Sonic R is a great racer, but it's far too short, and with little-to-no replay value
By Andy Ryle (Ryle_Boy)
Micro Review #1
I picked this game up a few years ago, I enjoyed the game, but was shocked about the length - far too short. However, it is short but sweet, and not necessarily a must-own for Sonic fans, but certainly a must-play.
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Overview
Sonic R is a racer produced by Expert. It is a little-known racer on PC, and quite frankly, a strictly mediocre game. I enjoyed it, and I think that anybody would, but the fast pace doesn't cut it, it's far too short, but oh so sweet.
Gameplay
Sonic R is a racer set in the Sonic universe, and combatants run for their lives in this frantic racer. The racers don't use vehicles, but as most would've expected from a Sonic game, they use their feet (bar Eggman and Amy). Racers must race through a small amount of courses and complete in the fastest time, obviously, like any racer. However, you can collect rings and Chaos Emeralds to unlock all the racers and all the courses. A game like this has great gameplay, really quite fun, but you just can't quite get into it.
Verdict - 7
Graphics
In two words - Quite poor. The characters look edgy, rugged and just plain ugly. The tracks don't look much better, nor the environments. However, the game is fair when it comes to graphics, better than others, but worse than a lot more. However, it is a Sega Saturn port, so what can one come to expect? Nevertheless, the graphics are poor, and subtract from the miniscule experience.
Verdict - 6
Sound
There is next-to-no sound in Sonic R. The sound of you running on the surface, and collecting rings is all the sound department really has to offer, with a hard-to-pick out tune, which you needed to turn up a lot to even hear a bit. Still, the sound is poor, and isn't a particuarly nice area of this game.
Value
Unless you buy this for less than $4, I think you're getting ripped off. The game, even though for it's budget price, is just plain pathetic in replay value. It takes less than an hour to complete (Racers, tracks and all) and doesn't have anything to offer to make you want to come back to. Even so, it's budget price, so a half-decent racer for the gamer with no cash in his pocket, or a bad PC. Despite it's a fun game, it's just not worth buying.
Reviewer's Tilt.
I just can't hate a Sonic game, but this one, I dislike, even if it is fun. It may sound odd, but it feels more like a chore to play than an experience, and is just plain boring to play. This isn't anywhere near the standards of what I'd come expect from a Sonic game, so quite frankly, I am very, very disappointed.
Verdict - 7
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So all in all, Sonic R is a game for the hardcore Sonic fan, or for the budget-buyer, and isn't really worth much. It's fun, but it doesn't last, and there isn't anything worth coming back to. Thanks for reading my review, I hope you enjoyed it! (This is the lowest game I've ever graded, as of 6/5/06
Overall - 6.4 - Fair