Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog have been eagerly anticipating the release of the next instalment in the Sega mascot’s franchise with Sonic Frontiers seeing Sonic dropped into an open-world game. While Sonic Frontiers may have been a little bit overshadowed by another big game, lots of people have had a lot to say about it, with reactions ranging from “the start of a new era” to disappointment and apathy.
Here’s what Australian critics are saying about the game.
Koalaty Critics – Australian Critics
AusGamers – 5.5/10 (Kosta Andreadis)
“The fact that there are several difficulty levels and the ability to fine-tune Sonic’s speed, jump height, and even damage recovery as part of the in-game options is not a great sign and is indicative of the mish-mash feel.”
GamesHub – 2/5 (Leah J. Williams)
“Sonic Frontiers may aim for Breath of the Wild somewhat, but it shoots off in another direction entirely – rather like Sonic, while you’re trying to corral him through various boss battles, platforming levels, environmental puzzles, and starry nights filled with random slot machines.”
Maxi-Geek – 7.5/10 (Luke Henderson)
“The games inability to render the worlds fast enough is a major issue, as the entire point of the game is to go fast and having to slow down so it can catch up is the exact opposite of that. If you are a long time Sonic fan you will no doubt enjoy the experience, but if you are on the fence about the series, this is unlikely to change your mind.”
MKAU Gaming – 9/10 (Sammy Hanson)
“This game could very well be the beginning of a new age of Sonic games, as its future has never looked brighter. The possibilities are never-ending. Sonic is here, reaching far across these new Frontiers.”
Player2 – C (Stephen del Prado)
“In 2022, after experiencing Super Mario Odyssey, Ratchet & Clank and a number of other contemporaries it feels dated and undercooked. A more confident Sega would have sacrificed a ’15-25 hour’ playtime for a shorter, superior product. Instead, players are left living the same three-hour gameplay loop again and again until the credits roll.”
Press Start – 7.5/10 (James Wood)
“The game’s final moments had me cheering a little, and the cut to credits is shockingly poignant (even with the mid and post-credits scenes evening out the tone a little). The moment-to-moment writing is clumsily pronounced but again in an endearing way—Sage’s ruminations on what a “real” family is, Knuckles lamenting his life of service, Amy pondering love and Tails fighting imposter syndrome. The only one without a clear arc is Sonic but he works as a mirror to the cast in many ways and is more of an observer to the game’s true story.”
Vooks – 3/5 (Andrew Searles)
“Sonic Frontiers is such a difficult game to judge, and that challenge is only compounded when you add in the limitations of the Switch hardware. It’s a game that does so many things right and is an exciting new direction for the blue blur, but I’ve never had so many dramatic swings of my enjoyment of a game throughout its playtime.”
WellPlayed – 7/10 (Ash Wayling)
“I feel many will judge the game on its frustrating failings, overlooking the deep sincerity that defines Frontiers. This is the first game in so, so long to come from Sonic Team that feels like a deeply considered product of passion and perseverance. It’s chock-full of chances, and attempts – and so many of these hit rather than miss. It is truly a triumph for any who really want a modern Sonic game to feel cohesive and fun”
Koalaty Critics
Aggregator Score
