Sequel to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing arrives on Xbox 360, PS3, 3DS, PS Vita, and PC late this year; Golden Axe, Skies of Arcadia karts added to roster.
Sonic is getting behind the wheel once again, as Sega today announced that Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will arrive in stores late this year.
Set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, 3DS, and PC, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a sequel to 2010's million-selling Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. The follow-up will feature some of Sega's most recognizable characters racing against one another in vehicles that switch between land, sea, and air modes on the fly.
Beyond returning racers like Sonic the Hedgehog, Jet Set Radio's Beat, and Super Monkey Ball's AiAi, the game will add in more vintage Sega characters like Golden Axe dwarf Gilius Thunderhead and Skies of Arcadia pirate Vyse. The tracks will also take inspiration from Sega games, with circuits themed after Jet Set Radio, Super Monkey Ball, Panzer Dragoon, and more.
In addition to the new faces and places, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will introduce new gameplay mechanics to encourage stylish and aggressive driving. The game will also implement a "fair weapon system" to make sure that players can block or evade any attack if they have the skill to do so. Finally, the game will include a revamped multiplayer mode, as well as grand prix and battle arena game types.
As with the original, development duties for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed are being handled by Sumo Digital. The studio has a history of working not just with Sega's iconic characters--it also created Sega Superstars Tennis in 2008--but also with racing games. Other Sumo Digital-developed racers include Sega Rally Online Arcade, OutRun Online Arcade, and F1 2009.
For more on Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, check out GameSpot's first preview.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
@glbbg If Sonic was on-foot, then technically he would have a huge advantage over everyone since he is the fastest one in the Sega video games. So then Sega would have to lower his speed to match all the characters, then everyone here will be really talking about how this or that character is as fast as Sonic. Personally, I do not mind him being in a vehicle. I can see why they are doing it to balance the racing out and make it look legit, even if he is fast.
Yes I love the first game on all platform and will be getting this one as well. Hopefully Nintendo and Sega include some exclusive characters on the 3DS version, I wouldn't mind guys like Captain Falcon, Wario, or Fox McCloud joining the rank.
Wait, wait, wait, did I just missed something? Ok, I'm not a "leading Sonic expert", but from what I know, the blue critter is the fastest living thing alive . And this is not the first game to feature Sonic in a racing game. What's with the vehicles? It's like the Space Marines (Warhammer series) to feature in a body building game, because of their genetically augmented bodies. Not that I argue or anything, but its just somewhat awkward.
I just picked up the first one. It was a fun if underated title. I really really really hope they include Segata Sanshiro. They could have him driving a car made up to look like the Sega Saturn. it would be awesome.
I hope this time Sega realizes that Nintendo fans don't care about "cross-contamination with its Mario and Sonic series" (according to the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Wikipedia page), we still want Mario as Nintendo-exclusive character. Nintendo should have a Mii and Mario, the Microsoft should get Banjo/Kazooie and Avatars, and the Sony should get Tag from ModNation Racers and Sackboy (to promote the LittleBigPlanet kart racer coming out soon).
i did not buy the first one but i did play the demo and had alot of fun with it, i will be buying this copy on day one
Big Pecks@ And with a bigger budget.They are also trying to make this the big sonic game of 2012.
Looks great so far. I know the concept has been done before, but I believe more Kart games should go this direction. It makes it even more fun.
Mario kart 7's karts didn't really transform persay they just shot out a glider when in the air or a propeller in the water this looks pretty intresting
Bad time for sega for reasleing this game late 212. What shall i get well ill get LBP Karting because worth the money and do mirio karting rip offs and people can create this game on lbp Karting so soz sega LBP Karting wins.
As I was working on 100% completing Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing last night (and succeeding), I had no idea I would be seeing this news today. This is the second time I completely finished a game and then good news about it came out the next day or soon after; the last time was when I finished Uncharted 2 completely (in Single-player and got the platinum trophy) and the next day it was revealed that the director and actor from the Uncharted movie dropped out.
1 Like Heck, forget the karts lets see Skies of Arcadia II or whatever the subtitle will be.
@Darth_Nater307 Mario Kart 7 was your earliest example of cars turning into planes? Really? RC Revenge says hi from almost 15 years ago. Hell, Inspector Gadget says hi from almost 30 years ago.
Race cars that change into flying machines & watercraft. Nobody's thought of that before. *cough*MarioKart7*cough*
Check out the drivers ed training video with Sonic the Hedgehog and NASCAR superstar and playable character Danica Patrick.
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