The simplest way to explain Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is as a Super Mario Kart clone. Instead of popular Nintendo characters like Mario and Bowser, the players employ Sonic, Billy Hatcher, Dr. Eggman, and 17 other more or less famous SEGA gaming characters.
However, the core gameplay remains the same. In a regular race, the player must compete against seven other racers using both his racing skills and one of the various power-ups scattered around the track, such as a boxing glove to shoot racers in front out of the way or mines to destroy his pursuers. Because all cars go at the same pace, regardless of character, charging up the boost by doing drifts is critical to reaching first place. There are additional methods for gaining access to a turbo boost—however, the choice of racer and car influences which All-Star-Action is available to the gamer. While Sonic the Hedgehog transforms into Super Sonic briefly, gaining tremendous speed, Billy Hatcher puts eggshells on the track to hinder his pursuers. Like all other power-ups, the All-Star-Action must be collected before it can be used.
There are numerous game modes in the game. In a single-player, the player can either conduct time trials, single races, a Grand Prix, or one of the many dozen missions available, which demand the player to complete various objectives other than merely finishing first in a race. These objectives include using one long drive to reach the finish line, rolling over as many crows as possible, and getting to the finish line without destroying any pots.
Multiplayer includes a split-screen option for up to four players and an online mode (which is not accessible in the PC version). Aside from regular racing, there are various battle options, such as King of the Hill or Deathmatch. She is completing a mission or winning a race in single or multiplayer awards the player SEGA miles, which can be used in the internal shop to unlock new characters and tracks.
The Xbox 360 version includes, in addition to SEGA characters and tracks, Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie – hence the extra subtitle.
