Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing Demo - Impressions

So. Because the game has been interesting me for quite some time, I downloaded the demo of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (it's not over!) With Banjo-Kazooie (whew!). Now, I've been sort of debating whether I should get the Wii or 360 version, so one of the main reasons for getting the demo is to see how much shinier the 360 version is and how it controlled. And, of course, I want to know whether Sega Racing (why couldn't they have called it that?) has any chance of beating out Mario Kart for the best wacky kart-based game. I'll give it to you now: based on the demo, Mario Kart is substantially better, big surprise. Now for the rest of my thoughts.

First off, the game controls quite well. The controls are quite responsive for the most part, if the default scheme is a bit weird for Mario Kart fans.The only issue I saw here was that occasionally I would accidentally drift the wrong way, and using the same button for drifting and tricks seems quite haphazard as I'm fairly sure that if you're doing a trick when you hit the ground you get penalized... problematic if you want to immediately drift.

The game is also fairly pretty. The actual models seemed a biiit last generation, but it doesn't really matter in a game like this; as you're speeding along you don't notice any graphical "issues". It certainly looks pretty enough, and the track seemed very nicely made, a pleasure to look at.

But neither of these aspects matter all that much. The gameplay is what everyone wants to know. Is it a Mario Kart clone? Is it better or worse? Is it... fun? Well, it's certainly fun when you're in first. Everything is bright and cheery, the drifting mechanism works well, and you'll likely cruise along at a solid pace for the most part, tossing some items behind you as you drive. Then, however, comes the beginning of the race and if you get caught near the end of the pack. When you're actually competing with opponents, they feel very... stiff. The game has a distinct feel that you're racing alone. The items don't seem to do all that much, and you'd have to REALLY try if you want to knock anyone off the track... it's nothing like the frantic contact sport of Mario Kart. And it's not nearly as fun.

But my biggest issue with SSASRwBJ (JEEZ) is the items. In kart-based game, you'd typically expect items to really help racers who are falling behind, preventing the race from becoming too one-sided. In this game... well, items are practically useless in this regard! Not only do the items not DO all that much (they just spin you a little as opposed to Mario Kart's style of stopping you completely), but you're pretty much getting the EXACT SAME ITEMS no matter what your place is! For a few races I was stuck in the back of the race, in seventh or eighth place, and I pretty much got the same items that someone in third would get: triple boosts (not as effective as in Mario Kart), triple rockets/boxing gloves (the shell equivalents), and an occasional SHIELD. Yes, apparently I need a shield in last place, thanks!

And then there's the fabled All-Star moves... claimed to be able to turn the race on its head. As you might have guessed by now, they don't do that. At ALL. Several times I sat in eighth place, waiting for a good item to save me, while watching the seventh place car get the All-Star. This coupled with the facts that apparently only one person can use an All-Star at a time and that if you DO get the All-Star you're likely so far behind (the pack gets separated FAST) that it will do nothing for you makes the item nigh useless.

As it turns out, Sega Racing is really quite fun on lower difficulties, as you'll likely lead with little to no issue and hit people with a boxing glove occasionally. However, much like Mario Kart Wii, it gets frustrating when you put the difficulty too high, but for completely different reasons. I must say, being stuck in last with no chance of coming back might be even more frustrating than being in first before being bombarded with various items! At least in Mario Kart Wii I knew that if I fell back I could get back up with items.

It's a shame, really, that Sega Racing is plagued by these balance issues, as they really keep it from being anywhere near the caliber of Mario Kart. I'll remain optimistic for the moment and hope that perhaps the final game is more balanced, but until then the demo remains as proof that, no matter how people complain about it, Mario Kart really does know what it's doing for the most part, and is the best kart racer on the market.