Sonic Racing: CrossWorld's Werehog Bonus: A Howl of Discontent or Just a Grumble?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Sega's *Sonic Racing: CrossWorld* pre-order bonus featuring the Werehog has fans divided, with some questioning its exclusivity and lack of voice acting, turning a hype train into a slightly bumpy ride. Will Sega listen to the grumbles before launch, or will the Werehog remain a silent, pre-order-locked mystery?
Right, so Sega's about to drop *Sonic Racing: CrossWorld* on us, promising a dimension-hopping, kart-racing extravaganza. Fair dinkum, it looks like a laugh, with characters from *Persona 5*, *Yakuza*, and even *Minecraft* joining the Sonic crew. But hold your horses, because the pre-order bonus situation has stirred up a bit of a dust storm. (Original Source: Game Rant)
You see, one pre-order bonus is Sonic's Blue Star Extreme Gear hoverboard – a nod to the *Sonic Riders* series. Cool, nostalgic, no complaints there. But the *other* bonus? The Werehog from *Sonic Unleashed*, complete with a special Beast Spike car. Now, some fans are scratching their heads, wondering why the Werehog is locked behind a pre-order. Shouldn't this beast be part of the base game, especially considering the other DLC characters are from *other* franchises?
It's got some folks saying it's "unacceptable for a $70 game." Blimey, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? (Though, let's be honest, $70 for a kart racer *does* raise an eyebrow.) But the grumbles don't stop there. Apparently, the Werehog is suspiciously silent in gameplay clips. No voice acting! Nada! The rest of the cast is chattering away, but the Werehog is just...mutely drifting.
One clever Twitter user (as reported by Comicbook) pointed out that Keanu Reeves voiced Shadow the Hedgehog in the *Sonic X Shadow Generations* DLC. Now, I reckon Keanu's rate might be a tad higher than Roger Craig Smith's (the current Sonic voice actor), or even recycled audio from Jason Griffith (the OG Werehog voice). But still, the silence is deafening, isn't it? Sega's staying mum on the matter, which only adds fuel to the fire. (Original Source: Game Rant)
Look, I get it. Paying full price for a game and feeling like you're missing out on content stings. But is this a full-blown disaster? Nah, I reckon it's more of a misstep. Perhaps Sega underestimated the love for the Werehog. Maybe they've got a reason for the silence (budget constraints, perhaps?). Or maybe, just maybe, they'll listen to the fans and tweak things before the September 25th launch. Stranger things have happened, haven't they? At least we can still customize our rides and chuck gadgets at each other. That's gotta count for something, right?
And hey, if you're really desperate to play as a werewolf Sonic, I'm sure there'll be a mod for that eventually. Just saying. Keep your peepers peeled for that Nintendo Switch 2 version dropping sometime in 2025 as well!
Tags: Sonic Racing, Sega, Werehog, Pre-Order Bonus, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant