After 23 years of 3D Sonic Adventures, we all know how we feel about 3D Sonic Adventures. Some love them, others demand to be launched into the sun. Regardless of your opinion on 3D games, something drastic has to happen after the disaster that was Sonic Forces, a game many consider him one of his worst ever. It was clear that there was not. Five years later (the longest the series has ever gone without a new mainline entry), Sonic Team is up on a bet to move Sonic to an open world, and I’m happy to say the bet has paid off.
Frontier begins with Sonic and his friends heading to a mysterious island after tracking down the Chaos Emerald there. After a rough landing, Sonic awakens, Tails and Amy are nowhere to be seen, and a mysterious voice calls him, calling him “the key that can break down the interdimensional walls.”
The most striking thing about Frontiers is the feeling of isolation on the Starfall Islands. It has a dark tone from the beginning. Chronos Island is an eerie and desolate place unlike anything we’ve seen in a Sonic game before, almost reminiscent of Death Stranding (and I can’t believe we’re making this comparison) . Despite sharing the same cast, even the voice performances are decidedly less cartoony than usual.
The story of Frontiers’ new character, Sage, was a pleasant surprise. Her relationship with Robotnik, and the arcs she goes through during the story, even got us emotional by the ending – especially if you’re listening to Egg Log. You have to invest in these funny cartoon animals, but it feels so much better than any Sonic story since the Adventure Age. It’s also a feast for long-time fans, with plenty of nods and key tidbits to .
However, the main attraction is the gameplay. Sonic has become an open world (or as the developers call it, an open zone). The image of the game is Breath of the WildFrontiers’ core gameplay loop actually resembles another Nintendo release — koopa’s angerEach of the game’s five islands revolves around traversing lands, participating in platforming challenges, battling to find Chaos Emeralds, and battling the island’s gigantic giant bosses.
It feels good to tour the Starfall Islands. As you explore, there’s a definite stream to Sonic’s traversal, one in games like Marvel’s Spider-Man where he’s fast moving around even when his travel becomes available. I find myself ignoring it because it’s fun. The more precise moments still have Sonic elements of 3D junk, but these moments are less common, and yet Sonic Team includes a series of options that allow Sonic’s movement and pacing to be advanced You can customize that suite to find his spot. Mission I highly recommend ignoring his markers and exploring the island at your own pace. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the greatness of Sonic Frontiers.
This time Sonic’s new move is the Cyloop mechanic, which drags a line of energy behind him. It is a technique that is effective both in solving mysteries and in combat. Frontiers focuses more on combat than usual. The world is littered with small groups of enemies that drop XP that can be used in the game’s relatively small skill trees. You’ll also encounter mini-bosses that revolve more around puzzle-solving and platforming skills than pure combat prowess, giving away gear when defeated.
Gear is used to unlock cyberspace stages in the game. These levels will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played Sonic Generations and Forces, with gameplay styles similar to modern Sonic levels in those games. It’s not the end of the world, but it adds to the disappointment when he discovers that these levels only have four themes (Green Hills, Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, and City with No Features). Aside from these issues, the cyberspace stages are a fun change of pace with island gameplay, drowning out the itch of a more traditional Sonic experience.
A minor issue is the name of the Sonic Frontier game. There are no major noticeable flaws to our eyes, but the game is full of these small annoyances. similar to lightning power). It only lasts about 5 seconds, but it plays every time. Games love to keep control away from the player this way. It feels diametrically opposed to the freedom of the game as a whole, especially in the early games.
Another big change of pace is the Titan boss fight. Since Sonic cannot defeat these titans on his own merit, Sonic’s enhanced form (if such exists) must be summoned to fight these titans. A tranquility allows bombastic moments like this to hit harder. Aided by the use of classic Sonic Bat rock music.
One thing you can trust in a Sonic game is that the music is good, even in bad games. Frontiers may have the best soundtrack in the series. From the beautiful brooding suites during island traversal, to the intense electronic sounds that accompany each level in cyberspace, to the aforementioned bat rock, and even the lo-fi beats of the fishing minigame. It’s a robbery if it’s not swept.
Conclusion
Sonic Frontiers feels like a statement from Sonic Team that has been treated like a joke for years. It’s far from perfect, but it’s exactly the injection of life the franchise needed after the failure of The Force, and the freshest Sonic has felt since Adventure first hit the shelves. Despite its issues, Sonic Frontiers’ overall package hits the mark, with satisfying gameplay, a storyline that will satisfy long-time fans, and an amazing soundtrack. It immediately places him among the best Sonic games ever made.
