Sonic Frontiers will be the first new 3D Sonic title since the 2017 Sonic Forces. However, unlike previous level-based efforts, Sonic Frontiers will be the first title in a vast, freely explorable series that Sega calls the “Open Zone.”
So why is it an open zone rather than an open world? Director Morio Kishimoto told IGN all that. Kishimoto calls the open zone “Sonic Frontiers’ secret weapon.”
“Level-based platformers often have a world map. Our open zone is a world map and we just made it fully playable,” says Kishimoto.
“A playable world map with stage-like elements has never been created before, so we had to come up with a new name. As a world on other level-based platformers. Often defined is a zone in Sonic games, so we took it and combined it with Open, which points to a freely exploreable field. That’s an abbreviation for open zone. ”
Kishimoto sees the open zone as an evolution of the traditional world map. Of course, it’s tuned for Sonic’s high-speed gameplay.
“Super Mario Bros. 3 was launched in Japan in 1988. I think this was the first game to introduce a world map. This system has been used by countless platformers to this day. The true evolution of this structure is what we see as the essence of the field of Sonic Frontier. We wanted to provide a next-generation level-based platform experience, but level-based like Sonic. How do you evolve your platformer into this new open zone? That’s all about Sonic Frontier, “said Kishimoto.
A level-based platformer world map is usually the area where players depart for different stages. However, Kishimoto explains that the open zone of Sonic Frontiers is more than the world of 3D hubs like Super Mario 64 and Sonic Adventure.
“The open zone is the center of Sonic Frontiers gameplay, and the level of the game is an element within this area. From skateboard rails to platform objects, loops, etc., the open zone is where we play Sonic games. It’s full of beloved exercise actions, “explained Kishimoto.
Kishimoto considers Sonic Frontiers to be another rival because the design of the open zone was based on the concept of a world map. Platformer Mario, Kirby, Donkey Kong, etc., not other free roaming experiences. Mario’s recent 3D efforts are also more open-ended, and Super Mario Odyssey and Bowser’s Fury seem to share similarities with the direction in which Sonic seems to embrace the frontier open-zone concept. It is, as always, pure speed that needs to distinguish Sonic Frontiers from such titles.
“In the open zone, high-speed gameplay allows players to be carried in all directions without stage or course restrictions,” says Kishimoto.
“In previous Sonic titles, the stage had to be gradually made harder to reach player-satisfying play time. Level-based platformers, of course, get harder as they progress. For Sonic games, the problem is always that it is likely to hinder the speed of the game. At Sonic Frontier, the open zone already offers a lot of content, so it’s difficult to increase play time. You no longer have to raise it. From start to finish, the ideal level design for Sonic games kept you feeling fast. “
According to Kishimoto’s comment, the contradiction between speed and platform-the balance that has always challenged the Sonic series-may have been resolved by the new structure of the open zone. Kishimoto added that Sonic Frontiers wouldn’t be an easy experience for players as they found a new way for the Sonic Team to challenge players instead of increasing the difficulty.
The open zone also offers more room for gameplay. Sonic Frontiers comes with a more fleshed out combat system and puzzles scattered throughout the open zone. The latter provides a quieter moment, which is rare in Sonic games.
“Some of the puzzles are brain teasers, some are testing action techniques, and some are played as mini-games,” explains Kishimoto. Kishimoto ensured that the main focus of the game was on Sonic’s exhilarating sense of speed. Therefore, working on these puzzles is almost optional. “That said, there’s a way for players to get hooked on the puzzle, so look forward to it,” Kishimoto added.
With the implementation of the open zone, Sonic Frontiers boasts far more content than previous Sonic games. According to Kishimoto, the average player should take 20-30 hours to finish the game, but completers can easily spend twice as much time seeing everything. Kishimoto and his team decided to implement the character’s progression for longer play times in order to keep the player motivated throughout the journey.
“This may be unusual for level-based platformers, but we decided to implement the ability to level up the skill tree and sonic,” says Kishimoto.
Interestingly, Sonic’s speed itself can also be leveled up. While running, the speedometer shows the running speed of Sonic, which can be upgraded. Such details seem to indicate that no matter how much the open zone shakes the formula, the main concepts of making sonic games haven’t changed a bit.
“In previous titles, Sonic fans enjoyed time-attacking on each stage. For Sonic Frontiers, time-attacking the entire game may be a fun challenge,” Kishimoto said with a smile.
Sonic Frontiers will be released this winter for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X / S and PC. In the meantime, see Sonic Frontiers gameplay for the first time. From more gameplay footage to previews and interviews, IGN First will bring you lots of exclusive Sonic Frontiers content throughout June, so stay tuned!
Esra Krabbe is the editor of IGN Japan.Follow him twitter If you can keep up with his speed.
