For example, if Sonic comes in first place, but knuckles and tails finish ninth and tenth, it's extremely unlikely that Team Sonic will emerge victorious over a team that finished second, fourth, and fifth. Therefore, being number 1 isn't good enough to secure a win. Everyone races independently, and at the end, points are allotted to teams based on the placement of their different racers. As alluded to in its title, there is a strong emphasis on the team aspect in "Team Sonic Racing." A typical race is composed of 12 racers sorted into four teams of three. In terms of skill, I found "Team Sonic Racing" to be one of the most tactical and strategic kart racers I've ever played. I'd love to see the team at Sumo Digital take the cuffs off and add some wacky and fun side content to "Team Sonic Racing" in the future. Outside of this, the different game mode options seem empty. It hits predictable beats and doesn't really leave you with any sort of lasting impression.Īs mentioned earlier, there are some bonus missions littered throughout the story mode of "Team Sonic Racing," but that's pretty much the beginning and end of side content offered. The story itself I found to be okay, not terrible, but nothing special either. It made a story with practically no cutscene animations still feel alive. I appreciated how all of the conversations had fully voice acted dialogue. Players that are in it strictly for the gameplay can skip them in their entirety by pressing X when selecting a race. Before each race, there is a brief conversation cutscene that gives more insight into the narrative. The ring challenges were a nice test to my skill, but ultimately felt like they weren't worth the hassle. You can choose to follow the linear path and play only the mandatory races, or stray off to the side levels and bonus missions. Each chapter is mapped out like a game board, similar to the style seen in old-school platformers. The campaign is broken into numbered chapters.