Sonic Riders: A High-Speed Hoverboard Racing Game
Sonic Riders is a racing video game that was released in 2006 for various platforms. It is part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series and features many of its iconic characters on hoverboards called Extreme Gear. The game was developed by Sonic Team and Now Production, published by Sega, and released in commemoration of the Sonic series' 15th anniversary. The game received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success.
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Gameplay
Extreme Gear
Extreme Gear are anti-gravity vehicles that consist of hoverboards, hover skates, and hover bikes. Each character can use different types of Extreme Gear that have different statistics and abilities. For example, hoverboards are balanced in speed and handling; hover skates are fast but hard to control; hover bikes are slow but stable. Some Extreme Gear also have special features such as flight or grinding.
Air Tank
Air is the fuel for Extreme Gear and is displayed in a gauge at the bottom right corner of the screen. Air is depleted gradually as the race goes on or when performing actions such as boosting or attacking. Air can be replenished by collecting rings or air capsules on the track or by performing tricks or drifts. Running out of air will cause the character to lose speed and fall off their Extreme Gear.
Race Modes
The game offers several race modes for single-player or multiplayer gameplay. The main mode is story mode, where players can choose between Team Sonic or Team Babylon and follow their respective storyline through six tracks each. Other modes include free race, where players can race on any unlocked track with any character; time attack, where players can race against the clock or a ghost; world grand prix, where players can compete in a series of four tracks for the highest score; tag, where players can team up with another character and switch between them; and survival, where players can race in a battle royale style with items and obstacles.
Tracks and Environments
The game features 16 tracks that are divided into seven themed environments. Each track has multiple routes, shortcuts, and gimmicks that require different types of Extreme Gear or characters to access. The environments and tracks are as follows:
EnvironmentTracks
Metal CityMetal City, Night Chase
Splash CanyonSplash Canyon, Red Canyon
Egg FactoryEgg Factory, Iron Ruin
Green CaveGreen Cave, Sand Ruins
Babylon GardenBabylon Garden, Sky Road
Digital DimensionDigital Dimension
SEGA CarnivalSEGA Carnival, SEGA Illusion
Characters
Playable Characters
The game features 16 playable characters that are divided into four groups: speed, fly, power, and special. Each group has different advantages and disadvantages in terms of speed, acceleration, handling, and air consumption. The characters and their groups are as follows:
GroupCharacters
SpeedSonic the Hedgehog, Jet the Hawk, Shadow the Hedgehog, AiAi
FlyMiles "Tails" Prower, Wave the Swallow, Rouge the Bat, Ulala
PowerKnuckles the Echidna, Storm the Albatross, E-10000G, Dr. Eggman
SpecialAmy Rose, Cream the Rabbit, Super Sonic, NiGHTS
Non-Playable Characters
The game also features some non-playable characters that appear in the story mode or as announcers. They are:
Dr. Eggman: The main antagonist of the Sonic series and the organizer of the EX World Grand Prix.
Omochao: A robotic helper that provides tips and tutorials for the player.
E-10000R: A mysterious robot that competes in the EX World Grand Prix and is later revealed to be a spy for Dr. Eggman.
E-10000Y: A yellow robot that is unlocked by completing all missions with an Extreme rank.
Babylon Guardian: A giant genie-like creature that guards the Babylon Garden and is fought as the final boss.
Sonic Riders Announcer: The voice that narrates the game and announces the results of the races.
Sonic Riders DJ: The voice that plays music and comments on the races.
Sonic Riders Shopkeeper: The voice that sells Extreme Gear and parts in the shop.
Sonic Riders Reporter: The voice that reports on the events of the EX World Grand Prix in the story mode.
Sonic Riders Commentator: The voice that commentates on the races in the world grand prix mode.
Sonic Riders Audience: The voices that cheer and boo during the races.
Plot
Storylines
The game has two storylines that can be played in the story mode: one for Team Sonic and one for Team Babylon. Both storylines involve the EX World Grand Prix, a racing tournament organized by Dr. Eggman, who promises to give the Chaos Emeralds to the winner. However, Dr. Eggman has ulterior motives and is actually after the Ark of the Cosmos, a mysterious artifact that can control gravity.
Team Sonic's storyline follows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as they enter the EX World Grand Prix to compete against Team Babylon, a group of legendary thieves composed of Jet, Wave, and Storm. Along the way, they encounter various rivals and challenges, such as Shadow, Rouge, E-10000R, and the Babylon Guardian. They also learn more about the history and secrets of the Babylonians, the ancestors of Team Babylon.
Team Babylon's storyline follows Jet, Wave, and Storm as they enter the EX World Grand Prix to prove their skills and claim the Chaos Emeralds. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and enemies, such as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, E-10000R, and Dr. Eggman. They also discover more about the Ark of the Cosmos, which is connected to their heritage and destiny.
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Ark of the Cosmos
The Ark of the Cosmos is a mysterious artifact that can control gravity and is sought by both Team Sonic and Team Babylon. It consists of five pieces that resemble shooting stars. One piece is embedded in Jet's Extreme Gear, another is found by Tails in Metal City, another is stolen by Storm from Eggman's base, another is given to Sonic by Amy, and another is hidden in Babylon Garden. The Ark of the Cosmos has the power to activate Babylon Garden, a floating island that was once the home of the Babylonians. However, it also attracts a swarm of robots that are programmed to collect them for Dr. Eggman.
Development
Production
Sonic Riders was developed by Sonic Team and Now Production, a subsidiary of Namco. The game was directed by Kenjiro Morimoto, produced by Takashi Yuda and Yoji Ishii, designed by Masahiro Kumono and Takao Hirabayashi, programmed by Katsuhiro Hasegawa and Hiroshi Nishiyama, and composed by Tomonori Sawada and Kenichi Tokoi. The game was inspired by extreme sports games such as SSX and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, as well as anime series such as Air Gear and Eureka Seven. The game used cel-shaded graphics to create a cartoon-like style.
Release
Sonic Riders was released for various platforms in different regions and dates. The game was first released for PlayStation 2 and GameCube in Japan on February 16, 2006; in North America on February 21, 2006; in Europe on March 17, 2006; and in Australia on March 23, 2006. The game was later released for Xbox in North America on February 21, 2006; in Europe on March 17, 2006; and in Australia on March 23, 2006. The game was also released for Microsoft Windows in Europe on November 17, 2006; in North America on November 20, 2006; and in Japan on December 21, 2006.
The game had different editions depending on the platform and region. The PlayStation 2 version had a limited edition that came with a DVD featuring a making-of documentary and a soundtrack sampler. The GameCube version had a bonus disc that contained a demo of Shadow the Hedgehog. The Xbox version had enhanced graphics and online multiplayer features. The Windows version had improved controls and compatibility.
Reception
Sonic Riders received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success. The game received an average score of 63% on Metacritic based on 46 reviews for PlayStation 2; 59% based on 28 reviews for GameCube; 63% based on 24 reviews for Xbox; and 66% based on six reviews for Windows. The game was praised for its originality, variety, graphics, and sound, but criticized for its difficulty, learning curve, controls, and glitches. The game sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide and was nominated for several awards, such as the Best Racing Game by IGN and the Best GameCube Game by GameSpot.
Legacy
Sequels
Sonic Riders spawned two sequels that expanded on the gameplay and story of the original game. The first sequel was Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, which was released in 2008 for PlayStation 2 and Wii. The game introduced new features such as gravity control, gravity points, and gear parts. The game also had a new storyline that involved a mysterious meteorite that affected the gravity of the world. The second sequel was Sonic Free Riders, which was released in 2010 for Xbox 360. The game utilized the Kinect motion sensor to allow players to control their characters by moving their bodies. The game also had a new storyline that involved a tournament hosted by a mysterious sponsor.
Spin-offs and Crossovers
Sonic Riders also influenced some spin-offs and crossovers featuring Sonic Riders elements. For example, Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom, a 2015 endless runner game for mobile devices, featured some characters and tracks from Sonic Riders. Team Sonic Racing, a 2019 racing game for various platforms, featured some Extreme Gear and customization options from Sonic Riders. Additionally, some Sonic Riders characters and items appeared in other games such as Sonic Rivals 2, Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Sonic Generations, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.
Merchandise and Media
Sonic Riders also inspired some merchandise and media related to the game. For example, some toys and figures based on the characters and Extreme Gear were produced by companies such as Joyride Studios and Jazwares. Some comics and books based on the game's story and characters were published by companies such as Archie Comics and Penguin Books. Some soundtracks featuring the game's music were released by companies such as Wave Master and Sega.
Conclusion
Sonic Riders is a racing video game that features Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends on hoverboards called Extreme Gear. The game was released in 2006 for various platforms and received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success. The game has several gameplay modes, tracks, characters, and storylines that offer variety and challenge to the players. The game also has a rich legacy that includes sequels, spin-offs, crossovers, merchandise, and media. Sonic Riders is a unique and fun game that deserves a try by any fan of Sonic or racing games.
FAQs
Q: How do I unlock Super Sonic in Sonic Riders?
A: To unlock Super Sonic, you need to collect all seven Chaos Emeralds in the story mode. Each Chaos Emerald is hidden in a different track and can be obtained by completing certain conditions.
Q: How do I perform tricks in Sonic Riders?
A: To perform tricks, you need to press the jump button when you are near a ramp or rail. You can also use the directional buttons or the analog stick to perform different types of tricks.
Q: How do I customize my Extreme Gear in Sonic Riders?
A: To customize your Extreme Gear, you need to visit the shop in the main menu. You can buy different parts for your Extreme Gear using rings that you earn from racing. You can also equip different parts to your Extreme Gear in the gear select screen before each race.
Q: How do I play online multiplayer in Sonic Riders?
A: To play online multiplayer, you need to have an Xbox version of the game and an Xbox Live subscription. You can then access the online mode from the main menu and join or create a lobby with other players.
Q: How do I get more characters in Sonic Riders?A: To get more characters in Sonic Riders, you need to complete certain tasks or challenges in the game. For example, you can unlock Amy by completing story mode with Team Sonic; Cream by completing story mode with Team Babylon; Shadow by completing Hero story missions 1-6 with an Extreme rank; Rouge by completing Babylon story missions 1-6 with an Extreme rank; and so on.
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