History VideoGame / SonicRiders

* TookALevelInKindness: The Babylon Rogues are still arrogant, but far less condescending towards their rivals in ''Free Riders''. Jet even compliments Shadow and Rouge on their skills.

* ShiftingSandLand: Sand Ruins.

There are 3 games in the series - ''Sonic Riders'' (for {{UsefulNotes/GameCube}}, {{UsefulNotes/PlayStation 2}}, and {{UsefulNotes/Xbox}}), ''VideoGame/SonicRidersZeroGravity'' (for {{UsefulNotes/Wii}} and {{UsefulNotes/PlayStation 2}}), and ''VideoGame/SonicFreeRiders'' (only for {{UsefulNotes/Xbox 360}}).

As of 2022, there are 3 games in the series - ''Sonic Riders'' (for {{UsefulNotes/GameCube}}, {{UsefulNotes/PlayStation 2}}, and {{UsefulNotes/Xbox}}), ''VideoGame/SonicRidersZeroGravity'' (for {{UsefulNotes/Wii}} and {{UsefulNotes/PlayStation 2}}), and ''VideoGame/SonicFreeRiders'' (only for {{UsefulNotes/Xbox 360}}).

* GameMod: ''Sonic Riders DX'' and ''Tournament Edition'', two mods for the [=Gamecube=] edition that tweaks and overhauls numerous gameplay elements to make ''Riders 1'' more viable to play in both casual and competitive settings. They also have their own netcode for online play plus additional characters and costumes.

** ''Riders'': [[VideoGame/SpaceChannel5 Ulala]], VideoGame/{{NiGHTS|IntoDreams}} and [[VideoGame/SuperMonkeyBall AiAi]].
** ''Zero Gravity'': [[VideoGame/SambaDeAmigo Amigo]], VideoGame/{{NiGHTS|IntoDreams}} and VideoGame/{{Billy Hatcher|AndTheGiantEgg}}.

** Players moving at high speed leave behind Turbulence, which players behind them can ride to gain speed and do tricks.

* BareYourMidriff: Wave the Swallow and Rouge the Bat have revealing shirts in their respective outfits which expose their midriffs.

** In ''Freeriders'' when an attack lands, your character will cancel out of their current animation to do a little celebratory pose, tricks included. [[https://youtu.be/WkRMsu8oK-k?t=169 Managing to override a trick with a celebration animation will reward you with an S-Rank by default even if you botched the jump beforehand.]]

* BareYourMidriff: Wave the Swallow and Rouge the Bat.

** Succeeded in ''Zero Gravity'' by the Untouchable gear. It holds the same stats as the Fastest gear, but whereas the Fastest is equipped two max speed-up gear parts and a rail grinding gear part, The Untouchable has [[UpToEleven nothing but max speed-up parts.]] It takes forever to accelerate, possesses pretty much no ability to turn and it's speed will sink like a stone if you look at it funny, but if you can get it up to speed, wow can it fly!

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: In the first two games, after playing through the Babylon Story as the Babylon Rogues, you retake control of Sonic for the final battle.

A {{Spinoff}} series of ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', ''Sonic Riders'' is a console RacingGame series involving hoverboard racing. Started in 2006, it stars Sonic and his pals as they meet a new PowerTrio of characters known as the Babylon Rogues, composed of Jet the Hawk, Wave the Swallow, and Storm the Albatross. Together, they race at high speed using devices known as Extreme Gear.

* AbsenteeActor: In ''Free Riders''.
** Team Dark lacks their usual "power" character, Omega. It's never explained why about his absence, but [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 another game]] suggest he doesn't tag along with them frequently. The out-of-universe explanation is probably that he (and Big) would look pretty silly on a hoverboard.
** Team Rose is missing their third member Big The Cat, with Vector The Crocodile filling in.

* WholePlotReference: The plot of ''Free Riders'' can essentially be summarized as [[spoiler:''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' [[RecycledInSpace ON HOVERBOARDS!]]

* EasterEgg: In the first game's Metal City, there is no track behind the starting line. If you walk backwards until you fall off the track, a gust of air will propel you back up accompanied by confetti. When you pass the starting line, you will always get a "Fantastic!" rating on your exit time, regardless of how long it actually took you to cross the start line.

* WrenchWench: Wave the Swallow, who is the one responsible for building the boards for the Babylon Rogues.

-->-— '''Sonic the Hedgehog'''

** In ''Freeriders'' when an attack lands, your character will cancel out of their current animation to do a little celebratory pose, tricks included. Managing to override a trick with a celebration animation will reward you with an S-Rank by default even if you botched the jump beforehand.