It’s not often we see two major kart racing games released within the same period but such a thing is indeed happening this Holiday season. Not only is Sony stepping up to the plate with LittleBigPlanet Karting, but Sega is also returning to the kart racing genre with Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed. A sequel to the 2010 kart racer which proved that Sega still has some of their classic magic, All Stars Racing Transformed features the same core formula but with a few added tricks up its sleeve.
Sadly I didn’t get the chance to go hands-on with the game back at E3 this year, but looking at this new trailer Sega released today I really need this game in my life soon. Already knowing the basics of the game (cars can transform into boats or planes) I kind of knew what to expect but at the same time I couldn’t help but mark out like a Sega fanboy upon seeing the Samba De Amigo and Afterburner stages in motion. Yes, Sega has gone deep in its catalog to recreate two classic arcade games as massive stages within All Star Racing Transformed and they look completely awesome.
Additional stages are shown in this new gameplay video such as one inspired by Skies of Arcadia and another based upon Sonic Colors i.e. the best Sonic game made in recent memory. The stages look to be far more dynamic and larger compared to what was presented in the original All Stars Racing game and there also seems to be a nice balance between traditional racing and the newfound gimmick of transforming vehicles.
Sega hasn’t revealed any major stage or character announcements, but considering the game will make an appearance at PAX Prime later this month we may receive a few additional details then. For now all Sega fans can do is to wait and see what other goodness transpires in All Star Racings Transformed though to be honest I wouldn’t hold out for a Bayonetta/Vanquish appearance since Sega has seemingly tossed Platinum Games aside at this juncture.
Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed will be released this November on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, and Nintendo 3DS.
