This product is like new. At NexWave Games, like new means:
Additionally, all discs at NexWave Games are carefully inspected and assessed for quality. When discs arrive, we do not accept any that are so badly damaged that they are unlikely to work. We only accept discs with light scratches at most. Discs with scratches are then treated in our professional disc repair machine. By warming the disc and polishing it with soft brushes, these machines can remove a very thin layer from the disc. This removes the layer containing surface scratches and improves the disc’s readability. This ensures the disc works properly, even on consoles with ageing lasers that have difficulty reading games! Great news for the player.
Sonic Rivals for PlayStation Portable
Sonic Rivals for PlayStation Portable turns a platform adventure into a direct race against another hero. Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow and Silver chase Dr. Eggman, who has turned characters and objects into cards. You run through worlds drawn in three dimensions, but mostly follow the course from the side. Along the way, the two rivals jump over gaps, roll through loops and try to cut each other off. Merely reaching the finish is not enough: you must get there before your opponent.
You collect rings to withstand a hit and use items to hinder your rival. At special spots, a prompt appears for a speed boost or a high jumping boost. Reacting at the right moment lets you take a shorter route or overtake an opponent. You can also shove them or attack from above. Story races alternate with boss fights in which both rivals compete to land hits. Challenges and cup tournaments also give you cards to collect.
You play alone against the computer or face one other player locally over wireless. For these ad hoc matches, both players need their own PSP with wireless networking and their own copy of Sonic Rivals; sharing one UMD is not enough. You can also trade collected cards or stake them on a race. The Essentials edition contains this original PSP game, not Sonic Rivals 2.
Region and language
Our PlayStation Portable games are European editions and come with a Dutch or English box, unless stated otherwise. By default, you receive the version for the European market. We note it in the product details if the region is different or the box is in another language. In almost all cases, the game is playable at least in English, and often in the other five common European languages too.
You receive the physical UMD edition. You need a PSP with a UMD drive to play it; a PSP Go cannot play this disc.
Manual
Sonic Rivals for PlayStation Portable includes the manual unless the product title states otherwise. If the booklet is missing, the title says “No Manual”. This lets you see before ordering whether the game comes with a manual.
The manuals included with our games usually contain at least English and often around six European languages. The exact languages vary by edition, so Dutch is not always included. The booklet explains the controls and the main rules. You can use it to check how to control the game, which actions are available and how its different features work.
The history of Sonic Rivals
Sega announced Sonic Rivals in May 2006 as a new game developed specifically for PlayStation Portable. Sonic was celebrating his fifteenth anniversary that year and had come to consoles from several manufacturers. For his first original PSP adventure, Sega did not choose a compilation of old Mega Drive games. Canadian studio Backbone Entertainment built a platform racer in which the struggle between two rivals stays constantly in view and racing determines how each level unfolds.
The design returned to side-view Sonic platform action, but gave the landscapes three-dimensional forms and moving camera positions. Development emphasised shoving, jumping, boosts and using items against a direct opponent. Four familiar characters each received their own storyline, while collectible cards added new rewards. The game arrived later in 2006. The cards also made the local connection useful outside racing, as players could trade items from their collections.
Sonic Rivals 2 followed in 2007, again for PSP. That sequel expanded the concept with additions including more characters and a separate battle component that could share a single game disc. That feature does not belong to the first Sonic Rivals. The later Essentials packaging reissued the original adventure as a budget title. The combination of platform routes, a constant rival and trading cards remained the foundation of this first PSP instalment.
Similar games for PlayStation Portable
Sonic Rivals 2 directly builds on the first game's side-view races on PSP. It retains the rivalry and card collection, but adds characters, revised attacks and a separate battle component. Free Play also lets you take your time through a level. The first Sonic Rivals concentrates more strongly on the constant contest against a rival. Sharing one disc for certain battles is an addition belonging to the sequel.
Crash Tag Team Racing on PSP also has familiar animal heroes compete for first place and hinder opponents with attacks. It does so with cars on circuits, whereas Sonic and his rivals run through platform courses themselves. Crash can combine two vehicles and divide the jobs between a driver and gunner. Sonic Rivals keeps the two runners separate. Outside the races, Crash also explores a theme park on foot, while Sonic follows his story through successive races.
Daxter on PSP combines a recognisable animal hero with jumping, collectibles and three-dimensional environments. You investigate buildings in Haven City and use an insect spray gun to fight enemies or hover for short distances. Sonic Rivals leaves less room to explore a place at leisure: an opponent keeps heading for the same finish. While Daxter builds its platform action around work assignments and exploration, success in Sonic mainly depends on finding the fastest route through a level.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on PSP also offers colourful worlds, platform obstacles and attacks with different effects. Ratchet receives weapons and gadgets to defeat enemies and reach new parts of the adventure. Sonic Rivals uses its items mainly to slow down a direct opponent while running. Ratchet's journey is a sequence of exploration and combat areas, whereas Sonic tries to outdo one rival at the finish or during a boss fight on each course.
Disney Pixar Cars 2 on PSP shares the combination of racing, jumping and attacks against other competitors. You drive as a film character around circuits viewed diagonally from above. Energy provides speed or protection, and medals reward your performance. Sonic Rivals replaces cars with running heroes and usually follows the route from the side. Its constant one-on-one contest and trading cards give the races a different structure from Cars 2's spy assignments.
