Sonic Frontiershas released to a curious reaction. Its new open-world gameplay and combat have given the series a fresh lease on life, but it hasn’t been the smoothest switchover. The closest comparison would beSonic Unleashed, the game that thrilled fans with its boost gameplay, then turned them off with its clunkyGod of War-like Werehog stages.
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Except,Sonic Frontiers’ reception has been a little warmer thanUnleashed. Some people love every bit of it, others detest it with a passion, while everyone else found themselves enjoying the game while acknowledging its flaws. Some of which could be fixed with an update or two.
5Once It Pops, It Doesn’t Stop
Traditional Sonic levels, be it 2D or 3D, were previously more linear in design; simply get from point A to point B. Sonic himself even quips about these ending goals inFrontiers,“sometimes it’s a spinning sign, sometimes it’s a big ol’ ring.” Now he has all sorts of different objectives to complete in one section of the Starfall Islands or another. The problem here comes from Sonic’s speed. He’s way too fast! But not necessarily in the controls this time.
Sonic can outrace the game’s loading speed, as enemies, level architecture, etc., pop in constantly. It would be understandable enough on older hardware, but it happens even on newer, beefier tech like the PS5. Maybe this can get ironed out with some patches and updates, as it could lead to trouble, like having an enemy suddenly pop on top of Sonic as soon as he reaches his new location. Still,it could be worse.
4Funny Physics
This one is more within a patch or update’s reach.Sonicgames have often had some wonky physics for one reason or another.Sonic Adventure 2introduced grinding and a 50% chance of falling to one’s death when trying to switch rails. WhileSonic the Hedgehog2006 infamously had a block that could take Sonic into space if he slide-kicked repeatedly on top of it.
Sonic Frontiers’ bugs aren’t quite as dramatic or traumatic; they’re just a little annoying, as Sonic might suddenly come to a halt after hitting a boost path or swing one way or another after hitting a spring. It’s especially bad inthe Cyber Space levels, where Sonic can suffer from bad slowdown. The PC version already has a mod that eases this issue, though it also suffered from crashes on launch until players tweaked their settings. Either way, the game needs some tidying up.
3Sonic’s Deadliest Enemy: The Camera
Speaking of flaws inSonicgames. Sonic the Hedgehog’s deadliest enemy hasn’t been Dr. Eggman, Shadow, Infinite, orthe Deadly Six; it’s the in-game camera, as it’s led Sonic to more deaths than any boss, bug, or Badnik. In previous games, the camera would either view Sonic and his friends at the wrong angle, make movement confusing, or focus on the wrong item entirely.
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Sonic Frontiersisn’t as bad as, say, the originalSonic Adventure, but if it isn’t looking straight on at Sonic’s back or his side, the camera can get confused. Some players have been left tapping on the lock-on button to make the camera focus on an off-screen enemy, and it can move too high during some platforming sequences. Maybe players can adjust to it like Sonic’s prior games, though a few fixes wouldn’t go amiss here.
2Run. Jump. Fight. Repeat
Sonic Frontiersis a new gameplay direction for Sega’s mascot and one that could lead to some really great games if Sonic Team refines it with future installments. After all, withoutSonic Unleashed’s rough arrival, fans wouldn’t have gotten the more warmly receivedSonic ColorsandSonic Generations. Though they probably won’t have to waitforFrontiers 2to do more within the game.
Sonic gains some new combat mechanics inFrontiers, alongside the usual running, boosting, and jumping. However, the well of fun can run dry as the action gets repetitive. Maybe a DLC pack could help switch it up with some unique levels, missions, or expansions, even if it’s just more pinball tables,Ikaruga-style sections, or something new from scratch. It’ll help break up the same old routines that the game leads the player down.
1Wide, Open, and Empty
This one is unlikely to be fixed with an update or two, as it’s a design flaw inherent in the game. It’s more food for thought for aFrontiers 2or DLC package. There are way too many open, empty plains with nothing to do. Much of the game is spent racing Sonic across fields and deserts with nothing to see or do until it pops into view.It’s like Hyrule FieldinThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: just a dull, wide space to side-hop through.
In the past, these long, empty routes gave the game time to load its oncoming assets as Sonic raced down the track. Though for an open world, it might’ve been best to bring the locations closer together. The game would have to load more at once, but the player wouldn’t be racing as far to reach the playable sections or challenges.InFamousdid the same when its lead zipped ahead on power cables through his big city settings, all with less pop-in on comparatively weaker PS3 hardware.
Sonic Frontiersis out now on PS4, P5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
