Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity for Wii Reviews by Gamers

If you read the title of my review you don't really need to continue reading but if you want clarification why this game isn't good then please go ahead. The graphics are very similar to other Wii titles and the music is appropriate if not interesting for a racing title. The problem is the game play. Its boring and totally uninteresting. I jumped in the "story" mode without reading the directions expecting to at least be able to race and get 6th or 7th place. I got dead eighth and was so uninterested that I turned the game off and haven't played it since. One of things I love about Wii games is their playability. I like that I can jump in and play but mastering the game takes a lot of time and fun game play. Playing sonic riders was not fun and I felt like what I did had zero impact on the outcome of the race. I say wait for mario kart that one shouldn't be a let down.

THE STORY IS THIS: A METIORITE CRASHES INTO THE METEORTECH BUILDING, CAUSING ALL OF THE ROBOTS TO GO HAYWIRE. SONIC AND HIS FRIENDS END UP WITH A PIECE OF THE METEORITE, CAUSING THE ROBOTS TO CHASE AFTER THEM. OF COURSE, SONIC’S LONGTIME NEMESIS EGGMAN IS THE EVIL MASTERMIND BEHIND IT ALL AS HE THIRSTS FOR POWER AS THE OWNER OF METEORTECH.

THE IN-GAME GRAPHICS AREN’T HALF BAD AT ALL AND SEGA DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF GIVING GAMERS THE NOTION OF INTENSE SPEED. THE CUTSCENES IN SONIC RIDERS: ZERO GRAVITY ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE – ESPECIALLY FOR THE NINTENDO WII, AND THE VOICE ACTING IS SPOT-ON.

UNFORTUNATLY, THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID ABOUT THE ACTUAL GAMEPLAY. THE CONTROLS SEEM SOMEWHAT CLUNKY AS IT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE USE OF THE WII’S MOTION SENSORS. SOME MANEUVERS ARE QUITE SIMPLE TO PULL OFF WHILE FOR OTHERS YOU PRACTICALLY HAVE TO BE A CONTORTIONIST. ALSO, IT’S QUITE EASY TO HIT THE WRONG BUTTONS ON THE WII REMOTE MID-RACE, ALL BUT BRINING YOU TO A COMPLETE STOP.

THE LEARNING CURVE FOR THIS GAME IS PRETTY STEEP, AND EVEN WITH THE OPTIONAL TUTORIALS PLAYERS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME BEATING THE EASIER RACES EARLY ON IN THE GAME WITHOUT HAVING TO TRY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SONIC RIDERS: ZERO GRAVITY IS RATED “E” FOR EVERYONE, BUT I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE IT A “C”.

SO, HARDCORE SONIC FANS WILL PROBABLY ENJOY SONIC RIDERS PLENTY, OTHER NOT-SO HEDGEHOG-FRIENDLY GAMERS MAY WANT TO PASS.