RUMOR ALERT: Is Ryo the Next ASR Character?

Puzzle Solving Coming Into Alignment

We’re about a week into Sega’s puzzle solving mystery concerning the next character in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, and a consensus is starting to come together on who the clue represents.

As of this story’s publication, here is where the puzzle officially stands:

O – - – - – -
I -
R – - -
V – - -
D – - – - -
M – - – - -
M – -
A – - – - -
C – - – - -
- -
R – - – - – Y

But even before the most recent clues, members in several communities, both in Sonic and Sega circuits, are coming into alignment as to the completed puzzle.

The phrase being most agreed upon right now is “Objects in Rear View Dragon Mirror May Appear Closer in Reality.”  Dragon Mirror is a reference to Shenmue, and to most, that would indicate a character from the series–possibly Ryo Hazuki–is on the way.

Some are not convinced, and there is reason to doubt the phrase.  “Dragon” could easily be substituted for “Driver,” making the phrase even more obscure.  Then, there’s this quote floating around, purportedly from Sumo Digital member S0L, from NiGHTS fan site NiGHTSIntoDreams.com:

I got told what it is today. Good luck figuring it out – it’s obscure even when you know the answer.

Sega isn’t saying anything, of course, until the puzzle is complete.  So we are left to wonder and speculate–is Ryo coming to ASR?  Do you think the completed puzzle has merit, or do you have your own doubts?  Tell us in the comments section.  In the meantime, this should be treated as rumor and nothing more.  We’ll keep looking for more sailors to guide us in the right direction.