Collection of other special items, such as "Sonic Tokens" and the Chaos Emeralds, may lead to the unlocking of secret characters. "Item Panels" give a random temporary advantage, such as a speed increase or shields that grant abilities such as being able to run across water or attract nearby rings.
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Rings, a staple Sonic series item, are abundant the player can exchange rings to gain a temporary speed boost or open doors leading to short cuts or special items. The tracks, although original creations, are thematically based on the art style and environments of classic Sonic games such as Sonic the Hedgehog's "Green Hill Zone" and Sonic the Hedgehog 2's "Chemical Plant Zone".ĭuring each race, the player is able to collect items scattered across the track, bestowing advantages.
Although the gameplay is considered similar to kart racing games such as the Mario Kart series, Sonic R places an emphasis on jumping and exploration, as each track has multiple paths and hidden areas. Four characters are initially available, while the other six are secret characters that become available when the player completes certain in-game objectives. The player selects a character and participates in a footrace on one of five race tracks, competing for the fastest time ahead of the other racers. Sonic R is a racing video game with single-player and multiplayer modes. Fan interest in Sonic R would inspire Sega to revisit the racing genre in future Sonic games, leading to the development of titles such as Sonic Riders (2006). Meanwhile, Jacques' soundtrack polarised audiences, who alternatively found it catchy and well produced or out of place in a racing game.
It was praised for its visuals and level design, but criticised for its controls and short length. Initial reviews for the game were positive, although retrospective reception has been more divisive. Sonic R was the only original Sonic title released for the Saturn Sonic 3D Blast is a port of the Mega Drive game, and Sonic Jam is a compilation of the first four Sonic games.
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Sega released the game for the Saturn in late 1997, for Windows the following year, and for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 as part of Sonic Gems Collection in 2005. The soundtrack was composed by Richard Jacques tracks from the game, most notably "Super Sonic Racing", have been reused in subsequent Sonic titles. Sonic Team designed the race tracks, while Traveller's Tales handled implementation and programming using a custom game engine. It was the second collaboration between Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team and was designed to take advantage of the Saturn hardware. By collecting items and completing objectives, players can unlock secret characters.ĭevelopment began after the completion of Sonic 3D Blast in 1996 and took nine months. Sonic R features single-player and multiplayer game modes, and while similar to kart racing games such as Mario Kart, it places an emphasis on jumping and exploration. The player races one of ten Sonic characters in various Sonic-themed race tracks as they attempt to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds and enslaving the world. It is the third racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, and the first to feature 3D computer graphics. Sonic R is a 1997 racing video game developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team for the Sega Saturn.