Sonic Rivals

Sonic Rivals from 2006 was the first game in the series developed specifically for the PlayStation Portable, and also the first entry to build the core Sonic gameplay around two characters racing directly side by side. Instead of collecting rings during a single shared run, the player and their opponent – whether controlled by AI or by a second player over a local ad hoc network – now run the same track at the same time, each on their own portion of a split screen, and whoever reaches the goal first wins. Development was handled by Backbone Entertainment, which already had experience with Sonic on handhelds from previous titles, and the game was built specifically for the short play sessions typical of the PSP audience at the time.

A key element is switching between the track's foreground and background layers: both layers contain different shortcuts, traps, and collectibles, so the seemingly faster path at first glance often runs through a riskier route full of obstacles. The game can be played as Sonic, Shadow, or Knuckles, each with their own special ability usable directly during a run to gain an edge over an opponent, and progressing through the tournament unlocks further playable characters with completely different movement styles and their own shortcuts.

The game was designed for the handheld so that a single round takes just a few minutes and can be enjoyed even during a short break while traveling, matched by clean 2.5D visuals with clearly readable tracks and prominent landmarks that help players orient quickly even at high running speed. Sonic Rivals thus offered a genre shift that hadn't appeared in the series before – turning jumping and running into direct rivalry, where success depends not just on speed but also on tactical route choice and the well-timed use of a character's special ability.

Why play it: Sonic Rivals will appeal to players who want to experience Sonic's speed as a direct race against an opponent, played on the go, and who have a PSP handy or a taste for short, twist-heavy rounds well suited to gaming while traveling.