Sonic Frontiers - the game

[iloverage]

Never thought that a Sonic trailer would initially make me think of Nier.

[Mike]

Looks pretty good that!

[BitterToad]

It's unbelievably shameless in how Breath of the Wild that is. Looks... fine I guess?

[Kayin Amoh]

Doesn't look much like Breath of the Wild to me.

 

What it does remind me of is the areas in PSO2: New Genesis. It's been a while since I saw that game, but it's at least how I remember it looking.

[Wiper]

Yeah, the other thing it puts me in mind of is Xenoblade (particularly X) — but then, the blue sky, green meadow, sci-fi aesthetic is largely cornered by PS(O), Xenoblade and Sonic, so that makes a degree of sense! 

[Cheyenne]

Thought similar.

 

Xenoblade Sonicles.

[RubberJohnny]

Longer gameplay section:

 

 

EDIT: Some rough camera transitions there, and gameplay looks kinda basic

[SMD]

On 11/12/2021 at 11:35, SMD said:

The thing about Lost World is that the actual concept was sound, the team lacked resources and experience in making a good game in that mould. I'm pretty sure a bunch of level designers and programmers moved from Sonic Team to Nintendo and worked on Super Mario Odyssey.

 

Sega's problem is they never manage these projects well and don't give their staff opportunities to develop and grow. Every time they release a critical failure, they have a crisis and throw everything out and start again.

 

There should've been a Lost World 2 and they should've given the team actual time to work on polishing and evolving their concepts. That's why I don't have a lot of faith in this one, pulling off open world platforming that's meaningful is really hard and either there's going to be a lot of wasted space or Sega are gonna reuse the shit out of everything.

 

or Sega could just do both, I guess.

[Paulando]

Oddly, this reminds me of Burnout Paradise. Just fucking around an open world looking for ramps and shit.

[bear]

Is the Switch version going to a different game to the other platforms? Looking at that footage, which is interesting, I can't see how a Switch version would run well. 

[Strafe]

Really giving me nostalgia vibes for Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast. Mainly because of the pop in!

 

Looks good though, assuming they tidy it up. Currently it looks more like a tech demo than a sonic game so hopefully they’ll fill out the world a bit more.

 

Looking forward to seeing the switch version, mainly because I have no idea how they will get any sort of comparable version running on it.

[Down by Law]

I think that's just the overworld,not one of the 'proper' levels. But it does look like a fun place to chill out in. The grind ramps from the top of the tower are always fun. Technically it needs polish but it's a good first impression for me👍

[Qazimod]

19 hours ago, iloverage said:

Never thought that a Sonic trailer would initially make me think of Nier.

 

This, especially after seeing @RubberJohnny's video up there. It looks pretty sparse but hopefully it's still early, or maybe there are paths in the world that will lead into distinct zones (like Nier.)

[Sarlaccfood]

12 minutes ago, Qazimod said:

 

This, especially after seeing @RubberJohnny's video up there. It looks pretty sparse but hopefully it's still early, or maybe there are paths in the world that will lead into distinct zones (like Nier.)

I imagine the nature of how fast the character moves around will have to mean a pretty sparse environment?

 

Mind you if it wasn’t it would be in keeping with the 2D sonic games that clearly can’t make their mind up if they want you to go fast or slow down and explore. 

[Kevvy Metal]

This looks both totally awesome and unfinished, and seen as the game isn’t out yet or has a release date, the latter doesn’t matter. 

[Cyhwuhx]

I'll just bow out at this point and will see you again when the crying starts proper, post launch.

[MW_Jimmy]

Well, the gameplay design here (switches, vistas, traversal) definitely fit with the modern Sonic moveset. I'm just hoping there is some levels, and variety, to go with that open world stuff. Might end up with another Halo Infinite here otherwise.

 

Compare that gameplay and subdued atmosphere with this from Sonic Unleashed and I know which I prefer:

 

 

 

[SMD]

They both suck?

[Not Thread Owner]

I'd forgotten how monumentally shit Sonic Unleashed was.

[Majora]

It looks awful. Drab art style and empty, sterile environments. It doesn't look like there's any meat on the bones there at all, just wandering around aimlessly until you find another rail to grind on or bouncepad to jump off.

 

Everything about it screams 'we want to do Sonic open world with clear BOTW influences' but they had no clue how to meld a fast paced platformer with a laid back open world action adventure. 

 

I'm sure there must be more to it than that video but that felt like 5 minutes of janky triviality.

 

 

[SMD]

7 minutes ago, deKay said:

I'd forgotten how monumentally shit Sonic Unleashed was.

 

You can't forget the PS3 version.

[PyramidFace]

8 hours ago, Strafe said:

Really giving me nostalgia vibes for Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast.

Brave to reply to a RubberJohnny post with this.

[Kayin Amoh]

Watched the longer vid now. Thought it looked kinda awesome, super relaxing and my old man reflexes would actually be able to keep up with it now.

 

The world design looks like you could have Sam Bridges toppling down a mountain as you zoom past.

 

Re: @Wiper Oh man, Xenoblade Chronicles X. Super rad choice.

[chamberlago]

Looks like someone modded a Sonic model in amongst a bunch of unity assets 

[Strafe]

Have there ever been any great sonic 3D games?

 

With this new one it does look like the wide spaces afford a lot more control over Sonic rather than just holding down forward and being bounced through the course like in that unleaded clip.

[Uncle Nasty]

9 minutes ago, Strafe said:

Have there ever been any great sonic 3D games?

 

 

 

No.

[Down by Law]

35 minutes ago, Strafe said:

Have there ever been any great sonic 3D games?

 

 

With the exception of the final boss Generations is superb. Even the classic versions of stages like Rooftop Run are excellent. The SX version at 4K 60 is magnificent. Soundtrack is packed full of absolute bops.

 

All pale in comparison to Sonic 3 & Knuckles tho. An all time great.

 

[DarhkFox]

I'm really not sure what to think of this. It's kinda like those fan games where someone drops in a sonic model into a realistic world.

 

I mean, i guess it looks fun being able to run at speed and there seems to be challenges scattered across the world etc. But what else? If they are going for the BOTW thing, will this game have that depth? I doubt it.

 

It would be good to see more because the last 3d sonic i played was SA2 (and well generations i guess) so it would be nice to finally have a decent 3d sonic.

[Not Thread Owner]

3 hours ago, Strafe said:

Have there ever been any great sonic 3D games?

Sonic Adventure and Adventure 2. The second one especially. Worth the cost of entry just for chao garden.

 

But not since then. Generations looked like it was going to be but whiffed it spectacularly.

[Down by Law]

54 minutes ago, DarhkFox said:

I'm really not sure what to think of this. It's kinda like those fan games where someone drops in a sonic model into a realistic world.

 

I mean, i guess it looks fun being able to run at speed and there seems to be challenges scattered across the world etc. But what else? If they are going for the BOTW thing, will this game have that depth? I doubt it.

 

It would be good to see more because the last 3d sonic i played was SA2 (and well generations i guess) so it would be nice to finally have a decent 3d sonic.

 

I think there's meant to be 'proper stages' accessed from the overworld - this is basically an open world hub with things to do , tying it altogether. That's what i've read, anyway. IGN are pushing this all month, so i'm sure more info will come out over the coming weeks.