Sega and Nintendo had a fierce rivalry in the 1990s, with Mario and Sonic going head-to-head on their respective platforms. Now, Sega has reignited its rivalry with Nintendo in a new trailer promoting Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds that pokes fun at Mario Kart World.
“We all know that kart racer. It’s great, we don’t need to show it to you,” a voiceover says at the start of the trailer. While the Switch 2 launch title isn’t named, blurred footage appears to show Mario Kart World.
The voiceover continues: “But what if you can blast through and race on a whole other level? What if you could warp across different dimensions, fully customise and build out your machine, and compete head-to-head across different platforms?”
This is referencing the kart racer’s titular CrossWorlds, where you can warp between different locations mid-race on the second lap by driving through Travel Rings, as well as its in-depth customisation.
It’s also multiplatform, unlike its rival, releasing on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. A Switch 2 version is also planned later this year.
The trailer then cuts to a run-down RV representing Mario Kart World stalling off the line, with the condescending voiceover saying: “Or what if you want to roam around on the open road?”
It’s clearly a cheeky dig at Mario Kart World’s underwhelming free roam mode, which is widely criticised for its empty open world that makes it feel like an afterthought.
As well as mocking Mario Kart World, the trailer is a recreation of Sega’s infamous blast processing advert in the 1990s, with Sega boasting about the Mega Drive’s (sold as the Genesis in the US where the advert originally aired) superior performance over the Super Nintendo. It’s a faithful parody, with similar shots of the Sonic game strapped to a dragster speeding away.
You can compare it to the original advert video below:
For more on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, check out our review and tips and tricks guide.
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