Over the past 30 years of games,Sonic the Hedgehoghas consistently proven that it isn’t afraid to reinvent itself. On the contrary, the series has constantly dabbled in new plot devices and twists on its gameplay, fromSonic and the Black Knight’s hack and slash elements toSonic Unleashed’s werewolf-like transformation. While not every one of these somewhat experimentalSonic the Hedgehogtitles has been received warmly, the principle behind Sonic Team’s constant innovation is good, helping keep the IP fresh and exploring new angles onSonicgameplay. That’s why it’s great to hear thatSonic Frontierswill bring its own innovations to the table.
Although Sega and Sonic Team are keeping mostSonic Frontiersdetails under wraps for now, there’s already word that it’s an “open-zone” game, giving players greater freedom to explore than mostSonicgames do. What’s more,the new trailer forSonic Frontiersand the game’s plot synopsis indicate that Sonic Team has a different tone in mind for Sonic’s next adventure. This game seems a little more grounded and serious than recent titles, although not quite grim and gloomy. Between a slightly more mature tone and a pretty realistic setting in the Starfall Islands,Sonic Frontiersmight open up a new chapter in theSonicfranchise.
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The Potential in Sonic Frontiers' Tone
While manySonicgames use unique settings and supporting characters, the franchise generally isn’t focused on long-term world building or major character arcs. Sonic himself stays largely the same between games, and his objective is often the same: defeat Dr. Eggman or a great threat related to Sonic’s nemesis. WhileSonic Frontiers' plot does involve Eggman, his scheme seemingly goes wrong at the very beginning of the game, leaving Sonic to pick up the pieces by discovering the history behind the Starfall Islands' ancient technology. High stakes from the outset and a mysterious setting with a realistic design suggest thatSonic Frontiersis a little more serious than its predecessors.
That tone is great because it givesSonic Frontiersa lot of new storytelling options. For instance,Sonic Frontierscould put an emphasis on character arcs for bothSonic and his usual friendsthat’ll show them in a valuable new light. The plot synopsis says that Sonic may have to “save himself” along the way, so maybe Sonic has a significant emotional journey to go on inSonic Frontiers.A serious tone also means that Starfall Islands can be more complicated than before, getting deep, moving lore about its lost society and making broad use of environmental storytelling.Sonic Frontiers' new tone enables a newly compelling plot.
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It’s also worth noting thatSonic Frontiers' indicated tone works wonders for its place in the overarchingSonic the Hedgehogfranchise. Unfortunately, many recentSonicgames have been received negatively, particularlytheSonic Boomsubseries. Because theSonic Boomgames used a more colorful, cartoony art style that accentuated their largely goofy and lighthearted tone,Sonic Frontiers' style is a major step in a different direction. By making a game so different fromSonic Boom,Sonic Team creates an opportunity to open a new chapter in theSonic the Hedgehogseries, giving it a fresh start after a few difficult years.
A New Direction for Sonic
Things are certainly looking up forSonic the Hedgehogright now. Although theSonic Boomgames marked a low point for the IP, the more recent Sonic Team-guidedSonic Maniareceived praise and inspired optimism for the future, even if its classic sidescrolling gameplay makes for a very different game fromSonic Frontiers.KnownSoniccomic writer Ian Flynnis also writing forSonic Frontiers,bringing a cherished perspective to the game franchise for the first time. It’s clear that Sonic Team has decided that change is whatSonic the Hedgehogneeds, and hopefully that decision will pay off next year.
Sonic Frontiersreleases in late 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
