Depending on your perspective, I'm either a good person to talk to about Sonic games...or
I'm the last person you want to talk to about Sonic games.
That's because I have no attachment.
No nostalgia, no childhood memories to influence me.
I didn't grow up with a Genesis.
I hated the Genesis.
And I didn't like the Sonic games, either.
But recently...there was this game called Sonic Colors.
And I loved it.
And I think that speaks volumes about that game.
About how good it really was.
And about how far SEGA had come in relearning how to make Sonic games.
Or at least, how to make good Sonic games.
And so, as weird as it may sound, I was actually looking forward to Sonic Lost World.
And I'm happy to report that, it doesn't disappoint...that much.
I mean, it's not as good as Colors, but...it's the second-best Sonic game I've ever played.
Then again, I might be the last person you want to talk to about Sonic games.
In fact, part of the reason I like it so much is that...in some ways, it's not really a
Sonic game.
The speed, the chaos, that whole "I have no clue where this level ends, but if I go really
fast, I'll probably just find it" approach to game design?
That's all gone.
Lost World is a slower, more deliberate platformer...which is great for me.
When I play a platformer, I want to take my time, enjoy myself, make fun jumps.
Not just run around so fast that I can't even see anything.
So I actually like this new approach for Sonic.
And incidentally, I can also fully understand why Sonic fans hate it.
And Sonic fans won't want to hear this, but...it might as well be called Super Sonic Galaxy.
Because that's all it is.
Combine those on-rails 3D Sonic stages with the planetoids of Galaxy, and throw in some
2D Sonic levels along the way.
Slow things down, make it more platform-focused—that's Sonic Lost World.
If you're a Sonic purist, that's gonna upset you.
Actually, that's gonna infuriate you.
For everyone else, though...I'm not sure it's a bad idea.
But you know what?
Let's start there—with the bad.
Because as its negative critical reception might suggest, Lost World has its fair share
of bad.
Once again, as it so often is with Sonic, the controls are just awful.
It is a slower game, but it seems like no one told Sonic...because he's still momentum
based.
Which means, when he's just walking, it's a nightmare.
He has to slowly build up, which is like walking in mud...and that's fine for a game based
on speed.
This is not that game.
This game actually requires some platforming.
And the controls are really at odds with that.
For future reference, SEGA...if you're going to copy from Mario, copy his controls.
Mario is tight and immediately responsive.
Sonic is anything but.
Actually, if Sonic controlled better, I wouldn't have much to criticize here.
In fact, for the most part...I actually like Lost World.
And I would love it, if Sonic controlled like a thing with legs instead of a thing with
wheels.
I mean, the level designs are clear Galaxy rip-offs, there's no denying that.
But within that context, there's some real creativity.
These levels are a lot of fun to play.
There's plenty of hidden pathways and things to find...and you know, even though there's
more opportunity for deliberation, it's still balanced with Sonic-ness.
You still have to get to the end within the time limit.
So...it's, like, you can play slowly, but the faster you go, the more you can get away
with exploring.
It's a pretty cool dynamic...even if it's unintentional, which it may very well be.
And obviously, another highlight is how the game looks.
The levels are just beautiful, and they stay within that classic Sonic style.
The checkered hillsides, the casinos, the beaches...it might not always play like an
old Sonic game, but it certainly keeps the style.
And it looks fantastic on the Wii U.
In fact, I'd like to stay a little longer, and actually explore these levels and soak
in all the interesting layouts and locations...but alas, even in Lost World, you can't really
do that.
I guess that's not a Sonic thing.
Everyone's in a hurry, with their red sneakers.
And that's the thing.
I mean, I can see why people are so upset about Lost World.
It's sort of a weird move for the series, especially considering the roll it's been
on.
But for me?
I go into this looking for a good game, not necessarily a good Sonic game.
And it's a good game.
It's still a little rushed for my tastes, but I suppose that's the point.
And those momentum-based controls still irritate me, but I suppose that's Sonic.
And there's no reason for a Sonic game to have this much of a story and this many cut
scenes, but I suppose that's...actually, I don't know what that is.
But I'll say this.
It's not 1993 anymore, and for Sonic to stay relevant, he needs to try these things.
He needs to be more modern, and more inclusive.
Frankly, he needs to be better.
I'm probably in the minority that likes this game, but that's the one thing we can all
agree on.
Sonic Lost World could definitely be better.