Although Sega and Sonic Team haven’t released many concrete details on it yet, it’s clear thatSonic Frontierswill be a very different game from its predecessors. Its emphasis on “open zones,” for instance, suggests thatSonicfans will have far more liberty to explore and capitalize on Sonic’s powers than ever. Sonic Team has also teased plans for new combat mechanics, and one possible plot synopsis forSonic Frontierscould suggest that it’ll have a very different narrative from what fans know. Innovation seems to be at the heart ofSonic Frontiers,and that sounds great for the franchise’s future.
Those innovations aren’t just important because of how they could change futureSonicmechanics. They could also have a major impact on theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise’s public image. The ideas thatSonic Frontiersbrings to the table could put a lot of new eyes on the franchise, allowing it to grow beyond its current audience. Another Sega franchise recently experienced something similar:Persona,Atlus' longstanding RPG franchise, which has grown rapidly thanks toPersona 5.Even thoughSonic the Hedgehogis already a world-renowned franchise,Sonic Frontiershas the opportunity to boostSonic’s reputation and fanbase through creative new design.
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Following in Persona 5’s Footsteps
Persona 5was a major success for a lot of reasons, but the value of its mechanical upgrades can’t be understated.Persona 5overhauled the Social Link system fromPersona 3and4;P5’s Confidant system made befriending NPCs far more mechanically rewarding.
Persona 5’s dungeons are also notably more robust than some of its predecessors. Whereas somePersonagames simply have simple, maze-like dungeons that mostly challenge the player through combat,the many Palaces ofPersona 5used their individual themes to offer players puzzles and unique terrain to navigate. These upgrades and many other new features gripped the attention ofPersonaveterans and franchise newcomers alike.
Sonic Team has the chance to do something similar withSonic Frontiers.Ideally,Sonic Frontierswill attempt to expand in every department, rather than focusing on its open zone design at all. The Starfall Islands giveSonic Frontiersa great opportunity to introduce new characters and lore to theSonicuniverse that ultimately give it a distinct story from mostSonicgames. It’d be great to seeunique uses of familiarSoniccharactersand Sonic’s famous powers as well. By innovating in every department possible, Sonic Team can give potential players lots of reasons to trySonic Frontiers,just like howPersona 5grew through robust development on franchise concepts.
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Why Sonic Needs to Grow
Sonic Frontiersshould make an effort to attract as many players as possible because theSonicgames are in something of an odd place right now. While there have certainly been goodSonicgames in the last several years, the franchise’s reputation is marred bylackluster titles likeSonic Boom.Sonic the Hedgehogmay already be a household name, but it can still grow in the same way asPersonaby bringing back old fans, while convincing new fans to give the franchise a chance.Sonic Frontiersis the perfect opportunity to shore up the franchise’s reputation.
TheSonic the Hedgehogmovie sequelcertainly suggests that there’s still a lot of love forSonicout there, but that doesn’t mean Sonic Team can rest on its laurels when makingSonic Frontiers.On the contrary, Sonic Team needs to capitalize on that excitement to usher in a new age of well-lovedSonicgames.Sonic Frontiersis a great opportunity to change negative opinions aboutSonicthrough high-quality combat, exploration, storytelling, and more.
Improvements in all areas ofSonicwill create optimism for the franchise’s future, which is invaluable. Atlus' growth in the last few years should inspire Sonic Team to push its boundaries and deliver the sharpestSonicexperience yet.
Sonic Frontiersreleases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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