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Sonic Lost World Review Thread [Embargo Ends: Oct. 18th, 4:00 AM EDT]
- Thread starter Dark Schala
- Start date
Uh, it's the same engine. Just horribly gutted from most of its shaders... (Only speaking in the graphical terms)
Well sonic is a franchise so for all intents and purposes it will be compared to its previous versions.
Next, you ever thinks the person thinks the game sucks because it derived things too far from its original formula. People salivated at the thought of a mario-esque sonic, and then when they actually got it realized that even with the bad sonics. Sonic had a uniqueness about him, friends and all and you should want a game series to be the best it can be with out being someone else. Just a hypothetical.
This is a sentiment I feel will be echoed though out.
I personally will wait to try the game, my expectations are quite low though.
Horribly? They made the right cuts in order to reach 60 fps, I'd say.
At least Generations was available on the PC to make up for the 30 fps console release.
Not to say it's influenced anyone one way or the other, but I think one thing worth keeping in mind with this game is that the final couple of worlds are something of a sour note for the game to go out on, as it's when the difficulty goes all out to extend the game and showing its uglier face in the process. To expand on this:
Trying to play through all that without taking it easy can't possibly leave a good impression, methinks. I'm sure some people will rage hard about some of that stuff in the OT, because it can get nasty, but it's not exactly a fair representation of the entire game.
- 6-1 has recycled assets from the first level, but a brand new layout with lots of narrow-ish paths.
- 6-3 plays like the rocket barrel levels from DKCR, only even worse. Easily the worst part of the game.
- 6-4 is the 2D level I mentioned before, and the boss even has its own little carnival barrel moment.
- 7-1 is just a set of boss fights.
- 7-2 is a CRAZY minecart/grinding stage with lots of 1-hit kill obstacles and fiendishly placed red rings. You need to control Sonic's speed which can only be done while in the air and one little mistake means you go back to the checkpoint.
- 7-3 is a really long stage (not quite Eggmanland but close) with another obtuse final boss at the end. I'd be surprised if someone trying to get to the end of the game would touch it ever again if he lost all lives there, haha.
- 7-4 is the final boss from Sonic Colors re-skinned. Yup.
- 6-3 plays like the rocket barrel levels from DKCR, only even worse. Easily the worst part of the game.
- 6-4 is the 2D level I mentioned before, and the boss even has its own little carnival barrel moment.
- 7-1 is just a set of boss fights.
- 7-2 is a CRAZY minecart/grinding stage with lots of 1-hit kill obstacles and fiendishly placed red rings. You need to control Sonic's speed which can only be done while in the air and one little mistake means you go back to the checkpoint.
- 7-3 is a really long stage (not quite Eggmanland but close) with another obtuse final boss at the end. I'd be surprised if someone trying to get to the end of the game would touch it ever again if he lost all lives there, haha.
- 7-4 is the final boss from Sonic Colors re-skinned. Yup.
Trying to play through all that without taking it easy can't possibly leave a good impression, methinks. I'm sure some people will rage hard about some of that stuff in the OT, because it can get nasty, but it's not exactly a fair representation of the entire game.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
Another shitty Sonic game. What a surprise. The fact that it clearly tried to copy Mario Galaxy makes the bad reviews even more LOL worthy.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Reviewers who don't subscribe to any of that garbage have given it the lowest scores, like edge and gamecentral.
Like the hat?
Banned
Looks to be getting about the reviews I expected from various outlets.
The cuts for 60 FPS are mostly object/polygon density related, but they completely dropped the ball in all materials, using at most diffuse textures for like everything. The past game used a plethora of Normal/Reflection/Specular maps for each material.
There's a few stages that use some materials that look very nice (Ice, Goo, some glass blocks). Considering everyone loves how SM3DW is looking now (notice its heavy use of good materials/shaders) and that's 60 FPS, I'd say that's pretty important. Then again, Sonic Team is not the one to normally excel on this stuff technically. Their engine is very dependent on CPU-power, so I wouldn't be surprised that the lower count of objects / heavy pop-in is related to that as well.
balladofwindfishes
Member
So Colors and Generations were flukes I guess? Maybe Sega really can't make good Sonic games and the other two were accidents.
IrishNinja
Member
still wish we'd get a demo here in the states
"another"? when was the last one, '06?
as i recall you were kinda dismissive of posts like this when TR was being called for aping Uncharted...cmon man
"another"? when was the last one, '06?
as i recall you were kinda dismissive of posts like this when TR was being called for aping Uncharted...cmon man
papercan55
Member
w101 and zombi u are both great titles, they have a few problems but generally they deserved better reception from reviewers.
this game however has so many fundamental flaws that are just basic mistakes, for me it really doesn't deserve anyone's attention other than those hardcore 3d sonic fans that have, and will always look past basic gaming requirements like a good camera, controls and level design. The game might be pretty but getting the basics correct should come first. And for the first time with a wii u exclusive, i think the low scoring reviewers are ones that are being fair. I just hope that donkey kong wasn't delayed because of this title.
Sega really needs to just stick to one gameplay style until they start getting consistently great reviews.
It baffles me how these guys have been making 3d sonic games since the Dreamcast came out and they still can't make a single amazing sonic game. I mean, you'd think that of all the characters Sega owns, Sonic would be the one they are most careful with and assign their best developers to. But no.......
My first video game I've ever played was Sonic 2. And because of that, I've bought every console sonic game since then, and hated almost all of the 3D ones. But I always thought they would eventually catch up to one of their competitors. I'm not going to get this game though. Segas biggest mascot, the (arguably) second biggest platforming mascot and one of the most recognizable characters in videogames hasn't had an amazing game on a mainline console in over two console generations. Retro created a classic on their first attempt. Sonic Team has no direction, and they refuse to commit to anything. How long are they going to be stuck in mediocrity? When are they going to get rid of whoever is making these average games and bring in new talent? Sonic is keeping Sega afloat, but based on the quality of their games, I don't know why he should be. This is unacceptable.
Fuck this pisses me off....
It baffles me how these guys have been making 3d sonic games since the Dreamcast came out and they still can't make a single amazing sonic game. I mean, you'd think that of all the characters Sega owns, Sonic would be the one they are most careful with and assign their best developers to. But no.......
My first video game I've ever played was Sonic 2. And because of that, I've bought every console sonic game since then, and hated almost all of the 3D ones. But I always thought they would eventually catch up to one of their competitors. I'm not going to get this game though. Segas biggest mascot, the (arguably) second biggest platforming mascot and one of the most recognizable characters in videogames hasn't had an amazing game on a mainline console in over two console generations. Retro created a classic on their first attempt. Sonic Team has no direction, and they refuse to commit to anything. How long are they going to be stuck in mediocrity? When are they going to get rid of whoever is making these average games and bring in new talent? Sonic is keeping Sega afloat, but based on the quality of their games, I don't know why he should be. This is unacceptable.
Fuck this pisses me off....
I honestly think their only decent 3d platformer game other than sonic colours+ generations, is billy hatcher and the giant egg unfortunately i seem to be the only person that thinks this.
Also super monkey ball but that franchise went to shit after the second game
Colonel Mustard
Banned
This is why I'm not putting much stock in the reviews. There were videos of entire levels being played. Nothing in those seem to send up a red flag to me then. Even now some of the complaints being used as reasons to give low scores aren't making much sense to me.
Friend of Sonic
Member
I'm not trying to be an apologist for Sonic Team/Sega but a I do think Sonic Colors/Generations were an awesome realization of Sonic in 3D. Also, I can't think of another fast paced 3D platformer. Can you? This isn't meant as a troll post-- I'm entirely open to the idea that someone else has done a 3D platformer with speed, but I can't think of it. I think it's probably a pretty tough concept to flesh out properly, but I think they are capable of it when I look at Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations.
There's a preview from IGN stating that the slow speed of Lost World is a good thing.
One of the main complaints in the review was the slow speed.
I know staff have different opinions, but the large difference of these opinions is still surprisingly drastic.
Dr. Buni
Member
Nice. I will definitely watch it, since I want to see more of the 3DS version.
papercan55
Member
I was just like you, i had such high hopes for this game.All the trailers and media made it look like sonic colors but even better.
It wasn't until that spanish guy on youtube got the game that it started to look bad.
Everyone said that it was just because he was a bad player, but once i had played through the first 3 worlds myself i realised that really wasn't the case.
I strongly recommend waiting for the demo before anyone spends there hard earned money on this mess.
Maybe because watching the game is fun, it does look very pretty throughout. But to actually play yourself is different matter, it's just not that fun to play.
Yeah, I remember people shitting on 3D World post E3 and saying Lost World is better.
Still waiting for the Kotaku review, which isn't number based.
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.
A stretch of good games going half a decade isn't a fluke. More like an era.
Another? The last bad one was half a decade ago.
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.
A stretch of good games going half a decade isn't a fluke. More like an era.
Another? The last bad one was half a decade ago.
brickwalker0
Member
They just seem to be having a hell of a time creating an identity of gameplay with Sonic.
When they stuck to what Sonic is known for but expanded and modernized it, we got Sonic Generations. Not sure why they think stuffing their Sonic games with features from other games that don't mesh well will produce a better product.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
The overall impression I get is, unfortunately, what worried me all along: that Lost World just wasn't given the time, care, and attention Colors got. From level design to soundtrack, etc.
brandonh83
Banned
but... it looks better than Mario 3D World!
Chezzymann
Member
Sonic Cycle is back with a vengeance.
Wait someone from HellfireComms is on GAF?
I've watched tons of your videos. Is the stream going to be with commentary or no?
The internet just can't let a meme die.
RpgN
Junior Member
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.
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.
ShockingAlberto
Member
haha what
IrishNinja
Member
^totally a new feature
i for one preferred the regular Wii version, though it was clearly held back by the hardware
Can't pretend a gaming journalist have ever played a Sonic game.
ItWasMeantToBe19
Banned
Those are pretty disappointing scores.
I'm not really sure why The Escapist says it's like a game from 1991 though?
I'm not really sure why The Escapist says it's like a game from 1991 though?
Otakumegane
Member
I am ashamed I thought that even for a second.
wouldn't that be the greatest news ever for a Sonic fan?
djplaeskool
Member
Woof.
Started out okay, but damn, these reviews get harsh fast.
Started out okay, but damn, these reviews get harsh fast.
Maybe by delusional Sonic fans but not by most.