Any big fans of Mario out there will be aching for something similar on their iOS device. Until now, the best we have had was the loveable but bland Shrek Racing in the app store and unfortunately I doubt we will ever see a port of MarioKart on these devices. So, it was nice to hear Sega were porting over a version of their hit racing game featuring Sonic and nine other Sega stars to the millions of owners looking for a touch of nostalgia.
Upon first looks the app looks well put together; there are 25 missions to attempt based in three Grand Prix Cups. The graphics look great considering the original game is pretty old now, and obviously someone has been hard at work making this look extra nice, on the iPad especially. There are all the similar power ups, speed boasts and track trickery present, and as you progress you unlock new characters to play with. The game is responsive and sounds good too.
Unfortunately, the one thing I did not like is that the game does seem to run quite slow. The actual game I mean, as one never feels that you are travelling at any real speed, compared to some of the racing games on the App Store this feels dated and really needs a boast of adrenaline to hike up the thrill factor we experienced on the console versions. When one picks you a power up that allows a speed boost you get a feel for how it should run, and when the boast wears off you’ll be left thinking, “why is my vehicle going so slow?”
If you are a die-hard Sega fan or want to experience a touch of the past, try it out, but don’t expect this game to thrill you the way some other racing games do.
