There isn’t much to say here, other than about split-screen multiplayer. Next up is Local Play, which is where the players can jump straight into Grand Prix, Exhibition Races, Time Trials, or play wireless local multiplayer with other players. Requirements for 3-star ranks, as well as keys, start to become very tedious and difficult. While the story mode itself isn’t particularly long, a completionist may definitely have trouble perfecting every mission in later chapters. Getting all keys in a chapter reward the player with a customizable option for their vehicle. Some missions per chapter also feature Keys, which are usually awarded for completing a specific additional challenge in the mission. Each mission features requirements in order to complete it with a higher rank. Difficulty ranges from Normal to Expert, which affects how computer opponents play, as well as the overall speed of the game, much like the engine classes in Mario Kart. Team Adventure, which is the story mode, is filled with missions ranging from single races to full-on Grand Prix, to challenges. There are three main modes to play in Team Sonic Racing. It just made the game much more fun and enjoyable for me. The item balance feels far more fair, and the extra layer of strategizing is something I find to be fun that adds to the challenge of a good race. Overall I vastly prefer Team Races to Single Races in this game. Using the slipstream can give speed boosts called slingshots. The teammate that’s furthest ahead leaves a slipstream trail that can only be used by the other two racers. Triple variants of items are only available through sending or receiving items. Or, if the player is struggling, a teammate may offer them an item instead. Instead of using items, they can be given to a teammate in a lower place who may need it more. Simply having one teammate placing in the top 3 may not be enough, so it pushes the player to strategize. In Team Races, players have two teammates that they must work together with in order to win the race. While the game can be played in solo races of up to 12 players, the focus is clearly put on the Team Races.
Single races play nicely, but sometimes the wisp item balance can be a bit too chaotic. I personally found myself using Technical racers more frequently.
There are three classes of racers: Speed, which has the highest top speed but poor defense and acceleration, Technical, which have good handling and acceleration and can go off-road without slowing down, and Power, which have good boost and defense, lowest top speed, and can destroy obstacles. It’s pretty straightforward gameplay in terms of its controls.
When in the air, players can flick the R stick in different directions to perform tricks. In Team Races, it’s X to use team ultimates, and A to offer or accept items.
R to accelerate, L to drift, B to use items. The game plays fairly well, and the controls make sense for the most part. Overall, the plot isn’t something I’d say is the highlight to the game, but it’s certainly cute while on the simple side.Īs a racing game, the main focus in Team Sonic Racing is on its gameplay. This strange oddity actually made me miss out on most of the plot of the first chapter of the game initially, as the button prompts don’t stand out very much. In order to actually view the plot before and after the mission, players must select it with the “Y” button location. For some odd reason, the default “A” button location will play a story mission, but leave out the story. The plot is filled with plenty of pleasant interactions between characters but is unfortunately easy to miss out on in the Switch version of the game. As the plot progresses, more and more of Sonic’s friends and affiliates are invited to the fray. Sonic and friends are invited to race by a strange tanuki named Dodon Pa. The plot of Team Sonic Racing is relatively straightforward, though not unlike anything of the previous Sonic racing games. Does Team Sonic Racing offer an exciting racing adventure, or should this Grand Prix be skipped? My name is Tris, and let’s find out in this review. Speeding its way into the hands of many, Team Sonic Racing has finally launched! Stepping away from the other Sonic racing games such as Sonic Riders and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, this title focuses exclusively on Sonic and friends. Special thanks to SEGA for providing us with this review copy.