10 Video Game Franchises With The BEST Spin-Offs
9. Sonic The Hedgehog
Of all the franchises on this list, this one is the most guilty of having a single game do the heavy lifting.
It's not like Sonic doesn't have any other decent spin-offs - Sonic Rivals was a cheery weekend rental of a game, Sonic Battle was one of the Game Boy Advance's better fighters, and this writer is still annoyed SEGA never followed up on the promise shown in Sonic Chronicles. But really, when it comes to spin-offs starring SEGA's iconic hedgehog there's one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - take a bow.
Quite simply the best Karting game without 'Mario' in the title (sorry, Crash Bandicoot fans), Transformed is a glorious celebration of SEGA's history. Forgotten classics like Skies of Arcadia and Burning Rangers are rebuilt as thrilling racetracks that twist, explode and flood around you, resulting in courses that feel fresh no matter how many times you race through them. Combined with a host of SEGA icons and also-rans to race as (Alex Kidd! Gilius Thunderhead!), and the best-ever mission mode in a Kart game, Transformed is a fantastic racing game in its own right and an unmissable experience for anyone old enough to remember the glory days of Blue Sky Gaming.
Put it this way: If the upcoming SEGA Racing: Crossworlds is anywhere near as good as its progenitor, Mario Kart 9 is going to have some serious competition!