Sonic Frontiers makes you FEEL like Sonic - Review & Analysis
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- "Sonic Frontiers makes you FEEL like Sonic - A Review & Analysis"
I've had the chance to play Frontiers so I want to discuss it: let's talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. Please share your thoughts on the game in the comments. I have my fingers firmly crossed that Frontiers informs the future of Sonic games so I think it’s an apt time to dissect what Frontiers has to offer, what it does right and wrong and how it can be built upon and improved in the future.
Thank you to Lixes for the Sonic Frontiers x Fleetway mashup thumbnail art.
Check them out here: / lixesprototype
Chapters :-
00:00 Introduction
01:25 The Open World
10:09 Combat
17:20 Story & Visuals
22:08 RPG Mechanics
26:26 Cyber Space Levels
32:02 Fishing
34:42 Pinball
36:59 Conclusion
Music used in this video :-
- "Sonic World Theme" from Sonic Jam
- "Theme of Ares Island (1st Movement)" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Cyber Space 1-3 - Digital Cave" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Theme of Kronos Island (7th Movement)" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Theme of Koco" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Cyber Space 2-5: Déjà vu" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Fishing Vibes" from Sonic Frontiers
- "Island Mystery: Pinball" from Sonic Frontiers
Please consider giving the video a like if you enjoyed and subscribing for more Sonic & video game content in the future.
Find me on Twitter: / thejohnnyvector 
Игры
Did you enjoy Frontiers? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Yes! I got 100% on release week on Xbox. One of the first in the world. Very fun game.
@@Yousef77077 👍💙
I certainly did! I can’t wait for all the post-launch content!
Absolutely! I felt it was the best 3D game in the series since Generations. Even with its imperfections, I love the game and think it’s a great stepping stone for future entries.
@@benmalsky9834 Yeah, I didn't factor that into this review but it's a really nice (free) bonus!
Great video Johnny! I feel it’s very important to advocate for Sega to finally break the habit of starting from scratch with each new Sonic game. I’m really glad that they’ve been asking for genuine feedback from players. I encourage everyone who takes part in those surveys to be civil and explain what you want to see improved in Sonic Team’s next project, rather than say “throw it all out”.
Thanks! Yes, it's frustrating that Sonic Team have a tendency to discard a formula after one instalment. It sounds like they won't be doing that with Frontiers though, which is very encouraging news.
Whoever made that render of Sonic in the thumbnail needs to be more recognized!
For sure! Check them out on Twitter: LixesPrototype. They also made my 'Fleetway Amy' thumbnail art too.
more like somebody needs to do a fleetway sonic mod for the game that looks like that
@@JohnnyVector It would be cool if you would talk about Tekno The Canary. If we are going to compare Sonic to Dragon Ball, Tekno is 100% Bulma.
Sonic Frontiers actually made me feel emotional over a Sonic game
When he started to look pained in island 3 to 4 I could feel that tiredness and the length of the adventure
If sega are going to reuse old sonic levels for the sake of nostalgia, they can at least bring back the competition levels from sonic 3 and expand upon them into actual levels.
Azure lake, balloon park, chrome gadget, desert palace and endless mine would all look so sweet with modern graphics.
That render of Fleetway Sonic in the thumbnail is so sick! He has such a cool design and it looks great in 3D here!
We have to make Sonic Frontiers game of the year. It wasn't even nominated for BEST SOUNDTRACK. Have they even heard "Undefeatable" or "Break Through It All" or "Find Your Flame?" I mean come on, cyberspace slaps and the mellow and mysterious beats of the open zone are amazing! It's criminal that it wasn't nominated for best soundtrack. So let's get it to player's voice awards number 1. We can do it!
The fact they plan on releasing dlc to add Amy, Tails, and knuckles as playable characters makes me think Sega is testing the waters and if the experiment works. They might stay with the formula.
I seriously hope they do, Frontiers is full of great ideas that just need to be expanded on(flesh out the combat, give us a little more variety in stuff to do in each zone and stick landing a little better with the ending for example). A little polish and the next game could legitimately be the best 3D Sonic game ever(maybe even the best Sonic game period)
they already did a well story and gameplay so new characters was also other of the most requested stuff from old games, i really hope it goes well since they actually listened to the fans in this game
One thing I had to learn about the cyberspace levels was to throw out everything I knew about traditional Sonic platforming. Movement under Sonic's own power is relatively slow. I liken it to running or jumping into a headwind. Instead, you must memorize whichever route maximizes the use of dash panels and hoops in order to sustain enough speed for a good rank. While I think I prefer the old-style momentum-based physics, the new style became pretty fun once I understood it.
Wow this game really makes me FEEL like Sonic. The way he attacks and parries really shows off the exaggerated swagger of a blue rodent.
Sound the alarm, shatter me like glass.
Covered in scars, but roses are coming through the cracks
Time that you killed, you promised to help me rebuild, you caught me off guard.
Sound the alarm.
Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearing me down.
Am I laid to waste now that you're not around?
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins.
Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it.
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Did we make a work of art just so you could deface it?
Did you let it fall apart just so you could replace it?
Tag your name on the side of a burning bridge, watch it fade when the smoke rolls in.
Time that you killed, you promised to help me rebuild, feels like you planned it.
Took us for granted
Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearing me down.
Am I laid to waste, now that you're not around?
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins.
Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it.
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Oh, you're freaking crazy, hate me, love you, breaking bottles on the pavement, just to watch it crash.
Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearing me down.
Am I laid to waste, now that you're not around?
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins.
Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it.
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearing me down.
Am I laid to waste, now that you're not around?
Come and leave your mark, vandalize my heart.
Really interesting to see that cyberspace mid-stage dialogue. Sonic's monologuing seems to work differently based on platform, it's really odd but the fact he monologues at all is cool as heck.
Ah, classic game reviewer phrase for the title I see. I'd never thought about Sonic Jam's 3D world being the predecessor to Sonic Frontier's open-world (or open zone at they call it) level design; interesting. As someone who isn't a fan of open world games typically, Sonic Frontiers isn't likely a game I'll end up playing, but I've heard good things about it and I look forward to hearing your thoughts here.
5:59 - I believe that is to give an inherent danger to the platforming, whereas with what I've seen of Sonic Frontiers, the punishment for falling from platforms is the feeling of wasted time. I feel with past Sonic games, whilst they have had some exploration encouraged, the main point of the levels is still to get to the end of the goal. Sometimes there are chaos emeralds and special stages to get along the way, sometimes there are 2 or 3 alternative routes and sometimes routes differ based on character, but the point is still to get to the same end goal.
11:28 - A lot of the mini-boss guardians seem to be the highlight of the combat, often in how they emphasis Sonic's platforming abilities rather than his fighting prowess. As you show with 12:13 and 12:23, this also applies to some of the standard enemies as well.
17:32 - Ironically, I feel story has always been a rather important part of the Sonic series with it being decently emphasised from even the early 2D days (how the levels transition from one-to-another is a story telling element). Perhaps it does help that Sonic Adventure is my favourite Sonic game and you get to explore a story from 6 different angles and character perspectives.
20:46 - Lovely vocabulary when describing the game's visuals. The overcast grassy area (which I believe is the first island) reminds me of Sonic and the Black Knight; feels like a typical British day.
26:55 - I've generally heard the cyberspace levels are the weakest part of the game, particularly the 2D sections. Some of the 3D sections do seem somewhat feeling; a bit of a blend of Adventure and Boost gameplay to some of them (based on what I've seen from gameplay).
37:10 - A stellar review of this game; wonderfully segmented and with tons of aspect delightfully detailed. I say this praise despite how this review has further convinced me that this game isn't for me, but that is due to how your review does a great job in highlighting it's immense open world focus, which simply doesn't appeal to me.
Excellent review. I recently completed the game and loved it. Can't really add much to what you've said here because I'd just be repeating the same points you made but SF clicked every box for me as a Sonic fan. The game was fun, I loved how it still felt like Sonic despite being so open, loved the commentary, the callbacks like Sonic reminding Tails he was the one who saved Station Square from Robotnik etc. It makes me really excited for the future of the franchise going forward.
Love the classic STC style Sonic for the thumbnail. Proper throwback!
I agree with a lot of the critique, especially the elder koko levelling system. In regards to the pinball segment, while I agree it could have been expanded upon, thematically it makes sense for it to be set only in the volcano of Chaos Island, as it pays homage to Sonic Spinball, as that game is set inside a volcano base of Eggman's. I will agree that it definitely needed some polish, and I think it would have been more fun to have Sonic as the ball, but having it happen more often could have made it outstay its welcome. All in all, I hope the open world/zone format is here to stay for a while, as it fits Sonic really well.
That's a super cool thumbnail. I wish it was a classic sonic game now
Great review. I agree with nearly everything you’ve said about the game- although I did get used to the cyber-space gameplay variation. I’ve ended up getting the platinum for this game now. I loved nearly every minute- even the incredibly hard true final boss!
I desperately want this kind of game set in an Eggmanland type environment. A city in general would be nice, but I want to really explore an area where Eggman has truly taken over
Sonic 3 and Knuckles is also my all time favorite Sonic, although Frontiers is now neck and neck.
Glad to see 3 and Knuckles is also your favorite and not the cliche answer of Sonic 2 as everyone's go to favortie.
Off topic: can you ask Lixes to make a Fleetway knuckles and Fleetway espio model please. Seriously their modeling looks amazing I love to see more from them.
I'd love to see Lixes make some Chaotix Fleetway art. I have an idea for a Fleetway video in a couple of months time, I'll be sure to chat with them again about the thumbnail!
A mighty render would be phenomenal
@@BillimanMCjon I agree man Mighty would go hard.
Iizuka has already said that Frontiers is the basis they want to build upon for the future :D
Now alot of people say screw that when I bring up make a full classic game in 3D. Now that you bring up open world. Forces basically made classic sonic its own separate universe. Alot of people don't like it but it's too late to go back on it. They already did it. If you give us a classic sonic open world but use the way the anniversary idw sonic book did with it's classic sonic story. You make the open world classic sonic game with writing like that. It would be cute and great.
I really love that thumbnail.
Thanks! Check out LixesPrototype on Twitter if you want to see a few more of their Fleetway-inspired pieces.
Cool Thumbnail
I’m yet to play frontiers (I’m getting it as a Christmas gift) but I’m hyped as hell to play it 😁
I hope you enjoy it. It's great fun and I hope it's a formula Sonic Team choose to build on going forward.
@@JohnnyVector after finally playing frontiers I ca definitely say I’m having so much fun running around the islands
This was best sonic has been in years. Some truly remarkable moments
Fun Fact: In Sonic Universe (Roblox) Asura's Fight Was Recreated As The Cyber Sonic Badge (It Came Out Before Frontiers Came Out In July I Think)
It appears that Sega have taken notice of the success of Frontiers because they have approved all that DLC after the release sales figures came in. We have more Frontiers coming because it has done well.
beat frontiers yesterday, pretty damn solid
first 3D sonic game i've actually finished, i mean i have TONS of them but i've never beaten one
the super sonic fights, the music, the gameplay, it's all so good
Awesome! I think the last 3D game that received the same outpouring of support from the fanbase that Frontiers has received as Generations. It might be worth a try next if you fancy it.
@@JohnnyVector i do actually have generations, reason i haven't completed it is because i don't really like the missions and classic sonic stuff, but i'll give it another go
How long does it take to create an analysis video like this?
I love this video, it tells what you like and what you would like to be improved on. Sonic team definitely needs more videos like this!
Thanks! I could've been more critical about the pop-in and jank but ultimately...I found myself really enjoying the game, so I tried to focus on that side of my experience.
Do you think they'll add Silver in the game? because i love the fact that they have not only referenced past games but Tangle from IDW comics was mentioned by Sonic :D
It would be great if they did but I think the plan to add a few playable characters won't include Silver.
@@JohnnyVector eh I’ll keep dreaming anyway since I can’t play 06 to play as Silver 😅
@@gracekim25 you can wait for Project 06 to be fully ready :D
Fleetway Sonic in Sonic Frontiers isn't real I can't hurt you
Fleetway sonic in Sonic Frontiers
He's watching you
I'm enjoying it so far, so i can not watch this video now because i am avoiding spoilers
No problem. I hope you enjoy the game.
That thumbnail though
When I play this game I don't just feel like the Hedgehog. I am the Hedgehog!
I Tested And You’re Required 15 Koco For Either 1 Ring Upgrade Or Speed Upgrade
Sonic jam was the game that solidified my love of Sonic (plus the easy modes let me finish the ganes as I was too unskilled to do them normally.... two words...labyrinth zone)
Cool
18:52
I've played through this game twice now and not ONCE have any of those quotes triggered for me.
I didn't get all of the quotes in that little clip but I got a few. Wasn't recording at the time so I had to use someone else's footage because I couldn't trigger any of the quotes again.
I think Frontiers is a decent game, but a lot of things really hold it back from being truly great. The game holds your hand more than it really needs to, the restrictions on Sonic's momentum kinda buries the potential in the more tuned control scheme, the open-world setting, while unique, kinda loses its luster when 3 of the 5 islands are just the forest area, and while the overall gameplay loop is solid, I don't think it's interesting enough to play for over hours like Mario Odyssey or Banjo-Kazooie. Oh, and cyberspace can bite me.
That's not me saying that the game is bad or anything. Not at all. I just don't think it's the sign of Sonic's return to glory that everyone's saying it is. What I'm hoping for is that Sega/Sonic Team refined what worked in Frontiers and removes what didn't, and we might get a truly amazing game then.
Huh?
Fully agree
Agreed.
I should mention the infamous SUS trick in frontiers
You mean making a sussy shape with the cyloop?
@@JohnnyVector yes. Sometimes I hate Among Us
Oh yeaaaaah... haha 😅
Can you please talk about ray the flying squirrel?
I'm going to try and do that in the next couple of weeks
@@JohnnyVector Yay :D
Honestly, I would say the game is generally slightly above average. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my time with the game from beginning to end and were left with a positive impression all the same. It's not as if every game has to be a total slam dunk to be worthwhile, y'know? It may be a 7/10, but it's a SOLID 7/10!
My main beef with the game centers around the lack of variety in the combat moves, as a lot of them simply exist to be chained into one another instead of offering a different kind of utility from the rest of your moveset. The lack of visual variety in both the last set of islands and especially in cyber space is also really disheartening. Those gripes do not outweigh the positives, but they do keep the game from reaching its full potential. Still, the future actually looks bright for once, which is really refreshing and exciting.
i like the collecting in sonic unleashed better. i had the ps2 version and throughout each stage you could find pieces of concept art or music to collect i feel like this is where frontiers messed up.
This is the funnest game I have ever played.
I really wanna keep watching but I still haven’t played the game😭😭
No problem at all. I hope you enjoy the game and revisit when you're done!
I loved the game besides the fact that I disliked the mini bosses who took you off a floor into the air because it's Sonic and he's a runner while he's sluggish when thrown in those zones . And that once you get the B special skill, it stops Sonic from being able to spin dash into enemies cause it overrides it and does the animation and as a SA2 fan that makes me bummed out
Johnny, u ain't alone. That one scene with sonic and knuckles starring flirty each other made me feel like they were gonna kiss.
Nobody get ideas... please
First off Great review & I understand/agree with the large bulk of ur sentiments
Wut Sonic team needs is MANPOWER. We have a team of 60(almost mostly newby sonic) devs workin on a AAA GAME while also havin to release the game on almost EVERY DEVICE under the sun(OG Xbone/PS4-Series X/PS5, THE SWITCH, & PC), While doin wut Sonic Team does best doin somethin completely diff that No ones done before(atleast not quite like them). It's hard to compare to somethin like GoW: Ragnarok which has the EXACT opposite situation i.e. HAS EVERYTHIN goin for it. But while not exactly even a 9 for me I love this game & the overall direction of the franchise & if they take the bulk of the criticisms (which they prob will) & SEGA HIRES MORE they'll do Amazin next time(I alr believe they did great).
I have a few issues wit the story like wit wut they do wit Tails feels like an overcorrection for the past decade & that part in particular feels like Ian Flynn bein like "HEY LOOK AT ME I'M FIXIN IT THAT'S COOL RIGHT?" Completely forgettin Tails HAS been on his own before like say UNLEASHED. Sometimes the writin feels like the WRITERS talkin to u DIRECTLY instead of lettin it jus play out in the story naturally. I'd have jus done Sonic lookin behind tails in slight amazement before smirkin at how focused tails is at the task. The references R great & I LOVE the continuity but that suffers a similar issue to a less egregious degree like when they haphazardly mentioned Dark Gaia jus cus they couldn't find a better way to integrate it. It jus feels so tongue in cheek like "don't wanna piss off unleashed fans"(I'm Unleashed fans & I'm pissed now so good job). Also even though this vid isn't bout that Sages' relationship wit Eggman while endearin comes off a little cheep & is also HELLA inconsistent wit the egghead for the past 30+yrs(I do like Sage though). Initially I was worried for the story CUS It was Ian Flynn, I got a love hate relationship wit his writin in IDW after bingin the past 50 odd issues. He created & I kid u not THE ABSOLUTE WORST "SONIC" I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT'S ACTUALLY SONIC JUS SOME OBOMINATION THAT WEARS HIS SKIN THERE TO FRAME HIMSELF AS SUCH! But aside from mostly that in particular I can't deny he & his team know the characters really well for the most part. He's a really "good" writer but not the best "Sonic" writer imo. I'll say that while NOT "perfect" Frontiers Sonic is technically much better than before(even though I don't hate meta era Sonic lol(aside from Lost world). He feels like a nice in-between of OG/Meta era Sonic which is nice. This game from gameplay to story is the most ambitious since 06 & the third most ambitious of ALL the games under Adventure 1/06 & Imo it succeeds at it overall & I'm excited for the next thing to come but all this has made me come to a realization... Western writers shouldn't touch sonic games no matter how well they know the universe/characters or how "good" of a writer they R. I think it'd be best to jus leave it to Japanese writers mainly CUS of the way they write(that in particular is somethin hard to explain even if u're a weeb like me lol). Western writers can't do it the same cus their priorities R diff. I actually really liked the more questions than answers approach lore stuff with the Emeralds. I don't EVER want a true answer on wut they R or where they come from beyond the vaguest possibilities. From wut I can tell the ancients didn't CREATE them they jus used them before anyone we've known up to this point(which kinda leaves the Gaia temples up in the air but whateves ig). & EVEN THEN the M.E. IS STILL a HUGE MYSTERY cus IT WAS ON EARTH 1ST! I was initially VERY worried but save for wut may come in the future I LOVED THIS APPROACH SO MUCH!
I liked CS at the end despite agreein it's the worst part. The reused level design wit these controls is so unique in a fun way despite the awkwardness. That Should prob control either more like pure boost(say colors) or the open zone(FUCK THE DRIFT STAGE THO). While the 2D stages were the worst part of CS for me I really liked it in Chaos Island(really adds to the Chaos lol) tho I admit it can be a bit much sometimes & ur not always afforded an easy exit when u enter accidentally. I liked Unleashed combat more(despite not bein the best at DMC/GoW kind've games) but Frontiers has a mostly simpler "Sonic'y" approach that'll prob work for more ppl especially cus it's more directly integrated without havin to "completely change character/playstyle". I really liked the Final Final boss bein a Toho bullet-hell Ikaruga kinda thing(felt like somethin outta Nier). Though I did get the feelin playin it there was somethin missin(like there was supposed to be 1 extra faze that would truly cap it off that was left out purposefully).
I'm sry for the paragraph but I needed to air my grievances/worries before I switch gears &... CONTINUE TO PRAISE THE FUCK OUTTA THIS GAME CUS SONIC IS TRULY BACK BABY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
To be fair when the camera shifts into 2d your not really trap, all you have to do is go back the opposite direction or jump off the platform I understand the criticism but it’s not a huge issue imo.
Sonic 06 sonic unleashed? Same open hubs as sa1 had
Sonic Frontiers just had an update. Did anybody here notice?
Wait really?
@@gracekim25 Yes, I saw the update happen on my Nintendo Switch. I don't know what the update is yet.
@@richardwienke7546 just some preforamance improvements and bug fixes
Baaaaaaaaass
Cyberspace as a whole is just a big miss opportunity. It seems very lazy with the execution of its aesthetic, with only four backgrounds three of which were pulled from previous games. I know they aren't the main focus of the game but imagine how cool cyberspace would look if it went full force of the whole hazzy memory/dream theme, an almost liminal space type aesthetic. Not only would it be visually appealing but a nice contrast to the more grounded aesthetic of the open world
I don't think I'd like this game as much as I did if I couldn't just break the whole game to do anything.
i'd rather play sonic heroes team dark casino park than play frontiers pinball again
More like how Sega stole a bunch of botw ideas and how an avarage game is seen as good from fan
Alright, how much did Sega pay you? /s
People just wanna have escapism because movies are bad and now people have a reason to not leave their homes, but doesn't actually make openworld games good, because once there's nothing to do, just space!
Huh?!
I think what you were trying to say is Frontier's environments are boring and empty. Which is true. Thanks for chiming in!
@@normalgrahamok?
The pop in is awful, the game gets really un interesting really fast and has the classic sonic jank we all come to expect. It may be the best 3d sonic game in years but compared to other games it gets blown away. It just confirms that Sega has no real clue how to make a good 3d sonic game and should probably try going back and making 2d sonic games.
(2 kids crying I have opinions on this game under this comment)
why are you lying?
Aside from the lack of elaboration, you come off as pretentious. People like you need to stop pretending like you know game design or business politics. Unless you can somehow get a job at Sega and work on a Sonic game, you're nothing but an arrogant manchild.
@@fictionalmediabully9830 sorry I didn't do a 5 page essay on my comment on a RUclips video and ironically you acting like that makes you sound like a pretentious braindead consumer who huffs copium because the franchise that has had an uber rocky ride on quality ever since it went to 3d had a 1 decent game in a couple of decades. But since I didn't do a full analysis and review through my comment like the video, I'm somehow not allowed to have my opinion on the issues that I have with the game. The last good sonic game worth playing was mania and guess what, Sega didn't even make that one.
@@gracekim25 where's the lie? Considering this is all my opinion on what I have gripes with the game.
@@xxarcangelxx143
You only gave three reasons, only one of which is understandable in one sentence, and the rest of the comment is you acting as if you know something about Sonic that Sega doesn't. Sega doesn't develop the games, they only publish them, and they're a company filled with graduated people who spent years in the gaming business. Why should they listen to some random nobody who talks like this?
no it kinda doesn't. look im sorry but this game still doesn't feel like sonic
Mayne it's because the only sonic games I've played was the original 1st and second and then the 360 version but this game looks boring. The world seems so empty. What's even the story?
Yeah um looking at just gameplay isn’t going to tell you shit 😅
You clearly don’t understand OPEN WORLD🤦♀️
@@gracekim25 open world doesn't mean empty world.
@@kitten-whisperer exactly
The Game is FAR from boring. The world isn't very empty. There are not only enemies and mini bosses, but also platforming challenges, timer challenges, mini games, etc.
The story, although a little confusing, was imo good
And combat is fun. If you want to do real damage, then it's not just "mash this button"
Cool
Thanks!