Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed disscussion

[Barry the Nomad]

I understand SEGA fans wanting a roster that equally represents every dev team and console era, but I think its silly to hate on the game's roster because they're not following such strict guidelines. For starters, the Dreamcast era is one of the most beloved eras in terms of iconic characters and games that had a wide appeal. Maybe you're saying it was unpopular sales wise, but the legacy is very strong thanks to the reasons I mentioned as well as it being the most recent of the eras. So too many Dreamcast characters? I'd say just enough. I can't imagine cutting any of the confirmed DC characters and I actually hope for a few more like the return of Ulala and Ryo.

As for Sonic Team characters, you just gotta accept that this is a Sonic headlined game. Sure other IPs play a stron part, but there will be more Sonic characters than any other ip. Just like Mario in SSBB. Aside from Billy, who has yet to be confirmed, any other Sonic Team ip would make for a great addition. NiGHTS is in, I'd love to see a PSO racer or track, I'd love to see a ChuChu Rocket battle arena.

Certain teams and eras can't help it if they have stronger characters in terms of popularity, design and appeal.

[Kori-Maru]

That makes me wonder, wasn't the last game filled with Sega arcade characters? Bonanza Bros originated as a arcade title. As for this game, I am happy to see some NiGHTS in the game, but I really hope that there's more Sega Saturn representation.

[Barry the Nomad]

I feel that the NiGHTS and Panzer Dragoon tracks are pretty major Saturn IPs. And the Segata Sanshiro possibility would be amazing.

[Kori-Maru]

I guess, I just wish that the game had a few of Sega's Japan only IPs sneaked in there. Just only two popular ones. Sakura and Segata. If not, hopefully that'll get them in for the next game.

SumoRex did say that their trying to get this game released in Japan. If the sale numbers are good, they would have to rework on the game. I noticed that Headstrong Games did the same with Overkill when it had a release in Japan. If it happens, I'm going to riding a steampunked Koubu car.

[Aki-at]

The Dreamcast era had a large variety, it did not have a high appeal. If it did, the games would not have continued to be failures after SEGA moved away from their own home console business. On the other hand, SEGA Saturn era titles such as Panzer Dragoon, The House of the Dead and Virtua Fighter were all successes, the only Dreamcast era titles being a success was Crazy Taxi.

As for iconic? Space Harrier, Afterburner, Outrun and Super Hang-On are more iconic representations of SEGA than say Rez or Space Channel 5. Both the Streets of Rage series and Eternal Champions would be more readily recognized by non-SEGA fans now than Skies of Arcadia or Jet Set Radio, does that mean we should throw the latter two games out of the window? Of course not (And I would imagine Streets of Rage is also more financially successful than either Skies of Arcadia or JSR combined)

If anything, the Mega Drive era should get the most, this is the true iconic era of SEGA. We ranged from speedy platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog, tactical RPGs like Shining Force, action adventure games like Beyond Oasis or Soleil with a large and beautiful world to over the top action games like Alien Soldier or Ranger X with some brilliant products from their Western branches such as Ecco, Vectorman, Eternal Champions or Comix Zone, something that will alas not possibly be represented. I could go on and on about what the Mega Drive had to offer, the only thing the Dreamcast has an excess of was artsy games.

As for your closing statement, the Mega Drive has the best design and the highest appeal to most but I would not go around claiming it should be over-represented. Nor would I claim AM2 who have not one, not two, not three but several massive games. More so than Sonic Team, one could argue it was thanks to AM2 and Suzuki's brilliance that SEGA is still alive today, when their collapsing console business was eking them closer and closer to bankruptcy, it was the domination of the arcade business that kept them alive but again I would never want AM2 to be the sole developer represented.

[Pao]

S0L just said that there are no more playable Sonic characters to be revealed, which is good news.

[Barry the Nomad]

Wow! Really? Well no biggie.

Or I should say, no Big. He was the only Sonic character from ASR1 not to appear in any Transformed screens/videos/interviews. So we're getting: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Eggman, Shadow and Metal. Good core cast. I would have enjoyed a Chaotix trio, but I'm fine without them. Blaze, Silver and anybody else from Sonic would just be wasting slots.

Thumbs up, Sumo!

[Kori-Maru]

I am quite pleased. Now for some news on anymore Sega characters. If only Sakura was in, I had Gagaman to draw my idea out for her that would have fit perfectly as a vehicle and it's would have been pretty unique for this type of game with transformation and all.

Anyway enough with the awesome Sega female, I can't wait to see a HotD rep and track. Please let it be Goldman Building.

[CrazyT]

I am very happy with this news! There are still many slots left so crossing my fingers for potential great characters.

[Radrappy]

S0L just said that there are no more playable Sonic characters to be revealed, which is good news.

Best news all day.  My memory hazy but is this about the same sonic representation that the last game had?  Who did we lose?  Big?  That it? 

[Barry the Nomad]

Yup! Just lost Big, and Metal became a part of the original roster. Considering there are still cameos to be had by way of NPCs, modifications and these stickers I foresee more Sonic representation even though the racer count remains small.

[CrazyT]

Nooooo, BIG?!! Why has thy forsaken him, why!!

[max_cady]

Wow! Really? Well no biggie.

Or I should say, no Big. He was the only Sonic character from ASR1 not to appear in any Transformed screens/videos/interviews. So we're getting: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Eggman, Shadow and Metal. Good core cast. I would have enjoyed a Chaotix trio, but I'm fine without them. Blaze, Silver and anybody else from Sonic would just be wasting slots.

Thumbs up, Sumo!

Oh, good God, I expect the Internet to explode in the next few hours with posts asking about why X character from the Sonic universe didn't make the cut. Personally they are more than enough.
Have we had any other major character revelations other than the ones we've seen thus far (BD Joe, Vyse, Ralph from the Wreckin' Ralph movie, etc)?

[CosmicCastaway]

Loving the roster, but I will miss Big. He was my main character to play as online. Winning races with him was oh so satisfying! 

[jonboy101]

I understand SEGA fans wanting a roster that equally represents every dev team and console era, but I think its silly to hate on the game's roster because they're not following such strict guidelines. For starters, the Dreamcast era is one of the most beloved eras in terms of iconic characters and games that had a wide appeal. Maybe you're saying it was unpopular sales wise, but the legacy is very strong thanks to the reasons I mentioned as well as it being the most recent of the eras. So too many Dreamcast characters? I'd say just enough. I can't imagine cutting any of the confirmed DC characters and I actually hope for a few more like the return of Ulala and Ryo.

As for Sonic Team characters, you just gotta accept that this is a Sonic headlined game. Sure other IPs play a stron part, but there will be more Sonic characters than any other ip. Just like Mario in SSBB. Aside from Billy, who has yet to be confirmed, any other Sonic Team ip would make for a great addition. NiGHTS is in, I'd love to see a PSO racer or track, I'd love to see a ChuChu Rocket battle arena.

Certain teams and eras can't help it if they have stronger characters in terms of popularity, design and appeal.

That wide appeal of Dreamcast's IPs is one of the big reasons the DC failed: poor software sales. The only financial hits from the DC days were 2K and Crazy Taxi, and the latter was a one hit wonder. Skies, Jet Set, Shenmue, Samba, Space Channel 5 and just about every other new IP Sega came up sold very poorly (or poorly relative to expectations). I'm reasonably confident that most people who know about Skies of Arcadia have also enjoyed Streets of Rage; I tend to doubt the inverse is true, simply because SoR sold quite a bit more.

On the other end of the coin, I suppose a lot of the Saturns big hits over here were fighters and racers, and a lot of things from the MegaDrive days are fading.

Incidentally, I wouldn't mind seeing The Hornet make an appearance.