Review – Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

He crossed several worlds to reach us amid so many releases and also the same year we had a new full of news. It is curious how this game has been drawing attention, maybe it’s the look, the trips through the crossing rings or the cast of characters that have generated all this expectation. But is this a competitor to the time for Nintendo’s latest flagship? – Sorry, the comparison is inevitable.

In this crazy race produced by Sega Team, the fun is as important as the competition. The proposal here is clear: a fantastic race, with many effects, chaos, powers, good music and speed – like every blue hedgehog fan likes. A game that brings together many ideas seen in previous titles, but also features news.

Races that cross worlds

Sonic racing games have always been somewhat different from each other – this is natural for any franchise, I know. Sega has already bet on floating boards in the Riders series, which also had a very cool story mode. Sonic R, in turn, put the characters to compete on foot, which was a little strange. In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the experience was similar to what we see in other games of the genre.

In 2019, Team Sonic Racing bet on cooperative races, telling his story after Sonic Forces events. Six years later, we arrived at Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which begins with one to the sound of the theme song “Cross the Worlds”, showing that the focus is on the action of interdimensional races. And everyone wants to participate, no matter where the crossing rings will take us.

The game leaves the story mode aside and goes straight to the point: they are different ways of competing, which can be thrown alone, with up to 4 people locally divided or online with up to 12 competitors.

In the traditional Grand Prix there are 7 initial cups, with 3 others to unlock – one of them secret and the others linked to crossovers that will be released in the future as DLC. In all, there are 24 clues on earth, sky, sea and even in space, not to mention the ones that will still come. What you can advance is: all are absurdly beautiful.

The details of each route draw attention for beauty, but the set goes beyond, with a song of songs where one is better than the other. In addition to following the pace of matches, the musical repertoire stands out for itself – it’s addictive! And suddenly we are taken to a completely different scenario, just like in.

Crossing portals in Sonic Racing: crossworks

Crossing rings can lead us to one of the 15 worlds of crossworks. The first place decides which place to be visited, or can opt for the random destination. Everything changes: visuals, music, route and can even bring gigantic animals that try to devour you.

It sounds in real time, but at the same time it gives the feeling of being a trick: what we see on the portal is like a pre-filled video and, when crossing, the brilliant effect that takes over the screen makes the magic to carry the new route. Everything is fast enough to provide a very cool, instant effect and, of course, moments of great surprise.

Back to the tracks, they are very varied. And it is worth saying: the karts turn into aircraft and aquatic vehicles to adapt quickly and not lose speed. What is left out of this fluidity are the objects and characters around, the audience being the best example – they seem to be less than 15 fps. This helps in processing in general, but it is somewhat uncomfortable.

In addition to overcoming the cups, there are missions through the maps. Each track has 5 red rings to collect, for example. There is also a rivals system, which I explain later, as well as many other smaller challenges. Everything is rewarded with tickets, the game currency, used to purchase new car parts.

Friends & rivals?

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds presents a great idea, introduced in Grand Prix mode: rivals. When you start a pantry, you are assigned to a specific rival or, in some cases, you may even choose who this rival will be. Opting a higher level rival, the rewards will be even higher. During the races there will be dialogues and provocations between you, which reinforces the dispute. This dynamic and the whole interface has a strong influence on Super Smash Bros, adapted to the Sega de Being style, promoting racing with personalized rivalries during competitions.

Speaking of karts, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds brings together many vehicles that are being unlocked as progressing in the game. In addition, it brings back the famous hoverboards – just don’t wait for Sonic Riders’s specific mechanics. Here, the boards work like cars.

They can all be customized: sets that completely change the look, colors, horns, stickers and even an aura. In the end, you can spend hours by choosing every detail. It is worth mentioning: some pieces change kart performance – so keep an eye on it.

Who said the teams would be out?

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds also has a racing park with 4 different modes that allow 4 or 6 people teams. It can be played alone or with friends, place and online. These are modes such as: collection of rings, shootings, turbo challenge (almost a burnout), which adds how many times players pass through the acceleration areas.

All yield even more electrifying matches, especially when the turbo is activated and we see a bright car passing like a jet on the track – total madness.

There are also 2 modes to compete individually: quick starting on a clue to your choice and extreme challenge, where only the strongest attack items are available. The last attraction of the park is to its taste: allowing you to create your own rules and challenges. In this park, by defeating rivals, rewards also include very cool new cars.

So far there is enough content to run horrors and not tire, but it doesn’t end there. Karts are categorized by speed, acceleration, turbo, piloting and power, each with different attributes that can be improved with a device system, unlocked as we advance in matches. Thus, your choices go beyond aesthetics and need to be strategic if you want to win the most difficult modes or online matches.

Replay is more than guaranteed. Crossworlds is so frantic that it is easy to spend hours running through the tracks, doing missions, just to get new items and expand the collection. By the way, as Extra, the game also features a jukebox with many songs to enjoy. I just miss personalized skins for the characters – is the tip, right, Dona Sega?

Expanding the universe

This whole experience has also been tested by us on the PC and, although limited in graphic settings, the game features excellent performance. Visually speaking, only the background elements (cheering, things passing by the track, etc.) have limitation of frames for what happens in the foreground. But it is a shame to have no choice for unlimited SPF and other improvements. Fortunately, the optimization of the game is so good that it runs quietly on Steam Deck in 60 FPS in the high settings.

Sonic Racing’s infinite universe: CrossWorlds also brings amazing crossovers, some paid and amazed: others free. Hatsune Miku is now available and expansions with SpongeBob content and characters are confirmed, mega Man, Minecraft, Persona, Yakuza, Avatar and even Pac-Man. In addition to them, new clues and karts. – I hope new crossworks too.

The world connection allows you to play online with friends on different platforms thanks to cross-play. That is, on consoles where the game is available, all players can meet in competitions. This makes the “world” of the mustodydance very limited in this regard and, let’s face it, makes this game much cooler.

The feeling I have is that, at least for now, this is the generation kart game. It’s beautiful, it’s extremely fun and few things bother or miss. Now the fight is to buy more controls, as we love local gambling with friends here.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is doing very well what a game of this genre needs to do: it’s right to the point, it’s chaotic, but it’s accessible – and it will be hard to want to cross the portal that brings us back to the real world.