Head-to-Head Racing

The fleet-footed blue hedgehog is blazing onto the Xbox, and he’s bringing his friends along! In Sonic Heroes™, gamers can hit the road as one of three teams made up of colorful characters from Sonic’s world. Sonic Heroes lets you race against your friends across the dizzying series of loops, gaps, and enemy-laden paths found in the single-player game. Winning a race isn’t the same as clearing a level, so here are some tips to use in developing your racing strategy for multiplayer.

The Victory Ring.

Race, Don’t Fight
Always remember that the only way to win is to reach the victory ring first. Clobbering robots and collecting rings is good for points and your ego, but they’re just distractions in a head-to-head race. Only fight when you have to, like when a robot is blocking the only way through. Jump or fly over enemies and obstacles whenever you can, in order to progress through the level as quickly as possible.

The exception to this rule is if you’re on the opposing team. Never pass up a chance to put the smack down on the other guys if they’re close. Knocking your opponent’s team down will cost them rings, but more importantly, it will cost them time. Offensive racing might seem like playing dirty, but it’s also playing to win. Expect your opponent to do the same, and get him before he gets you.

Hammer the opposition.

Think Fast
There are numerous spots on each level where the course splits. So, you have choices to make. Many times the difference is only a matter of a few fractions of second, but in a race, that’s all the difference there is between being first and being the loser. Explore each level thoroughly in the single-player mode to make sure you know all the shortest routes and the quickest short cuts, so you can use ‘em against your friends. Once the race is on, things will be flying by so quickly that you’ll hardly have time to think, so keep your eyes open, and be ready to make the move that will put you ahead.

As in the single-player game, you’ll have to keep rotating your team formations according to the terrain. It’ll be tempting to just put your speediest character in the lead and run all-out for the finish line, but resist that urge. Not only does changing formation help fill your Team Blast meter (more on this later), but there are also times when speed alone is not the answer. You’ll want your flier for high jumps and your bruiser for clearing out enemies and obstacles.

Prepare to be clobbered!

Catching Up, Slapping Down
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you’re going to fall behind. Don’t despair. The race leader has a lot more pressure on him because he has to deal with everything first. Clusters of enemies and certain gates that can’t be opened until nearby robots have been dealt with give the #2 position time to catch up. Make sure to keep your Team Blast meter full (by changing formations, making successful attacks, etc.), so that you have access to your team’s strongest offensive move. When you catch up to your opponent, unleash the Team Blast to clobber everything on the screen. This will not only stun your racing opponent, but it will usually also wipe out all the enemies and can even destroy obstacles like stones and fences. If your Team Blast isn’t ready for action, use your other special attacks (there’s some for each formation) to knock the other team to its knees.

Sonic Heroes has more multiplayer modes that can be unlocked by completing the single-player levels, each with a different set of challenges. This, combined with the addictive action of the single-player game, gives Sonic Heroes tons of added replay value. Ladies and gentlemen … start your hedgehogs!

By Mickah Wallace