Sonic Forces (for PlayStation 4)

The Sonic the Hedgehog game series has a very storied, tumultuous history. Accept one of the first and hands the most enduring attitude-equipped animal video game mascot from the 90s. Put him in games that vary so wildly in quality that some are considered the best of their genre while others are absolutely broken. Give him an enthusiastic fanbase whose interests in the serial don't ever end at video games. Now, follow up on the serial' best-received game of the last decade by adding a character creator. This is Sonic Forces.

Sonic Forces is ane of 2 major new Sonic games Sega is working on (the other being the sixteen-bit-styled love letter to the Sega Genesis era, Sonic Mania). Information technology follows in the footsteps of Sonic Generations—the all-time Sonic game in recent memory—which approached "Archetype" Sonic and "Modernistic" Sonic as finer two different characters with their ain unique styles.

This time, Sega lets you make your own Sonic-styled original character (O.C.) and let it run alongside the two Sonics. I played a demo of the PlayStation 4 version of Sonic Forces at E3 2022, but the game will besides come up out on the Xbox Ane, PC, and Nintendo Switch this holiday season.

Classic and Modern Sonics

Sonic Forces is split into discrete levels based on the character you control. Archetype Sonic levels focus on 2d platforming like in the Sega Genesis Sonic games. Modern Sonic levels alternating between 2nd platforming and 3D obstruction courses, adding the post-Sonic Adventure homing attack to his repertoire in both modes.

These two level types volition be familiar to anyone who's played Sonic Generations, only they're joined by a completely new, tertiary Avatar level type that looks like the biggest draw of the game.

Sonic Forces

I started with the Mod Sonic level, which gave me command of the slightly more svelte, green-eyed version of Sonic. Information technology was direct and satisfying to play, taking the format of a 3D run through a track-similar course. I used Sonic's homing assail to jump between enemies, getting over gaps and fugitive obstacles.

At certain points in the rails, the perspective turned to a more conventional 2D section where I ran over slopes and climbed platforms like in older Sonic games. Like to the second segments of Modern Sonic levels in Sonic Generations, I retained Sonic's homing attack and could use information technology to fly directly at enemies and bounce across gaps.

The Classic Sonic level put me in the shoes of the more squat, monochrome-eyed version of Sonic and had me run through a completely 2nd runway. Visually it looked similar to the 2D parts of the Modernistic Sonic level, just without the employ of a homing attack. The result is a more than retro-feeling level similar to the Sega Genesis Sonic games. It was a quick run through loops and ramps, and felt tight and responsive to command.

Run With Us

Avatar levels put you lot in the shoes of your own user-generated avatar, a custom Sonic the Hedgehog-manner character with his or her ain abilities. The character creator wasn't available in the demo I played, then I was given a pre-made bunny rabbit to play. He was equipped with a pick of two weapons—an electric whip and a flamethrower. I chose the electric whip and played through the demo's Avatar level.

The level was primarily a second gameplay segment similar to the Classic Sonic level. My bunny felt a scrap more sluggish than Classic Sonic, and the level design reflected that modify in control. The Avatar level had more than deliberate platforming sections and less focus on speed, though I could still run through loops and use springboards and speed boosters to move forward.

Sonic Forces

Enemies were much more plentiful in this stage, with robots often lining up in length rows in contrast with the more than sporadic placement in the other 2 levels. While my bunny lacked Modern Sonic's homing attack, target reticules still appeared over enemies when I got shut to them. They indicated I could apply my electrical whip to attack by pressing the R2 button. This sent out a big lash of electricity flying toward the enemy robots, destroying unabridged groups at one time. Information technology was a very powerful assail, just using information technology required slowing down, and it took a moment to recover before I could use it over again.

The Avatar level didn't stay in the 2d perspective for long. Later on I navigated some frustrating pits and stomping pistons, the game transitioned to a 3D chase where I had to run toward the camera and away from a behemothic spider robot. It was a familiar perspective that reminded me of the truck in Sonic Adventure 2. The robot kicked up blocks that flew in front end of me to cause impairment, and I had to shift betwixt three positions in the track I was running downwards to avoid them.

Sonic Forces

After a brusk chase, I was prompted to printing the triangle button as the spider robot'southward arm came down. This triggered a cutting scene where my bunny tripped up the robot using a cable, defeating it. Hopefully this was simply a truncated example of the concluding game'due south dominate fights; a short dodging section and pressing a single button feels anticlimatic when dealing with the giant boss robots in a Sonic game.

How Custom Is Custom?

I'm very curious to see how graphic symbol customization will work in Sonic Forces. The selection between weapons indicates variety in how you can play through the Avatar levels. The total selection of both gameplay-changing equipment and corrective options have yet to be revealed, so we can't exist sure merely how creative y'all can go with making your own Sonic O.C.

Sonic Generations was one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog games in recent memory, and even without the custom character aspect, Sonic Forces seems to exist embracing the choices it fabricated in its gameplay and level design. The Avatar levels are still a wild menu, and merely how much they stick close to Classic or Mod Sonic's styles (or how wildly they diverge from them) could make or break this game.

At that place'south a strong foundation here, and a lot of potential for offbeat fun we haven't all the same seen in an official Sonic game. We won't know how well those things volition really mesh until Sonic Forces comes out this vacation season.