Fans call out Sega to #DelaySonicFrontiers after revealing “soulless” gameplay

The hashtag #DelaySonicFrontiers was trending after the game’s first gameplay reveal.

First revealed late last year, fans have been eagerly awaiting Sonic Frontiers gameplay ever since. Two videos showcasing the game’s open-world design and combat have now been released exclusively for IGN.

But so far, fans are unhappy with the direction of the game and – as with Sonic’s reimagining for the film series – are calling for a delay.

The first video features traversal and the open world where Sonic races across a green island, climbing monoliths and solving puzzles. The second video focuses on combat as Sonic twirls and kicks robotic enemies in flashy animations.

The wide, open areas certainly allow Sonic to pick up some speed, running over water and walls, but it feels a little odd to see a blue hedgehog running around in such a realistic world – although that’s exactly what the create movies. The world also seems a little empty, at least in this piece of footage.

However, the reaction from online fans has been extreme, with many calling for a delay.

Common concerns include stiff animations, a lack of momentum, and a world that doesn’t feel like Sonic without hills, loops, and ramps.

A number of comments also claim that the game looks like an unreal fan-made tech demo.

“You can’t convince me this isn’t a glorified tech demo. It’s so soulless,” read a comment on the fight video.

“My biggest gripe with this showcase is simply the animations,” reads another. “Sonic just looks way too stiff and unnatural. It’s especially evident when he’s running around enemies, he’s just soullessly staring ahead as if nothing happened. Making Sonic appear more fluid and interactive with his environment would definitely add more charm to this game.”

Over on Twitter, the mood is mostly negative.

The uproar is a testament to the passion of the Sonic fanbase – and their power in reimagining the film’s characters – as well as years of disappointing 3D Sonic games. Many fans hoped that Sonic Frontiers would be the next-gen Sonic experience.

However, Svend Joscelyne, founder of fansite Sonic Stadium and global publishing director at IGN, believes the game will not be delayed.

“#DelaySonicFrontiers won’t work because for me the main concern is the overall concept and gameplay approach; a delay in debugging and adding content won’t address that,” he wrote on Twitter.

In the thread, he still admits, “It’s just not the Sonic game I was hoping for in 2022.”

You can check out both gameplay videos for yourself below. The game is slated for release later this year on all consoles and PCs.