In a recent interview, the head of Sonic Team has described what he considers the essence ofSonic the Heddgehoggames, and has said at what lengths that the developers have gone through to keep it intact inSonic Frontiers. It seems as though even as the blue blur has gone numerous reiterations over the last 30 years, there has always been a core image as to what theSonic the Hedgehogseries has been about in the eyes of its creators.
According to Takashi Iizuka, the leader of Sonic Team, the “essence” ofSonicisn’t just the blue hedgehog’s trademark speed. Instead, it’s about using the fast-paced gameplay to accomplish feats that could only be pulled off with that incredible pacing combined with the players' skills. The developer has said “running in a straight line won’t cut it” when it comes to making sure fans experience the feelings that havemade theSonicseries so iconic.
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Iizuka, during an interview with Eurogamer, has said that it’s “very clear” to him that “just going fast doesn’t makeSonicfun.” This is a rather interesting phrase to hear from the head of Sonic Team afterSonic Forceswas criticized openly by fans for the amount of automation found within it. Many players simply put their controllers down to emphasize how the game could easily play itself at times. This phrase may very well mark Sonic Team learning from previous mistakes.
One other interesting part of Eurogamer’s interview with the developer is that Iizuka callsSonic Frontiersthe “third” new iteration ofSonicgameplay. This almost excludes the “boost"gameplay ofSonic Unleashedthat marks the halfway point betweenSonic AdventureandFrontiers. However,Unleashedhas been criticized in recent years for the very gameplay style it introduced. It’s known for starting the “boost to win” trend in the franchise, a prime example of how just running isn’t enough for some fans.
As curious as these statements from the leader of Sonic Team are, this may lead to some fans who have desired for the series to drift away from automation and lean more into skill to look forward to the game more. In the end, Iizuka’s words suggest thatFrontiersaims to do a number of things differentlycompared to the series' last few entries.
However, thefirst few gameplay trailersSonic Frontiersreleaseddidn’t get a great reception from fans at first. Despite Takashi Iizuka’s comments, players noticed automation on rails that felt rather out of place in the scenic Starfall Islands. However, after more information about the gameplay loop with a public demo at Gamescom, players seem to feel a bit more confident in the next Sonic title. For those who are curious as to how this new “open-zone” take on the series holds up, the game will be in players' hands in two months.
Sonic Frontierswill launch on November 8 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Skull and Bones and Sonic Frontiers Are in the Same BoatSource:Eurogamer
