Sonic Frontiers | PS5 Review

Gotta Go FAST! Everyone around me knows that my passion for the “Blue Blur” is unrivaled in the world of video games. My man-cave is simply a shrine to the charismatic speedster, as I’ve been fascinated with him since the moment I plugged in my brand new Sega Genesis, way back on Christmas of 1991. From those fast beginnings, Sonic the Hedgehog grew to become a household name, loved by many, and hated by Nintendo.

Sonic would go on to have numerous platforming expeditions, and his first couple ventures into the 3D world were a smash, with both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. From that point on, however, Sonic Team would be largely hit-or-miss with their productions. Games ranging from what many in the industry would call a complete blunder(Sonic the Hedgehog ‘06) to the fantastic experience that is Sonic Generations have left uncertainty among fans concerning the viability of Sega’s mascot.

That said, Sonic Frontiers would be Sonic Team’s biggest and most ambitious project yet, introducing players to their “Open Zone” concept. I’ll openly admit that when I first caught wind of this approach, I was skeptical. Then the calendar on my desk flipped to November 8, 2022. I was not prepared.

Interdimensional Travel

Sonic and his three friends, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy, are sucked into another dimension while investigating a mystery lead by the Chaos Emeralds. The gems are drawn to what appear to be a group of islands out in the middle of nowhere, which you soon learn are called the “Starfall Islands” (with good reason). As Sonic flies through the dimensional portal, however, he is separated from his friends, and he is alone when he emerges on the other side of the portal. He is surrounded by lush vegetation, and the island he has landed on is dotted with architectural ruins from an age long ago.

Something about the technology they present, however, seems far too advanced for even modern day, let alone the ages they were fully functional. Before long, as he explores this new world, he finds his friend Amy, and something is definitely not right. She appears to be stuck in “cyberspace,” and she needs Sonic to break her free. It’s not long before you realize that Tails and Knuckles are suffering the same fate, and there is a very ominous feeling about these islands…

Sonic Frontiers tells a story that feels like it balances perfectly between being serious and being comical. As a big fan of the franchise, I enjoyed finding every story bit I could to relish in what was being laid out in front of me. However, much of what’s told happens in a side-story manner, meaning finding all the different spots and interacting with the characters is something you can do as much or little of as you wish. If you’re a Sonic fan from the early days on, finding the story bits is quite rewarding, though, as they at times will give a nod to past games in the Sonic lineup. It was quite charming.

Open Zone, Open Speed

As stated earlier, Sonic Frontiers flies down a path quite different from the past roads taken in the Sonic franchise Quite frankly, it’s a huge breath of (the wild) fresh air. The “Open Zones” refer to the Starfall Islands on which this story takes place, where each island acts as its own smaller open world. Exploring these islands is an experience unlike any I’ve ever had before, and it is the most fun I’ve had in a video game in such a long, long time. Speeding across the islands in a literal blue blur is exhilarating, and induces a feeling of freedom that I have never felt from a video game before.

Occasionally, however, a buzzkill would materialize. Sonic Frontiers employs its mix between its 3rd person speed rush and its side scrolling, platforming segments in the open zones rather poorly. Not because the side scrolling gameplay isn’t fun; on the contrary, it’s actually quite enjoyable, and the layout of rails and bumpers helps to keep the speed-induced euphoria intact. It becomes quite an annoyance, though, when you unexpectedly land in a side scrolling section without planning or attempting to, and you enter a struggle with the camera and controls to exit said segment. Most egregious of these is when you’re in a hurry to get from one spot or another for one of the many challenges you have to complete to reveal more of the map. Luckily, this type of occurrence happens only every once in a while, so the bogging down frustrations were pretty minimal.

Another facet that I was concerned with heading into Sonic Frontiers was the combat with enemies in the open zones. In past sonic games, where combat was utilized, I felt that it actually took away from the “speed” ideal that our spiky blue hero was founded upon. Although Sonic Unleashed is beloved amongst fans, the combat in that game felt like it just slowed the game down in my opinion. I was quite worried that this would feel the same.

Thankfully, and much to my surprise, the combat in Sonic Frontiers feels absolutely amazing. Every action is a lightning-fast blur, so it feels like you are still moving faster than a bullet whilst whalloping on your enemies. A skill tree lets you learn more moves as you progress, and while there is not a single combat move that isn’t fun to use, the skill tree itself is an extreme disappointment. It is quite poorly paced, as I had learned the entire thing by the end of the second of five islands One of the abilities you have to actually turn off in the menu if you don’t want to utilize it (and I did not.) What a waste.

Sonic In Cyberspace 

As you traverse, you are tasked with finding portals to Cyberspace, which you must enter to clear for the keys needed to unlock the Chaos Emeralds. This is how the Sonic “levels” that we are all more familiar with are implemented. Each portal is a level much like the ones in Sonic games of the past, some side scrolling, but most in the 3rd person, 3D style. One thing that Sonic Team has handled pretty well over their last few works is the design and play of these levels.

The 3D levels are a two minute adrenaline rush, and the side scrolling platforming is on par with some of the best you can experience. Each level you enter has a number of challenges, such as completing it in a certain amount of time, or finding all the “hidden” red rings. Each challenge you complete rewards you with a key to the Chaos Emerald shrines. My only grievance on these levels, and quite a small one at that, is that the challenges felt too easy. Quite often I was able to complete all or most challenges in a level on my first run.

Speed In Motion

The very first thing I had to do when I booted up Sonic Frontiers was pick up my jaw. Dead serious. I never thought I would find myself in awe of how gorgeous a Sonic game is, but here I was, in that moment.

Let me get a few things out there right off the bat, though. There is some “pop-in” that happens with the platforms as you fly across the islands. Quite often, actually. For some, that might be a negative mark. The distance at which it happens, however, is not detrimental to the gameplay in any way, shape, or form, and it had no affect on me at all, so I won’t be using that as a point in the cons list. If that’s something that irks you, though, be aware that it is plentiful throughout the game.

Now, on to the beauty that is the Starfall Islands. Everything I saw in this world was absolutely breathtaking. One of my favorite activities, simple though it may be, is speeding through the foliage on the islands. No task in mind, just going fast. What I enjoy about it is how well the visuals behave when I do so. It feels extremely thrilling watching the vegetation go by in a blur of multiple colors. The Cyberspace levels are also a sight to take in as you race through them, with a callback here and there to levels of old, such as the Chemical Plant Zone from Sonic 2 and City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2. 

The musical score is absolutely superb, as well. The mellow melodies of the open zones, on paper, sound to me like they would contrast the rapid movement as you skim across the lands. Somehow, though, Sonic Team seems to have captured lightning in a bottle yet again, as the soothing sounds fit the experience like a glove. Diving into the Cyberspace levels, you’re eardrums thump approvingly to the upbeat scores that Sonic Team has come to be known for over the years.

Sonic Frontiers Final Verdict

Sonic Frontiers is not without flaws. However, I will say with honesty that this experience has been the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time, and that’s saying something. Where it falls short, it more than makes up for in taking “fun” gameplay to a level it has never been before. So many of my peers have approached me after having played Sonic Frontiers and all we can say to each other is, “Isn’t it fun?!” Sure, sometimes the dialogue between characters isn’t properly displayed or well written, but that’s a minor flaw once you get the hang of how it’s displayed. It’s not perfect. I’ve pushed my bias to the side for this experience, though, and I implore you – if you like fun, play Sonic Frontiers. You just Gotta Go FAST!!

To hear more about Sonic Frontiers, be sure to listen to our November 17th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast. You can hear that discussion begin around the 1:01:51 time stamp.

This review is based on a purchased copy of Sonic Frontiers on PlayStation 5. It is also available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.