This game is exceedingly weird

[Gamma Ray]

It's like they took all of the weirdness of Super Mario 64, dropped a ton of acid, and then played Jet Set Radio Future.

While Super Mario 64 had unsettling subtext, Sonic Frontiers is overwhelmingly unsettling. It's unclear what's real and what's not. The physical properties of the world are unfamiliar. The dull darkness of the world when the day/night cycle is in the darker times is off-putting. The overworld music is paranoia-inducing. The enemies are strange, and the cyberspace enemies are even stranger despite some of them being familiar.

This is one of the most uniquely weird experiences I've ever had in a video game.

[Lunatic]

Honestly I get a similar vibe. Almost feels like Sonic got dropped off into a completely different universe entirely.

[Chubzdoomer]

I'm having a hard time even following the story. On top of that, they're dumping loads of unique collectibles on me. Gears, keys, hearts, shields, emeralds, skill shards, small creature thingies, and probably more I've forgotten about. Then I'm randomly going around talking to Amy and barely getting anything out of the conversations, giant boss battles are taking place almost by accident (I'm stumbling into them while exploring, and so their introduction always feels awkward, like I was "supposed" to encounter them head-on, intentionally), and I'm sometimes even seeing cutscenes with Robotnik/Eggman that have barely any connection with anything else I'm involved with.

It feels like a janky mishmash of ideas that don't come together well at all.

Which is to say... it feels exactly like the type of open-world game I'd expect from modern-day Sonic Team.

[⎛⎝ Kupo ⎠⎞]

The environments looks so out of place imo lol, it sorta looks like an asset flip with Sonic.

[The_Peacock [DBB]]

Originally posted by Chubzdoomer:

Gears, keys, hearts, shields, emeralds, skill shards, small creature thingies, and probably more I've forgotten about.

How could you forget about my boi Big the Cat's fishing tokens???

[brendancasey1987]

What weird subtext did Super Mario 64 have?

[Alex00712]

Originally posted by Chubzdoomer:

I'm having a hard time even following the story. On top of that, they're dumping loads of unique collectibles on me. Gears, keys, hearts, shields, emeralds, skill shards, small creature thingies, and probably more I've forgotten about. Then I'm randomly going around talking to Amy and barely getting anything out of the conversations, giant boss battles are taking place almost by accident (I'm stumbling into them while exploring, and so their introduction always feels awkward, like I was "supposed" to encounter them head-on, intentionally), and I'm sometimes even seeing cutscenes with Robotnik/Eggman that have barely any connection with anything else I'm involved with.

It feels like a janky mishmash of ideas that don't come together well at all.

Which is to say... it feels exactly like the type of open-world game I'd expect from modern-day Sonic Team.

To me it all makes complete sense, so either I think I get it while I actually don't, or the game itself isn't to blame here..

[Gamma Ray]

Originally posted by brendancasey1987:

What weird subtext did Super Mario 64 have?

The ghost Toads, the level layouts with all sorts of things put all over the place, the mystery underwater drowned town.

[Lunatic]

Originally posted by Chubzdoomer:

I'm having a hard time even following the story. On top of that, they're dumping loads of unique collectibles on me. Gears, keys, hearts, shields, emeralds, skill shards, small creature thingies, and probably more I've forgotten about. Then I'm randomly going around talking to Amy and barely getting anything out of the conversations, giant boss battles are taking place almost by accident (I'm stumbling into them while exploring, and so their introduction always feels awkward, like I was "supposed" to encounter them head-on, intentionally), and I'm sometimes even seeing cutscenes with Robotnik/Eggman that have barely any connection with anything else I'm involved with.

It feels like a janky mishmash of ideas that don't come together well at all.

Which is to say... it feels exactly like the type of open-world game I'd expect from modern-day Sonic Team.

Thought I was the only one
I'm hoping it all comes together in the end or something but it certainly does feel like a hodgepodge mess of story thus far. Still enjoying it, but also constantly feeling like I'm missing something.

[BrochachoTB]

Originally posted by Lunatic:

Honestly I get a similar vibe. Almost feels like Sonic got dropped off into a completely different universe entirely.

One of the best parts about it, I say.

[BimboGooch]

wdym acid? The map its self looks like a new level designer was on a bunch of benadryl and tossed something together. Nothing in the over world from what I see looks coherent to what sonic has been in the past. I never liked sonic, I did play it a lot as a kid since all I had at my moms was a sega and not many games. But Ive kinda kept up with reviews over the years, this game aside from set sections just seems odd. Like very dead and bland. And I am pretty sure its just the level design, like it looks like it was rushed tbh. And well it is rushed, just look at the pop in you see lol. Saying it is made for switch isnt an excuse either. Switch games ported to the pc if ported well generally look pretty good and dont have these issues.

[BimboGooch]

but hey people like the game, so who am I to judge. It does look like the only sonic game in nearly a decade that looks funish to play. And those boss fights look fun and unique.

[Warrior of Right]

Well we never got Sonic 64 (Sonic Extreme) so looks like they may be finally making up for it..