Sonic: All Stars Racing Transformed: PS3 Review

Sonic: All Stars Racing Transformed: PS3 Review

Released by SEGA
Platform: PS3
Rating: G

Sonic's back - and this time, he's bringing a lot more speed with him.

There's racing games aplenty currently on the PS3 - so games need to have a bit of a hook to help them stand out from the rest of the crowd. Developers SEGA know this for Sonic; that he's not quite the name pull that he used to be - so they've come up with an idea solution for a bit more attention to the old racing game.

This time around, the karts transform randomly during the race.

One minute you're drifting as either Sonic, Tails, or, erm Wreck It Ralph (think he has a movie out) and the next you're suddenly in the air or on the water, looking to boost your place in the race and to take the gold star at the end of the level.

Various weapons litter the tracks all over the place - and plenty of other racers serve as target practice - but it's up to you how you fly - or don't - in this. You can select difficulty, characters and karts as you go along, you can choose to sticker your kart as well; from battle arena, grand prix to world tour, there are plenty of options for longevity of game as well as multiplayer split screening. Along with the chance to unlock new characters, there's certainly enough to do if you're so disposed.

Here's the thing with Sonic: All Stars Racing Transformed: it's about nothing more than fun.

It's not going to change the universe and it certainly won't niggle at you for hours on end as you puzzle over how to crack a code. It's simply about kicking back, disengaging the brain, staring at the multitude of colours and just enjoying the damn thing. Granted, it's not perfect with moments where you go off track unexpectedly and struggle to get back in the game - and occasionally, when zipping about in the air, the controls aren't as responsive as you'd hope for a quick racing game - but Sonic: All Stars Racing Transformed is exceptionally cute gaming which is bright, breezy and a bit of fun.

Sonic: All Stars Racing Transformed will work very well with the younger spectrum of gamers - its combination of colourful on track gaming and random condition changing means the young won't get lost and confused in the game. While older people may give this a cursory glance, it's playable bubble gum entertainment - nothing serious and something a bit light and fluffy for the Christmas break.

Rating: