This game has a lot to offer, but are you willing to deal with it's frustrations in order to experience the fun parts?
Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing for the I-pod is quite an offering. You've got Single Player, packed with Grand Prix, Time Trials, Single Races and Missions, and then there is Multiplayer both locally and online. Single Player is quite solid for what it's got. Grand Prix has you racing through cups, each packed with 4 tracks, and the one who collects the most points in these four races wins. However, you've only got a set of 3 cups, 12 tracks all in all, while the console versions of this game have 24 tracks packed into 6 cups. Plus some of these tracks are better than others, one or two of them being pretty lackluster or frustrating. The game also has got less characters, removing some like Shadow or Amy.
There's also single races that has you picking any track you want to play on. This is also the main gaming mode of online and local multiplayer. Here you can participate in races with other friends or strangers.
Once selected your character and the track(s), the race starts. Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing for the I-pod fortunately delivers the high speed racing like the console games. Racing is fast, and the tracks always have you fixated. Some tracks are different than those of the console versions, but these are more simplistic. Most of the tracks are more simplistic in this game, actually. But that's actually not for the bad. Since Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing for the I-pod has controls that just can't handle to much action at once. What I mean wit this is that the controls simply aren't responsive enough for the high action during races.
You control the game as you'd thought. You use the I-pod like a steering wheel. Your kart accelerates automatically, but you have two buttons on the touchscreen, the big yellow one for drifting and the more little red one for braking. And to activate your items you simply have to tap on the item window. It's really simple, however, steering your kart by having to use the I-pod as a wheel can get quite problematic. It's simply not precised enough for the tracks, and having your screen always move the whole time can make the driving a little confusing. If you're patient enough and try to get along with these controls, you'll definitely will be able to dig out the entertaining parts of the racing. But if you get easily frustrated for example, stay away from this game. It needs a little time and practice to get along with these controls, and you'll still be off with some rare frustrations.
There's a second control option though, sadly, it isn't too much better. Here you are able to steer your kart with a yellow button on the touchscreen by sliding it in the direction you want to drive, left or right, but it's too sensitive and loose, especially for such high speed racing, of course. Though I'd say it's the better choice of the two control types.
The game also has other problems, like minor glitches. Also, the racing physics in this game are not that good, sometimes making racing very frustrating. And, the racing is unbalanced. I got hit by multiple items in a row, more often than I hoped for, and some items and obstacles on the tracks seem overpowered.
Combine all these downers and you've got a game that likes to frustrate it's players. Deal with the frustration and then luckily you'll get some kick ass fun out of the game, especially for a so little price. Visually, the game also looks great, everything runs incredibly smooth and backgrounds have some great looks to them. The courses also look decent, but those lack a bit of detail, and the overall game does looks a little simple. The music is for the most part pretty catchy.
The I-pod version of Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing is almost a joke compared to the console versions. It's got less tracks, less characters, and most importantly, it gets unbalanced and frustrating with problematic controls that just don't have enough accuracy for a kart racer and with unbalanced racing physics and items usage. But overlook these frustrations and you can enjoy a game that bursts surprisingly lots of gaming modes for such a little price, and it's racing is fast and exhilarating, even though the tracks are a little more simplistic. All in all Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing is a package with a lot of content for a game that costs almost nothing, but it also offers plenty of frustration with in the fast paced, exciting racing that might make you think twice before getting this game, even though it's so cheap. There might be games with an just as low price but less frustration that boggles gameplay down. Still, those who get along with it's downers will find a game that's very much worth the little money.
THE GOOD
+ fast and exhilarating racing
+ incredibly little price
+ a lot of content for such a little price
+ nice visuals
THE BAD
- problematic controls for such high racing action
- unbalanced racing physics and items
- a few minor glitches
Review Score: 6.5/10