Sonic Frontiers' open-world style will limit the high-speed movement Sonic has always been known for. During a hands-on demo at Summer Game Fest, Screen Rant got a chance to experience a stage in Cyber Space, a mysterious digital realm inspired by the speed-based obstacle courses 3D Sonic games are most known for.
Cyber Space stages are accessed through mysterious stone structures scattered across the Starfall Islands. Each requires a certain amount of Portal Gears to activate; these Gears are acquired by defeating the robotic bosses that can be found scattered around the islands, which, if the demo is any indication, won't be too hard to find. In the Summer Game Fest Sonic Frontiers demo, simply interacting with a structure while holding an insufficient amount of Gears caused a boss to appear and provide the missing piece. The structures serve as gateways to specific stages in Cyber Space, which can be replayed at leisure.
The Cyber Space stage explored in the demo was a classic speed segment reminiscent of any of Sonic the Hedgehog's 3D offerings. While the nature of this cybernetic realm does seem to have a direct connection to the overarching plot of Sonic Frontiers, the stage itself was a radical departure from the rest of the game in nearly every respect. The photorealistic, lifelike setting of the Starfall Islands is wholly eschewed by a much more palatial setting, featuring grand columns and marble paths. Typical Sonic obstacles and mechanics appear, including springs and grind rails. The enemies encountered in this stage are also much more obviously associated with Sonic's longtime nemesis Dr. Eggman. They boast his traditional spherical designs and bright red paint jobs, as opposed to the neutral colors and abstract shapes of the robotic foes encountered in the Starfall Islands.
The gameplay of Sonic Frontiers' Cyber Space retains the same general control scheme as the base game, but Sonic is of course quite a bit much faster than he is in the overworld, and slowing down is not an option. In traditional Sonic fashion, there are many branching paths available throughout the course, but players will have to act fast to take advantage of them and the additional rings they hold. The sideways dodge that can help players avoid a lethal strike from a giant robot in the overworld can instead be used to hop between rails or dodge incoming obstacles in these speed segments.
The Cyber Space realm should be a welcome addition for Sonic fans, especially those who felt that Sonic Frontiers' gameplay looked a bit empty. At the same time, the fact that these segments are treated as a wholly separate experience, almost a game within a game, makes one wonder to what extent Sonic's iconic speed will be implemented in the main title. A cinematic speed segment that takes players on a whirlwind run through the mysterious Starfall Islands would likely be an entertaining way to introduce players to the new setting. It remains to be seen if such a scenic jog is in the cards, or if fans will have to collect Portal Gears to let Sonic achieve top speeds.
Sonic Frontiers will release for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in the Holiday season of 2022.
