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In lieu of showing up at a specific Summer press conference, SEGA will be taking to hosting a new Sonic Central event. The broadcast will detail the future projects, partnerships, and events regarding the franchise for the rest of 2022. It'll go live on June 7th at 9am PT/12pm ET.

This will be going on amidst the recent gameplay showcases for Sonic Frontiers, SEGA's next mainline Sonic game. Following IGN's exclusive reveal of two new trailers, concerned fans took to social media, where the hashtag #DelaySonicFrontiers began to trend. The first trailer focused on the open-world level design and general gameplay and was received fairly negatively, with the second trailer highlighting the combat, which caused even more outrage, ranging from fans claiming Sonic's animations were too stiff and unfinished, to the world being lifeless and empty, jokingly compared to fanmade "x series in Unreal Engine" videos.

Right now, Sonic Frontiers is slated to release by the end of this year. Sonic Origins, which is a collection of the series' most beloved retro games, will be out at the end of the month, on June 23rd.

 

[CeeDee]

I keep thinking at some point people will just realize that Sonic was never a good game, and if that isn't the case, it was like 2 games out of 30 that were decent.

That's categorically incorrect. Like, that just isn't true.
But I'd personally say... 3D Sonic is never a good game. It just doesn't work well. (2D Sonic is usually pretty great, though)

 

[tatumanu]

lifeless, unpolished... game development gotta go fast!
They took quick aim and shat out another sonic game.

Im shocked anyone expected more from sega.

Sega has no taste or respect for their most beloved franchises. I'm shocked I actually expected them to manage the blue blur with care this time, never again.

 

[tech3475]

If this turns out bad, I’m wondering if there needs to be a shake up at Sonic Team? Presuming Sega execs weren’t at least partially responsible e.g. mandating open world.

 

[Bladexdsl]

they can stick sonic the breath of the hog up their ass as far as i am concerned. no amount of delay will make THAT THING good I won't even pirate it when it's released!

 

[OldManLav]

If this turns out bad, I’m wondering if there needs to be a shake up at Sonic Team? Presuming Sega execs weren’t at least partially responsible e.g. mandating open world.

....haven't been following Sonic much over the last 20 years, have we?

 

[Xzi]

I don't get what all the fuss is about. It looks ok and i would definitely play it but will wait for the actual game to be out to make a final judgement on the game.
Getting your panties in a bunch over what was shown so far is a bit silly lol

I mean, the game is supposed to release this year and it looks like it's barely one year into development. Like almost within asset flip territory. If they don't delay it and try to charge $60 for this, Sega deserves all the criticism they get and then some. Feels like a $20 game right now, because even the pretty environments are ruined by horrendous pop-in.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Frontiers lookd like a slow boring mess, but hey, I'm excited for Origins. Don't screw that up too, Sega.

 

[tech3475]

....haven't been following Sonic much over the last 20 years, have we?

I'm guessing you haven't, for example, during Sonic 06's development Yuji Naka left, a game which coincidentally also had AFAIK a corporate mandated release date.

Since Sonic Lost World, ST's games I found to be 'better in technical quality but worse in fun'. Given this games longer dev cycle and going by the trailers I'm concerned it will be the pinnacle of this.

I also know that Sega/ST was responsible for many of the issues with Sonic Boom on the Wii U e.g. mid development console switch....to a platform the engine didn't support, among several other reported issues.

I mean, the game is supposed to release this year and it looks like it's barely one year into development. Like almost within asset flip territory. If they don't delay it and try to charge $60 for this, Sega deserves all the criticism they get and then some. Feels like a $20 game right now, because even the pretty environments are ruined by horrendous pop-in.

IIRC in some clips there were distant objects you would expect to be culled still being rendered, unnecessarily IMO.

 

[KingVamp]

While I'm not saying it perfect, I feel like the negativity is overblown. They clearly have more to show.

They could "you know" go back to the awesome 2d that everyone loved and add a good story/well made boards and most would be happy. (I AM LOOKING AT YOU TOO MARIO.)

They could, but as you said yourself...

A good game is good in 3d or 2d.

 

[shaunj66]

I'm kind of expecting a delay for Frontiers as a good will gesture towards the back lash but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't going to make it to release this year anyway.

Even if they do delay it, I think expecting major changes is off the cards. Especially to those people that are asking them to add momentum into the game. That would potentially break the game on a fundamental level. They'd have to ensure that every level and piece of terrain and object isn't broken by the inclusion of momentum.

That isn't something you add half way through development. It's the foundation that an entire game can be built on.

On a brighter note, Origins is just around the corner. I'm expecting a few surprise announcements for that maybe we'll get clarification on the 3K OST.

 

[RedoLane]

I've been saying this for a while now, but it will be SEGA's marketing that will lead to Sonic's downfall.
I hoped that after the entire mess in promotion that was Sonic Forces, they would pick up their brains and plan something for Sonic Frontiers that won't make a lot of fans explode in negativity.
BUT NOPE! Still as incompetent as ever...

 

[UltraDolphinRevolution]

So basically the title of the game is "Sonic - Ukraine".

 

[MariArch]

I kind of want it to be bad lol. Release another meme sega

 

[BlueFox gui]

would delay even fix it?
i mean aside from rough gameplay/animations and other things, its still the same game

 

[sley]

Delaying the game won't make enough of a difference because most of the problems lay on the foundation of the game.

I'm talking about the monotone grassland environment, gameplay of defeating damage sponge enemies with button mashing and the art direction the game is in.

 

[Xzi]

would delay even fix it?
i mean aside from rough gameplay/animations and other things, its still the same game

No amount of delays will make it a masterpiece, but they could maybe take it from a 5/10 to a 7/10 if they make the direction of the game a little more focused. You gotta have more segments of classic Sonic level design populating the world, not to mention vary up the enemies more and give them at least some personality. Also make them less attack-spongey.

Elden Ring, and to a lesser extent BotW, were both praised because of how well they interspersed mastery of linear game design in a non-linear open world framework. Sega can't be out here bringing this weak shit like it's still 2006. Or maybe the plan with Sonic is strictly to ride the movies' coattails from now on.

 

[raxadian]

Sega is on a rush, They are moving at the speed of sound with this game and don't seem to care it won't make them look like heroes.

 

[SexiestManAlive]

They could "you know" go back to the awesome 2d that everyone loved and add a good story/well made boards and most would be happy. (I AM LOOKING AT YOU TOO MARIO.) 3d does not make a good game. A good game is good in 3d or 2d. It depends on the game not the graphics. When will companies figure that out.

Mario 3d is NOT on the same level of sonic 3d when it comes to shit, lmfao.

 

[PacBunnyXV07]

SEGA shouldn't listen to the fans. Also isn't Sonic Frontiers releasing later, why are people acting like its the finish game?

 

[PacBunnyXV07]

They could "you know" go back to the awesome 2d that everyone loved and add a good story/well made boards and most would be happy. (I AM LOOKING AT YOU TOO MARIO.) 3d does not make a good game. A good game is good in 3d or 2d. It depends on the game not the graphics. When will companies figure that out.

They could "you know" go back to the awesome 2d that everyone loved and add a good story/well made boards and most would be happy. (I AM LOOKING AT YOU TOO MARIO.) 3d does not make a good game. A good game is good in 3d or 2d. It depends on the game not the graphics. When will companies figure that out.

Wow, a Classic Sonic Fan talking shot about the 3D games. Go back to middle school.