Sonic Riders

{{Bob320|bobscreen=riders_title.jpg|publisher=Sega|developer=Sonic Team|system=Gamecube]] / PS2 / [[Xbox|europe=Feb. 17, 2006|usa=Feb. 21, 2006|japan=Feb. 23, 2006|genre=Racing|seealso=Sonic R}}

Sonic Riders is an Sonic racing game, revealed by Famitsu on September 7, 2005, prior to 2005's Tokyo Game Show. The game differs from traditional racers (such as Sonic R) in its use of air-based travel with features such as "turbulence" affecting gameplay.

Plot

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are walking through Metal City one evening, and Tails detects a Chaos Emerald on his radar. Glass shatters and from Metal City Bank fall Jet the Hawk, Wave the Swallow and Storm the Albatross, who have the Chaos Emerald! Sonic and Knuckles manage to knock Storm off the airboard he was riding, but Wave catches Storm and gives him a lift. Sonic steals the board the clumsy albatross left behind and pursuits Jet. However, Jet gives Sonic a taste of his own medicine, and the Babylon Rogues escape. Wave slows down a bit, allowing Storm to grab his airboard, then they get away.

The next day, Sonic found that Doctor Eggman had set up a hoverboard racing tournament, with the prize being the very Chaos Emerald that was stolen, and the top three entries being the theives! Our heroes promptly took up the challenge. But what was Eggman's true motive, and what of the three theiving birds?

The boards that the characters ride are air-powered. While it's possible to refuel air at various points along the track, the main method of refueling is to perform various stunts with your board, or ride off the turbulence another board gives off.

Playable Characters:

Sonic the Hedgehog (speed) (default)
Miles "Tails" Prower (flight) (default)
Knuckles the Echidna (power) (default)
Storm the Albatross (power) (default)
Jet the Hawk (speed) (default)
Wave the Swallow (flight) (default)
Amy Rose (speed) (default)
Shadow the Hedgehog (speed) (unlockable)
Rouge the Bat (flight) (unlockable)
Cream the Rabbit and Cheese the Chao (flight) (unlockable)
Dr. Eggman (power) (unlockable)
E-10000R (speed) (unlockable)
E-10000G (power) (unlockable)
Aiai (power) (unlockable)
Ulala (speed) (unlockable)
NiGHTS (flight) (unlockable)
Super Sonic (speed/flight/power) (unlockable)

Other Characters:

Omochao: Omochao is the announcer for the races. He has a new voice, along with the rest of the crew.
E-10000Y: A flight robot that appears in Egg Factory, and tries to thaw the ice in Ice Factory.
E-10000P: Purple robots that are in production. The production of the E-10000Ps stop when the factory is frozen.
Amigo: A monkey that plays maracas at a concert in SEGA Carnival.
Axel: A man with green hair who drives the Crazy Taxi.
Opa-Opa: Enemies in SEGA Illusion.

Courses:

Metal City/Night Chase
Splash/Red Canyon
Egg/Ice Factory
Green/White Cave
Sand Ruins/Dark Desert
Babylon Gardens/Sky Road
Digital Dimension/Babylon Guardian
SEGA Carnival/SEGA Illusion

Extreme Gear

It has been confirmed that there will be more than just air boards. It sounds as if the air vehicles will be called "Extreme Gear." Currently, three types are known. Bikes, skates, and boards. The boards are the main one, but the other two can be found, as well. Eggman uses a bike, and Shadow uses air shoes. The known gear is below.

Boards
- Sonic - Blue Star/Blue Star II (NOTE: After Sand Ruins, Sonic uses the Blue Star II because Wave sets a bomb, then detonates it on the Blue Star and blows it up, forcing Tails to create new Extreme Gear)
- Tails - Yellow Tail
- Knuckles - Red Rock
- Jet - Type J
- Wave - Type W
- Storm - Type S
- Amy - Pink Rose
- Cream - Smile
- Rouge - Temptation
- Aiai - Banana
- Ulala - Space Channel 5
- NiGHTS - Night Sky
Skates
- Shadow - Darkness
Bikes
- Eggman - E-Rider