This isnotan announcement thatSonic & All-Stars Racing Transformedis being renamedGilius Thunderhead & All-Stars Racing Transformed. I wish, because Gilius Thunderhead is the greatest Sega character of all time, and his inclusion in the sequel to Sega’s surprisingly solid crossover racer is definitely reason to celebrate.
And the above is why it’s so badass.
That is the skeleton from the stage select screen of the originalGolden Axe, and he overlooks theGolden Axe-themed track. You fly over pools of lava and dodge stalactites before driving through Death Adder’s foyer. It’s really amazing and makes you forget all about the stinky poo that wasBeast Rider.
The other two levels on hand for the demo wereSuper Monkey BallandPanzer Dragooncourses. In addition to Gilius, Joe Musashi fromShinobiand Vyse fromSkies of Arcadiawere playable. And for some reason, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will be playable in the final build, riding in a Sega-emblazoned vehicle that she will be driving for real later this year.
The transforming vehicles really mix up the gameplay. RememberDiddy Kong Racing? It’s like that, only you drive multiple vehicles during the same race. No two laps are the same, as the dynamic environment constantly opens up new paths or forces the use of a different vehicle. It keeps you on your toes, but it also ensures that a course is never boring.
Transformedis flat-out fun. It’s mascot kart racing, but it’s done so well. I’m burned out onMario Kart, but I could get intoTransformed. It was so easy to pick up! I played two tracks on medium difficulty and the last on hard, and I came in first place each time. I pretty much shamed Sega with my skills.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformedwill release later this year for 360, PS3, Wii U, PC, Vita, and 3DS. Yeah, you’ve got options.
