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Sonic Lost World Review Thread [Embargo Ends: Oct. 18th, 4:00 AM EDT]

Ouuuuuuuch.

Given how honest Jim Sterling is, I'm more inclined to believe his review, but idk...

I'll probably still try it out, regardless.
 

Zalman

Member
So it seems a number of outlets are knocking the game because it's simply to hard for them!? Slow? The videos of the game look plenty fast to me and like all other Sonic games I've played you didn't really blaze through levels until you knew them and knew where the enemy placements where. The first time through a level was always slower until you learned it. Same with Mario games. Sure you could try blaze through them if you wish on the first go but count getting hit a lot or dying because you don't have precognition. I'm not reading anything in these reviews or parts of reviews that is suggesting it's a bad game. However that they don't like having to learn the controls, don't have patience to approach the game as an unknown and wanted the game to be something else when Sega was quite clear about how it would control from the very start.

Nothing I've read is turning me off from buying the game.
I agree with this.
 

Berordn

Member
This game looked nice but you could tell by the movement in the press demos it wasn't going to play well. It's too bad but not surprising.

Making a good 3d sonic game should become the X Prize of the games industry.

Yeah, when every press event had some guy over the player's shoulder reminding them of the controls you could guess something was up.

It still looks like a decent game, but you probably have to spend a lot more time with it than the previewers were allowed to.
 

NotLiquid

Member
This quote from the Jim Sterling review I agree with the most:



They found the perfect Sonic formula in the 3D sections of Generations, so it's no surprise to me that when they change it, it makes for an inferior game.

I would normally agree with the idea that "if it ain't broke don't fix it", but Sonic is a bit of a special case, and the Unleashed game play in Generations was far from perfect. The issue with that is it turns what should be a gimmick into the core mechanic.

A platformer is only as good as it's design allows it to be, but that design is always built around the core mechanics. If you look at Mario, the reason he's been so consistent while still evolving with each and every installment is that at the series' core, there are only really two important things a Mario game needs to get down - running and jumping.

The Adventure formula actually worked decently in Sonic's jump to 3D but it was rather evident when people favored the Rush series that they wanted to try to have a go in translating that fast game play to 3D. But Sonic games were never about speed exclusively, they had good design built around them. The best kind of design you can get out of a game as fast as Unleashed is linear corridors with little to no control around them because the speed strips you from the control and you're not able to see many obstacles. Where do you go from there if you're to add things above that? How do you evolve a game which is based on a mechanic where the sole purpose is to go as fast as possible?

It's why I think slowing Sonic down for Lost World was really the best decision they could go with because if you at least have a good, sensible foundation that can be taken in a bunch of different directions, you'll be able to improve any future installments based on just that. That's how Mario did it, and it's something Jim even points out in the review you quoted - that they should keep going with this particular iteration of Sonic since it has the potential to grow into a bunch of different things rather than being level pack sequels.
 

Yoshi

Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
I've been liking these review scores lately. It feels like journalists have been more daring instead of handing out high scores like candy. Puppeteer (lovely game), Beyond Two Souls (it's very enjoyable, still not done with it), Wonderful, Sonic, Bioshock Infinite and more have been receiving mixed reviews. It makes you want to read the reviews and understand a reviewer's perspective more instead of making assumptions based on the scores. It makes it more easy to identify with a reviewer that has a similar taste too.

I can't say the same about Killzone Mercenary. It was unfair to compare it to console FPS ones. Again though, you can tell which ones like handheld games instead of a person with a different background.

Hopefully this trend will continue. Maybe that will make journalists more relevant again.

Sonic Lost World looks like a flawed one that might still be great for certain gamers. The 3DS version doesn't sound good. I wonder if it's worse than Sonic Generations? I would enjoy it if it's at least as good as that one.
It is worse, I would only get the 3DS version if you really love the Wii U game. The Special stages are among hte worst things I've played all year.
wouldn't that be the greatest news ever for a Sonic fan?

Depends on the kind of Sonic fan you are talking about. Classic Sonic fans are never happy, they are just screaming about some overly specific notion of "momentum" and declare Sonic is nothing about speed. Sonic has made progress since 1991, first with the introduction of Sonic 2, but also later on, especially with Sonic Unleashed which from my perspective offered the perfect incarnation of 3D Sonic gameplay.
 

hodgy100

Member
I'm on world 5 at the moment, and Im not quite seeing many of the problems that the reviews have come up. I'm loving the more open level design that really makes you want to explore and look around.
Enemies actually pose a threat in this game which is a huge departure from the "goota go fast" games and the lives system seems to actually have a point to it rather than just being there like in the mario games.

This game is what i imagine they were going for with sonic X-treme and seems to be a good proper 3d adaptation ofthe original formula. so far I love it. though there are some rough edges, the bosses need more work, they just arent very interesting. i would have thought this game was a solid 7-8 in my opinon.
 
I wasn´t really interested in this game but seing all the doritos hating it got me curious. Must be a good game in there somewhere. ^^
 

casiopao

Member
For those who mentioned that getting 100 coins won't give you extra live, may i ask whether you guys played the same game with me or not here.

I have played the 3DS demo here and i get an extra life on 100 rings here. Hell, my life is already on 52 lives.
 
Wow you have all the numbers from 9 to 4 lol. I knew as soon as I saw gameplay that this was going to be a slow sonic game in comparison to others. Seems to a notable criticism.
 

Yoshi

Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
For those who mentioned that getting 100 coins won't give you extra live, may i ask whether you guys played the same game with me or not here.

I have played the 3DS demo here and i get an extra life on 100 rings here. Hell, my life is already on 52 lives.

No, if someone says that, he has not played the same game as you, because the Wii U game is totally different. You do not get a life for 100 rings in the Wii U version.
 

Mileena

Banned
To no ones surprise, the game turns out to be shite. Can't say I didn't warn you guys :p

Sonic is dead, put a fork in it.
 

RpgN

Junior Member
Yoshi said:
It is worse, I would only get the 3DS version if you really love the Wii U game. The Special stages are among hte worst things I've played all year.

Ouch. I might stay away from it then. Thank you :(
 

casiopao

Member
No, if someone says that, he has not played the same game as you, because the Wii U game is totally different. You do not get a life for 100 rings in the Wii U version.

Wow, why do Sega do that there. I actually really liked the demo here as i have been keep trying to increase my speed run and getting S rank which makes me thought that this game should actually get quite a good review.

Well, i will still probably going to get the game here, but maybe only for 3DS i guess?
 

marc^o^

Nintendo's Pro Bono PR Firm
To no ones surprise, the game turns out to be shite. Can't say I didn't warn you guys :p

Sonic is dead, put a fork in it.
I assume you don't trust reviewers who enjoy it.

AFAIC I should receive my 25€ preorder tomorrow, I'll post impressions by Monday.
 
Sounds alright for Wii U owners desperate for anything to play, but it's definitely not going to boost system sales with those kind of mediocre reviews.
 

Voliko

Member
I wasn´t really interested in this game but seing all the doritos hating it got me curious. Must be a good game in there somewhere. ^^
Amazing.

Yeah, the majority of these criticisms aren't really phasing me. I want to hear GAF's impressions when it comes out.
 

NotLiquid

Member
Yes I am. I enjoyed Sonic generations. Was my favourite sonic game this gen.

The implication that the game is bad because it's not fast is ridiculous. There might be a lot of problems with it but it not being fast as it's predecessor isn't a problem with the game, it's a problem with your expectations.

The game is still fast setting aside the decrease in speed.
 

SykoTech

Member
This quote from the Jim Sterling review I agree with the most:



They found the perfect Sonic formula in the 3D sections of Generations, so it's no surprise to me that when they change it, it makes for an inferior game.

Yep. They had a very well received formula with Generations. Refining and adding some additions to it is what they probably should have done instead of changing the formula and copying Galaxy.

That certainly would have led to much more favorable results than this anyway.
 

Seda

Member
Lost World seems to bring in a lot of the things that irked me about earlier 3d Sonic releases. Frustrating controls and level design, and tedious checkpoint systems that comes to the surface because of failing due to said controls and level design. I'll still probably try it out, eventually. This is disappointing to hear.
 

falconbox

Banned
I'm just really getting tired of all these Sonic games that go for the odd linear "behind Sonic" cam for most of the game. It's like they took the Chaos Emerald zones from Sonic 2 and made entire games out of them, and then decided to throw in a few side-scrolling levels for the heck of it.
 

NotLiquid

Member
Well, the first Sonic game isn't nearly as good as Sonic 2 and specially 3. At least to me.

3 was the best, I agree. Sonic 2 is a funny case to me.

I feel like I'm always playing it with rose-tinted glasses to enjoy it because certain elements really haven't aged as well as 3&K did. The three final acts are some of the most ridiculous things in terms of difficulty ever thrown at a player in a Sonic game, Hill Top Zone feels and pretty much is a filler stage with recycled tile sets, the enemies popping out at you in Aquatic Ruin and Metropolis are just plain cheap and overall I feel like the game is for the most of the part only fondly remembered because of Emerald Hill and Chemical Plant.

That's just me though.
 
The reviews actually don't seem all that bad for the Wii U version. I won't buy based on them alone though, so hopefully a demo is released in the states, so I can try it out for myself.
 

MYE

Member
Sonic-Unleashed-XD-sonic-the-hedgehog-10015463-1280-720.jpg
 

Mr Swine

Banned
Is till don't get it why people say that this looks like a Mario game. Sure it took inspiration from Galaxy's asteroid levels but this is ridiculous -_-
 

Tenki

Member
haha what

Super Mario 3D World review by Game Revolution:

"The entire game system is broken in a 3D world. The player is still allowed one hit, but it’s maddening to get all those power-ups, only to lose them all at the end, and only be able to run away being small due to the 3D gameplay."
 
Going through the 3DS version now, on Desert Ruins. I really, really like it a lot! Not many complaints over here. Levels are generically-themed unlike Colours, but it makes up for it with fun design and different routes. There's a lot to love about this game. It's too different to directly compare to Colours/Gens yet.

Special Stages are an ordeal. I'll say this - get a swivel chair, and don't eat beforehand. D:
 

Dr. Buni

Member
I am not feeling what I am watching of the 3DS version.

I can't judge the game based on videos, but the level designs are very meh so far. (Dude is currently in that awful looking desert level).
3 was the best, I agree. Sonic 2 is a funny case to me.

I feel like I'm always playing it with rose-tinted glasses to enjoy it because certain elements really haven't aged as well as 3&K did. The three final acts are some of the most ridiculous things in terms of difficulty ever thrown at a player in a Sonic game, Hill Top Zone feels and pretty much is a filler stage with recycled tile sets, the enemies popping out at you in Aquatic Ruin and Metropolis are just plain cheap and overall I feel like the game is for the most of the part only fondly remembered because of Emerald Hill and Chemical Plant.

That's just me though.
I agree. 2 had some problems, but I enjoy it more than the first one because of some epic levels (like Chemical Plant) and specially the music. 3&K is hands down the best anyway.
 

MIlky1985

Banned
What is the deal with saying its reviewing badly with regards to the WiiU version, i just counted when going through the list the majority of the reviews are GOOD, a lot average and only a few bad.

Good count (7 and up) : 17
Average (5-6) : 13
Bad (4 and below) : 2

7 being ABOVE AVERAGE, otherwise known as good.

Even if you go by less than 7 being bad (because of inflation reasons) then there are still more good reviews than bad

Yes it got some bad reviews as well but it also got a bunch of good ones, which for some reason everyone is ignoring.

From reading the thread you would think everyone has been giving it 2 out of 10
 
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