Sonic Frontiers Early Hands On Impressions

Initial Release Date: November 8, 2022

Developer: Sonic Team

Series: Sonic the Hedgehog

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Genres: Platform Fighting Action-Adventure

Publishers: Sega, SEGA of America, Sega Europe Limited

The last Sonic game I played was North America’s Dreamcast launch title Sonic Adventure. I adored that game for it’s 3D hub map gameplay, focus on story and great visuals at that time. I even completed it’s campaign. SEGA recently launched Sonic Frontiers.

Sonic Frontiers is if you will, another attempt at changing Sonic’s design with an open world map. Keep in mind, Sonic never had a true open world 3D gameplay design loop. Sonic Frontiers is the first! After putting over an hour playing Sonic Frontiers I can say they have a good foundation to Sonic’s gameplay open world design.

The open world works for what it’s trying to do. I was worried I would get confused due to not playing a Sonic game since Sonic Adventure. In Sonic Frontiers your goal is to find Sonic’s friends and collect Chaos Emeralds. The open world is comprised of Islands with copious amount of activities.

Collecting Portal Gears and Keys unlock more areas of the open world. You have giant robots called titans that feature slippery weird gameplay sequences (not a fan early on). I’m currently playing on the first tutorial Island called Kronos Island.

I’m in the process of rescuing Amy Rose who’s trapped in a Matrix like Cyber World. Collecting Amy’s Hearts on Kronos Island is just another collectible you have to find and collect. Controls and gameplay were weird at first when getting used to. I haven’t played a sonic game in decades. But so far so good. I am enjoying the gameplay and controls.

A important part of Sonic Frontier’s gameplay loop involves around completing Cyber Space Levels by acquiring Portal Gears. Enemies so far I have defeated are Soldiers, Ninja, Bubbles and Titan Asura. Oh, also one enemy called “Shell”.

Sonic has a simplified skill tree tier system for unlocking more powerful attacks etc. Practice Training mode is a quick and easy way to learn the gameplay mechanics and I suggest you practice. Dr Eggman is back and he’s trying to harness the power of the Cyber Space realm.

So far so good. I wasn’t sure about how I would react to Sonic Frontiers. Early on, I am enjoying the gameplay loop of unlocking Cyber Space shrines, defeating Titans, collecting and exploring the Islands. Visually the game looks decent with some blurry textures on occasion. I am playing on my Xbox Series X.

I enjoy the atmosphere of the first Island Kronos visually. Music is good and depends on what sequence you are playing in like say, exploring or Cyber Space levels. Music adjusts dynamically. So yeah, early on I’m liking Sonic Frontiers. In a weird way it reminds me of the 1999 Dreamcast launch Sonic Adventure. Have a great day and thanks for reading – Jason