As a fellow fan of speedy blue hedgehogs, I‘m sure you‘ve been keeping up with the rocky launch of the latest entry in the legendary franchise – Sonic Frontiers. Developed in celebration of Sonic‘s 30th anniversary, Frontiers aims to propel the series into exciting new open-zone territory.
Unfortunately, lackluster execution – especially on Nintendo Switch – has hampered the realization of that vision. But there‘s hope! The first big patch just dropped, so let‘s analyze what it changes and if Frontiers is now worth buying.
Quick Primer: What is Sonic Frontiers?
For readers unfamiliar with the game, let me provide some quick background. Sonic Frontiers represents Sonic Team‘s first ever attempt at an open-world style game after years of strictly linear, stage-based titles.
The story follows Sonic as he becomes stranded alone on the ancient Starfall Islands archipelago. Trapped in a digital world called Cyberspace, his friends Amy and Tails plead for help. So Sonic must explore five sprawling islands to collect Chaos Emeralds and rescue them!
Unique elements include:
- Open zones – Vast, freely-explorable landscapes filled with puzzles, enemies, and collectibles. Think Breath of the Wild style.
- Cyberspace – Linear, classic-style Sonic levels focused on platforming and speed.
- Combat – New fighting mechanics against standard foes and towering Titans.
Ambitious? Absolutely! But does it stick the landing? Let‘s find out.
Evaluating Sonic Frontiers Reviews
Sonic Frontiers has received mixed critical reception and fan feedback since launching on November 8th:
| Site | Score |
|---|---|
| OpenCritic | 73% |
| Metacritic | 72% |
| HowLongToBeat | 121⁄2 hours (Main Story) |
Critics praise the game‘s potential but are universal in their criticism of its execution, especially on Switch.
Common complaints include distracting technical problems, boring open-world design, clunky combat, and questionable design decisions holding back the lightning-fast hedgehog.
| Source | Quote |
|---|---|
| IGN (7/10) | "Sonic Frontiers lays a strong foundation for future games, but doesn’t always play at a solid pace itself." |
| Game Informer (6.5/10) | "An awkward fusion of franchise and genre that doesn’t bring out the best in either" |
| Nintendo Life (6/10) | "In dire need of further optimization and design tweaks" |
Yikes! Not exactly glowing endorsements. But could the new patch move the needle?
Breaking Down the Sonic Frontiers v1.1.1 Update
On December 7th, 2022, SEGA launched an update for Sonic Frontiers aimed at squashing bugs:
Patch Notes:
- Fixed boss battle glitches
- Fixed erroneously locked map icon
That‘s it? Two tiny fixes for a game with crippling technical flaws? Sigh…
Clearly this patch focused solely on resolving critical game crashes before holiday sales ramped up. Significant performance improvements and design changes will apparently wait until 2023.
But every journey starts with small steps my friend! Let‘s analyze if this baby patch improves the experience.
Testing Post-Patch Nintendo Switch Performance
I put Sonic Frontiers on Switch through its paces before and after the patch. Did it run smoother? In a word…no.
The 1.1.1 update did NOT improve frame rate or reduce freezing. The open zone portions remain locked around 30 FPS, with consistent heavy drops during combat and graphically intense sequences:
| Area | v1.0 FPS | v1.1.1 FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Overworld exploration | 25-30 | 25-30 |
| Combat/Cyberspace Portals | 15-20 | 15-20 |
| Cutscenes | 20-25 | 20-25 |
Cyber Space levels stay locked at 60 FPS. But the rest of Momentum-sapping Frontiers goes untouched. Disappointing, but now the focus shifts to bigger updates down the road!
What Improvements Does Sonic Frontiers Need Most?
In my 25+ years of gaming, I‘ve seen many troubled launches turn into beloved games thanks to dedicated developers. Let‘s outline the key areas where Frontiers needs work:
Optimization & Frame Rate
- Target 60 FPS minimum throughout the open zones
- Eliminate freezing and stability issues
Sonic‘s Controls
- Tighten up acceleration, speed, and aerial mobility
- Improve collision detection
Combat
- Enhance enemy tells and behavior
- Refine hitboxes and impact feel
Open Zone Design
- Add more unique challenges and puzzles
- Reduce aimless wandering through better objectives
Cyberspace Levels
- Expand quantity and diversity of linear stages
- Introduce alternate routes, secrets, variable difficulty
Addressing those five pillars would elevate Sonic Frontiers tremendously!
Should You Buy Sonic Frontiers on Nintendo Switch?
Even after the latest patch, technical deficiencies continue plaguing the Switch version of Sonic Frontiers. Is it still worth $59.99? Hmm…that‘s a tough call.
The case AGAINST buying now:
- Terrible performance tanks the experience
- Bizarre design choices restrict Sonic‘s speed
- Open zones lack engaging content so far
The case FOR buying now
- Strong mechanical foundation to build upon
- Masterful linear Cyber Space levels
- Fantastic musical score
For many players, technical issues overshadow Frontiers‘ brilliant flashes of greatness. I‘d advise waiting for patches and a 50% discount before diving in.
But if you adore Sonic and tolerate rough edges? Perhaps take a chance real soon!
Closing Thoughts: Cautiously Optimistic
SEGA and Sonic Team deserve kudos for finally chasing bold open-zone innovation after playing it safe for so long. Is the execution there yet? No. But the potential dripping from Frontiers‘ creative vision remains palpable.
With substantial updates, fewer restrictions on Sonic‘s speed, and expanded Cyberspace levels, I believe Frontiers could still evolve into an open-world masterpiece over time.
For now, issues weigh down the experience considerably – especially on Switch. But Sonic‘s endured far worse games in his storied history than this. Have patience my friend! Greatness could still be within Frontiers‘ grasp thanks to future content updates. I suggest watching reviews for signs of meaningful improvements.
Any other thoughts? Feel free to reach out! I‘m always down for thoughtful Sonic chats. Until next time…gotta go fast!
