Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Year Two launches today, adding more racers, vehicles and courses, along with new ways to play and gameplay features. The additions include Duel Mode, new Gadgets and the Super Slot, a dedicated space for one-slot Gadgets whose effects are enhanced when equipped there.
The development team says Duel Mode was designed as an alternative to standard 12-player races, centering on one-on-one tactics. Players can focus on their distance from their rival and when to use items, creating a different kind of race. The team says the new features are intended to give players more room to develop their own racing styles and experiment with Gadget combinations.
The Sega Consoles Pack, included as a bonus with the Year Two Digital Deluxe Edition and Season Pass Two, features three vehicles inspired by classic Sega hardware. Their designs draw on each console’s colors, shapes and button layouts: the Dreamcast’s rounded form and distinctive palette, and the angular silhouettes and subdued tones of the Genesis and Sega Saturn. The Dreamcast’s Visual Memory Unit was recreated using reference data from the era.
Rather than reproducing the consoles directly, the designers adapted their forms into racing-car features such as fenders, noses, body panels and hoods. They also worked the game’s front-and-rear vehicle combination mechanic into the designs. The team noted that the Genesis Tower US required particular care to keep it recognizable without blocking characters or disrupting play.
The PlayStation Store listing cited in the announcement gives the Standard Edition a price of $39.99 USD, while the Digital Deluxe Edition and Year Two Digital Deluxe Edition are each listed at $59.99.
Sources: PlayStation Blog.