Gamers, the time has almost come.
It’s true that Sonic fans are discriminated against. Seeing the massive impact the blue blur would have on video games in the late ’80s might knock Yuji Naka out. A variety of games have been released, from 2D platformers to 3D adventures to kart racing; Urkel has been voiced by a number of actors – not the least of which is Jaleel White himself. There’s a history of blemishes to this iconic franchise.
However, Sonic Frontiers could easily change that. Sonic Mania is the first mainline entry since Sonic Forces in 2017. Both games were poorly received. There was a mob of players looking for a reason to hate Frontiers when it was announced. However, it seems like time has been kind to the iconic mascot.
There’s a palpable feeling of excitement
Obviously, Sonic the Hedgehog fans will be excited for a new entry. However, this time is different. There’s almost a desperate desire for a win among the fans. With the exception of Sonic Mania in 2017 and Sonic Generations in 2011, the series’ Metascores have been middling-to-low (in the case of Sonic Boom).
Fans of Sonic will tell you the same thing: Sonic Adventure 2 is the last time they felt optimistic about the franchise. Most of ’em would say Sonic’s only chance is an Adventure 3, despite the fact Sonic ’06 and Sonic Heroes are Adventure 3s. Frontiers is a risky move, but Sonic fans are desperate for a win, so they’re betting on it.
And the reviews are rolling in…
So far, it looks like the gamble is paying off. The current Metascore? The score is 73, with 49 critic reviews, 31 of them positive. According to the current consensus, Frontiers is a return to a level similar to the original or Adventure 2, which is a tall order. However, some critics are trashing the game’s structure, comparing it to its worst. At this point, it could go either way, but this writer is optimistic.
Based on the trailers, Frontiers looks like exactly what the series needs to regain its spark after a decade. Hopefully it’ll do for Sonic what Super Mario Odyssey and Bowser’s Fury did for Mario, or what Kirby and the Forgotten Land did for Kirby. You never know, right? Maybe Frontiers will dethrone Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed? It’s gonna be tough, too.
