What parents need to know
Sonic Frontiers is the first game in the Sonic series that takes place in an open world. Sonic explores the Starfall Islands in order to find the Chaos Emeralds. Each of the five islands is full of puzzles to solve, platforms to climb, and secrets to find. Race at full speed, fight robots and solve the mystery of the Starfall Islands.
 | Release date: 8 November 2022 Developed by: Sonic Team Published by: Sega Available on: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One (digital format only), PC (digital format only) Game Type: Platform and Adventure Game Average duration of a game: 1 hour. Estimate of the total duration of the game: 15 hours to complete the main story. 20-25 hours to complete the game as a whole. Themes: exploration, speed, science fiction. Business model: Just need to buy the game once. Languages available: Texts: French and English Voice: English only Number of players: 1 player Available: – in digital format (download on the console) -in physical format (disc or cartridge). |
| Age | Neophytes | Intermediate | Experienced |
| 3+ |  | | |
| 7+ | |  | |
| 12+ | | | |
| 16+ | | | |
| 18+ | | | |
Violence, fear, nudity?
Anthropomorphic animals that confront enemy robots. Some enemies have a scary appearance.
Difficulty
The game has a progressive difficulty and some passages particularly difficult especially towards the end. However, there are new mechanics compared to the usual Sonic games that complicate the game a bit.
There are three levels of difficulty: easy, normal, difficult. The player can change the difficulty level at any time during the game.
Minimum level of execution on the controller required
The game requires using all buttons on the controller. You need good coordination and good reflexes. Requires handling a camera in a fast-moving 3D environment. Having to orient the camera with the right stick constantly can confuse people who are not used to 3D games.
Minimum reading level required
Few texts to read. The dialogues important to the story are dubbed.
Language level used
No problem. Adapted for children.
Positive message
The game emphasizes the values of friendship and mutual aid.
Additional costs ?
There is free downloadable content that will be available sometime in 2023. It is possible to purchase the Basic Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition. More details below.
Principle of the game
Your main objective is to save your friends, who have been captured by Sage, the main antagonist. Sage, a robot with the appearance of a little girl, seems to team up with Eggman, Sonic’s worst enemy, to help him carry out his evil plans.
Starfall Islands
The main quest takes Sonic to explore the 5 Starfall Islands. Each island is an “open zone”, that is, open environments that Sonic explores at will. However, it will be necessary to continue the main story in order to unlock each island one after the other.
Sonic can jump on platforms, roll, get into a ball, attack enemies by rushing at them and especially run at full speed. Sonic can also gain new skills as you progress through the game. The focus on speed, exploration and combat.
Here are the goals Sonic can accomplish on each island:
- Continue main story: The main objective is always displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. The main story will lead Sonic to find the Chaos Emeralds, gemstones that have a mysterious effect.
- Complementing cyberspaces (see below)
- Improve Sonic’s skills: This is done by finding Kokos (cute little creatures), power seeds or defense seeds.
- Complete Challenges: Sonic will find several challenges that he will have to complete. For example, he will have to reach the goal as quickly as possible, hit balls in hoops, etc. These challenges allow you to gradually unlock the map of the island.
- Defeat Enemies: Sonic uses his combat skills to defeat the mysterious robots in his path.
- Explore the island.
Cyberspaces
While exploring the islands, Sonic will find portals that give access to more traditional levels, that is, levels that have a beginning and an end. These levels are similar to those in classic Sonic games. Completing cyberspace allows you to earn keys. These keys allow you to advance the main story.
Game Editions
Digital Standard Edition
Includes base game. Same as the physical format.
Digital Deluxe Edition
Includes:
- The base game
- Items that help Sonic in his quest.
- An artbook
- The game’s soundtrack
Bonus items are not worth it, don’t buy this edition, buy the basic edition.
Local game mode
The only game mode is the main story.
No online game mode.
About the Nintendo Switch version
The game on Nintendo Switch is the same as on other consoles and PC. However, there are more slowdowns than on other platforms, and the game, aesthetically, is much less beautiful than the others. If the Nintendo Switch is your only console and you want to play Sonic Frontiers, you’ll definitely have fun, but the quality of the game’s graphics is really not as good. If you can, buy the game on a PlayStation, Xbox, or PC.
Conclusion
Finally, a good Sonic game! Indeed, fans of the series have been waiting for a long time for an opus that really pleasant to play. The open areas are an element that gives freshness to the series. Cyberspaces allow you to play at more traditional levels. So we get the best of both worlds: islands to explore at our leisure, as well as levels we are used to. The only thing that is unfortunate is that the game is relatively short. The islands are not very big, you can complete them quickly. When we finish the game, we are a little hungry, but only because it is really fun to play.
Warning: Sonic moves very fast, which causes the game’s camera to move very quickly as well, so watch out for nausea and eye strain if you are sensitive to it.
Sonic Frontiers often references the other games in the series, but you don’t have to have played it to enjoy this game.
Trailer
More information about the game: official website of the game.
