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The racing game with an attitude.


— Tagline

Sonic R (ソニックR Sonikku R?) is a racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series that was developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team. It was initially released for the Sega Saturn and was later ported to PC in 1998.

Plot[]

Spoiler warning: Plot, ending details or any kind of information follow.
Sonic R Sega Saturn title screen

The title screen of the Sega Saturn version of Sonic R.

After various struggles with Dr. Robotnik, Sonic and Tails are off having a leisurely time together. While on an adventure of theirs however, they eventually go to a town, where they find a gigantic screen on a building that is announcing a World Grand Prix, and that it is recruiting contestants for the race. Tails is interested in participating, if only to test himself against others, but Sonic is not into the idea. However, he changes his mind when he finds out that one of the contestants is Dr. Robotnik. He then rushes off to participate in the World Grand Prix, while Tails follows him.[6]

At the same time, there is a spy satellite far above the ground that is scouting Sonic and Tails. This satellite is being used by Dr. Robotnik, who has found out that the Chaos Emeralds are hidden along the race tracks of the World Grand Prix. He proceeds to gloat that he has planned to lure the heroes to the race, so that, if they find the Emeralds, he will steal them for himself. Robotnik then turns around. From the corner of his eye, several cold silhouettes appear, their red eyes glowing eerily in the dim darkness. He then proceeds to laugh, saying that, this time, his dreams of world domination will become a reality.[6]

Meanwhile, the World Grand Prix competitor recruitment commercials are airing worldwide. When they arrive, Sonic and Tails find out that they are not the only ones who saw the news of this event, as they find that Knuckles and Amy are participating as well.[6]

Can Sonic stop Dr. Robotnik's evil ambitions? How will the World Grand Prix turn out? The answers are up in the air as the World Grand Prix begins![6]

Characters[]

Image Character Biography
Sonic R 3D Sonic stand Sonic Sonic is the fastest of all the racers. He's so fast that he almost lifts off the ground when he runs, so take care when cornering or you might miss the turn! Sonic has excellent jumping ability too.[7]
Tails 8 Tails Tails is not as fast as Sonic, but he accelerates and corners well. Jump and grip are fairly good too, but best of all, he can fly![7]
Knuckles 41 Knuckles Knuckles is the overall well-balanced contestant in the race. His ability to stay on the ground is outstanding, and cornering is good. Knuckles can glide after jumps.[8]
Amy 5 Amy Maybe Amy's car doesn't have a very high top-speed, but there are some pretty wonderful things it can do. For one, it acts as a fast hovercraft on water. And look out when she fires the turbo boost![8]
SonicR EggmanEggMobile Dr. Robotnik Boo! Hiss! Dr. R is back with his new mean machine. The machine jet packs allow for travel over water and good cornering, but no contact with the ground means no grip! And what's that... a homing missile?[9]

Gameplay[]

Sonic R Sega Saturn Resort Island

Knuckles in Resort Island, the first course in the game.

Sonic R is a 3D platformer third-person racing video game. Here, the player can take control of one of ten characters, four of which are unlocked at the beginning of the game. In addition to the racing gameplay, the game also makes use of exploration elements, with each course having various secrets to find.

The main objective of Sonic R is to finish in the top three of each race. Various elements can be found throughout the courses to grant the player an advantage. Abundant in the game are Rings, which can be used to activate Accelerators and open Ring Gates that lead to shortcuts and secrets. There are also some special items, such as Sonic Tokens and Chaos Emeralds, which can be used to unlock hidden characters and other features in the game.

Controls[]

Button formation[10] Movement
Control pad 3D Control Pad
'O' mode[note 1]
SonicR SpriteSonic
Sonic
SonicR Sprite Tails
Tails
SonicR Sprite Knuckles
Knuckles
SonicR Sprite Amy
Amy
SonicR Sprite Eggman
Robotnik
SonicR Sprite Metal
Metal Sonic
TDollIcon
Tails Doll
MKnuxIcon
Metal Knuckles
SonicR Sprite Eggrobo
Eggman Robo
Directional-Pad-Up/Sega Saturn B Button Analog-Stick up/Sega Saturn B Button Accelerate
Directional-Pad-Left-Right Analog-Stick left/right Turn left/right
Left Shift Button + Right Shift Button Trigger L + Trigger R Brake
Left/Right Shift Button Trigger L/R Drift left/right
Sega Saturn X Button Close-up camera
Sega Saturn Z Button Overhead camera
Directional-Pad-Down Analog-Stick down Crouch N/A Crouch N/A
Sega Saturn A Button/Sega Saturn C Button/Sega Saturn Y Button Jump Turbo Boost Homing Missile
(costs 10 Rings)
Jump Homing Missile
(costs 10 Rings)
Sega Saturn A Button/Sega Saturn C Button/Sega Saturn Y Button (midair) Double-jump Fly Glide N/A Float Glide N/A
Move forward + Directional-Pad-Down > Directional-Pad-Up Move forward + Analog-Stick down > Analog-Stick up Spin Attack N/A
Directional-Pad-Down + Sega Saturn B Button Analog-Stick down + Sega Saturn B Button Spin Dash Roll
START Pause

Button formation[11] Movement
Keyboard (P1) Keyboard (P2) Gamepad Steering wheel SonicR SpriteSonic
Sonic
SonicR Sprite Tails
Tails
SonicR Sprite Knuckles
Knuckles
SonicR Sprite Amy
Amy
SonicR Sprite Eggman
Robotnik
SonicR Sprite Metal
Metal Sonic
TDollIcon
Tails Doll
MKnuxIcon
Metal Knuckles
SonicR Sprite Eggrobo
Eggman Robo
Right [SHIFT]/[↑] [0]/[5] Analog-Stick up/1 Gas pedal Accelerate
[←]/[→] [1]/[3] Analog-Stick left/right Turn wheel left/right Turn left/right
[↓] [2]/[4]/[6] Analog-Stick down/7/8 Brake pedal/7/8 Brake
[F1] [F2] 6 Change camera angle
[↓] [2] Analog-Stick down Brake Pedal Crouch N/A Crouch N/A
[SPACE] [0] 2 Jump Turbo Boost Homing Missile
(costs 10 Rings)
Jump Homing Missile
(costs 10 Rings)
[SPACE] (midair) [0] (midair) 2 (midair) Double-jump Fly Glide N/A Float Glide N/A
Move forward + [↓] > [↑] Move forward + [2] > [5] Move forward + Analog-Stick down > Analog-Stick up Move forward + Brake pedal > Gas pedal Spin Attack N/A
[↓] + right [SHIFT]/[↑] [2] + [0]/[5] Analog-Stick down + Analog-Stick up/1 Brake pedal + Gas pedal Spin Dash Roll
[ENTER] [TAB] 4/9 Pause

Objects[]

Items[]

Gimmicks and obstacles[]

Characters[]

Playable characters[]

Non-playable characters[]

Courses[]

Sonic R has five courses: Four of which are available at the start of the game and one which is unlocked by finishing first in all four unlocked courses. The main game-play is the Grand Prix, in which the courses are played with the goal of finishing in first in each. The courses do not need to be played in succession, but are displayed in the following order:

Other modes[]

Time Attack[]

The Time Attack[12] mode in Sonic R is completely different than the Time Attacks in the previous Sonic the Hedgehog games. This mode allows the player to familiarize themself with the courses in a casual setting. There are four different modes within the Time Attack menu, and are as follows:

  • Normal: This is a basic, three lap race on the chosen course. While the main goal is coming in first place, the ability to explore the course is emphasized.
  • Reverse: The standard courses are raced backwards, though the gameplay is identical to Normal mode.
  • Balloon: Five balloons have been placed around the course, with the goal being locating all of them as fast as possible.
  • Tag Battle: The four computer-controlled characters will flee from the player, and the player must touch each of them to win.

1P VS 2P[]

The 1P VS 2P[13] game mode is the multiplayer aspect of Sonic R. Two different options are available, Normal and Balloon, which are described above. The players race to complete the three laps of the course first in Normal mode and try to locate five balloons first in Balloon. No Sonic Tokens or Chaos Emeralds can be collected in the multiplayer mode.

Options[]

Options is where the player can adjust a variety of game settings. Pressing Sega Saturn A Button/Sega Saturn C Button the option will toggle between on and off.[13]

  • Game Level: Allows the player to switch between Easy, Normal, and Hard difficultly levels, with each corresponding to the computers' competence.
  • Vocals: Changes whether the background music has vocals or is just instrumental.
  • Ghost: By turning this option on, the game will record race data an save it within the Time Attack menu. The next time the player chooses the course they saved data from, a ghost of the character they raced as will appear as well. This will act as a progression gauge for the player to track their improvement overtime. Every faster time recorded will replace the previous ghost.
  • Sound: Allows the player to swap the sound settings between stereo and mono.
  • Best Times: Displays the top recorded times in each course from the selected profile.
  • Music Vol: Changes the volume of the background music.
  • Load Data: Here, the player can change the current save file, or create a new one. There can be a total of three profiles.
  • Music Test: Pressing Sega Saturn B Button will play the track.
  • SFX Test: Pressing Sega Saturn B Button will play the sound effect.

Reception[]

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 68.92% (SAT)[14]
70.00% (PC)[15]
Review scores
Publication Score
AllGame 4/5 starsStar fullStar fullStar fullStar empty (SAT)[16]
Edge 8/10 (SAT)[17]
Electronic Gaming Monthly 7.75/10 (SAT)[18]
GamePro 2.75/5 (SAT)[19]
GameSpot 5.6/10 (SAT)[20]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) 93% (SAT)[21]
Super GamePower 5/5 (SAT)[22]

Sonic R received generally positive reviews from critics at the time of its release, although retrospective commentary has been more mixed. The Sega Saturn version holds an aggregate score of 68.92% on GameRankings based on six reviews,[14] while the PC version received 70.00% based on two.[15]

Ryan MacDonald of GameSpot commented positively on the graphics and audio, but said that the game is "so short that you'll probably finish it the day you rent it."[20] Game Revolution noted that the game was "a little different" from normal racing games, but was highly critical of the music, remarking that "with lyrics like 'Can you feel the sunshine brighten up your day', you feel like Disney has suddenly taken over the world and Gestapo mice are forcing you to smile all the time", and the "wily and inexact" controls.[23]

Re-releases[]

Image Title Platform Description
Arcadecollectionnostalgia Arcade Collection PC Compilation of Sega PC games which includes Sonic R, Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island and Sega Rally. It was released by Empire Interactive in 2000.
SonicSpeedPack PC US Box Expert Sonic Speed Pack! Compilation of the two Sonic PC games developed by Traveller's Tales: Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R. It was released by Expert Software in 2000.
SAP pc us front Sonic Action Pack Bundle of three Sega PC Sonic games: Sonic R, Sonic the Hedgehog CD and Sonic & Knuckles Collection. It was released in 2000.
Sonicaction4pack Sonic Action 4 Pack The same as Sonic Action Pack, except it also includes Sega Smash Pack 2. It was released in 2001.
SonicDoublePack Sonic Double Pack Similar to Sonic Speed Pack!, a compilation with Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R. It was released in 2008.
Gc sonic gems collection p o5pa9w Sonic Gems Collection Nintendo GameCube
PlayStation 2
Compilation released in 2005 that features the remaining notable Sonic games not included in Sonic Mega Collection, as well as numerous extras. The three main games of the compilation are Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R. The version of Sonic R included is the 2004 PC port.

Music[]

Main article: Sonic R (album)
News img 33856 0

The cover of the Sonic R album.

Sonic R is an album for the soundtrack of the game. It was released by Marvelous Entertainment in Japan in October 1997.[24] It contains a total of twelve tracks, two of which are remixes exclusive to the album. A digital version was released in 2014 and included the instrumental versions of the tracks but excluded the remixes from the original release.[25]

Trivia[]

  • The PC port of the game has a few noteworthy differences, enhancing the game with some extra features and making the controls more responsive. Some of the changes include changing the character stats slightly and altering the item probability (making the gameplay easier against the AI), as well as weather ("snow" would also make the water frozen), daytime effects, and some graphical changes like multicolored balloons and character model touch-ups (though certain effects like the water surface and Radiant Emerald lost its unique characteristics, such as elusive transparencies in a Saturn game).
    • However, there are multiple publishers for the PC version, and some of them (namely the common Activision distribution) inexplicably removed the entire soundtrack (possibly due to extended licensing issues).
    • Versions released around 2004 (namely the ValuSoft edition) fixed minor glitches and also helped compatibility with Windows XP as the game is notoriously hard to set up on modern computers.
    • In versions that do include the soundtrack, not only does the game require the original CD in order to play the audio, but the instrumental tracks have noticeably been shortened from the Saturn length.
    • The version in Sonic Gems Collection is based on the PC port with its version of the soundtrack but is missing a few additions such as Netplay (which was an officially patched feature). The PlayStation 2 version is also only up to two players like the Saturn version.
  • The game's theme music is also heard in Sonic Pinball Party and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Music from this game is also featured in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.
  • Every course begins with the letter R, referencing the name of the game.
  • This is the only original Sonic game on the Saturn, as Sonic 3D Blast was ported from the Genesis and Sonic Jam was a compilation of the first four Sonic games.
  • This is the only Sonic racing game where characters primarily race on foot.
  • At the beginning of the episode "Dinner Out" in the TV series Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm and his friend Stevie can be seen playing Sonic R in the level Resort Island. Malcolm is playing as Sonic and wheelchair-bound Stevie is playing as Amy Rose, who is the only character in the game on wheels.
  • During gameplay there is an orange Chaos Emerald. Despite this, the image shown when the player beats the game with all Chaos Emeralds replaces it with a blue emerald.
  • In the development of the game Mario Kart 64, the game was known as Super Mario Kart R in early 1995. It was changed when the game was released in 1996/1997 and Sonic R ended up coming out in 1997.
  • Sonic R was promoted before its release at Sonic's 6th Birthday Celebration.
  • According to the prototype version of the game, this was originally going to be Sonic's first appearance with the soles on his shoes. This was scrapped for unknown reasons.
  • This game was Traveller's Tales second involvement in the series, the first being Sonic 3D Blast and the last being LEGO Dimensions in 2016, where Sonic was added to game.
  • This is the last Sonic game of the "Classic" era, before Sonic Adventure redesigned the characters.
  • This is also the final Sonic game that was released for the Sega Saturn.
  • On the Xplosiv version of the disc on the PC, the game's title is "Sonic Racer".
  • Sonic R is one of the two Sonic games added to the Arcade Collection, the other being Sonic 3D Blast.
  • Ian Flynn has stated that one of the notes given to him from Sega of Japan stated that Sonic R is canon.[26]
  • The "R" on the logo of the game was reused much later, in Team Sonic Racing.
  • This is the first Sonic racing game that features Eggrobo and Super Sonic.
  • The game was originally going to feature the Flame Shield as a power-up but was scrapped for unknown reasons.
  • Amy's attack was originally going to be a sawblade from her car but was most likley scrapped due to it being a bit too violent.

Videos[]


Notes[]

  1. The Saturn 3D control pad in '+' mode has the same controls as the standard control pad.

References[]

  1. セガサターン専用CD-ROM(セガ発売) (Japanese). Sega. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020. Retrieved on December 23, 2021.
  2. THE WORLD'S FASTEST HEDGEHOG RACES TO THE 3D WINNER'S CIRCLE WITH "SONIC R". Sega (November 17, 1997). Archived from the original on February 2, 1998. "The game will be available in stores nationwide starting November 18, exclusively for Sega Saturn®."
  3. SONIC R. Archived from the original on February 1, 1998. "Sonic the Hedgehog the legendary King of videogaming is spinning onto the Sega Saturn console with Sonic R, his stunning 32-bit debut release, unleashed on 21st November."
  4. ソニックR (Japanese). Sega. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved on December 23, 2023.
  5. FEED YOUR NEED FOR 3D SPEED WITH SONIC R FOR PC. Sega (November 11, 1998). Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved on May 25, 2023.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sonic R (Sega Saturn) Japanese instruction booklet, pgs. 4-5.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pg. 17.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pg. 18.
  9. Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pg. 19.
  10. Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pgs. 4-5.
  11. Sonic R (PC) United States instruction booklet, pg. 5.
  12. Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pg. 7.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Sonic R (Sega Saturn) United States instruction booklet, pgs. 8-9.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Sonic R for Saturn. GameRankings. Retrieved on June 18, 2010.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Sonic R for PC. GameRankings. Retrieved on June 18, 2010.
  16. Sackenheim, Shawn (October 3, 2010). Sonic R – Review. AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved on August 25, 2016.
  17. "Sonic R". Edge (53): 100. Christmas 1997. Archived from the original.
  18. "Sonic R Review". Electronic Gaming Monthly (103): 112. February 1998.
  19. Elektro, Dan (February 1998). "ProReview: Sonic R". GamePro (113): 98. Archived from the original.
  20. 20.0 20.1 MacDonald, Ryan . Sonic R Review. GameSpot.
  21. Nutter, Lee (December 1997). "Review: Sonic R". Sega Saturn Magazine (26): 50-53. Archived from the original.
  22. Bros, Marjorie (January 1998). "Saturn: Sonic R" (in Portuguese). Super GamePower (46): 24. Archived from the original.
  23. Why does the female hedgehog get the car?. GameRevolution.
  24. Sonic R (Japanese). Sega. Retrieved on March 3, 2022.
  25. Sonic R (Original Soundtrack). iTunes (CA).
  26. BumbleKast - Episode 22 - BumbleMon Go. YouTube (25 August 2016). Retrieved on September 2, 2016.

External links[]

Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off games
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