History VideoGame / SonicDrift

* CoolCar: As you'd expect from a MascotRacer, pretty much everyone (barring the aforementioned Fang, [[CoolBike who instead uses his hoverbike]]) gets one to use, here. Special mention goes to Sonic's Cyclone (a sleek sports car with a look based on his trademark shoes), Tails' Whirlwind S7 (a self-built kit car based on the real-life [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterham_7 Caterham Seven]]), and Metal Sonic's Blue Devil (an aerodynamic rocket-propelled car).

* MythologyGag: Tails drives a car based on Caterham Seven in ''Drift 2''. It is something of a canon trait that Tails has a preference for the brand, as he appeared with one in a secret illustration in ''Sonic CD'' and owned one in a prior obscure manga.
* NostalgiaLevel: The tracks in ''Drift 1'' are all set in levels from ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Sonic 1]]''. Likewise, many tracks in ''Drift 2'' are from the sequels: including [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Emerald Hill, Casino Night, Hill Top and Mystic Cave]], and [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Ice Cap and Death Egg]]. In a more indirect fashion, Iron Ruin is stated to be what's left of the old [[EternalEngine Scrap Brain Zone]] from the first game: some time after Eggman abandoned and left it to rot following his retreat at the end.

* ProjectileKiss: This is Amy's special move.
* RecurringRiff: [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD "Sonic - You Can Do Anything"]] is the invincibility theme in ''Drift 1''. ''Drift 2'' uses the ''VideoGame/{{Sonic 3|andKnuckles}}'' invincibility theme instead.

* SuddenNameChange: The game itself had no alterations in localization, which led a few Western fans at the time to wonder why [[DubNameChange Robotnik and Nack]] were suddenly called Eggman and Fang. Slightly averted in that [[AllThereInTheManual the English manual]] explains that [[HandWave Dr. Robotnik goes under "the Eggman" as his race title]].

* TrueFinalBoss: Finishing in first place on every race on the Blue GP in ''Drift 2'' pits your character in a one-on-one final race on the Death Egg, against the "leader" of the opposing alignment. If you're one of the four heroes (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Amy), you face Eggman. If you're one of the three villains (Eggman, Fang or Metal Sonic), you instead go up against Sonic.

A FanRemake, headed by the man behind the ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble16Bit Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit]]'' remake Noah Copeland, is [[https://gamejolt.com/games/sonicdrift16bit/859428 currently in development]], reimagining ''Drift'' and ''Drift 2'' in the same vein as his previous effort.

A FanRemake, headed by the man behind the ''VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble 16-bit'' remake Noah Copeland, is [[https://gamejolt.com/games/sonicdrift16bit/859428 currently in development]], reimagining ''Drift'' and ''Drift 2'' in the same vein as his previous effort.

* ThemeNaming: Like Sonic's plane, the Tornado, the character cars are nearly all named after wind storms. Sonic's car is the Cyclone, Tails's is the MTP-01 Whirlwind (the MTP-02 Whirlwind S7 in ''Drift 2''), Eggman's modified Egg Carrier is called the Egg Typhoon, and Amy's car is the Breeze. In ''Drift 2'', Knuckles's vehicle extends the theme with its name, Tempest, but Nack and Metal Sonic break the theme with their vehicles, the Marvelous Queen and Blue Devil.

* UndergroundLevel: ''Drift 2'' has Mystic Cave and Quake Cave. Mystic Cave serves as the fifth track of the White GP, while Quake Cave serves as the second track of the Blue GP.

* RedundantParody: The fact that a character like Sonic, whose defining trait is his SuperSpeed would be driving a car is something of a recurring joke among the fandom, despite the manual making it clear that Sonic does dislike cars, and it's clear [[JustifiedTrope he's only using a car to keep the competition balanced for everyone]].

* LampshadeHanging: The manual and character profiles from the time [[AllThereInTheManual both state that Sonic dislikes cars,]] but uses one anyway here on the basis of making it a fair contest.

** One course replaces the monitors with balloons that cause an entirely different set of effects, some of which are harmful.

* AstralFinale: The last two tracks of the Blue GP, Milky Way and Death Egg, are set in outer space, with the later having the players racing on the surface of the Death Egg itself.

** Tails was the Balance character, having neither weaknesses nor strengths; Sonic was the Power, having good speed but poor handling; Amy was the Skill, having good acceleration but poor speed; and Eggman was the Gimmick, having poor acceleration but good speed. In ''Drift 2'', Knuckles became a variant Balance, with average stats and both attack and dodge abilities; Fang the Sniper and Metal Sonic are both variant Power characters--Fang's vehicle has nearly identical stats to Sonic, while Metal Sonic [[MinMaxing takes Sonic's strengths and weaknesses to even further extremes]].

* BigStormEpisode: ''Drift 2'' has Rainy Savanna, which serves as the second track of the White GP. Also overlaps with JungleJapes.
* ButtMonkey: The first game has alternate endings for each character. Sonic becomes this in all endings except his own, where he is either mocked by Robotnik, mildly annoyed that Tails won, or forced to back off Amy's request for love.

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Along with the RubberBandAI, the computer racers in the second game have unlimited powerups, and abuse it to high heaven. Sonic and Metal Sonic are pretty much in perpetual boost mode.

* GimmickLevel: Emerald Ocean in ''Drift 2''. The whole track is the sea, so you need to keep your speed over 40% to avoid falling.
* GirlsHaveCooties: Amy's SpecialAttack is to blow a kiss at someone.

* JungleJapes: Rainy Savannah in ''Drift 2'' combines this with BigStormEpisode.
* LampshadeHanging: [[AllThereInTheManual The manual and character profiles from the time stated that Sonic dislikes cars.]]

* SoreLoser: In both games, the poor sap in fourth place in the overall standings will be very displeased about it. Whoever finishes in second and third on the flags/podium won't be much happier, either (especially in the first game).
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Knucles.
* SuddenNameChange: The game itself had no alterations in localization, which led a few Western fans at the time to wonder why [[DubNameChange Robotnik and Nack]] were suddenly called Eggman and Fang. Slightly averted in that [[AllThereInTheManual the English manual]] [[HandWave explains]] that Dr. Robotnik goes under "the Eggman" as his race title.

* TrueFinalBoss: Finishing in first place on every race on the Blue GP in ''Drift 2'' pits your character in a one-on-one final race on the Death Egg, against the "leader" of the opposing alignment. If you're one of the four heroes (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Amy), you face Eggman. If you're one of the three villains (Eggman, Fang or Metal Sonic), you go up against Sonic.