Dear Sonic Team: I don't even know anymore (Sonic Allstars Racing Transformed)

[Aldurin]

So I was completely disinterested in all sonic-based racing games after Sonic R (see the JonTron episode on it to save yourself from playing it), but then Nerf Now makes a joke based on how the PC verison of Sonic Allstars Racing Transformed has 3 of the TF2 mercenaries as playable characters (through promotion for at least one of them? it's not entirely clear). So I took a closer look at the game . . .

Now, before you blatantly point out how I'm wrong about my opinions on racing games, understand that I hate Mario Kart (double dash was meh for me, to preemptively respond to those of you who want to counterpoint) because Jak X was all that but better, and wish for said game with accessible multiplayer (PC for shenanergans please, Naughty Dog). I just don't know, this is like Sony trying to compete against Smash Bros. by releasing PASBR in the sense that this is Not-Mario-Kart-Because-It's-Sonic. The main difference is that Mario is stagnating in its own reputation of games that are eternally cloned (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/10143-The-Death-of-Mario), while SEGA is actually trying to innovate its way into that prized position in racing games. I'm actually interested, I haven't bought it yet and I still have a couple weeks before the promotion and discount disappear, but I'm actually finding myself fond of the idea of a decent Sonic-based racing game with crossovers from other cool things, especially since this is one of those few cases where Valve loosens the death grip on their property for anything that isn't hat-promotions.

But this is a Sonic game, of a franchise many declare should have died before it stepped into the PS3/360 era (and you can't blame them), so I'm stuck in this limbo of what the fuck do I do. I can either buy it and risk disappointment, wait for Yahtzee to review it and risk detached disappointment that one would have for a man too large to maintain his balance, or try to ignore what was one of my favorite franchises in the past and go on with my life until someone points out that they're releasing Sonic Adventure 3.

Anyone else have opinions and/or conflicts over this?

[Arcanum]

Ristar isn't a playable character. This game isn't worth your time.

[Ramary]

As far as I am concerned Sonic is right by me now after Generations.

I heard the kart game was alright. Might get it on sale...which is how I am treating a lot of games lately. As for you, check other reviews, since it has been out on console for awhile already.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

1. The franchise got revived thanks to Sonic Generations and Sega's actually taking their time for once (new Sonic won't be till early/late 2014).

2. This is a Sega All Stars game. Not a Sonic title. REALLY getting sick of people thinking it's a Sonic game when it's obivously a Sega All Stars Title. Sonic was only added to the name because of the lack luster sales of all the previous Sega All Stars games.

Given the few things Yuji said/hinted about Sega's current Secret Sonic Game during his post Sonic Generations interview. It may as well be Sonic Adventure 3 (technically 5 as 06 was SA3 and Unleashed was SA4).

[Bells]

Sonic Allstars Racing Transformed!! Or... "Our physics are so bad we can't decide if this vehicle behaves like an boat, car or aircraft, so... it's all of it!"

[Locke cole]

A: Sonic Generations came after he was saved by Sonic Colors, so Generations can't be the game that saved the series.

B: I'm pretty sure that the video of TF2 characters in the game was a joke. Something a fan did to make a fun video.

C: Diddy Kong Racing did "Car or boat or plane" long ago.

[Bum Bill Bee]

Yeah, but Diddy Kong racing didn't have the ability to transform between cars boats or planes. What you picked is what got you through the whole track.

...or thats how I remembered it anyway.

[Locke cole]

True. And I think there were some tracks where you couldn't use anything but a certain one of the three.

I suppose that newest Mario Kart game is a better analogy.

So, is there really TF2 mercs in this game? I saw a video showing them off like a year ago, but I'm pretty sure that was just a fan modeler having fun, right?

[Bum Bill Bee]

I'm more surpirsed at Wreck it Ralph being playable myself.

[Ramary]

So, is there really TF2 mercs in this game??

Yes.
YVjKx0rS1OE

[Kyanbu The Legend]

A: Sonic Generations came after he was saved by Sonic Colors, so Generations can't be the game that saved the series.

B: I'm pretty sure that the video of TF2 characters in the game was a joke. Something a fan did to make a fun video.

C: Diddy Kong Racing did "Car or boat or plane" long ago.

True but the fanbase was rather split on rather or not Colors was any much better then Unleashed's Day stages due to the large amount of padding in each Zone (6 acts! Holy crap! >_<). It's when generation came along and won an emmy award that a majority of the fans started to feel Sonic was back on the right track again. (well plot wise anyway).


Sonic 4 ep2 being the exception as it was a delayed release.

[Aldurin]

(technically 5 as 06 was SA3 and Unleashed was SA4).

Take that fucking back. Did you see Chao Gardens in either of those. Did you? DID YOU? WERE THOSE GAMES EVEN GOOD?

So yeah I guess Sonic is on a revival and technically this isn't a sonic game, but they're definitely using him as the main marketing tool. But after a good night's sleep I think I'm just gonna wait it out until the last minute where I decide whether or not I commit to this.

[rpgdemon]

All that this thread has accomplished:

1) I now know that Aldurin has terrible taste in racing games. (The only bad Mario Kart that I've played was the Wii one.)

2) I now want to buy Sonic Generations.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Take that fucking back. Did you see Chao Gardens in either of those. Did you? DID YOU? WERE THOSE GAMES EVEN GOOD?

So yeah I guess Sonic is on a revival and technically this isn't a sonic game, but they're definitely using him as the main marketing tool. But after a good night's sleep I think I'm just gonna wait it out until the last minute where I decide whether or not I commit to this.

I know it's strange but believe it or not it's true.

About awhile ago I did some research on Sonic 06, in attempt to one day make a PC rom hack of it, completely glitch free. Several years to a decade from then after I finished my own work.

But as I read on I learned that such a thing would be imposible as the game is too terrible to fix (I'd basicly be making a sonic fan game at that point). And is too badly written and hated to be saved without making something completely different. And that's when I found out the orgin behind this game.

During it's dev, it was originally going to be "Sonic Adventure 3". But for a rather odd reason, Sega changed the name to "Sonic The Hedgehog" instead. As an attempt to soft reboot the blue hedgehog and attract new fans. So technically it was SA3.

BUT! Sega removed the game from canon. Only adding in Crisis City because it won the poll on their page. (it was a fan picked level). So we could get a new SA3, depending on rather or not scraping DLC plans for generation will give them enough time to keep the Good Sonic track record going.

[Ramary]

2) I now want to buy Sonic Generations.

Pc verson is a great port, so you just need to wait till we have a sonic sale again on steam.

Also ironically Crisis City was probably my favorite level in Generations not factoring in any nostalgia (with nostalgia, city escape is my favorite.) between the level design and the music it was great to play on both classic and modern.

Oh yes, the music.
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[Loyal]

About awhile ago I did some research on Sonic 06, in attempt to one day make a PC rom hack of it, completely glitch free. Several years to a decade from then after I finished my own work.I know you have a tendency toward lofty goals but damn man.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Yeah, to say the least. I didn't realise how imposible that would be until I saw what I'd have to deal with years from now. XD

Granted I wouldn't have been doing it by myself. But still in the end I dropped the idea because it wouldn't be worth it.

[Locke cole]

Colors honestly felt a bit short to me. Yeah, lots of Acts per zone, but there was a relatively small number of zones. but what there was played like the best parts of Unleashed, and better.

In any case, Colors felt like the first major step of the revival. Minimal story, snarky attitude and a lack of Cosmic Destroyer plot #57, platforming with branching paths and hidden stuff, Eggman as the game's biggest threat again, no more instant drowning, and Super Sonic playable in the main stages.

It was everything that was missing from the games before it. Generations may well have done it better, but people were making pictures of Sonic shattering a Sonic Cucle poster back when Colors came out, is what I mean.

I really wish I could play Generations. I own it on Steam, but I don't actually own a computer that can run it right now.

[Bells]

I know it's strange but believe it or not it's true.

About awhile ago I did some research on Sonic 06, in attempt to one day make a PC rom hack of it, completely glitch free. Several years to a decade from then after I finished my own work.

But as I read on I learned that such a thing would be imposible as the game is too terrible to fix (I'd basicly be making a sonic fan game at that point). And is too badly written and hated to be saved without making something completely different. And that's when I found out the orgin behind this game.

During it's dev, it was originally going to be "Sonic Adventure 3". But for a rather odd reason, Sega changed the name to "Sonic The Hedgehog" instead. As an attempt to soft reboot the blue hedgehog and attract new fans. So technically it was SA3.

BUT! Sega removed the game from canon. Only adding in Crisis City because it won the poll on their page. (it was a fan picked level). So we could get a new SA3, depending on rather or not scraping DLC plans for generation will give them enough time to keep the Good Sonic track record going.

If i had met people with a drive for doing stuff like that back when i had no job and free time maybe dreams of seeing Final Fantasy Tactics ports on PC and Android with Fan Mods all over it could have become true...

Cause goddamn it we need more Final Fantasy Tactics than we need Sonic Games.....!

[Arcanum]

What made Sonic Adventure fucking rad and defined Sonic Adventure:

1) Being able to choose among multiple characters, each with their distinct playstyle, and playing their story and seeing how it intertwines with the overarching narrative
2) Hub Worlds
3) Chao Garden

What SA2 had:

1) Two storyline choices and three character playstyles that were forced on you in a linear fashion
2) Chao Garden

Ergo Sonic Adventure 2 is not a real Sonic Adventure game.

[Locke cole]

...you know, you'd think that one wouldn't be able o notice a change in voice actor beneath layers of muffling and mumbling, but the Pyro sounds really off.

[Ramary]

What made Sonic Adventure fucking rad and defined Sonic Adventure:

1) Being able to choose among multiple characters, each with their distinct playstyle, and playing their story and seeing how it intertwines with the overarching narrative
2) Hub Worlds
3) Chao Garden

1) Yes
2) Hell no, the hub world was boring and added nothing, it had the additional awkwardness of the cartoon sonic characters standing next to real looking people all the damn time, I hate that crap in the newer games, it always looks stupid.
3) chao garden is overrated. Digimon World is best creature raising thing.

[Locke cole]

SA2 had the better Chao Garden anyway. And it linked up with Sonic Advance.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

1) Yes
2) Hell no, the hub world was boring and added nothing, it had the additional awkwardness of the cartoon sonic characters standing next to real looking people all the damn time, I hate that crap in the newer games, it always looks stupid.
3) chao garden is overrated. Digimon World is best creature raising thing.

Won't be as strange looking if they stick with the pixar art style they started in Unleashed. Though I know what you mean. It did seem awkward back then.

[Arcanum]

1) Yes
2) Hell no, the hub world was boring and added nothing, it had the additional awkwardness of the cartoon sonic characters standing next to real looking people all the damn time, I hate that crap in the newer games, it always looks stupid.
3) chao garden is overrated. Digimon World is best creature raising thing.

I included Chao Garden because despite my personal apathy towards it, other people I've talked to about Sonic Adventure were crazy for it.

Also fuck you those hub worlds were great.

e- At least the Egg Carrier hub was great because exploring Robotnik's flagship was pretty sweet. Also the jungle was great because Angel Island and the jungle maze around the temple.

[Token]

What made Sonic Adventure fucking rad and defined Sonic Adventure:

1) Being able to choose among multiple characters, each with their distinct playstyle, and playing their story and seeing how it intertwines with the overarching narrative
2) Hub Worlds
3) Chao Garden

What SA2 had:

1) Two storyline choices and three character playstyles that were forced on you in a linear fashion
2) Chao Garden

Ergo Sonic Adventure 2 is not a real Sonic Adventure game.

I'd argue that it's actually the first one that isn't a real Sonic Adventure game because it's not complete shit.

[Bells]

U-uVKrm_iVg

I forgo to post this earlier, cause it's not really all that further from the truth i would say...

[Locke cole]

I'd argue that it's actually the first one that isn't a real Sonic Adventure game because it's not complete shit.

By that logic, Sonic '06 is the only real Sonic Adventure game.

[Spooniest]

U-uVKrm_iVg

I forgo to post this earlier, cause it's not really all that further from the truth i would say...

Can't stop laughing

[Magus]

U-uVKrm_iVg

I forgo to post this earlier, cause it's not really all that further from the truth i would say...

JonTron and Egoraptor's playthrough of Sonic '06 is probably the funniest playthrough of any game I've seen. I think they even did the entire thing, or at least they are up to 47 10 minute videos for some godawful reason...it's especially amazing because they drop GOOD games constantly for them to actually go the entire way through Sonic '06. Presumably because it is pure comedy gold.

[Locke cole]

I liked the letsplay by Pokecapn, Kung Fu Jesus, Medibot, and... well I can't remember all heir names, but those should be more than enough to find it.

They also have done later Sonic games. The contrast between them playing 06 and them playing Colors is staggering.

[Arcanum]

JonTron and Egoraptor's playthrough of Sonic '06 is probably the funniest playthrough of any game I've seen. I think they even did the entire thing, or at least they are up to 47 10 minute videos for some godawful reason...it's especially amazing because they drop GOOD games constantly for them to actually go the entire way through Sonic '06. Presumably because it is pure comedy gold.

Last I saw they had cleared Sonic's campaign and were starting Shadow's campaign. Then they have to do Silver's.

[Bells]

JonTron and Egoraptor's playthrough of Sonic '06 is probably the funniest playthrough of any game I've seen. I think they even did the entire thing, or at least they are up to 47 10 minute videos for some godawful reason...it's especially amazing because they drop GOOD games constantly for them to actually go the entire way through Sonic '06. Presumably because it is pure comedy gold.

Their channel is one of those "new things" that pop up on youtube that i enjoy watching, although, the unscripted nature of the whole show and their jokes means they aim for the line they shouldn't cross and bolt to it like Usain sometimes...

Also, they are forcing themselves through ALL campaigns on Sonic 06, they finished sonic and now they are on Shadow's... the best part is that they play it legit, they don't force to make the game seems bad, it's just really is that bad!

[Magus]

They tend to cross the line twice, though. They seem to recover even the worst jokes at the last moment and bring them back into funny territory.

And yeah they kept emphasizing that Sonic '06 is just bad and they aren't screwing up on purpose.

[Locke cole]

I recall a letsplay where, in one of Silver's levels, hey accidentally managed to go through a major portion of the level backwards, and hit a checkmark that saved their place a good ways behind where they'd already been.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

I recall a letsplay where, in one of Silver's levels, they accidentally managed to go through a major portion of the level backwards, and hit a checkmark that saved their place a good ways behind where they'd already been.

Only in Sonic 06.