!!!!!!!!

SEGA and All Stars Racing is your regular Kart game, unlike Mario Kart, ASR (All Star Racing) has SEGA characters on them, with beautiful graphics and most importantly EASY to pick up and play.
Best Kart racing on Teh 360, PS3 and PC
XBOX360 version has Banjo Kazooie, exclusive. -- Sonic SEGA All-Stars Racing B&K

When I first saw Sonic and Sega All Star Racing I was excited and skeptical. Excited to finally having a cart racer on the 360, but skeptical about the Sonic and Sega in the title.Over the last few years Sega has turned out some less then admirable games featuring their iconic star. Fortunately for me and many others it seems like they took their heads out of their asses and put out a very good cart racer.

Presentation

Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing doesn't shy away from Mario Kart instead it took what Mario Kart does well and built on that formula. Even the power ups one gets as they race around the track have direct similarities to Mario Kart. The red homing shell is replaced by red homing rockets, the green shells are green boxing gloves even the mushroom speed bursts are replaced by Sonic shoes.

The player is also given a great deal of variety with 20 playable racers and 24 tracks (21 and 25 with the new DLC). Besides the variety of players and tracks there are multiple game modes. In single player you have the typical Grand Prix in which the racer enters into the racing circuit winning a series of races to complete the cups. There is mission mode where the player must complete challenges or specific tasks: one example is drifting as much as possible around a track in a minute's time. Earning an "A" Rating or higher will unlock the next mission. They are great fun when you are not up to entering into a full race.

The multiplayer is a joy and also disappoints. There are a plethora of options and game modes to choose from in the multiplayer. You have racing which includes 4 person split screen and competing over live. There are also several battle modes: Regular "death match" battle mode where you compete against your opponent and try to knock them out using the games power ups and then there are King of the Hill, Diamond Grab, and a twist on the racing called knockout. I found all of the modes enjoyable, but the one issue I have with the Arena is the lack of maps. While the racing boasts 24 tracks the battle mode only has three, I assume that more will be released in the form of DLC.

Game Play

What makes the game great and a hell of a lot of fun to play is the game play itself. The controls are very tight and responsive which allows for anyone to easily pick up and play. In fact my four year old has no problem playing and winning races. The tracks are superior to any in the cart racer genre. They are well design and are different enough to make you feel like you are playing twenty four different tracks.

What really separates Sonic and Sega All Star Racing is the all-star moves. When a player falls behind they have a chance to pick up an all star in one of the item boxes which gives the player super speed and the ability to knockout any player in their way. Banjo and Kazooie whip out Mungo's wrench and begin to have "jiggys" fall from the sky. It a great part of the game and keeps the player who falls behind in the race. What the game doesn't have is the hail storm of blue turtle shells the leaders normally get in Mario Kart. If you get the lead you still have to play defensive, but you don't have to worry about a player in 6th place knocking you out to allow the player trailing you to take the lead.

Intangibles

While most racers/Cart games require a player to win certain races and cups in order to unlock the extra characters and tracks Sonic's racing game take a different approach. Every race, mission, and battle game gives the player "Sega Miles" which can be redeemed as cash to "buy" the characters and tracks in any order you chose. So if there is a certain track you want to race right away...just earn enough "Sega Miles" and it will be yours. What I did find interesting was for 400 Microsoft points you could unlock all the characters and tracks right off the bat. A great feature for some, but I preferred "earning" my unlockables.

Final Verdict

Buy...this game is loads of fun especially any variation of the multiplayer. There is enough variety and great controls to keep you coming back for more. For me nothing was more fun then trailing behind as Big Cat getting the All Star and hopping my way to the lead only to be overtaken by Beat. For cart racers who don't have a Wii you will not find a better game version. -- Best Kart Racer Yet