Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Review (Closed Network Test)

If you want to talk about a match made in heaven, then I have two things for you: Sonic, and karting. It almost feels like the perfect combination—a velocity-obsessed, sneaker-sporting hedgehog and a racetrack. And while this isn’t particularly uncommon (lest we forget that the blue bolt has, in fact, produced several racing variants in previous generations), it is a great formula that continues to span countless palatable ideas and innovational course designs. Take the latest chapter in the book, for example. Oh, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds isn’t short on speed, much less creative tracks and character foldouts, which makes it as equally deserving of sharing the podium as its former champions. But this stage is different; it isn’t your bread-and-butter circuit cruiser, but rather, a portal to a myriad of parallel worlds and nonsensical biomes. It’s still Sonic — but with a little more, shall we say, oomph. Right on.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorld is, to some extent, Mario Kart-esque—a series that, as time has clearly shown since its inception, no longer requires a formal introduction. Yes, CrossWorld is a bit of that, but point me in the direction of a game that doesn’t share some form of DNA with Nintendo’s powerhouse karting saga and I’ll happily set the record straight. But as I said, Sonic Racing is its own thing, and while it may share a lot of similarities with its red and white adversary, it’s also in possession of some trademark quirks — like the “largest roster” in the franchise’s history, for example. It also paves the way for a series of dynamic tracks with interchangeable layers, too — but we’ll talk more about that shortly.

If you’re undecided on whether or not to pick up a copy of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, then allow us to steer your judgment.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room here: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds isn’t a complete game, nor is it currently available as a full-fledged version on its native platforms. With all of that out in the open, and knowing that there’s still a fair amount of asphalt for it to cross before it reaches its final stretch, let’s segue this review into its opening statement.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has been described as a “chaotic” experience — and for good reason, too. It isn’t what you would call a “driving Miss Daisy” simulator—a description that you would often find attached to a karting game of a slightly more forgiving nature. Oh no, this isn’t your typical Sunday drive; on the contrary, it’s a wickedly vibrant and daring romp through a series (24, to be exact) of multi-tiered tracks—courses that, thanks to the game’s original inclusion of Travel Rings, double up as two-for-one races. These Travel Rings, which cement themselves in specific points of each of the core races, allow players to divert their attention to a second layer (a CrossWorld, if you will), where new obstacles appear over sky, land, and space, or sea. It’s essentially a race within a race — so take from that what you will.

Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is an absolute blast to play, and is all the more entertaining thanks to its generous selection of playable characters and iconic crossovers. And it doesn’t stop there, either. No, what truly sets CrossWorlds apart from its competitors is its deep ties to customization—a feature that doesn’t restrict itself to mere decals and colors, but instead makes an effort to take full advantage of an array of chassis types, modifiers, and even various Gadgets, which grant racers the option to staple even more power to their vehicles. To add, players can also alternate between a selection of unique racers, all of whom possess their own abilities and cards. With all of this in the pot, CrossWorlds gives you the chance to experiment with different play styles and techniques on the track. And to echo, this is merely a taster of what’s to come in due course.

The racing aspect is a force to be reckoned with, truly. As this is Sonic we’re talking about, the game doesn’t necessarily skimp out on the high-speed pursuits and that all-important thrill factor. Like Mario Kart on an adrenaline booster, each corner that you take, and each drift that you initiate, are as treacherous as you might imagine — but in the best possible way. To that end, the game does a remarkable job of making you feel as if you’re a split second away from veering into a volatile conundrum and losing sight of that graceful podium finish. And sure, while losing is a bit of a slap to the face, I personally found that there was never a dull moment, even if I did frequently fall to the back of the pack. It was a reminder, in ways, that I just needed to go back to the drawing board.

Verdict

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is as chaotic and as flawlessly supercharged as one might expect from a studio that’s as lightning speed-obsessed as SEGA, which is why you should consider onboarding it the next time you’re scrubbing the deck in search of a worthy substitute for the likes of Mario Kart. With thanks to its memorable collection of dynamic tracks, heavy-handed catalog of iconic characters, and its unique twist on the beloved karting genre, it certainly holds its own as one of the most engaging racing games of its time. And to think, this is merely the opening chapter of an entire saga — so that sort of speaks volumes on its own accord.

It almost feels like a no-brainer at this point, but for the sake of being transparent, I might as well state the obvious here. True, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is still largely under wraps and without the breadth of its full roster. However, for what the game has already gone on to accomplish during its Closed Network Test, it’s a great first impression for fans of the franchise. For that reason alone, I’m more than willing to shell out the full marks and give it my undivided attention. Here’s hoping the next checkered flag will be as good as the last.