spacer
spacer Returning Riptenner: Login Now

New to Ripten? Join our community
The Ripten Community is an open forum for both hard-core and casual gamers alike. We will never spam you or sell your information.
spacer
spacer Start Tab spacer 360 Tab spacer Wii Tab spacer PS3 Tab spacer PS2 Tab spacer PC Tab spacer DS Tab spacer PSP Tab spacer Retro Tab spacer Forum spacer
Ripten Logo
A Z Game Index
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer left All Reviews Interviews Previews Trailers Events News Right Spacer
Save the world today! Send us tipsspacer
spacer spacer
spacer
spacer New Castlevania Coming To DS
Rumor: Xbox 360 Spring Update List Leaked
Velvet Assassin Given A Fall 2008 Release Date
Advertising, Snake Style
Vehicles to Play a Big Role in New Banjo Kazooie
Microsoft Game Studios Releases Full 2008 Software Line-Up
spacer
spacer spacer
spacer
spacer
Managing Editor
Andrew Podolsky | Bio | Posts
Editor (UK)
Patrick Steen | Bio | Posts
Editor (West Coast)
Emily Balistrieri | Posts
Editor (West Coast)
Dylan Duarte | Bio | Posts
Editor (South)
Dan Landis | Bio | Posts
Editor (East Coast)
Jonathan Zungre | Bio | Posts
Contributors (US)
Geoff Haugan | Posts
Roly Reyes | Bio | Posts
Michael Geslani | Bio | Posts
Derek Matias | Bio | Posts
Wade Larson | Bio | Posts
Contributors (UK)
John Kershaw | Bio | Posts
Kev Lochun | Bio | Posts
Ian Enniz | Bio | Posts
Contributors (Japan)
Kat Bailey | Posts
Contributors (Canada)
Nadia Oxford | Bio | Posts
Founder/Publisher
Chad Lakkis | Bio | Posts
spacer
spacer spacer
spacer
spacer spacer
spacer
spacer spacer

Wii Review: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

by Adam Montgomery on February 29, 2008

sonic-riders-zero-header.jpg

If Sonic fans are waiting for the hedgehog’s next great game (or even the first good racing game) then there’s bad news ahead: all Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity manages to do is scratch his legacy once more.

The game begins with Eggman trying to act out his evil plot in a story which is actually weaker and more contrived then the usual standard for one of Sonic’s games – even when compared to the spin-offs – and has a duration that will see you complete the game in a few hours.

Anyway, it sets up some reason why Sonic has to stop running and hop on a hover board and race. Unfortunately, once you’re on that board things don’t really improve.

A Sonic the Hedgehog racing game should be fast, and, at times, this game reaches levels of speed appropriate for a game bearing the blue mascot’s name. When using the Wii-mote, however, it’s hard to properly control your character even at a snail’s pace – imprecise to the point your poor avatar gets a beating as he’s slammed into each side of the track in turn. To salvage anything, you’re going to have to dig out a Gamecube controller.

When a particularly sadistic corner approaches, you’re able to slow your character down by holding a button. Now you can position yourself suitably to make it around the bend, until you decide to release your racer off again. It’s a great idea that does shine in the few moments the game allows it to.

Using this turn technique is one way you can use up your energy points, earned through jumping. The other way is to dash, giving you a quick boost to overtake some rivals. Crashing into things can speed you further, although it’s best not to ponder the logic of this (as is true of many elements of the game, including the aforementioned story).

sonic-riders-zero-img1.jpg

There are different boards to ride, with different types of board allowing you access to different shortcuts on levels. One grants you the ability to grind your way to victory, cutting seconds off your lap times by making use of the various rails dotted around. There are other styles of shortcut, which could have lead to interesting play if used properly.

This feature is another victim of the weak and infuriating level design — often demanding several runs before you can find a successful route around the course. None of the techniques (such as turning) or other intricacies built into the play are properly explored on each track, leaving the whole thing seeming another missed opportunity.

It looks and sounds like a Sonic game, but Zero Gravity is another failed attempt at a worthy addition to the Hedgehog’s once great franchise, and is best left alone.

ripten_score-40.jpg
What does this score mean? Check out our review scoring breakdown.


Related Posts:

Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind
Commenting Rules: No hate speech allowed. If you must argue, please debate intelligently. Comments containing selected keywords or outbound links will be put into moderation to help prevent spam. Ripten reserves the right to delete comments and ban anyone who doesn't follow the rules. Thanks.
Become a Ripten Registered Commenter

Registered users can upload a custom avatar to be displayed next to their comments by clicking here.

spacer spacer
spacer
spacer spacer
spacer
spacer   spacer
spacer
  • DavidGX: Disappointing. I hate in-game advertisements.
  • DavidGX: Whether the BenQ drive has anything to do with it or not, I don’t know. But mine’s not loud.
  • LC: I’m not sure why you think the benq drive has anything to do with it, they are only slightly quieter then...
  • DavidGX: What a troll I am, my playstation/nintendo /xbox/pc owning self. Such fanboyism towards.. uh.. everything....
  • LC: “We’ve got the full complement of Star Wars vehicles, all working,” he said. “We’ve even built the USS...
  • LC: the dashboard isn’t loud? are you serious? 48db is ear shattering, come on…lol
  • Patrick Steen: “The only time it will ever get loud is if you are upscaling DVD’s to 1080i/p and then it is...
  • hooflung64: Wow, I’ve been a reader of this site one day and I already know DavidGX is a troll. Your 360...
  • DavidGX: IT doesn’t matter how many people agree. It doesn’t affect my system, my sisters system or my...
  • LC: Of course it is, sony sucks… The only people who think the xbox isn’t noisy are either deaf or...
spacer
spacer  
spacer
spacer
spacer
Advertising  • Privacy Policy  • Copyright © 2007 ripten  • Drop us a line at ripten@gmail.com

  • Microsoft Xbox 360  • Nintendo Wii  • Sony Playstation 3  • Sony Playstation 2  • Personal Computers  • Nintendo DS  • Sony Playstation Portable
spacer