Sonic Frontiers: Do It For Sonic

Dear Lukas,

I still remember the first time I fought the Biolizard at the end of Sonic Adventure 2. I was 7 or 8 years old at my older cousin’s house, totally unsure of what to expect. But seeing Super Sonic and Super Shadow fight together in space, while “Live and Learn” by Crush 40 filled the room captivated me. From that point forward I found myself a diehard Sonic fan, making sure to seek out and play as much of the series as I could get my hands on. And yet, over time it seemed as if the series strayed away from moments like these, losing touch with what made me love it in the first place. Which is why I’m so glad to see Sonic Frontiers embrace them without abandon.

From the very first time Sonic transforms and “Unbreakable” fades in all the way to the true final boss of the game, Sonic Frontiers refuses to compromise itself or the clear passion behind it in any way. Experimentation has always been a major part of the series, and that’s no different here. While many were quick to write the open zone gameplay off as a ripoff of games such as Breath of the Wild, utilizing Sonic’s moveset and abilities to interact with such wide spaces makes for moments of discovery and amazement that Zelda could only dream of. And each one of these discoveries is aided immensely by the game’s presentation. Every time a short cutscene plays when I run into a Guardian or max out my ring meter, despite the possibility of it becoming repetitive, it doesn’t. I find myself getting giddy every time at the possibility of what could come next.

While other games in long running series (including previous Sonic games) may include a snarky remark about an area seeming familiar or having done something before, Sonic and his friends instead make meaningful connections between what’s occurring in Frontiers and stories of past games. One moment sees Knuckles identifying the ruins on Starfall Islands as similar to those used in ancient Echidna architecture, but it ends up becoming more than just a callback. Instead, he becomes despondent at the thought of being the last remaining member of his species. What could’ve come off as cheap instead furthers our connections with characters we’ve known for years, as we see a more reflective side to them.

Despite my love for them, some of the aspects of the game I’m praising here have been mocked online since the game’s release. In fact, they’re elements of the franchise that have been mocked since before I even sat in my cousin’s house on that fateful day. Dialogue and moments being too corny. Sonic having “too many friends no one cares about.” For years the discussion around Sonic has been so negative in such predictable ways that the phrase, “Sonic has had a rough transition to 3D” has itself become a meme within the Sonic community. Despite my disagreements with these arguments, I try not to allow myself to get too worked up about these differing opinions, as repetitive as they may be. What irks me more is when people direct their criticism at the fans of the series. 

The phrase “cringe culture” is one that has come up a lot in the past few years, and for good reason. On social media the default for some time has been to look down upon anything that presents itself too earnestly as well as the fans who engage with it too intensely, for being “embarrassing” or “stupid.” A popular joke is to search up “Your Name the Hedgehog” on Google to find art made by a passionate young fan, and to mock it. I don’t mean to disparage any other works in this letter, but to me this attitude is a big part of what has led to a lot of media that feels the need to shroud itself in irony and is afraid of being sincere out of fear of being labeled “cringe.” Sonic Frontiers on the other hand holds no such fear, allowing the aspects I discussed earlier shine as bright as possible without being held back. It’s as if the developers of the game were sending a message to those that have mocked the series in the past or those that might in the future. A message that it doesn’t matter what they say or think.

It’s a message I think a lot of people could take something from. For one, game developers. I want to play more games that are unafraid to be what they are rather than being worried about their perception. But I also think it’s something we could all stand to internalize, myself included. Too many times in my life I’ve tried to mold myself into someone new out of fear of being judged or mocked for certain characteristics. No more. In 2023, we should all be truer to ourselves and not give a damn what anyone else thinks.

Do it for Sonic.

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