Balloon Panic

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Balloon Panic is a racing course in Sonic Drift 2 for the Sega Game Gear. This stage is the third track of the Blue Grand Prix - Blue being the hardest of the three tournaments - and comes after Quake Cave and before Emerald Ocean. As with most other races in the 2nd Chaos Grand Prix, you have to complete three laps of the track to proceed, and the fastest racer gets a Chaos Emerald.

Overview
After the incredibly dangerous high-speed spelunking of Quake Cave, the Blue Grand Prix empties out onto the at least somewhat more sensible tracks of the outdoors. Balloon Panic is a tropical paradise of sandy shores, shady palm trees, and tumbling waterfalls - plus the checkered soil and rolling, grassy plains that characterize the ever-familiar Green Hill Zone. Accordingly, it's not unreasonable to suppose that the track is located, if not on South Island, then at least on a nearby isle.

Of course, Balloon Panic's distinguishing feature is balloons. The sky is thronged with not only the conventional party variety, but also brightly-colored hot air balloons drifting over the Emerald Ocean. Some balloons have, alas, made their way onto the track, and may well explode with a flash if you run over them, thus slowing you down.

There are a number of sharp bends in this course, so keep your wits about you as you drive. Happily, this isn't a track you can fall off of.