A poor jump into 3D for the franchise, much weaker than Sonic's. Taking away content, having only 4 abilities which are only used for combat, even though they operate basically the same in those scenarios.
Combat is worse, AI sometimes can't handle you simply moving. But you don't need to move anyway, the parrying is super generous and, thus, overpowered. You just stand in place, parry roughly around the time the enemy attacks, charge your powerup bar and win. The previous game at least gave you a new power for charging up the bar. Here it's just a damage modifier.
I really hate it when games add random curves along a straight path just to make moving forward actually move you a little bit to the side. Makes the typically hands-off moments annoying. Usually, 3D Sonic game would put a nice spectacle for you to enjoy while you run through these. Not here.
Bigger focus on the story. Doesn't do much for me. Fark is boring protagonist. Game's so short that nothing sticks. The cutscenes are poor, models don't look great when you zoom in on them, and the sound effects are silly.
Levels have hidden alcoves and collectibles hidden along them. That's the best thing about them. It's cool to spot them while running. I am not fond of pretty much anything else in the level design. Very, very straightforward, but, like previously mentioned, it lacks any spectacle. Although there were moments where I was confused where I'm at.
There's a lot of glitches. Everywhere. Ones that aren't consistent and are super annoying. The map, on which you select levels. sometimes resets you to the first position and doesn't register that the next location opened straight away, there's a small delay. Small annoyance, but it's only one of many. Biggest one is probably that surface detection is pretty wonky. Sloped surfaces are treated like walls, and walls can no longer be stuck to with a hold of a button, like in the first game. Another bad change.
You have more control of the camera while running as compared to Sonic. I realized that that's not the best idea very quick. Set camera works really well for Sonic, it makes for memorable moments and the games still control well during perspective switches. Here, there's more chaos if you, for example, want to see what's ahead, so you flick the stick, but then you lose control because there's a slight turn, and the character moves in relation to the position of the camera.
The worst design decision is definitely adding a delay to the dash ability. Perhaps the single biggest reason why the game feels sluggish at times, and why the in-stage combat does too. It's weird that one of the best ideas 3D Sonic had gets implemented into a game like this and butchered so badly.
Very disappointed by this. I am a bigger fan of the 3D Sonic style, but I don't think this game quite got it. Here's hoping improvements were made in the third installment.
Combat is worse, AI sometimes can't handle you simply moving. But you don't need to move anyway, the parrying is super generous and, thus, overpowered. You just stand in place, parry roughly around the time the enemy attacks, charge your powerup bar and win. The previous game at least gave you a new power for charging up the bar. Here it's just a damage modifier.
I really hate it when games add random curves along a straight path just to make moving forward actually move you a little bit to the side. Makes the typically hands-off moments annoying. Usually, 3D Sonic game would put a nice spectacle for you to enjoy while you run through these. Not here.
Bigger focus on the story. Doesn't do much for me. Fark is boring protagonist. Game's so short that nothing sticks. The cutscenes are poor, models don't look great when you zoom in on them, and the sound effects are silly.
Levels have hidden alcoves and collectibles hidden along them. That's the best thing about them. It's cool to spot them while running. I am not fond of pretty much anything else in the level design. Very, very straightforward, but, like previously mentioned, it lacks any spectacle. Although there were moments where I was confused where I'm at.
There's a lot of glitches. Everywhere. Ones that aren't consistent and are super annoying. The map, on which you select levels. sometimes resets you to the first position and doesn't register that the next location opened straight away, there's a small delay. Small annoyance, but it's only one of many. Biggest one is probably that surface detection is pretty wonky. Sloped surfaces are treated like walls, and walls can no longer be stuck to with a hold of a button, like in the first game. Another bad change.
You have more control of the camera while running as compared to Sonic. I realized that that's not the best idea very quick. Set camera works really well for Sonic, it makes for memorable moments and the games still control well during perspective switches. Here, there's more chaos if you, for example, want to see what's ahead, so you flick the stick, but then you lose control because there's a slight turn, and the character moves in relation to the position of the camera.
The worst design decision is definitely adding a delay to the dash ability. Perhaps the single biggest reason why the game feels sluggish at times, and why the in-stage combat does too. It's weird that one of the best ideas 3D Sonic had gets implemented into a game like this and butchered so badly.
Very disappointed by this. I am a bigger fan of the 3D Sonic style, but I don't think this game quite got it. Here's hoping improvements were made in the third installment.