Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time karting game leaderboard.
For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.
Sega / Traveller’s Tales
Sega Saturn, PC (Saturn version reviewed)
Not all karting games feature karts, you know.
While it’s clear that the majority do, it’s perfectly acceptable for a developer to ditch them in favour of something else.
What makes a game part of the karting genre isn’t the fact you’re using karts: it’s the idea of multiple characters – each with distinct personalities – racing against each other, often with items to collect.
After all, when you choose a bikes-only race in Mario Kart Wii, does it suddenly stop being a karting game? Does it balls.
Sonic R on the Sega Saturn was an early advocate of this idea: not only did it ditch the idea of using karts, many of its characters don’t even have vehicles at all, instead choosing to run across the course.
Does it work? Read on and find out. Continue reading “Kartography #4 – Sonic R”
Tired Old Hack 