The promise of a game sonic 3D in “open world” had something to seduce, but we cannot say that the first images of Sonic Frontiers had great success. The game of Sega showed up throughout the month of June with lots of information scattered here and there, but he had a hard time convincing. So much so that we’ve seen plenty of fans asking for the game to be pushed back, especially after seeing gameplay from the game. we have on the game, especially from the many exclusive feedback from IGN. So here’s everything we know about Sonic Frontiers.
What is Sonic Frontiers about?
If the setting of the game promises to be quite different, it’s because Sonic is lost far from home. He, Amy and Tails apparently crash-landed on Starfall Island after going through a dimensional portal, while searching for the Chaos Emeralds. Sonic will be separated from his friends and will land on Kronos Islandone of the main islands in the game.
For now, it’s the only island we’ve seen in the game. It’s full of ruins from an ancient civilization, the Kocos, and you’ll have to try to understand their history. To help him, he can count on a mysterious character by the name of Wisewho will be able to talk to Sonic to guide him.
What is Cyber Space?
While waiting to discover the other islands, we have already been able to see what what we could call the dungeons would look like, namely Cyber Space. This is another dimension that mixes up all the genres a bit, since we were able to see bits of traditional game levels sonic with the environment of Green Hill Zonebut also more urban settings such as highways.
Here you will have to solve puzzles and complete levels very quickly to obtain keys allowing Sonic to progress, so with gameplay that is similar to other games. sonic 3D. But there will also be dungeons that are 2D according to the first feedback on the game. Each area of Cyber Space will be different, and even if the levels are apparently very short, there will be several challenges to complete in order to start them several times .
Open world, or open areas?
Apart from that, it must be said that Sonic Frontiers changes a lot of things. Already, because it’s an open world. Well, no, not so much. Sega’s communication on this aspect is a little vague, because the publisher prefers to talk about a game with open areas. We can therefore imagine that each island will have its own map, a bit like a Pokemon Legends Arceus.
You will be completely free to explore the islands, which means that the classic level-design of the saga had to be turned upside down for this episode. We can move at full speed in the scenery, but outside the flowery fields and mountains, we will come across boosts, rails and springboards that will help us go faster. So yes, it’s bound to be a bit weird to see rails floating in the air in the distance (let’s face it, it looks like squiggles in the sky), especially with clipping, but everything is placed so that the there are plenty of ways to go faster, regardless of the route taken.
And besides, if it’s going too fast for you, you can change the controls. Two types of gameplay will be offered, an action mode and a speed mode. The first allows more precise control of Sonic, which is useful for platforming phases, and the second allows you to reach the true maximum speed of the blue hedgehog. Moreover, it is by recovering a lot of rings that we can go as quickly as possible, knowing that we lose some of these rings by being hit.
Read also :
Sonic Frontiers: Open areas, 3D gameplay, characters… Learn everything in video
We will therefore alternate between the two to better explore the map, which will be full of secrets to discover. You guessed it, the game uses the formula of Zelda Breath of the Wild with tall towers you can climb on to get a better view of the horizon. We can also scan the surroundings using a kind of hamster wheels in which Sonic can run to recharge them.
We will obviously be able to meet other characters, even if Sega has not shown any for the moment. We know that Knuckles will be there since it will be at the heart of a short film related to the game, but we also guess that the Dr Robotnik is not far, because you can see ships with their heads on them on some images.
Along the way, you will also have to solve environmental puzzles. Whether puzzles with slabs to activate or pillars to activate in order, these puzzles will unlock new areas and increase the characteristics of Sonic. The more we perform, the more Sonic will be more resistant, but also stronger and faster.
How do battles work in Sonic Frontiers?
And it will have to be that since Sonic will face a lot of enemies on the Starfall islands. The bestiary is completely different from what the saga has accustomed us to.
To eliminate these new enemies, Sonic can rush at them at high speed, but also kick them very quickly, with combos to make and skills to unlock as the game progresses. We can also see that he has special attacks, such as when he backs up to make a big dash at the enemy.
Rest assured, if the fight does not excite you (and it must be said that it does not look exciting) you can activate an automatic mode that will do this chore for you.
But Sonic’s greatest weapon will be his new ability, the Cyclone. To activate it, it will simply be necessary to form a circle around the enemy, which will destabilize it and the project in the air to make it vulnerable. And it will be especially useful for the big bosses, which we have already seen on video.
It almost feels like Shadow of the Colossus here (so to speak), since it will be necessary to weaken the legs of these large monsters to then climb on them and aim for their weak points in height. We also saw a giant and flying boss, very slender, on which it will be possible to run. This ability of the Cyclone will also be useful during exploration to solve puzzles and activate mechanisms.
When will Sonic Frontiers be released?
Sonic Frontiers is currently scheduled to be released in 2022 on all platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and Switchalthough for the moment, Sega did not want to give a precise date.
And despite quite a few fans asking for the title to be pushed back, the publisher says the game won’t be pushed back, or at least not because of its poor reception over the past few days. We now expect to know more about the rest of its environments, probably by the end of the summer, with hopefully a date.