Last weekend, I went to this year’s Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, one of the Philippines’ biggest gaming events. The place was packed and the lines were long, but I went in anyway and got to try out Sonic Frontiers at the SEGA booth. I played the demo for around 10-20 minutes on a PlayStation 5, and here is what I think of Sonic Frontiers.
A new Sonic
One of the most obvious aspects of Sonic Frontiers that differs from its predecessors is its world-building. In this game, you’re immediately dropped into a strange, sprawling world that’s a bit dimmer compared to the colorful platformers of Sonic games from yesteryears. That’s probably because the demo is set on a level that has a rainy atmosphere, so I’m hoping for more color to develop as you progress throughout the game.
Apart from that, while there are some fun obstacle courses along the way and in between sections where the enemies would be waiting, the world can seem too big and empty for traditional Sonic fans. The starting screen doesn’t give much in terms of visuals, but that’s probably because it’s just a demo. It also doesn’t help that Sonic Frontiers’ graphics, despite being played on a PS5, looks a bit janky. Just take a look at Sonic and the pixels of the rain falling on him.
Another thing that’s different with Sonic Frontiers is the gameplay. While fans are more accustomed to the usual platformer gaming style of previous Sonic games, this new game takes its cue from the ever-growing trend of open-world games. Personally speaking, I think it’s great that they’re updating the gameplay. You’re met with puzzles and obstacles to open new sections on the world map and learn new skills as you gain skill points. The battle system is also straightforward. It’s especially satisfying when you land a combo on an enemy or get to hit multiple enemies.
Final thoughts
Overall, this open-world take on a fan-favorite game is exciting and left me wanting more. While I’m hoping the open world isn’t as empty as I experienced it in the demo, I’m still looking forward to getting my hands on this game. Sonic Frontiers will be out on November 8 and is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
YouTube: Sonic Frontiers – Overview
Photo credits: The feature image and screenshots are owned by SEGA and have been provided for press usage. The event photos have been taken by Danielle Ordonez for TechAcute.
