Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and its Travel Rings that teleport you to different tracks mid-race is shaping up to be an incredibly fun, unpredictable kart racer! Pre-order Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds now with £10 extra Reward Points, only at TGC >>
Last month's Gamescom is somewhat of a blur, I must say! Speeding around the halls, taking photos, filming videos, trying to remain somewhat caffeinated and y’know, maybe even eating something! It never gets any easier, but working in this industry certainly has its privileges… The main one being the hands-on access we get to the calendar year’s new releases as well as the big hitters coming from beyond!
Considering all that I personally played in Germany this year (of which there was a high volume!) Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was an easy Top 3. Giving that the reception for Mario Kart World has been a little mixed (I’m in the frustrated camp on that one too), I feel there’s perhaps a bigger stake in the race to be claimed for pole position… And based on the 15 minutes that I floored it through CrossWorlds, it’s got an engine to be reckoned with!
As time was precious, I wasted absolutely NONE of it by immediately selecting to race as Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Ichiban Kasuga! I mean, when you look that good in a suit, you just have to hop on a hoverboard as your vehicle to be taken seriously! This was in the “Boost Type” category, though there are another four types to choose from: Speed, Acceleration, Power, and Handling.
I’ll be the first to say that during races, I lost focus on my steering due to how vibrantly epic the track’s surroundings were. In true SEGA style, it’s a colourful sensory overload that leaves you gawping (and losing if you’re not careful). Eyes on the prize, folks!
The game does indeed handle like Mario Kart with similar controls that contribute to an easy pick-up-and-play experience, but that’s not to say that this ride is easy! Races were competitive, with brutal uses of powerups that take you from leading the pack to “how am I at the back?” in the blink of an eye.
Speaking of leading the race, after the first lap if you’re up top, the absolutely fire option to launch a Travel Ring drops into the palms of your hands! If you ever wondered how you end up on a completely different track mid-race as seen in the trailer, this is it, Collectors! A temporary change but a chaotic bonus nevertheless, cementing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds as a truly exhilarating, fun experience from the second you pass the starting line!
15 minutes were famously enough for me to say I’ll be there for launch on 25th September! Secure your copies on all formats *currently with an EXTRA £10 REWARDS* right here at The Game Collection!
