Sonic Frontiers with a side of salt 

"Collecting the collectables allows you to collect the collectibles for collecting the chaos emeralds" I don't know what he said but I'm convinced!

The fact he didn't rage or have a meltdown is already a good sign

I think the thing I respect the most about Frontiers is it's the first time in a long while that a sonic game - like Scott said - has really *tried* something. They shot for the moon with this idea, and I think that turnaround from what sonic was rapidly becoming lost in for years prior outweighs a lot of what makes it somewhat frustrating to play at times. That's just me, though

I like that they at least acknowleged how terribly they've been handling Tails' character in recent games. They may have even been hinting at a Tails spinoff game, or like you mentioned, perhaps a new adventure game.

Nice to see the internet agree that Sonic Frontiers is somewhat decent of a video game.

Bruh the fact that Sonic being able to just perfectly walk up slopes and walls without any resistance of gravity makes me laugh so much! “Physics? Nah we don’t need those around here!”

"Sonic runs too slow." Two seconds later "Sonic runs too fast at max speed."

Fun fact: they actually -are- setting up for another Sonic Adventure! Iizuka stated a few months ago that Frontiers is a test to see what they could do with the Adventure format before they commit to making a third title, this is basically an experiment to see what they can do for the next entry.

"Sonic now stops on a dime" Luigi: Mario these hedgehogs stop on a dime

It's also worthy mentioning you can absolutely break the game if you cyloop on the ground over and over. It doesn't just give you coins. It has a slight chance of dropping defense and attack seeds as well as hearts.

The weird thing about the Drop dash in Cyberspace is that it DOES have momentum, and it feels very similar to Classic sonic games, but for some reason if you hold down left/right on the control stick, it kinda just... breaks? If you just let go of the stick it mostly works really well! It feels like it has Sonic 1 syndrome, where there was a speed cap on how fast you could run, which made stuff like the giant slopes in Spring yard really awkward.

Still don’t understand WHY Big got his own fishing dimension, but I’m all for it to be honest.

This game is definitely worth it. As someone who was so fatigued from forces this game feels like an apology for forces. Its great and loads of fun. The things this games does brings me promise for the future of sonic.

I’ll be curious to see if they keep Ian Flynn on for future games cause wow, this story was really good. Definitely hope they begin to fix a lot of these bugs. Heard stuff about how Izuka had to fight for a delay, so I doubt they wouldve been able to get another year even if they tried.

Sonic stopping near-instantly is how he's portrayed in the TV shows and in the movies. Though they probably could have made it felt better in-game.

Sonic Frontiers to me is the game equivalent to the first sonic movie. It’s pretty ok, you might have a fun time with it, but there’s definitely a huge slew of things that can be improved upon.

I haven’t played the game yet, but just watching a video from ScottFalco makes the game look so much better

I think if it wasn’t for Green Hill being reused in this game, Forces, and Mania, I’d be down for an open zone game set on South Island since along with Sonic 1, Sonic 2 8-Bit, Chaos, and Blast took place there and I think it’d be fun to see how they’d connect the zones together like if Yellow Desert from Blast was in a remote area accessible through a tunnel in Green Hill or Underground for example.

Honestly I never thought about it that way but Sonic just being fast w/o boost pads and designated go fast buttons might be what he actually needs, so the challenge is about keeping momentum and being stylish while doing it. Kind of like how anyone can fight in DMC but it takes skill and practice to look sick while doing it.

The ending song and Eggman's last scene (before the post-credits stinger) really tugged my paternal-instinct strings. Expressing such emotion, and how the character deals with it, with just a little bit of animation and a clenched fist was incredibly impressive and impactful.

For drop dashing in 2D cyberspace levels you’re supposed to let the analog stick go. For some reason the momentum of the drop dash is affected by the movement of your stick!

I said the EXACT same thing when I watched the launch trailer! Like, holy COW, where was the person who made this trailer all those months ago when they first unveiled the game??? Clearly they got someone else in the director’s seat for this one, because DAMN, that trailer actually made me want to go and buy the game, lol

Personally I liked the Cyberspace stages and totally understand if you don’t. They were just fun and was nice to get S Ranks. It felt a lot less confusing than Sonic Colors

Honestly, I think the best part about the relationships in this game was Eggman's relationship with his new daughter. Not gonna spoil anything yet, but seeing that compassionate and caring, dare I even say loving, side of Eggman was a very welcome change of pace, and really made me reconsider his character.

I'm pretty sure the creators have said in an IGN interview this game is the new direction for Sonic going forward, and that it will have a big influence on how they go about SA3, so yeah, Sonic Adventure is definitely being set up.

God after over a decade, sega still cant figure out that sonic should roll down hills...

For someone who was so hyped for this game, I managed to COMPLETELY miss the release and this is how I find out it came out

That transition was clean at 3:48

Not sure what setting Scott chose, but if you choose the “action style” mode Sonic’s speed is slower than if you choose the “high speed style”. That may be why Scott says sonic feels slow

I think you said it best at 7:50. They tried something, and it made me hopeful. Might not be the 9 out of 10 I wanted but it wasn't horrible and it gave Amy, Knux ,and Tails some much needed screen time and developments. Definitely a step in the right direction. I wish they'd make another Adventure 1 Style game (Gameplay and character wise) with Adventure 2 style Chao Gardens, but I doubt either would actually happen (especially Chao Garden sadly).

As someone who didn't grow up with the older games, my first game being Sonic Colors, I'm actually really used to the way that Sonic is weighted through the levels. So it played just fine for me. Plus I went to the settings and changed the running and turning settings, so it plays uniquely to me. My biggest complaint is the map. Why can't I just have a small mini map in the corner instead of opening the big map every time I get lost?

On the plus side, while it’s not a complete revival in quality I think this could be a step in the right direction. Better to have a small change in quality in the right direction than no improvements :P

Some of the 3D cyber stages are redone/reskinned SA2 levels like City Escape and Radical Highway which is super cool.

This video was awesome! I love the insight on how Sonic controlled, the idea of a weighted Sonic intrigues me and I’m excited to try it out for myself on Saturday

0:22 to me it’s the opposite and sonic just flies around everywhere.

On the Asura miniboss topic "not working" I respond with: Skill issue. I had zero problems fighting it and even discovered a possible speedrun strat (Despite in a speedrun you would avoid fighting these things as much as possible I'd assume) by air boosting when it knocks you back down to the ground after one rep of damage. You can cancel the fall and immediately start working on the next phase, rinse and repeat till all 3 arms are destroyed and you get your portal gear.

Honestly, I wish they kept the opens on physics for the cyberspace levels (you’re right about the physics being different). Also, your hot take isn’t an uncommon one.

1:35 OH GOD SONIC 4 PTSD KILL IT WITH FIRE.

I really like the weight actually. I prefer having more control of my character, and it frustrates me when I don’t. It’s what infuriates me going back to Sonic games I enjoyed as a kid. My inputs don’t feel like they matter.

Omg FINALLY someone acknowledge the existence of Sonic Utopia! That game made me realize how much potential 3d sonic really could have and I was really hoping for something like that in Frontiers... Having said that though, I still really liked this game! I really hope we'll get a sequel with the Sonic aesthetic and not just a beautiful but bland world and maybe loops and stuff to interact with that are part of the world and not just floating around.

It took me a while to get used to controlling Sonic in this game, at the beginning I couldn't stop seeing all the rough edges and it really annoyed me, but I sat with it and by the end of the first Island I was enjoying playing the game. I will say, the game doesn't really feel like a proper game right off the bat, like it kinda just felt like they make this as a basic demo for their new gameplay model. The game feels odd and they have a lot to iron out, but now that I've settled in I am really enjoying it.

I love that part when Sonic says "It's dashing time" and dash all over the place truly the moment of all time

It all comes down to "7/10 needs more momentum", isn't it?

I absolutely loved the game, especially the callbacks to the previous titles. They brought on Ian Flynn who used to write for the Sonic Comics, someone who people said should be working on the story of the games for such a long time (and instead we had the creator of happy tree friends writing who knew little to nothing about the series). The callbacks to previous games felt less like a "Hey did you play X? You wont get this is you didnt play it!" and more of a love letter to the fans to tie up loose ends. Hell, it was shown that Sonic only JUST found out that tails kind of lost his mind when he thought Sonic was dead at the start of Forces. To me, it feels like this is a way for Sega to wrap up the series and all the past games, and now start a brand new story that doesn't require you to have knowledge of previous games, or wont feel as limited. The characters all confronted who they are and want to grow, which is something we haven't really seen from them before. Whatever they produce next, I cannot wait to see what changes come. Unless of course nothing changes and the characters are all exactly the same.

This game is really fun and can be better with a patch. It's a fresh and new idea that fits with Sonic. It's a good step forward to improve on in the future.

“He’s too slow” Literally 5 seconds later “He’s too fast”

Fishing has 2 really cool things about it. 1. Egg memos 2. The music And a secret third thing 3. It breaks the game

I feel like the problem with the cyberspace missions is that sonic’s movement is way more physics based for the open world but that sort of stuff doesn’t work for the more boost style throwback stages so the physics and stage are constantly fighting each other

Appreciate the well-rounded review. Been looking for one since release. I'm heartened to hear it's got potential given its (limited) experimentation with what we've had for the past number of years from Sonic. I hope there's some kid out there who plays this and feels the joy I did playing S3 for the first time and gets into the rest of the series (barring Boom) as a result.

One thing I heard about the general "speed" of sonic in frontiers is that there's a CONFIGURABLE top speed for sonic, for your gameplay did you play with the highest top speed?

"Im a Sonic fan, a decent playable 7 is like a 10 for us BAYBEE!" -CircletoonsHD

7:28 They also did this for Unleashed to. You have to keep playing the game and earn XP and Level Sonic up especially for the Warehog. But hey I love the slow beginning of this game, definitely feels like an Unleashed progression system.

6:55 "probably could've used another urine developpement"

Finished the game yesterday and its by far my favorite Sonic game. Never was big on Sonic gameplay, but Frontiers just worked for me. Also absolutely love the writing.

1:40 sonic just casually walking up a wall is hilarious to me. I feel like there is a secret formula to why sonic is a success but the more they try and go “maybe if we try something different, THAT will work unlike the other times” they just end up getting farther away from the formula

2:46 sonic has been learning some new tricks after sonic forces

8:25: My irrelevant opinion is this: Sonic Frontiers isn't just the most successful experiment the devs have put into the franchise, it's the best story bar-none. Yes, even better than either Adventure. I think it's proof that all the fans asking for more mature content can deliver knockout returns if handled well and the core traits of each character worked with instead of being made cheap jokes. I think the decision to omit later-developed characters like Rouge and Shadow helped make the deeper moments with Tails, Amy, and Knuckles much more meaningful. As much as I think the writing team for this could've made them shine, Amy getting tearful over two lost lovers or Knuckles leading a dead platoon wouldn't have worked if The Emo was belittling them for "losing in the first place" or not giving a shit about their trauma because none of then are Maria. Sage's appearance may have been brief, but I think she's going to become a fondly remembered character, and a very important moment of fleshing out Eggman. We've seen him be fond to his creations before, but never in the games has he ever been so praising, and so saddened, over a creation like Sage. The Open Zone content being short and partially is unfortunate, but given how much more of a risk this was I think it's a good first attempt and worth your money. I'm not going to speculate on how "worthwhile" any potential DLC would be, but more islands would probably be an easy sell. The light touch of RPG to me helps sell the feeling of having to build up in a new situation of adventure and danger. Almost a Metroid-vania in concept. Plus the fact the Bosses are all Evangelion Units with the serial numbers filed off made me giggle and feel super-hyped. The ability to outright control how fast Sonic runs and turns from the options menu is something I wish more platformers did, rather than make janky physics and controls just a 'part of the challenge'. The player should have control over a toolset to overcome obstacles, not rely on luck, guesswork, or RNG. Cyberspace is something that I think we can mark as the solidification of a worrying trend, the obligatory inclusion of "classic" 2D stages. Ever since Generations, every title has had this shift between 3d and 2d being baked into the mix of mechanics and I don't think the devs are handling it well. Especially with games like Sonic Mania and the perfection of Sonic 1-2 to modern systems showing there are people out there who fully understand the original formula. I think the message the devs took from Generations is that the aesthetics and surface-level appearances are what their core customers are looking for, and with how the initial trailers were received that seems to have been reinforced for Frontiers. It's not quite 'wanting to make a movie but wound up with a game', but I definitely get the feeling there's a market and creator base for just watching Sonic do all these adventures among crazy backdrops. And maybe that's where things'll go with the Sonic Movie Trilogy. But so long as Sega lets people make fangames of Sonic, we'll probably have no lack of options to try and find what we want out of the blue blur. Also, Sonic Boom is now Main Canon. You cannot escape Sticks. She is coming for your can openers.

This game looks like fun and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts, def seems like a fun times although I do agree that sonic should be far less limiting and far more free with it's movement and physics, I think it'd be cool if they prioritized that and built off of it

0:35 I'd argue boost no longer killing enemies is a good thing. Boost to win felt even more braindead than Werehog combat in Forces.

Gotta love it when you hit one box and all 3 of them break. Imagine having to upgrade the speed of the fastest being alive

4:17 IS THAT FUCKING MIRAGES VA???

Tbh, I enjoy the slower walking pace to allow you to actually not speed around at every waking moment, the boost is more of just a run which I enjoy, levelling up his speed makes it easier to control earlier on and feel progressive. I can see where you're coming from with the Drop Dash momentum however, I enjoyed using it in the Open-Zones. Plus Combat is for sure Basic but it's pretty fun overall (despite some Mini Bosses being a little annoying). 8/10 for me, really enjoyed it as it went on.

The best thing is Eggman being a dad.

Easily one of my favorite Side of Salts Love the content as always, and always looking forward to the next video!

Just glad they kept Roger Craig Smith as sonic's voice. He has a good voice for the sonic lines

This seems better than I expected. Might check it out it goes on sale

I just missed sonic, man. Also, goddamn I cant help but wait until the end of every video watching that little Scott go.

5:02 sega literally said if the game does well they’ll consider an SA3

Now that you mentioned koroks, i never noticed the actual impact that breath of the wild, and i guess that mario odisey too had on the gaming industry

this series is always so funny 😂

One thing I will say: I got massive Toei Sonic vibes from the controls. Between boosts sticking you to sheer cliffs, the fact that you can stop dead whenever you want, and the ability to chain moves into each other as you fling yourself across the world, the only thing missing is Sonic Boom. The music, not the game.

Getting S rank in the cyber zones it the most infuriating part IMO. I'm playing on switch and it for the most part doesn't feel that bad. The biggest problem i am finding is when in cyber zones it sometimes doesn't register button presses. I'll press jump or attack, and it just won't sometimes. I've also noticed that you stop boosting whenever you are off the ground. It is infuriating when trying to get s ranks.

The game turns out to be about what I thought it would be not perfect just pretty neat bases for future projects that can become legendary in time via community action

Sega needs to start asking creators of fan-games for tips and general assistance in development.

Music, Speed and nifty locations. That's all i want from my sonic games.

The voice they chose for Sonic in Sonic Frontiers gives me heavy "Crushing 30's" vibes. Which was a really nice song by the Chalkeaters ft. Johnny Gioeli.

Honestly, fan games are pretty much the only sonic games I get excited for

So fun technique with the Cyloop if you make an "8" you get infinite boost for quite a while! Definitely accidentally found this trying to make my own ball art lol.

‘This feels…like a fan game” Thank you! I was thinking the exact same thing. The open world alone feels empty and the cutscenes lacking much needed life.

I do like the idea of Sonic just being fast, like he was in the older games. That being said, I also like the idea of him being able to effortlessly stop on a dime, since he demonstrated the ability to do so in the cartoons, and even in animated cutscenes from past games. If there was some kind of stop-animation showing that he's doing something to negate all of that momentum, I think it would be much easier to swallow.

I super recommend you all check out Spark the Electric Jester, those games understand momentum *super* well. Going from 2 to 3 is also a major jump in quality. Less momentum and total speed than Sonic Utopia, but a much tighter control on zone movement.

That really adds a feeling of wonder and history to the game. Thats exciting.

"feels like the floor is magnetized" YEAH you nailed that one

WOW! they made a decent 3D Sonic Game! Good job Sonic Team! Game came out today so some of this stuff will HOPEFULLY be fixed.

9/10 for me, haven't had this much fun in a long time for me, last good Sonic game for me was Generations, and to have this is awesome! 🔥

"And not because half of them are green hill zone" lol😂

I think cyberspace had some good stages and some REALLY neat references in actual sections from stages that we normally don't get references to.

5:05 Sonic Adventure 3 will NEVER happen. Sega’s just saying that to keep the Sonic Fanbase from breaking down.

Just something to inform you of, unless they removed the option. You can increase Sonic's speed in the options menu. The difference is significant.

I feel like the only person that actually loves the cyberworld stages. It feels bad at first but once you start to learn how to take advantage of the options you got, you get to absolutely blitz thru stages without slowing down at all and I LOVE the 4 missions per stage that encourage exploration. The stages have very good design for branching paths and hidden nooks, even the ones that are repeats, and I just love it so much.

Cyber space does have some repeat levels from old games. one of the levels on the second island is straight up one of shadow's level from Adventure 2 (idk the stage name but the song for the stage is "Mr.Unsmiley")

1:21 I dont think that's a hot take XD

You do know you can make his normal movement speed faster in the options menu right?

"fishing mini game" •sonic adventure one flashbacks• NO, GAWD NO!

Played through the first map and a little over half of the second. I agree with the cyberspace complaint. Honestly, not too troubled with the weight, just the speed he can go. This is especially noted when you go from overworld boosting to cyberspace. It just feels jarring

I feel like this game can be summed up with an AVGN clip I saw in Twitter: "They did it....they actually did it. They made a game that isn't complete shit!" It's not gold, it might not even be silver but it's not complete shit" paraphrased of course.

I'm glad this game took the open world approach.

"When it works, it feels good. But when it doesn't, it's painful" Basically Sonic Adventure 2, which I played for the first time recently. It was very painful.

I think that the very sharp physics are a response to people saying that Sonic's heavier physics made platforming too difficult. To which I say, I can work with either.

I think a lot of those points can be fixed in some patches, but only if they actually care enough to fix them, looks like a pretty decent game tho, definitely buying