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==Development==
==Development==
Following the release of ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017), [[Sonic Team]] began exploring approaches for its next ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game. In addition to celebrating the series' upcoming 30th anniversary, Sonic Team also sought to define what a modern ''Sonic'' game should be and solidify the series' direction for the next decade.<ref name="GI: Iizuka">{{cite magazine |last1=Shea |first1=Brian |title=Sonic Team Head Talks Sonic Origins, Next Mainline Game, And 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2021/06/13/sonic-team-head-talks-sonic-origins-next-mainline-game-and-30th-anniversary |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=June 14, 2021 |date=June 13, 2021}}</ref> Sonic Team head and ''Sonic'' series producer [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] wanted the next ''Sonic'' game to inform future games, similar to how ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) set a template that following games continued to emulate for 20 years.<ref name="FrontiersTitle"/>
Following the release of ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017), [[Sonic Team]] began exploring approaches for its next ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game. In addition to celebrating the series' upcoming 30th anniversary, Sonic Team also sought to define what a modern ''Sonic'' game should be and solidify the series' direction for the next decade.<ref name="GI: Iizuka">{{cite magazine |last1=Shea |first1=Brian |title=Sonic Team Head Talks Sonic Origins, Next Mainline Game, And 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2021/06/13/sonic-team-head-talks-sonic-origins-next-mainline-game-and-30th-anniversary |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=June 14, 2021 |date=June 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name="IGN: Open-Zone Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-frontiers-iizuka-san-interview|title=How Sonic Frontiers Came to Be an 'Open-Zone' Game - IGN First|author=Saltzman, Michael|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 10, 2022|accessdate=June 10, 2022}}</ref> Sonic Team head and ''Sonic'' series producer [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] wanted the next ''Sonic'' game to inform future games, similar to how ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) set a template that following games continued to emulate for 20 years.<ref name="FrontiersTitle"/>


Development was underway by March 2019,<ref name="Gematsu: Next">{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Next major Sonic the Hedgehog title in development |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/03/next-major-sonic-the-hedgehog-title-in-development |website=Gematsu |date=March 16, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Euro: New">{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Vikki |title=A new Sonic game is in development |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-03-17-a-new-sonic-game-is-in-development |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=March 17, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> and that month [[Sega]] opened a fan survey to help determine the series' "next steps".<ref name="Gematsu: Survey">{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Sega hosting Player Survey to determine the next steps for Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles, Phantasy Star, and more |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/03/sega-hosting-player-survey-to-determine-the-next-steps-for-sonic-the-hedgehog-yakuza-valkyria-chronicles-phantasy-star-and-more |website=Gematsu |date=March 18, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> Sonic Team decided to set the game in an open environment, departing from the series' traditional linear design. Iizuka felt ''Sonic''{{'s}} essence as a "3D [[action game]]" separated ''Frontiers'' from [[adventure game|adventure]] and [[role-playing video game|role-playing]] open-world games like ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series. As such, he declined to call it an open-world game, preferring the term "open zone".<ref name="IGN: Hands-on">{{cite web |last1=Saltzman |first1=Mitchell |title=Sonic Frontiers: The First Hands-On Preview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-frontiers-preview |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=June 7, 2022}}</ref> Sonic Team focused on transitioning Sonic's speed and abilities to an open-world design while remaining true to previous games,<ref name="GR+: NextLvl">{{cite web |last1=West |first1=Josh |title=With Sonic Frontiers, Sega is "focused on bringing Sonic to the next level" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/with-sonic-frontiers-sega-is-focused-on-bringing-sonic-to-the-next-level/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=February 3, 2022 |date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> and opted for a mysterious tone to reflect Sonic exploring an unfamiliar landscape.<ref name="IGN: Hands-on" />
Development was underway by March 2019,<ref name="Gematsu: Next">{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Next major Sonic the Hedgehog title in development |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/03/next-major-sonic-the-hedgehog-title-in-development |website=Gematsu |date=March 16, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Euro: New">{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Vikki |title=A new Sonic game is in development |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-03-17-a-new-sonic-game-is-in-development |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=March 17, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> and that month [[Sega]] opened a fan survey to help determine the series' "next steps".<ref name="Gematsu: Survey">{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Sega hosting Player Survey to determine the next steps for Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles, Phantasy Star, and more |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/03/sega-hosting-player-survey-to-determine-the-next-steps-for-sonic-the-hedgehog-yakuza-valkyria-chronicles-phantasy-star-and-more |website=Gematsu |date=March 18, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> Sonic Team decided to set the game in an open environment, departing from the series' traditional linear design. Iizuka felt ''Sonic''{{'s}} essence as a "3D [[action game]]" separated ''Frontiers'' from [[adventure game|adventure]] and [[role-playing video game|role-playing]] open-world games like ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series.<ref name="IGN: Open-Zone Interview/> As such, he declined to call it an open-world game, preferring the term "open zone".<ref name="IGN: Hands-on">{{cite web |last1=Saltzman |first1=Mitchell |title=Sonic Frontiers: The First Hands-On Preview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-frontiers-preview |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=June 7, 2022}}</ref> Sonic Team focused on transitioning Sonic's speed and abilities to an open-world design while remaining true to previous games,<ref name="GR+: NextLvl">{{cite web |last1=West |first1=Josh |title=With Sonic Frontiers, Sega is "focused on bringing Sonic to the next level" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/with-sonic-frontiers-sega-is-focused-on-bringing-sonic-to-the-next-level/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=February 3, 2022 |date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> and opted for a mysterious tone to reflect Sonic exploring an unfamiliar landscape.<ref name="IGN: Hands-on" /><ref name="IGN: Open-Zone Interview/>


Morio Kishimoto, director of ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' (2010), ''[[Sonic Lost World|Lost World]]'' (2013), and ''Forces'', returned to direct ''Frontiers'',<ref name="GSpot: FrontiersOpenWorld">{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Steve |title=Sonic Frontiers Is An Open-World Game Coming In 2022, First Screenshot Has BOTW Vibes |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-frontiers-is-an-open-world-game-coming-in-2022-first-screenshot-has-botw-vibes/1100-6498824/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=December 9, 2021 |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> while ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008), ''[[Sonic Generations|Generations]]'' (2011), and ''Forces'' art director Sachiko Kawamura produced it.<ref name="Poly: TGA21"/><ref name="GR+: NextLvl"/> [[Ian Flynn]], who wrote [[List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comics]] published by [[Archie Comics]] and [[IDW Publishing]] and episodes of the ''[[Sonic Boom (TV series)|Sonic Boom]]'' TV series, wrote the script,<ref name="Poly: TGA21"/><ref name="GI: FrontiersDrops">{{cite magazine |last1=Stewart |first1=Marcus |title=Sonic Frontiers Drops The Blue Blur Into His First Open World Game |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2021/2021/12/09/sonic-frontiers-drops-the-blue-blur-into-his-first-open-world-game |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=December 9, 2021 |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> and series composer [[Jun Senoue]] contributed to the score.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boxer |first1=Steve |title=Looking back on 30 years of 'Sonic The Hedgehog' with composer Jun Senoue |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/gaming-features/looking-back-on-30-years-of-sonic-the-hedgehog-with-composer-jun-senoue-3127403 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=December 29, 2021}}</ref> Sonic Team began regularly holding external [[playtest]]ing during ''Frontiers''{{'}} development.<ref name="SegaSammyManagement"/>
Morio Kishimoto, director of ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' (2010), ''[[Sonic Lost World|Lost World]]'' (2013), and ''Forces'', returned to direct ''Frontiers'',<ref name="GSpot: FrontiersOpenWorld">{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Steve |title=Sonic Frontiers Is An Open-World Game Coming In 2022, First Screenshot Has BOTW Vibes |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonic-frontiers-is-an-open-world-game-coming-in-2022-first-screenshot-has-botw-vibes/1100-6498824/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=December 9, 2021 |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> while ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008), ''[[Sonic Generations|Generations]]'' (2011), and ''Forces'' art director Sachiko Kawamura produced it.<ref name="Poly: TGA21"/><ref name="GR+: NextLvl"/> [[Ian Flynn]], who wrote [[List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comics]] published by [[Archie Comics]] and [[IDW Publishing]] and episodes of the ''[[Sonic Boom (TV series)|Sonic Boom]]'' TV series, wrote the script,<ref name="Poly: TGA21"/><ref name="GI: FrontiersDrops">{{cite magazine |last1=Stewart |first1=Marcus |title=Sonic Frontiers Drops The Blue Blur Into His First Open World Game |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2021/2021/12/09/sonic-frontiers-drops-the-blue-blur-into-his-first-open-world-game |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=December 9, 2021 |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> and series composer [[Jun Senoue]] contributed to the score.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boxer |first1=Steve |title=Looking back on 30 years of 'Sonic The Hedgehog' with composer Jun Senoue |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/gaming-features/looking-back-on-30-years-of-sonic-the-hedgehog-with-composer-jun-senoue-3127403 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=December 29, 2021}}</ref> Sonic Team began regularly holding external [[playtest]]ing during ''Frontiers''{{'}} development.<ref name="SegaSammyManagement"/>

Revision as of 17:34, 10 June 2022

Sonic Frontiers
File:SONIC FRONTIERS LOGO 2022.jpg
Developer(s)Sonic Team
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Morio Kishimoto
Producer(s)
Writer(s)Ian Flynn
Composer(s)Jun Senoue
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)
ReleaseQ4 2022
Genre(s)Platform, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Sonic Frontiers[a] is an upcoming platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. As Sonic the Hedgehog, the player explores the mysterious Starfall Islands to collect the Chaos Emeralds after Sonic, Tails, and Amy Rose separate when falling through a wormhole. Frontiers integrates platforming and traditional Sonic elements—such as rings and grind rails—into the series' first open world, where the player solves puzzles to collect items and fights robot enemies.

Development began after the release of Sonic Forces (2017). Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka wanted Frontiers to set a new template for Sonic games to follow, similar to Sonic Adventure (1998). Sonic Team settled on an open-ended design and focused on adapting Sonic's abilities to an open world. Frontiers is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in late 2022.

Gameplay

Sonic engages in combat with robots in the open world

Sonic Frontiers is a 3D platformer and action-adventure game.[1][2] The player, as Sonic, explores the Starfall Islands, which comprise various biomes including flowery fields, forests, ancient ruins, and deserts.[1][3] The story begins when Sonic, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Amy Rose are sucked through a wormhole and Sonic is stranded on a mysterious island, separated from Tails and Amy. An artificial intelligence guides the player as they seek to collect the Chaos Emeralds.[4]

The Starfall Islands act as the Sonic series' first open world,[3] which writers compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017).[b] The player explores the islands as they scale towers in platforming challenges[9] and solve puzzles, including orienting statues and speedrunning, to collect items.[4][10] The open world retains traditional Sonic elements, such as springs, boost pads, and grind rails.[9][11] Sonic retains his abilities from previous games: he runs at high speeds, collects rings, grinds on rails,[12][13] and homes in on enemies to attack. New abilities include combat attacks, running alongside walls, and using the Cyloop to create a circle of light around objects and interact with them.[4][14]

The player battles robots throughout the islands;[15] Sonic can dodge and parry attacks and use the Cyloop to make enemies easier to strike. Defeating enemies grants the player experience points that allow them to purchase additional abilities. Alongside regular, small enemies, the player battles large bosses that they must scale to attack. Bosses provide the player with pieces of a portal that, when assembled, allow them to play short, linear levels similar to those from previous Sonic games. The linear levels contain multiple goals, including time attack and collecting red rings, and reward players with a key required to collect a Chaos Emerald.[4]

Development

Following the release of Sonic Forces (2017), Sonic Team began exploring approaches for its next Sonic the Hedgehog game. In addition to celebrating the series' upcoming 30th anniversary, Sonic Team also sought to define what a modern Sonic game should be and solidify the series' direction for the next decade.[16][17] Sonic Team head and Sonic series producer Takashi Iizuka wanted the next Sonic game to inform future games, similar to how Sonic Adventure (1998) set a template that following games continued to emulate for 20 years.[18]

Development was underway by March 2019,[19][20] and that month Sega opened a fan survey to help determine the series' "next steps".[21] Sonic Team decided to set the game in an open environment, departing from the series' traditional linear design. Iizuka felt Sonic's essence as a "3D action game" separated Frontiers from adventure and role-playing open-world games like The Legend of Zelda series.[17] As such, he declined to call it an open-world game, preferring the term "open zone".[4] Sonic Team focused on transitioning Sonic's speed and abilities to an open-world design while remaining true to previous games,[13] and opted for a mysterious tone to reflect Sonic exploring an unfamiliar landscape.[4][17]

Morio Kishimoto, director of Sonic Colors (2010), Lost World (2013), and Forces, returned to direct Frontiers,[8] while Sonic Unleashed (2008), Generations (2011), and Forces art director Sachiko Kawamura produced it.[2][13] Ian Flynn, who wrote Sonic the Hedgehog comics published by Archie Comics and IDW Publishing and episodes of the Sonic Boom TV series, wrote the script,[2][1] and series composer Jun Senoue contributed to the score.[22] Sonic Team began regularly holding external playtesting during Frontiers' development.[23]

Release

Sega planned to release Sonic Frontiers in 2021 to coincide with the franchise's 30th anniversary, but delayed it for a year for quality control.[23] It is scheduled for release in late 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[24][2] A promotional animated short, Sonic Frontiers: Prologue, will premiere before the game's release.[25]

Marketing

Sega unveiled a teaser trailer, featuring Sonic running through a forest, at the end of a 30th anniversary livestream on May 27, 2021.[26] The title was not announced, but the trailer's metadata and a Sega press release were discovered to have titled the game Sonic Rangers.[24][27] Iizuka later said that he felt the game was teased prematurely, but believed it was necessary given that it was the 30th anniversary and Sonic Team had not announced a game since Forces' release.[28] Sega trademarked the name Sonic Frontiers in November 2021 and announced it the following month at The Game Awards 2021.[18][2] Sega collaborated with the video game news website IGN to promote Frontiers throughout June 2022.[29]

Reception

Nintendo Life characterized early Frontiers gameplay footage as divisive.[30] Kotaku felt the game looked fine but derivative and bland, lacking the series' unique identity,[10] and Polygon and Nintendo Life found the open world desolate.[14][31] Conversely, Game Informer praised the speedy gameplay and visuals.[9] IGN, after playing an early build for four hours, was left with positive impressions: while opining that certain elements, such as boss fights and bugs, required additional work, it wrote the series' gameplay translated well to open-world design and felt distinct from other open-world games.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: ソニックフロンティア, Hepburn: Sonikku Furontia
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references: [5][6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Stewart, Marcus (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers Drops The Blue Blur Into His First Open World Game". Game Informer. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Diaz, Ana (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers sends the hedgehog on a new 3D adventure". Polygon. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Fahey, Mike (December 9, 2021). "Sega Reveals Sonic Frontiers, The First Open-World Sonic Game". Kotaku. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Saltzman, Mitchell (June 7, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers: The First Hands-On Preview". IGN. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers teases an 'open-zone' redemption for the franchise's 3D legacy". The Verge. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Maher, Cian (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers looks like Sonic meets Breath of the Wild". USA Today. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. ^ Epps, DeAngelo (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers is basically Breath of the Wild with hedgehogs". Digital Trends. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Watts, Steve (December 9, 2021). "Sonic Frontiers Is An Open-World Game Coming In 2022, First Screenshot Has BOTW Vibes". GameSpot. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c LeBlanc, Wesley (June 1, 2022). "You Can Watch 7 Minutes Of Sonic Frontiers Open-World Gameplay Right Now". Game Informer. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Walker, Ian (June 1, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Looks Like A Bland Unreal Engine Tech Demo". Kotaku. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Wales, Matt (June 1, 2022). "Here's seven more minutes of Sonic Frontiers' open-world gameplay". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Wales, Matt (May 31, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers gets first gameplay teaser trailer". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c West, Josh (January 27, 2022). "With Sonic Frontiers, Sega is "focused on bringing Sonic to the next level"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Diaz, Ana (June 1, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers gameplay shows a strangely empty open world". Polygon. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Tailby, Stephen (May 31, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Gameplay Teaser Released Ahead of IGN First Coverage". Push Square. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  16. ^ Shea, Brian (June 13, 2021). "Sonic Team Head Talks Sonic Origins, Next Mainline Game, And 30th Anniversary". Game Informer. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Saltzman, Michael (June 10, 2022). "How Sonic Frontiers Came to Be an 'Open-Zone' Game - IGN First". IGN. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Ivan, Tom (November 8, 2021). "Sega's 'Sonic Frontiers' trademark seemingly corroborates open-world claims". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Romano, Sal (March 16, 2019). "Next major Sonic the Hedgehog title in development". Gematsu. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  20. ^ Blake, Vikki (March 17, 2019). "A new Sonic game is in development". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Romano, Sal (March 18, 2019). "Sega hosting Player Survey to determine the next steps for Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles, Phantasy Star, and more". Gematsu. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  22. ^ Boxer, Steve (December 29, 2021). "Looking back on 30 years of 'Sonic The Hedgehog' with composer Jun Senoue". NME. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Doolan, Liam (January 1, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Was Originally Planned For A 2021 Release, But Sega Wanted To "Brush Up The Quality"". Nintendo Life. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Capel, Chris (May 27, 2021). "New Sonic game may be called Sonic Rangers, press release accidentally reveals". Game Revolution. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  25. ^ Skrebels, Joe (June 7, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Is Getting an Animated Special Ahead of Release". IGN. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Wales, Matt (May 27, 2021). "Sega confirms Sonic Colors Ultimate plus a retro Sonic compilation for next year". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  27. ^ Skrebels, Joe (May 28, 2021). "The New Sonic Game May Be Called Sonic Rangers". IGN. Retrieved June 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Doolan, Liam (July 22, 2021). "Takashi Iizuka Admits The Sonic 2022 Reveal Was Probably A Bit Too Early". Nintendo Life. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  29. ^ Hagues, Alana (June 7, 2022). "The First Hands-On With Sonic Frontiers Has Dropped". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Hagues, Alana (June 3, 2022). "New Sonic Frontiers Gameplay Lets The Blue Blur Show Off His Combat Skills". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  31. ^ Reynolds, Ollie (June 1, 2022). "Sonic Frontiers Gameplay Showcases A Pretty, But Sparse Open World". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 3, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonic_Frontiers&oldid=1092495731"