Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity from 2008 is the second installment in the series of arcade races on anti-gravity boards, this time with a key new feature in the form of gravity control. During a race, Sonic and his friends collect energy that they can use to temporarily reverse or shift the gravitational field around them, opening up shortcuts along walls, ceilings, and off the regular track in a way the first installment never allowed. Development was again handled by Sonic Team, this time with a significantly greater emphasis on striking visual effects, speed, and the smooth flow of the whole race.

Unlike the first installment, which was mainly about speed, jumps, and clearing ramps, gravity maneuvers here add another layer of tactics – a correctly timed gravity shift can let you overtake an opponent where the normal route wouldn't allow a shortcut at all. The Wii version also offers control by tilting the Wii Remote, simulating leaning the board into turns and shifting weight during jumps, while the simultaneously released PlayStation 2 version sticks to classic button controls without any motion elements.

The story continues from the previous installment and introduces new, darker enemies and racing circuits inspired by a space station orbiting a planet, which, together with the gravity mechanic, moves the series beyond the purely terrestrial tracks of the first installment. Zero Gravity thus remains an arcade race in the same spirit as its predecessor, but thanks to gravity control it offers a significantly more open, more vertical, and spatially more complex take on tracks that can be ridden even upside down or along vertical walls and ceilings.

Why play it: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity will appeal to players who know the first Sonic Riders and want gravity control added to fast board racing, plus the Wii Remote's tilt controls, which make the Wii version play noticeably differently from the other platforms it was released on.