Sonic Omens is a 'Pretty' Overhyped Sonic Fan Game (Part 1) 

11K views? Absolutely insane. It's been 2 years this video has been out and it's still getting views somehow long after the drama and the game got culture cancelled While I'm happy one of my videos got this many views, I honestly just wish it wasn't this one. I'm not happy with this video in hindsight, I was so unprofessional towards the developers of this game even if they aren't great people. Please just know I will never make a video like this ever again and I would appreciate if you guys checked out my other content, thank you

I think the main part of the Hype for this game comes from 1. The graphics 2. The gameplay actually looks fun in youtube videos and you don't see all the behind the scenes stuff like being in the options menu for 30 minutes because the game won't stop lagging.

This game its a great example of why you shouldn't prioritize heavy visuals over gameplay. All of the game's elements blend together SO MUCH that you are lost.

To Clarify To Clarify This video was mainly meant towards the people who were praising this game and not giving it proper criticism, and if you like the game, good, like it, All I ask for YOU as a viewer, to look at my review or just reviews in general, to me or not, as an extension of your opinion, use my review to think better and more critically about the game to see if there are some problems you missed But moreover, I had a hard time with this game, and therefore, I did not let anything get in the way of me saying I did, There were actually a couple of things I could've criticized this game more on but I didn't, I had a limit, I focused mainly on game design issues and glitches that made the game UN-PLAYABLE and making fun of a thing here or there Don't take reviewers as us trying to change your mind, look at it as a gateway to our thoughts and discuss with yourself whether you agree or not, then, if you think there are somethings YOU think I got wrong, kindly leave a comment and continue the discussion, like I motivated you to do at the end of the video to keep the conversation going, you might change my mind about something!

Doesn’t it suck when a fan engine made for the fan base to express their creations love for the franchise is used for ways to profit off of and get fame?

“Sega, hire this man!”

The main reason the game had its Chilli Dog rode so much is cause for fan-game standards, this games presentation and voice acting (not to mention it's actually complete) is high tier But since the fans couldn't contain themselves and their distain for SEGA/Sonic Team, they compared it to official games, so what I'm about to say is fair game Sonic Omens makes every aspect Sonic Forces look like a masterpiece, and I say that with my chest

I played 06 and beaten it. The game works. Yes there's bugs and a pretty bad one that occurs whenever you latch onto a wall. But at no point did the game crash, fail to load in anything, or even flicker the usual jank you'd find in an EA game. Needing to restart the game to make the level load in properly is literally worse than 06 already.

Really couldn't touch on why this game looks expensive yet cheap too at the same time lol

This video is literally perfect and sums up how people NOW feel about the game

I completely agree with it looking pretty yet cheap as most fan games do to me, but for the voice acting I think they did a pretty good job for sonic and decent for shadow. Tails does sound too feminine and the actual dialogue doesn’t sound right at times.

I know I’m late to the party on this one, but I really want to ask: Does it ever get exhausting? I haven’t been a Sonic fan for very long and I haven’t played that many games, but for long time Sonic fans out there, does it ever get tiring or annoying to hear about the series in this way? Where we have to have these games (both official and fan made) that feel like they were made by someone who sniffs their own farts because they’re just that full of themselves or just that incompetent? I bet it is. Also, I feel like ever since Sonic Mania came out and was a huge success, people’s egos towards fan games have grown massively. When really, this is why that game was good. Christian Whitehead, Taxman, Head cannon and Stealth actually had a lot of experience creating games and, like you said, had guidance from SEGA. And also like you said in the video, are people really that desperate for good Sonic content, that they’ll eat slop from some egocentric twit who tried to make money off it when he wasn’t legally allowed to? That’s just sad.

this video aged like fine wine

sonic omens is the definition for why you shoudn't have the mentality of "indie always better than triple AAA"

There's a reasons that this video still gets views, but I can't think of the reason... Oh yeah, maybe because the game actually blows.

The one good thing that came from me playing Sonic Omens (back when it was still Sonic 2020) was being introduced to Restoring the Light, Facing the Dark. When I learned what that track originated from, I bought Ori and the Blind Forest and fell in love with it. It’s my favourite track, but I got to see the inspiration behind the Waterfall Chase level.

This is by far the best Omens video i've seen. Literally took the words out of my mouth. (Also, I theorise that the reason people suck this b̶o̶o̶t̶l̶e̶g̶ game's *d i n g* so much was amplified when Project Hero shifted artstyles to a Sonic O.V.A inspired look. Feeling orphaned by the game that was suposedly going to "save the franchise" they sought out the next "best thing" they saw. Which, unfortunately, happened to be Omens.)

I’m starting to think that any RU-vidr will start a complaint about omens (real or fake) (with what the RU-vidrs know about NOW or don’t know about) just to get views.

I like how the first video I've watched on your channel became your most popular

Honestly, I never saw this game fun. even comparing it with other bad sonic games. With sonic 2006, most of the glitches aren't that bad in my opinion (there's also some plus that help out, like the level design and music) and it's one of those "it's so bad it's good" type of games (at least from my view). With forces, while I consider it worse than 2006, I can at least have some fun with some modern sonic levels and ignore classic sonic's ones. With omens.... i got nothing. It's way more glitchy than 2006, and while not as boring as forces, it's still way too frustrating. (Also note: it's odd that this vid got recommended to me after two years lol. still. i'll make sure to check out your content.)

I'd rather play the werehog levels from Sonic Unleashed than playing the empty levels from Omens

after beating the first episode, I looked up if I was playing the right fan game, it shocked me that I was playing the right game, but it shocked me even more when I find out that episode 2 "and 3 I think" and I had them but thy would not work, I had to uninstall it and download it again, thinking maybe something when wrong with the download, the episodes worked, but I wished I didn't, I hated that game so much the beginning cutscene I just thought it was a cheap way to get a reaction out of fans by showing those classic objects, like seeing the Rhythm Badge

Personally, I think the “Spider-Man Rip-off Intro” isn’t a bad thing! Many forms of media have used similar intros prior to the time ps4 was written, and the items shown pay homage to previous games and events that Sonic has went through. Ex. The gadgets that gave characters abilities in the adventure games, or the books and how they may be in reference to the story book games. There’s also nothing wrong with open space levels and many alternative pathways in a fairly long stage. It makes the levels more interesting and easier to take in. Plus, no one’s denying that this is a fan game, it’s about who develops the game and not the quality of it. Any two things can be compared to regardless of the similarities. So comparing official Sonic games to fan games is completely valid. You say that one of Bolt’s problems is that he lacks guidance, but yet he seems to have a goal of utilizing the Infinity Engine to create a game w original stages and a story. Plus, if he were to work with Sega then Sega would provide the guidance that you say he lacks.

03:53 What about Spark the Electric Jester though ?

I have to start from the framework to understand what's going on in Omens. Infinity Engine, despite being presented as Boost Sonic framework, actually is Momentum Sonic framework due to physics and move set. Boost is just an addition ruining the idea of Momentum Sonic: learning the stages and your controls to become better at beating levels. Boost just cut off whole progress and you only have to save your speed. So this is when character's physics cause problems. And I guess I have the anwser why is it like this. Infinity Engine isn't made by Sonic fan. Now to Omens. It has the same problem as other projects based on Infinity and that's open world-like levels. But the further you go, the more game is more a platformer rather than action platformer. Tree level and both Shadow's level are magnum opus of that tho the tree level is nerfed. In terms of art design, the game looks way too generic. Unleashed and 06 exist but Omens has no consonant art style and developed world with randomly inserted GUN, anthros from Forces, Metarex and creatures saying "yeah we love Lovecraft and How To Train Your Dragon". Half of Shadow's abilities are useless, bounce doesn't give you enjoy and boost ruins everything. And the fun part, the developers. Bolt isn't the only person in this team. There are other people from Ouroboros Studio or even outside of the studio. And only Bolt is the Sonic fan (except for Aliquide but he just joined and is an errand boy and modeler). Others are not. So you have a team of randoms doing whatever they consider as good, taking ideas from anything, putting it into Sonic fan game and, what's omportantly, fully ignore any kind of criticism. No matter was it emotional or not, did you act like a hater or not, do you have good arguements against their position or not. You're either nothing for them or a hater. It's more about the situiation in Russian-speaking community. I've already told that the only review reposted by them was Sumochkin's one. Yes, he criticised some things in the game but mostly it is a partner material if not an advertisment. Back to their group though. They ban people subscribed to VK groups related to "hate" or hate against Omens. That'd be ok (tho it's already not ok) if the banned people were the ones that were active. But the list of banned people is full of people who just liked some posts or are subscribed to groups they don't like. Basically, game dev in CIS region. #OmensGate because why not

You’re funny dude, I respect your opinion

Okay so Omens 2 when?

Sonic, does actually suprisingly like reading books

Your rant about Omens is the best one I have heard. You explain everything that some people don't even mention (voice acting- Tails and Shadow's voice specifically). You explained the Tornado part, which is the worst part part of the game. You explained everything I wished someone made. I know some people are hating on you in the comment section here, but I agree with you on everything you said.

25:22-25:36 this made me spit out my drink lmao

Bruh, the likes and dislikes can’t make up their mind- lol

Did you guys don't realize this is basically a Sonic the Hedgehog 2.0 game

"half of Unleashed" if you can't enjoy the night stages then you can't enjoy Unleashed, it's objectively part of the full experience and it's a great experience, long levels =/= bad levels

Edit (5/20/21) - I have been blocked by Bolt! 🔥🔥🔥😂 To clarify a couple things: 1. I use SplashDash's video because he explained the Patreon better than I could, so I let him go on and credited him, this video was mainly focused on the actual game's quality but that knowledge is important to the story of this game 2. You do not have to agree with anything in this video, I'm just stating my opinion and trying to give this game 'Tough Love' because people are loving this game too much and not giving it the criticism I think it deserves, and to educate the fans who think this is better than the official SEGA's work to think differently, again, don't have to agree, you watch the video and YOU be the judge, just use my opinions to think differently

I'm not an Omens simp (I know some important members of dev team well and they're not the best people) but speaking of Patreon. This is Studio's page and money go to the studio making their IPs and other stuff such as Omens. They had an issue when it was BOLT's personal page and the only thing he had was 2020. Now the project is in the grey zone of law as Katie Chrzanowsky (SEGA's community manager) said. Now the game is nothing but a bait. Do they profit? I guess yeah. Maybe it isn't their goal but they do. Is it illegal? Perhaps. Maybe I'll comment after watching whole video.

this comment section is so crazy o.o

Rouge’s voice sounds like rouge from 06 and rivals 2 I liked her voice

for the graphics to make it look prettier they should have added more post processing, stuff like vignette and film grain would add so much to the graphics/art-style IMO

To me, everything is good/decent, UNTIL THAT PATREON SHOWS UP! SEGA, TAKE DOWN THIS GAAAAAAAAAME-

this dude was making this video with 700 subs??? well ig i dont have an exuse now :(

I ain't that desperate for a new Sonic game. I still like Sonic even the way it is. I also enjoy the fan games.

I had more fun playing 06 than Omens

back when i played sonic omens, i quit after the first plane level because it was so annoying

I personally love Omens, but I respect your opinion.

Sonic fans when sega reuse zones: unoriginal. sonic fans when sonic omens reuses zones: OMG BEST SONIC GAME EVER SEGA HIRE THIS GUY HE MAKES AND CREATES THE BEST SEGA TRASH LOLOLL. Sonic fans are ungrateful

Facts

Fan games sould not be montized they are fan games I liked and subedd

dude you faced a lot of glitch in this game i played the game with mouse and keyboard and its was ok another thing if you have problem with tree palace stage then you should problem with sonic frontiers too, i mean the towers is way to higher than this tree palace stage

They did dr egg mans voice justice tbh and sonic voice is good and shadows, you can’t hate it😂 it’s funny

I thought Shadow sounded more French than Russian.

it went from being overhyped to overhated

In what way was the intro copying Spider-Man literally thousands of movies and games have done the slow pan from the window across a desk with object belonging to the protagonist that intro was in no way original to Spider-Man.

Least Heroes feels much more organic even if looks stiff and hanky in terms of animations, Omens looks alright but that's just it...feels like animation but in an unnatural way. Not sure how to describe it. Even if Sega has fumbled multiple times for people, at least those fumbles happened from their own volition and it just didn't work out in the end, Omens doesn't even do that. Omens is just a fan game that seems to be what the fans want on paper but in reality, it just doesn't work in practice.

"Oh boy, I'm probably going to get a lot of hate on this one... Sonic Omens sucks!" - This is the safe, go-with-the-crowd take on Omens; why are you pretending it's some bold, edgy stance?

This game really do be the HIRE THIS MAN game.

hey you're that splashdash guy

I like music in game

Ok, I've taken a chance to watch the entire video as I prepare to make my Omens video for the next release. At the end, you're right. The fans are looking for the 3D equivalent to Mania and that's due to the fact that everything in the last decade has been focused on the Classic and Colors styled shit strictly and this even goes into the fangames as well. At first, it was Project Hero which perfected the Adventure Formula to a tea but then that became yet another Classic inspired fangame. Omens for better or for worse, at it's core, is what the fans have wanted and have expected Sega to make since the PS4 and Xbox One released. Whether its good or not is subjective but what it is at its core is what we expect Sega to have made a long time ago. Even down to the framework, The Infinity Engine, that is exactly what type of evolution of Sonic's gameplay I expect Sega to have made. To find that balance with momentum physics and full 3D control while having the Boost moveset. The ideal middle ground of Adventure & Boost. For me personally, despite all of its problems, I genuinely love Omens and being that I am in the server for the studio and know what goes into the game and what they're trying to do, as flawed as it is, I admire the vision and ambition they have. It's not better than Unleashed, Generations, SA1/2, or anything before 2013 but compared to what we've recieved since 2013, I admire, enjoy and would rather play Omens over those games. Forces is a step backwards in where Sonic should've went. Omens has many issues that are undeniable but it takes a step forward and where I think Sonic should've went a long time ago. As someone who's favorite period of time and content from Sonic is the Dark Age and Archie, it's what I'd want from Sonic as opposed to what we've gotten in the last ten years. Omens is the first of its kind. The first Modern 3D fangame with an actual story, fully 3D cutscenes, cinematic visuals, and actual fully fledged Boost gameplay with multiple playstyles that is on pace to be fully completed. That's a first for Sonic fangames and it sets the stage for the right team to come out and do this even better but as of right now, Omens is the biggest 3D fangame we have at the moment, for better or for worse.

I think the criticism was entirely justified.

Sorry for commeting but, they should watch your video and improve it so that you would feel proud to play the rest of the story

If people want a goid 3d Sonic fan game, thry should just play Sparks.

115 likes sad

I honestly refuse to play Omens due to the creators doing shitty things

14:38 hold on, now I KNOW you didn't just say the exact same thing twice, I know you didn't

You do yourself black PR, that's low

for me the game is decent, graphics : 8, gameplay: 6 (sonic:9, plane:4, shadow:7), story:7

Bro is talking about the Spider-Man intro and sonic omens 💀 their two different things…so you mean to tell me any movie or any game that has an intro like that, that means it copied marvels spider man 💀😭

If you dislike this video, then you like bad games.

This video is trash, jk c:

Not to defend Sonic Omens at all. Infact no one should play it, but I will say that you gave Sonic Team too much credit.

Bro is just Nit sucking on this game (jk) bro it’s just a fan game it’s not a big game company I love omens yeah some things are bad like the voice acting and animation

Frontiers is kinda better than omens

Hell Sonic Robo Blast 2 is so much better than this game

Sonic GT is better than this crap

this game bad sonic adventure pack is better

First but I don’t really care

THIS GAME IS THE WORST THING ON EARTH

If you plan to make a video like this again, don't try to project what people say like "Omens is better than Generations" and shit like that. Especially when nobody have never said that. When people say it's better than what Sega puts out, they're mainly talking about what Sega has been doing recently on this whole next gen era so 2013 - 2021. Lost World, Forces, Colors Ultimate and TSR are what's being compared here.

Saw that you deleted some of my posts, kind of ironic since you and others from your bandwagon claim that the devs practice "censorship". lol Hypocrisy never ceases to amuse me.

"Spider-man ripped off the establishing shot from Back to the Future!" See how silly your argument is? Lots of other media use establishing shots like this, but to call a game a ripoff of another because both use a common trope is Ken Penders levels of stupid. I think the lighting here helps the games visuals, but I admit the detail in environments is lacking. The basic design is good though.

Had to dislike it as soon as I saw SplashTrash's video shoehorned into this.

Omens is garbage. But Frontiers isn't gonna be any better, merely awful in mostly different ways (they share being aesthetic failures though).