Developer:

Publisher:

Genre:

Players:

Release Date:

Part 2 of project sonic was this 3D racing-platform game. Last July at the E3 show Sonic R was revealed to hungry gamers across the globe. This was going to be BIG! The graphics where beyond anything ever seen before, surpassing Playstation and challenging Nintendo 64! That was only the start...

Now the final games in my hot little hands and what do I think of it, the greatest game ever made or a piece of over hyped crap?

PRESENTATION - 95%

Right from the cool reflective sonic head on the loading screen to the 100's of flicky birds flying on screen at the start of a race it is obvious that the programmers spent a good deal of time on Presentation. Everything is there, the replays, 3D player and course select etc. It gives the impression that this game WAS finished. Unlike some games of today which rushed to meet deadlines and as a result the presentation suffered badly. Definetely a 95%.

GRAPHICS - 98%

WOW! The magazines where right, they are beyond anything ever seen on Saturn before. And beyond anything on Playstation for that matter. When you see everything moving at 30 frames per second with the great fade in system you too will say WOW. No clipping what so ever and all the special effects are there, reflections on the water (something PSX can't do!), transparent polygons (the 5th course is made fully of those, who said Saturn can't handle transparencies eh), fade-in effects, amazing lighting and so much more. Its true that the camera does cause faults sometimes but even with that this is the best looking game I have ever seen! You don't know how close I came to giving it a 99%.

SOUND - 96%

All those 16-bit classic sounds are there, the jump, spindash etc. Plus Sonic R uses CD's to there full power including vocals with all the background songs. Now this is a point where many people have complained. They hate those vocals. Well that can't really be counted as a problem at all as you can turn them off and get some ace remixes. (so stop complaining!) I however like the vocals. T.J Davis has a great voice and the pop tracks feel so good to listen to. (please don't ignore my review if you think I have a bad taste of music). A 96% for that.

LASTABILITY - 91%

O.K., so I got all 7 chaos emeralds and all 5 secret players in about 4 days or playing. But like Nights its not just completing the game that's the challenge. There's getting a faster time, versus the secret players, mirror mode, reverse mode, find the balloons mode and tag mode (tag mode is GREAT fun!) PLUS a few 2 player modes as well! That's enough to keep you playing for ages. Its a pity that the super coins and emeralds disappear from the game when you get them but thanks to a multiple memory save you can start the whole game over again without losing your previous games. That sort of solves that problem, but only just. 91% for that I think. Could be improved with more tracks (a point that all Saturn racers suffer from)

OVERALL 97%

All that rolled in to one makes for one truly great game! If you don't own it already GO AND BUY IT! Trust me you won't be disappointed.

Also if you want something to do, e-mail me with your best times and I will send you mine. e-mail me at madcow@ihug.co.nz. How about Sega Rally times eh? Got them too and many many more!