I very much enjoy seeing this trend of "level based game franchises going OPEN WORLD" and then seeing exactly how they adapt that. Sonic Frontiers does a pretty good job of transferring the feeling of Sonic™ to a full open zone. It feels great to run around as Sonic and just go from one platforming challenge to the next. Its awesome when you just hit a ramp weird and start flying insanely high in the air. The combat may be really simple, but it looks cool, and fuck thats all im tryna do when Im Sonic is look fucking cool.
I really enjoyed the open zones and think they are a fantastic baseline for future installments to build off of, but hopefully they do something about the traditional level situation. I think this should really be the end of this Anniversary Game style of reusing levels and themes. I do think its fine in this game, because the different gameplay can really change how you play the reused level designs, but I can only enjoy that if they are 3D. I do not like 2D sonic too much, and it doesn't really compliment this boost-like gameplay at all.
The story MASSIVELY whips ass though. Everyone being written like actual characters will do that for a game! I love the way Sage grows in this game, and really, just how everyone seems like they will actually have arcs (if Ian Flynn gets to continue cooking his shit). Eggman was outstanding in this too, really great character work with his memo's and his feelings towards Sage.
AND THE BOSSES, FUCK YEAH WOO. THAT SHIT WITH THE 3RD TITAN? I HAD A SMILE OF PURE UNADULTERATED JOY ON. THE BUTT ROCK? AHHHHH.
Overall, this game has some weird jank (the worst being leveling up speed/rings), but its pretty minimal. I don't think the jank is what would cause people to dislike the game. This is a good jumping pad for sonic to boost back above mediocrity.
EDIT WITH SPOILERS:
So I just thought the ending was kind of a wet fart cause you don't really fight The End, but turns out there isnt a boss fight if you aren't on Hard Difficulty. I tried the fight after the fact and I'm particularly well versed in Bullet Hell gameplay so its just not fun for me. Glad I didnt have to suffer through that and sour my ending opinion worse than the wet fart ending. Sucks that the ending is either "satisfying boss fight" or "weird unsatisfying ending that feels like its missing content".
I really enjoyed the open zones and think they are a fantastic baseline for future installments to build off of, but hopefully they do something about the traditional level situation. I think this should really be the end of this Anniversary Game style of reusing levels and themes. I do think its fine in this game, because the different gameplay can really change how you play the reused level designs, but I can only enjoy that if they are 3D. I do not like 2D sonic too much, and it doesn't really compliment this boost-like gameplay at all.
The story MASSIVELY whips ass though. Everyone being written like actual characters will do that for a game! I love the way Sage grows in this game, and really, just how everyone seems like they will actually have arcs (if Ian Flynn gets to continue cooking his shit). Eggman was outstanding in this too, really great character work with his memo's and his feelings towards Sage.
AND THE BOSSES, FUCK YEAH WOO. THAT SHIT WITH THE 3RD TITAN? I HAD A SMILE OF PURE UNADULTERATED JOY ON. THE BUTT ROCK? AHHHHH.
Overall, this game has some weird jank (the worst being leveling up speed/rings), but its pretty minimal. I don't think the jank is what would cause people to dislike the game. This is a good jumping pad for sonic to boost back above mediocrity.
EDIT WITH SPOILERS:
So I just thought the ending was kind of a wet fart cause you don't really fight The End, but turns out there isnt a boss fight if you aren't on Hard Difficulty. I tried the fight after the fact and I'm particularly well versed in Bullet Hell gameplay so its just not fun for me. Glad I didnt have to suffer through that and sour my ending opinion worse than the wet fart ending. Sucks that the ending is either "satisfying boss fight" or "weird unsatisfying ending that feels like its missing content".