I don't know if they mention this, but in The Doom (the first flashback Ark level), I often ran into a glitch in the Dark mission where one of the enemies doesn't spawn. That level has another glitch, too, but a good one; the Key door is supposed to unlock a cage later on with another switch that opens a shortcut path to the goal ring area... but you can just melee attack the cage to activate it.
And I'm sure they talk about the Chaos Control Glitch?
To go back to Sonic 4 for a bit, I think there are a couple of big reasons as to why Episode II had low sales despite improving the gameplay:
The first is due to Episode I not being very good, and usually sales of a sequel depend on its predecessor’s quality (for example: Devil May Cry 3 is the best of the PS 2 DMC trilogy, but it had low sales due to 2 sucking).
The second is because Episode II came out after not only Sonic Generations, but also the Taxman version of CD. So people had better Classic throwbacks than Sonic 4.
AAAAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!Call it a gut feeling. Its not looking bad but the overall presentation and open-world gameplay on average lends itself to bugs and glitches. The interviewers seem ambitious and proud of what's been put out. The direction of the game's characters and setting is pretty ambitious too, and they've claimed to be listening to feedback from fans. And from what they've pitched so far I can't imagine most fans really disliking a Sonic title where old characters come back and mysterious, surreal new enemies appear, and with Ian Flynn's involvement. note
Its also a game that follows a lot of games with lukewarm reception and stigma, and following trends set by much higher profile games. It doesn't have breathtaking 4K visuals, multiplayer, or From Software behind it either.
So I feel like everyone's going to be really skeptical and expecting Sonic Breath of the Wild Zero Dawn 2: Elden Ring Ediition, but its going to be a slightly glitchy, irrelevant action platforming open-world game that's not being gimmicky or flat-out broken out of the box like other titles.
We'll like it for Mike Pollock, some favorite characters appearing in an unusual setting, and some classic Sonic gameplay that brings a few new things in. Others probably won't have the same catharsis of a Sonic game that isn't mechanically or thematically offensive is just okay.
Edited by FOFD on Sep 6th 2022 at 4:20:18 AM
3D Sonic games, even at their best, tend to be just alright for the most part. Nothing really bad per se, but nothing that truly stands out from the competition either.
I expect it to get somewhere from a 70-79 Metascore but no more than that.
I personally have changed my mind a bit about Frontiers. I don't expect it to blow me away, but I'm not as hard on it as before. Keep in mind the game has the same director as the one we've had since Colors.
It'll probably sell really well though due to the attention the series got from the movies, even if the critic score doesn't reflect that.
Edited by BlackYakuzu94 on Sep 6th 2022 at 5:14:09 AM
A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.You can basically break it down like this...
If it's a Sonic 2D platformer, odds are the reviews are great to decent, with a few notable exceptions.
If it's a 3D platformer, odds are the reviews are lukewarm to terrible, with a few notable exceptions.
Now part of this might be coincidental, because I do think the main thing that 'killed' the series was going multi-platform. And the jump to 3D came only a few years before that.
But honestly, I think most people, especially game critics, just think Sonic works better in 2D than 3D. When it comes to the fanbase, a lot of them got into the seris after the jump to 3D, so they genuinely do like the games and think that the critics have some sort of agenda against Sonic. But people love Sonic. He's still a really popular character. They just don't think the 3D games are good.
Hm. When's the last time a Sonic platformer had a stat/level up system? Was it Unleashed? I never played Forces, so I dunno if it's part of the customization there?
From the interview, it sounds like the RPG mechanics are a mix between Unleashed's stat system and Generation's skill slot system.
Also, it looks like you'll rescue one friend per island, and since Tails conspicuously isn't the rescuable friend in the first couple islands my guess is that he's the final damsel in distress.
1nb4 they set us up for another Brainwashed Tails boss fight that doesn't happen
Edited by KnownUnknown on Sep 6th 2022 at 2:50:42 AM
I think we were a lot less harsh and our standards for video games a lot smaller. Back then, Sonic Adventure 2 had cutting edge graphics and features.
Nowadays Sonic Advneture 2 in its released state would be considered "an old PS 2 game" or "something a college student could make in their basement."
And given the number of Sonic fangames out there of equal or greater quality that's not exactly hyperbole anymore. Times have-a changed.
The last time we had a stat system I recall was either Chronicles or Heroes.
Edited by FOFD on Sep 6th 2022 at 5:51:14 AM
With 3D Sonic games, I think its just a matter of the games just not being that good than a simple preference or agenda. And I say this as someone who does like a lot of them too.
A 3D Sonic that truly lives up to the 2D ones just doesn't exist yet. The games have just gotten more flashier and filled with setpieces, but that's just window dressing and it's a dime a dozen in modern games nowadays.
But tbh, none of that matters in the grand scheme because most Sonic fans are going to buy every game due to brand loyalty and most children are going to pester their parents to buy it for them. As said, Sonic is still a popular character regardless of the quality of his games, so when you get down to it, there's no incentive on Sega's part to really break the mold with 3D Sonic games.
@Known Unknown: It was Unleashed yea that last had RPG and level up mechanics yea.
Edited by BlackYakuzu94 on Sep 6th 2022 at 6:16:40 AM
A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.

NGL, at this point I'd rather take a Sonic-less spinoff instead of a discard and draw.