Oh yeah, this is going to get a bit controversial, so buckle up! Because longtime Sonic The Hedgehog fans will note that there has been a CLEAR divide between those who are making the Sonic games, and those who are playing them. Many of the recent mainline titles have stunk despite Sonic Team stating they would “change things”. To counter this, fans have been SHOUTING what they want from future titles, and right now, it’s 50-50 on whether Sonic Frontiers is going to be what fans want.
But according to the head of Sonic Team in a chat with Eurogamer, what makes a Sonic The Hedgehog in terms of its “essence” if you will is actually not about speed, but what you do with it:
“It’s very clear to me that just going fast does not make it fun. You could be, you know, just running in a straight line superduper fast, but it’s going to be kind of boring, you’re not going to feel like you’re going fast. And it’s really through the design of the course, and the things that you’re having to do, where you feel that speed and where you feel that fun. So regardless, if it’s a 2D game, or 3D linear zone, it’s that sensation, that feeling when you play with Sonic, that the team is really focused on.”
While it is true the courses matter, they seem to have forgotten how to MAKE good courses and worlds as recent titles have shown. Sure, Sonic Frontiers could change things, but fans have been duped before…