Alright, so Nintendo has been killing it with Mario Kart for years, right? And it’s no surprise that other companies with their own popular characters want to get in on the kart-racing action. Sonic is one of those characters that makes sense in a high-speed racing game, given his whole deal is all about speed.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is one of those games that actually does a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the Sonic universe in a kart racer. The gameplay is what you’d expect – drifting, boosting, pulling off tricks to win races. It’s all about that adrenaline rush and making split-second decisions to outsmart your opponents.
The tracks in the game are a mix of original designs and revamped classics from Sonic games of old. Each track offers multiple routes and keeps you on your toes as you jump between land, sea, and air segments. The dynamic ‘Crossworlds’ feature also shakes things up by giving the leader a choice of two alternative routes for the second lap, adding a fresh twist to each race.
Now, when it comes to customizing your kart, there’s a ton of options to tweak your stats and give yourself an edge. The Gadget system also lets you stack passive power-ups to boost your performance. And let’s not forget about the online multiplayer – it’s as intense and exciting as playing with your friends on the couch, minus the trash talk (unless you’re on voice chat).
But, here’s the kicker – visually, the game is a bit of a mixed bag. While the tracks look stunning with all their twists and turns, the performance on the base Switch is a letdown. The frame rate struggles to keep up, especially during intense moments, making the overall experience a bit choppy. And don’t even get me started on how it looks on the Switch 2 in handheld mode – grainy and low-res, to say the least.
Despite its visual shortcomings, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is still a solid game at its core. The dynamic tracks, replay value, and eye-catching visuals make it a worthy contender to Mario Kart. If you’re a die-hard Sonic fan and only have a Switch, it’s worth a shot. But if you have other gaming platforms at your disposal, you might want to hold off and see if the Switch 2 version offers a smoother ride.
