Sonic Riders

A new chapter for our favorite hedgehog, Sonic Riders runs “rings” around other aerial boarders

Who's faster than a Mitsubishi Lancer but not as fast as a speeding bullet? Who's cooler than any animal in the jungle even though he doesn't live there? Who can board with the best of 'em even when it's too warm for snow? Sonic the Hedgehog, the super-fast fur ball who turned the Sega Genesis into a must-have game console.

Sega consoles are unfortunately a thing of the past, but that hasn't stopped the developers from pushing forward with sequels to the games that the developer and publisher who they are today. Hardcore gamers and Saturn fans are likely to remember Sonic's first foray into unfamiliar territory: Sonic R. This unique take on traditional Sonic gameplay and non-traditional racing action made for one of the most original games of its time.

It's been almost a decade since Sonic R made its debut, and although it seems we will never get a direct sequel, Sega is finally ready to bring Sonic back to the racing world with Sonic Riders, an air-boarding racer with Sonic themed environments, unusual aerial combos, and a turbo boost that'll become your best friend.

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Sonic Riders stars all your favorites: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and several other familiar faces, as well as a few who appear to be entirely new to this world. The game's five stages were designed with the history of the series in mind, focusing on the organic look and feel Sonic is known for.

Metal City is the starting course, sending gamers down a path of new challenges that are likely to get the better of you the first time around. The controls are simple once you learn them. The left analog stick controls your character's movement, hold R1 for sharp turns, and hold the circle button for a turbo boost. Getting used to how each character moves, however, is easier said than done. Metal City's sharp turns, unexpected jumps and quick camera changes are a bit jarring for someone like myself who expected a more straightforward Sonic racing experience. These elements were necessary in creating a speedier, more exciting thrill-ride.

Sonic fans will love Green Cave, a winding course set deep within the woods. You'll climb trees and defy gravity in unexpected ways – make one mistake and gravity makes its presence known. Splash Canyon looks to Sonic's past water worlds, while Sand Ruins remind me of the classic desert levels as well as the desert world from a 64-bit game starring Sonic's mushroom-loving adversary.

One of Sonic Riders's most notable features is its use of shortcuts for specific character types. Tails, for example, has that helicopter tail that never stops spinning. Thus, when he is launched off a ramp, he has the ability to glide for a brief moment. This ability is called Fly. By gliding Tails can reach special rings that will push him through the air, passing over larger portions of the level at a quicker pace than if he had traveled at the base like everyone else.

Knuckles is a powerhouse character. Overall I found him to be pretty useful in any situation, but his special ability allows him to plow through various objects with ease. Other characters would hit those objects like a car running into a concrete wall. Not Knuckles or any of the other Power characters available (we'll have to wait till the game is release to find out who else shares his ability).

Last but not least is Sonic, the character whose ability should be obvious: Speed. "We know he's fast, Louis. Tell us something we don't know." How about this: in this game Sonic can grind on rails and pipes to zoom through portions of the level. Sega is adamant that Sonic Riders is a game with its own flavor and should not be considered a Tony Hawk clone, but who else do we think of when we think of grinding? Just like we think of Sonic when we think of speed, Tony Hawk is the first game icon that comes to mind when we think about grinding. I see it as a complement to the Tony Hawk series, not as a clone, and will be a feature both Sonic and Tony Hawk fans will enjoy.

A new chapter for our favorite hedgehog, Sonic Riders runs “rings” around other aerial boarders. Rushing to stores before the end of the month, Sonic Riders could take your blue, winter days and turn them into grinding, high-flying, air-boarding fun. No elbow pads required! Look forward to a variety of multiplayer features, a single-player story mode, a Mario Kart-style circuit, and an overabundance of hidden extras that I'm not at liberty to talk about. They involve secret ______ and unexpected ______. You can even replace your _____ with new ______! What in the world am I talking about? I'm not even sure at this point. I guess I'll have to get in line with the rest of you and play through the final version when it's released on February 21st.