| System: Wii, PS2 | Review Rating Legend | |
| Dev: Sonic Team | 1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid | 4.0 - 4.4 = Great |
| Pub: SEGA | 2.0 - 2.4 = Poor | 4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy |
| Release: Jan. 8, 2008 | 2.5 - 2.9 = Average | 5.0 = The Best |
| Players: 1-4 | 3.0 - 3.4 = Fair | |
| ESRB Rating: Everyone | 3.5 - 3.9 = Good | |
For the most part, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity represents an improvement in the Sonic Riders series. They got rid of the air meter and the frustrating pit stops, the annoying announcer, and the double-tap in order to grind. Those were major disappointments in the previous title, and I'm glad the developers took the critics as constructive and made the necessary changes. It's too bad the game comes with new flaws because it would have been perfectly fun otherwise.
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is the sequel to the first Sonic Riders. Zero Gravity brings many additions to the hover board racing. In this new game, you can control gravity, change your gear,. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for (PS2) Sonic Riders Zero Gravity (Complete in Box) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! Summary: The Sonic Riders series returns with a whole new form of chaotic racing by manipulating gravity itself! These gravity-altering powers can transform walls into tracks, or create a 'black hole' that sucks you through for the ultimate speed boost, and allows for an entirely new way to gain a The Sonic Riders series returns with a whole new form of chaotic racing by manipulating gravity. The game is played in its entirety using hover boards, which function largely like skateboards. Players must race seven other competitors on a total of 16 tracks, 9 of which must be unlocked.
The game looks just like Sonic Riders: not better, not worse. It seems to make sense for the PlayStation 2 version because it's a last-generation console. However, just average graphics on the Wii is not acceptable these days. They've showed us what's possible, and SEGA has two perfect examples of what can be done, even if they're not quite there yet; Sonic and the Secret Rings and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams displayed beautiful graphics. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity should be envious. Sure, it's colorful and cool-looking, but it needs to be smooth and full of detail. The textures are tough to swallow, especially in stages like Botanical Kingdom or Gigan Rocks that contain more natural elements. Other tracks are full of futuristic, colorful, and inspiring architectural elements, and they look okay. I still think much more could have been done, and hopefully they'll realize that eventually and apply that point of view to future games. The characters are cute and look sharp, especially compared to everything else. I love their vibrant colors, inventive looks, and gear. With 18 of them you're sure to find a favorite, and you'll get to choose it in normal, grand prix, and survival mode, just not in story mode.
There are several gameplay modes you can play with other three friends: Normal Race includes Free Race and Time Attack; Survival Mode has three modalities: Survival Relay (gear is used as the baton), Survival Ball (shot and score: use gravity control), and Survival Battle (slam foes with gravity action). Some of these modes, like Survival Ball, are not easy or fun to play. The modes that are just based on racing are the best the game has to offer, and even though there's a learning curve you'll eventually understand what to do and time it right. I have to say the tutorials in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity don't help. They are bad and may cause people to lose interest in the game; everything is explained with text and not an actual demonstration, and failing in the tutorial never leads to a better explanation - it just makes the character repeat the same 'Gotta try harder!' kind of comment. Wonderfully frustrating, isn't it? At least you can leave the Tips turned on, which shows the controller motion you should do or button you should press on the screen so you know what you could do to gain speed.
Being able to play against your friends is one of the best things this game has going for it. Playing against the omnipotent A.I. is a rather frustrating experience, and only unlocking new gear, movies, game modes, and characters will entice you enough to continue playing. However, playing against your friends brings the game to a whole new level. Now your skills are measured against theirs, and those who utilize the power-ups like they're supposed to will succeed. How much more fun it is to engage in furious competition against friends and to be able to show off your mad skills!
The soundtrack is similar to that of Sonic Riders and even the F-Zero franchise. It sounds like one of those European techno discos full of neon lights. It's actually an appropriate rhythm for the fast-paced gameplay of the game - it provokes a need for speed. You can listen to all the tunes in the extras section too, which is nice. The voice over is better for some of the characters than others. I personally think characters like Tails could sound a bit more masculine... but you know what cartoons sound like, right? We all know that Bart Simpson's voice actor is indeed an actress, so I bet there's a woman behind Tails' voice as well! In any case, it's all pretty good overall and I enjoyed the sharp sound effects of the game.
All in all, the game is good. It's a new and improved Sonic Riders with plenty of new tracks and characters to enjoy. It's a must-have for Sonic fans and a 'might-enjoy' for aces of the racing genre, especially for those who like F-Zero and Wipeout. If you're not sure you'll like it, give it a rental or wait until the price drops. And remember: I'm not responsible for your frustration! - All I can say is: Have Fun!
By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director
Almost as good as they get on the PS2 but not very original or creative. They're just like in the previous game.
Once you learn the controls, you'll have a lot of fun - most of the time. They're pretty good indeed.
Good music and nice sound effects. Techno tunes provoke a need for speed. The voice over is better for some of the characters than others. But you know what cartoons sound like, right?
Sonic Riders Zero Gravity Download
This will be a blast for racing aces and fans of SEGA's most famous icons.
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Game Features:
- - Gravity Control: With a push of a button, you change the law of gravity and alter courses by turning walls into new tracks filled with shortcuts and alternative pathways.
- Gravity Dive: This gravity-defying dive creates the ultimate speed boost, hurtling objects from the path and allowing you to grind on objects and cars that are floating in the air. Hapless competitors are left far behind.
The best way to describe Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is a mixture between the fast paced racingjoy that is the Wipeout franchise combined with the loveable characters and fantastic worlddesign of the Sonic franchise. The game really packs a punch in nearly all departments, fromthe core gameplay to the visual design of the experience, nothing is left un-finished or lackingpolish to it.
Visuals of the Rider
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity features many of the mainstays of the Sonic franchise. Our belovedblue hedgehog is back in all of his glory alongside his partners Tails and Knuckles. Aside fromthe classic recurring characters however, the world of Zero Gravity has a great deal of attentioninputted into its cyberpunk style setting. Nearly being reminiscent of films like Blade Runner oreven games like Snatcher. The game throws the player into a bright neon colored dream filledwith flying cars and robotic henchmen. The game also sports some gloomy scenery, withominous clouds looming overhead at times. Giving a notable visual look to the darkened worldthat the player must fight to bring back to light!
The Sound of Sonic
The music in this game is just what you would expect of it. Pounding synths give many tracks analmost secret agent movie sense of style to them, all the while serving as a way to pump up theplayer with the constantly intense and crescendoing melody. The music captures a heartpounding intensity and a carefree sense of control. Resulting in a sound both exciting andsomehow also nonchalant and relaxing. Composed by Kenichi Tokoi and Fumie Kumatani, theSound of Zero Gravity is ungrounded and all the better for it!
Speed of Sound
The gameplay features a speedy and invigorating sense of movement to it. Giving the player theability to perform snappy and stylish tricks that add even more charisma to the gameplay designfeatured in the original game. Controls feel more concise and smooth and new mechanics bringthe game to heights that its predecessor simply could not reach. Anti Gravity Mode allows forinsane feats of speed and the ability to reach certain locations previously out of reach. Gearparts add bonus abilities which help to shape the play style specifically to the player. The rosterof the game is also very impressive, featuring eighteen playable characters to be unlocked andsixteen race tracks to speed along throughout the run of the game
Fall of the Hog
Though primarily a quality game, there are some aspects that leave a bit to be desired. Newgameplay elements are welcomed and bring an added layer to the game lacking in the original,but they don’t save it from its repetitive nature. There are simply not enough gameplaymechanics to help Zero Gravity evolve over the course of its run. This results in a game thatfeels refined and well crafted, but simplistic and repetitive in design.
Pros
- Great Visual design with a sleek futuristic style
- Graphics that do justice to the world shown.
- Great music that fits the overall experience and provides excitement in droves.
- Refined gameplay with interesting new mechanics and large amounts of content
Cons
Sonic Riders Zero Gravity Wii
- Repetitive gameplay style that can get a bit boring after a while.
Sonic Riders Zero Gravity is a solid game that shows enough advances over the original to be an enjoyable experience. With the same fun characters we all know and love, an adrenaline filled soundtrack and gameplay that is refined and features new iterations upon an older formula. The only problem is that the game can be a bit repetitive and after you’ve seen the full gambit, there isn’t much left to unfold from there.
Sonic Riders Zero Gravity Wii Rom