First Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Wii U info – Off-TV play confirmed, GamePad usage detailed
At E3 2012, SEGA finally confirmed that a Wii U version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is in development. At the time though, the company did not share any information about how it would play on the new console.
SEGA has finally allowed a few folks to get some hands-on time with the Wii U version. Today, the first details have been revealed. It’ll be making use of Off-TV play, and the GamePad will be used for both racing and mini-games.
Take a look at the first details below:
– Off-TV play confirmed
– Swipe your finger down on the touch screen to bring the game to the GamePad
– Flick your finger up to resume playing on the TV
– Screen shows pertinent information on the GamePad while racing
– Shows the current orders of racers and a mini-map of the course
– When you use a power-up, you can see its destiny on the GamePad
– If you use a remote-controlled car with dynamite, you can watch it travel to the target
– Optional: steer with the GamePad like a wheel
– GamePad used for mini-games
– Super Monkey Ball Arena: whoever has the GamePad controls AiAi in his sphere
– In this mini-game, opponents use Classic Controllers and play as Sonic and Tails in racing cars
– Need to squish the tiny versions of Sonic and Tails who are driving around attempting to collect as many bananas as possible
Head past the break to read up on commentary from executive producer Steve Lycett.
Lycett discussing how he doesn’t believe something is lost in the transition from the TV to the GamePad…
“I don’t think it’s compromised. For a start we’re already building the game across a selection of handhelds, on 3DS and Vita, so we consider it one more option the players has. Put it this way, when I’m kicked off the TV as the latest soaps need to be caught up with, I certainly won’t complain about being able to seamlessly carry on playing!”
Lycett on the Super Monkey Ball Arena mini-game…
“(The GamePad) gave us a reason to think about how we can use the fact one player has an advantage (or disadvantage!). We came back to game you’d play as school kids. So things like Tag, British Bulldog, Hide and Seek, all the classics basically, became the inspiration for what we’d prototype and try. Then it’s how you bend that into something SEGA themed, and luckily we’ve had a bit of experience of doing that.”
Lycett on how the Wii U version of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing compares to the other versions…
“(The game is) easily on a par [with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions]. We’re still very much getting to grips with what we can make the hardware do […]. So it’s hard to really answer that right now, but yeah, I think once we’ve had a bit more time finding our way around it, chances are you can look to do things that you may not be able to do before.”
