There are multiple play modes to explore outside the story mode races, including a Grand Prix circuit, and a pair of more competitive Survival modes. The Race stage survival mode plays like a high speed game of tag, where you accumulate points for carrying the ubiquitous Chaos Emerald for as long as possible. Your air reserves seemed to deplete quickly while holding the Chaos Emerald, so to keep scoring it's imperative to nail your tricks and landings. The Battle Mode may well be a four-player favorite, as you're placed in a compact arena with other riders, and duke it out in what feels much like a chaotic jousting match. The challenge here is being able to pick up the attack and speed power ups, using hit and run tactics, and taking advantage of poor positioning by your opponents.

There are unique maps to these courses, including a snowy valley featuring a giant player-hating snowman, and a kitschy sci-fi inspired track, complete with electrified barriers ¿ la Berzerk and hyperkinetic flying saucers, no doubt plotting against their next hapless probing victim. Cooperative play is also to be found in the Tag mode, where two riders basically share the same air reserves, with little else to differentiate gameplay. A Mission mode can be unlocked as well, providing additional challenges to undertake. Since it's a prerequisite for games of this type, you can spend the rings that you accumulate during gameplay on new gear from the shop, unlocking bigger and better things for your characters to ride.


Sonic Riders is a departure from the traditional platform adventures of everyone's favorite Hedgehog, but at this point it's open season when it comes to using established franchise characters in tangential genres. Still, Sonic's relationship to speed will always be there, and the over the top route Sonic Riders has taken may be compelling enough to merit a serious look upon release, particularly by those who get a rush out of catching air. Stay tuned for our full review of the game in the near future.