So no Alex Kidd, Opa Opa or Ryo Hazuki?! Poor show!!
But everything else sounds great.
I agree, I'll miss all three of them. But I also look at them as characters that make the first game still very special and well worth playing even with the sequel coming out. Plus, we have three other awesome characters joining the roster: Gilius, Vyse and Joe Musashi.
At least we know that one of the non-returning awesome characters will cameo in a track.
I'm cool with Zobio & Zobiko, Jacky & Akira, the Chu Chus and the Bonanza Bros not returning. We know that at least two of them will cameo, and to be honest the Chu Chus and Bonanza Bros felt like wacky one offs, I never expected them to return.
Finally, I think a LOT of us can agree that Billy Hatcher is best left out, and I for one will not miss him.
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So we lose 8 racers from the last game for 8 racers in this game.
[spoiler]
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars RacingRyo Hazuki
Opa Opa
Alex Kidd
Chu Chus
Bonanza Bros.
Jacky & Akira
Zobio & Zobiko
Billy Hatcher
Sonic & All-Stars Racing TransformedVyse
Gilius Thunderhead
Joe Musashi
Gum*
MeeMee*
Pudding*
NiGHTS
Reala*
*and according to Sumo Digital they added these four characters AFTER SEGA decided the roster, so they were apparently developed outside of the allotted hours for character building. Explaining why they revamped Superstars Tennis models and gave them vehicles resembling their counterparts.
[/spoiler]
edit: photo of one of the new racers:
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b610/NathanAnthonyClark/WP_000758.jpg