Sonic Frontiers is easily one of the more divisive Sonic games of the last few years. Many consider it to be one of the worst entries in the series, while others think of it as a hidden gem. As someone who has followed the blue blur on and off since the early 2000s, I was personally mixed about it when I first played it. Certain elements like the story and exploration were really enjoyable to dive into, while others, like the visuals and monotonous mechanics, made for a game that was both fun and frustrating in equal measure.
So, when I first heard about the prospect of a Nintendo Switch 2 “Definitive Edition” of Sonic Frontiers, I was admittedly very curious to see how it would turn out. There have been plenty of great ports of lackluster games for the platform, but there have also been just as many bad ports of good games. Where would Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition fit in, considering there was no way to upgrade from the original Switch version, no new features, and its $50 price point? Well, I can confidently say that after playing it myself, Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition is one of the worst Nintendo Switch 2 ports to date, and one that has made me view the original game in a lesser light.
A Complete Mess
There was a moment, right near the beginning, where Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition lulled me into a false sense of security. The early cutscenes reminded me of why I liked the original game in the first place; namely, the sense of scale and narrative. Certainly, these elements have remained untouched in this port. The narrative still shines in how it gives the core Sonic cast room to develop meaningfully beyond their often one-note depictions in prior titles. Plus, the moments where you’re starting to get used to the new world you’ve been thrust into, while unraveling the secrets of Cyber Space, are fairly compelling. However, these moments were quickly overshadowed as I quickly discovered just how sloppy this port is.
The problems with Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition begin with the visuals. The cutscenes, early game, and Cyber Space levels all look fine. It’s hard to notice any major issues, aside from some aliasing here and there. Yet, once you reach the broader overworld, it is impossible not to notice the atrocious visuals. Textures are pixelated to such a degree that you can almost count each individual pixel on plants. Worse still, as you run around, props in the environment will pop in just as you start to approach where they would be. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game that looks this pixelated due to the textures, let alone one on Nintendo Switch 2.
Additionally, alongside the poor visuals, there are plenty of other technical glitches that cannot be ignored. For example, at one point I was fighting the Asura boss, which requires you to climb up the side of its body and slowly whittle down its health. Towards the end of the fight, something went wrong with the collision that led to me being stuck within the boss’ body, which caused my death and forced me to restart the fight. In addition, the loading times are extremely long, meaning so much of the experience is spent staring at a blank screen waiting for the game to load.
In a vacuum, these problems could potentially be forgiven if the actual moment-to-moment gameplay. However, because so much of the game is dependent on the visuals and gameplay, my opinion of the elements of Frontiers that I once enjoyed did a 180° because of how bad this port is. Take the titan fights; a massive spectacle where you play as Super Sonic and fight against giant robots in a one-on-one brawl. In the base game, these segments are a really fun power fantasy, which are enhanced by the great background visuals. In the Definitive Edition, though, because the visuals are so bad, you can’t help but notice how you just spend the titan fights pressing the same button over and over again until the sequence ends. I spent so long just tapping the Y button ad nauseam during these fights that my thumbs almost started to hurt.
This applies to all elements of Frontiers‘ design. Combat encounters, such as those with the Squid, are more frustrating because of how unresponsive the controls are at times and how projectiles pop into existence right before you’re able to react and dodge accordingly. I had no motivation to explore the world and solve puzzles, even though it was one of my favorite parts of the original game, because of how pixelated each texture was. Even the Cyber Space elements lost their charm, because I knew that I’d eventually have to return to exploring the same disgusting-looking world.
I’ve played plenty of ports that made me appreciate the original game more, but this is the exact opposite. Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition made me dislike the elements of Frontiers that I did like, and it made me hate the elements of the game I already didn’t like. What’s even more egregious is that, while other “Definitive Editions” have new content to justify the purchase, Frontiers has nothing. If you’ve already played the original, there’s no reason to buy this new version.
Squandered Potential
How does one justify buying a port of a game that has existed for years? Well, there are multiple ways to do so: some developers opt to release it for a console that has never been available before, or include drastically overhauled graphics. Most Nintendo Switch 2 ports either take advantage of the console’s unique hardware or add in features and cosmetics that are exclusive to the new version. If they can’t do either, they at least offer an upgrade pack for owners of the original game on Nintendo Switch. Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition is bold in that it doesn’t do any of that.
The Definitive Edition has no exclusive or new content whatsoever. All of the included elements, such as the “Final Horizon” DLC and extra cosmetics, released on all platforms as free content updates. There aren’t any unique features that utilize the Switch 2 hardware: no touchscreen support, no Joy-Con 2 usage, no mouse features, and certainly no use of the increased hardware capabilities. Further, if you already own the Nintendo Switch version, there is no upgrade pack. Instead, you need to pay the full $50. The physical edition doesn’t even release on a full cartridge, instead launching on a Game-Key Cart.
There is nothing particularly definitive about this version of Sonic Frontiers. It is not the best way to play it, nor are there any new functions worth looking into. If SEGA had at least released new cosmetics to tie into other SEGA franchises, like Persona or Like a Dragon, then that would at least add some replay value. But instead, there is nothing whatsoever. As a result, all you’re left with is a full-price game that runs worse than games that launched in the PlayStation 3 era.
I liked Sonic Frontiers when I first played it. I could appreciate its story, music, and exploration, even if the combat and visuals had their quirks. Now, though, the story and music are impossible to focus on because the exploration is overshadowed by how poor the visuals are. Further, the combat is more monotonous than ever, and sometimes either made my fingers ache or made me want to fall asleep. Regardless of whether you’ve never played Sonic Frontiers, played on Nintendo Switch and are hoping for an upgrade, or played it on another platform and are looking for a new reason to replay it on your shiny new handheld, Sonic Frontiers doesn’t fulfill any of the basic expectations that the average player would have from a “definitive edition.”
Do Not Buy This
Sonic is a franchise I’ve always been conflicted about. Growing up, I was obsessed with games like Unleashed and Generations, and even now, I still enjoy the series thanks to the recently released films. On the flipside, I’ve been just as familiar with the series’ low points, as one of the first games I ever played was Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), and I watched as the franchise flickered in and out of relevancy thanks to Forces and Boom. When I first played Frontiers, I believed it to be a bright light in the state of mediocrity that Sonic seemed to be trapped in. Upon playing the Definitive Edition, though, I found that it perfectly captured the series’ worst traits.
There are very few things that Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition does right. While the early game and Cyber Space levels look fine, and both the music and story remain untouched, the best qualities of the original game are ruined by the Switch 2 port. The visuals look horrendous, the gameplay is more unresponsive than ever before, and the prospect of exploration is unappealing due to the execution of said features. Further, the worst qualities of the original game have only worsened: the technical glitches have only increased in frequency, and the combat is frustratingly monotonous. At a certain point, it was hard to tell where the original game’s issues ended and the port’s issues began, and that’s the biggest issue with the Definitive Edition.
It certainly doesn’t help that there isn’t anything “definitive” about this new edition. There is no new content, no features that take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2, not even any new cosmetics to make repeat playthroughs more enticing. If the game at least had an upgrade pack, wasn’t full price, or had a proper physical release, then the other problems could be offset. However, to play the game, you need to pay the full $50 price, even if you own the original Nintendo Switch version. It doesn’t even have a full cartridge release.
There is absolutely no reason to pick up the Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition. It costs too much, the technical issues are too vast, and the gameplay is borderline exhausting. I wanted to be able to give the original game another chance and declare, once and for all, it was a gem of a release that got unfairly panned by critics and fans alike. Instead, I found myself with one of the worst ports I’ve ever played. I’ve been deeply interested to see where the Sonic franchise goes next, but if Frontiers: Definitive Edition is any indication, maybe the series can use a break.
Disclaimer: SEGA provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition for review purposes.
