Hedgehog Heaven

Sonic Riders™ has a bit of everything for every kind of gamer. One of the most striking aspects of the game is that it has an intriguing array of game modes. The Normal Race mode offers hours of fun for as few as one or as many as four players, while the Story Mode entertains solo riders who want to feel like they're teamed with Sonic and his friends. All the modes have variations that further expand the diversity of the gameplay.

Focused and furious.

Perfectly Normal
How do you define normality? Sonic Riders defines it like this: "Select a track and compete in a race." It's simple and elegant. And yet, if you look closer, even the Normal Race mode has facets which make the gameplay changeable. Within the Normal Race mode, you have the further choice of three types of challenges.

The first challenge, called "Free Race," allows you, alone or with up to three other friends, to zip around one of the five primary tracks. If you're playing solo, this is the perfect opportunity to practice your moves and learn the track without worrying about losing the race. If you want nothing more complicated than a "ready, set, go!" race against your buddies, then this is also the perfect choice for you.

You and one other friend (a maximum of two players) can also compete in the World Grand Prix in the second challenge. The competition here is fierce, so practice, practice, practice prior to stepping up to the line. You compete on all five of the primary tracks and attempt to beat all challengers for the trophy.

The third and final challenge, Time Attack pits you against the clock. Only one player may tackle this challenge at a time. Select your track and aim for speedy efficiency. The slicker your run, the faster your time.

Your strategies rely upon the fact
that you're not a lone rider.

Tag, You're It
In Tag Mode, it's you and your best pal against the world. You and your partner compete against a second tag team also made up of two characters or players. Up to four can play this mode. If you play solo, you take a CPU character as your teammate. During the race, you share an Air Tank with your partner, but only one of you needs to cross the finish line to win.

Because you're sharing an Air Tank, stick close together. If your partner gets too far behind you, you may be forced to wait for him to catch up. If you manage to stay together, the Air in your tank gradually increases. In this mode, your strategies rely upon the fact that you're not a lone rider. Take advantage of having a buddy to support you.

Trick and treat.

MissionImpressive
Mission Mode gives you the opportunity to compete directly with the Babylon Rogues in specific challenges. These predetermined Missions may require that you perform a particular set of tricks, or you may have to tackle a Mission timed with the schedule of a Babylon Rogue.

These Missions start out hidden, but you unlock them as you meet certain conditions while playing the game. As you increase your skill and conquer the different challenges in other modes, the number of your available Missions increases.

You Will Survive
Last, but not least, the Survival Mode runs like a single-elimination tournament. The winner is the last man standing. You have two different choices for how this mode works.

If you choose Race Stage, you and your opponents compete to get your hands on the Chaos Emerald and transport it through a certain number of markers before anyone else does. You take the Chaos Emerald away from the other competitors by touching them. Once you have it, you have a limited amount of time to make it through the gates and across the finish line. Your opponents don't go away, however; they come after you when you have the jewel.

The other Survival Mode option, Battle Stage, allows you to eliminate your opponents one at a time by taking them out of the game. Each character has three lives. You remove lives by touching the character. To make things even more interesting, the Battle Stage track has special power-ups that you gather to shield yourself, increase your speed/attack, and fill your Air Tank.

A tale of tails.

Tell Me a Story
The beloved characters in Sonic Riders come to life in cutscenes that introduce and play out a story of intrigue, trickery, and danger. For only one player, this mode promises hours of entertainment as you attempt to solve the mystery of the missing Chaos Emerald. Fun and funny characters, both good and bad, weave in and out of the plot.

The bad guys, known as the Babylon Rogues, take no time at all to give Sonic and his friends some attitude. You find yourself liking them as much as you do the heroes. They're your most important opponents in the EX Worldwide Grand Prix. Can you beat them and bring this story to a satisfying conclusion? It's worth a try.

In a game where you race around the track at breakneck speeds, strategically collect power-ups with your tag-team partner, and ruthlessly eliminate all competitors, you have to work to be bored. With or without friends at hand, you have numerous options for extended gameplay in Hedgehog Heaven.

Article by Angel Leigh McCoy