Summary
Sonic Racing CrossWorldsis an upcoming kart racing game focusing on characters in theSonicseries.It features elements from variousSonicracing games, such as the Extreme Gear hoverboards from theSonic Riderstrilogy and the transforming vehicles fromSonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed. One notable feature from many previousSonicracing installments that is expected to return is Sega characters outside theSonicseries.
These characters were notably absent in the recentTeam Sonic Racing, as the game had only 15 playable characters, and Sega cited a desire to focus exclusively on theSonicseries for that installment. YetCrossWorldsis expected to be a much larger game, with a wide variety of customizable vehicles and a larger roster of playable characters thananySonicracing game before. After the game’s launch, DLC characters will be added in addition to the 23 present at launch, including those from other Sega titles. These guest characters should join Sonic and friends on the track.
NiGHTS is a rebellious Nightmaren, a being created by Wizeman the Wicked, created with the purpose of gathering a dream energy known as “ideya.” NiGHTS instead gathered the rare red ideya of courage, to use it against Wizeman and his forces. With the success ofNiGHTS Into Dreams, NiGHTS has become something of a fixture in various Sega crossover games. When they were not playable inSonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, a successful fan campaign was launched to ensure their presence as a traffic guard.All-StarsRacing: Transformedincluded NiGHTS, alongside their rival, Reala, as a playable character.
Additionally,NiGHTS’s likeness is present in manySonicgames, and Sonic actually made his fully 3D playable debut in a mini-game present inChristmas NiGHTS Into Dreams, a Christmas-themed sampler of the original game. NiGHTS was also an unlockable character in the first twoSonic Ridersgames, being the only guest character with this distinction. Sharing a development team and many appearances with the blue blur, NiGHTS is the Sega guest character that most frequently orbits theSonicseries. Their appearance as DLC seems like not only a solid inclusion, but perhaps even a forgone conclusion.
Kazuma Kiryu is a semi-retired yakuza known as the Dragon of Dojima. Despite not wanting to live a life of crime, Kiryu’s obligations to those he cares for tend to see him occasionally still involve himself in gang politics. As theLike A Dragonseries grows in popularity, Kiryu, among other characters from the franchise, has consistently made guest appearances in other games. He has even appeared alongside Sonic in games such asSega HeroesandSuper Monkey Ball: Banana Mania.
Beyond his bonafides as a popular Sega character, Kiryu is no stranger to racing.Yakuza 5features Kiryu acting as a taxi driver under an alias. Some of his missions he completes as a taxi driver tend to involve him racing against the Devil Killers, a gang that frequently participates in street racing. While believability as a competent driver is a fairly minor factor when it comes to deciding characters for these games, it is worth noting that Kiryu is not only a popular Sega character, but a noteworthy racer in his own right.
AiAi is a banana-loving monkey who often goes on adventures with his friends and family. Beyond the primary gameplay, which revolves around controlling a character inside a ball, recentSuper Monkey Ballinstallments include a variety of party games.
AiAi was in bothSega All-Starsracing games and also is one of a few unlockable guest characters inSonic Riders. Additionally,Super Monkey Ballitself has become a recent hot spot for crossovers, with Sonic and friends appearing in a few of its newer installments. As a regular fixture of many Sega crossovers, AiAi would be a solid choice forCrossWorlds.
Ren Amamiya (codename: Joker) is the protagonist ofPersona 5. After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Joker is transferred between high schools after being put on probation as a consequence.He befriends a group of students, who collectively become known as the Phantom Thieves,and seek to use their powers to change the hearts and minds of malevolent adults, so they confess to their crimes.Persona 5has exploded in popularity since its debut, eclipsing even theShin Megami Tenseiseries it was spun off from and obtaining a number of spin-offs itself.
Consequently, Joker and his likeness have since spread across other titles, most prominentlySuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, where he was one of the first DLC characters. His outfit was even included inSonic Forcesas a pre-order bonus. However, Joker himself has not appeared in many Sega crossover games compared to other characters. His inclusion would represent one of the most popular Sega-owned titles in recent memory.
Ulala is a popular news reporter known for engaging in dance battles against the likes of rival reporters and hostile aliens in a retro-futuristic time period dated 2499. Her swingin' report show is part of the programming on the titular network,Space Channel 5.
She remains a beloved and iconic character, and is a near-constant fixture in most Sega crossovers. In addition to everySega All-Starstitle and evenSonic Riders, she has been present in Sega crossovers even Sonic himself has been absent from, such asProject X Zoneand its sequel. In those games, she leads a handful of other Sega characters, such as Alex Kidd and Opa-Opa, to help her fight off enemies. As an enduring character with a huge presence across the greater Sega series, she would be more than worthy as a guest character forCrossWorlds.
