Team Sonic Racing: Fun, But A Little Bare Bones.
I admire Team Sonic Racing's dedication to trying something new.
Mario Kart will probably always be the king of kart racers, much like when Sonic first exploded onto the platforming scene in the 90's when Mario also reigned supreme. Back then, Sonic was firmly gunning for Mario's throne, here it feels more like the Blue Blur is just hoping to go his own way and carve out his own path.
This is Sumo Digital's third SEGA-related racing game, and the look and feel of the menus, the courses, and the racing itself immediately oozes a sense of familiarity that can only come from experience. Sumo know exactly what kind of game they're making and who they're making it for, so one can only imagine the confidence that team felt when they attempted this slightly fresh spin on a familiar genre.
What sets Team Sonic Racing out from other kart racers is it's team system. The roster consists of 15 characters split into five teams of three. So if I were to choose Sonic in the games single player modes, I'd be automatically teamed up with Tails and Knuckles, with each racer filling a different role, either Speed, Technique, or Power. Team based abilities such as passing items, borrowing the leading teammates slipstream for a quick boost, or skimming by a wiped out teammate to get them back in the race quicker all help you start to think about the three of you moving as one unit, helping and guiding each other to victory.
That line of thinking is crucial because ultimately the winning team is decided by where all three of the racers in that team placed when the race is over. So even if I were to come in first, if my teammates placed low enough, we could still be beaten out by other teams. Suddenly the strategy for victory becomes so much more than just "be in first place."
Outside of this, Team Sonic Racing feels very much like a budget title. There's a decent chunk of characters and courses, and a mostly forgettable customization system. The story is fun but nothing special, and is easily missed if you're not paying attention. I made it halfway through the single player mode before realizing every race had a quick story beat before it, which I had been unknowingly skipping because I was pressing A to begin races instead of Y. A baffling design choice, to say the least.
Team Sonic Racing is fun, but I can't see much to hold my attention for an extended period. While the game might not have quite enough to push it over the Mario Karts of the world, Team Sonic Racing is a wonderful step in an interesting direction. Unfortunately, it is just a step and not quite the leap the genre needs to move forward.