Sonic Lost World Reviews

[SenEDDtor Missile]

I see what you mean here, though the question is how sega would go about making new levels and the like without doing something that's been done before. Sure another adventure-esque game would be cool with parkouring and some other new mechanics but what kind of levels could they make at this point that haven't already been established in the games.

...Greekland?

[Nepenthe]

I see what you mean here, though the question is how sega would go about making new levels and the like without doing something that's been done before. Sure another adventure-esque game would be cool with parkouring and some other new mechanics but what kind of levels could they make at this point that haven't already been established in the games.

 

I'm not asking for the eschewing of common level tropes; I'm asking for better context surrounding a level's existence within a game's narrative, as well as designing levels specifically around that location's features. Why not make a casino level that's just an arena for a few pinball tables of your choice, some useless showers, and a trash system you're dumped into if you fail (the closest thing to a level), instead of just another get-to-the-end level with a casino backdrop?

[Celestia]

RE: level tropes. I wouldn't mind the whole "basing levels on real life locations" thing again, I'm sure there's plenty of locations in the real world that would make amazing Sonic levels.

 

That being said, I think reusing level tropes but putting a twist on them could be cool. I always liked Planet Wisp's idea of a Green Hill-y level, but Eggman's influence everywhere. Unfortunately the factory sections overshadow the greenery, rather than there being a balance.

 

Also:

Why not make a casino level that's just an arena for a few pinball tables of your choice, some useless showers, and a trash system you're dumped into if you fail (the closest thing to a level), instead of just another get-to-the-end level with a casino backdrop?

we need stuff like this again.

Edited October 22, 2013 by ElementofChaos

[Sami]

To be clear, I don't really want a return to the boost gameplay either - I'm just saying that Generations was a much stronger game on its own merits than Lost World seems to be, and that I vastly prefer that style over this one.

 

I was personally hoping for a return to the Adventure style, but more polished and with tighter controls. Lost World is too slow and too Mario for my tastes. There's also no context to the levels at all - a fact that greatly diminishes my interest in the game. Both versions of Speed Highway may have had floating highways (in the original's case, due to technical limitations - I actually really liked how you could see other similar roads in the background of the Generations version), but they still felt interesting. It was a fun romp through a bustling city at night, riding helicopters, running along and down the sides of skyscrapers, police badniks chasing after you the whole way... it was just fun. Bloopy Bloop Gamey Game Level #4 of Lost World, floating in the sky for no reason whatsoever with no context or meaning, is so boring. Please, please, please, that's the number one thing we should never ever see again. I hate that kind of design.

[Willsy]

I think what they need yo do is just go back to basics. Take Sonic with his LW moveset, stick him in Generations-esqe level design (maybe a bit more open with more paths); boom, profit.

[Nepenthe]

I'm not sure Generations level design would really work with this control scheme. After all, you can have multiple paths in a variety of gameplay styles.

[azoo]

The more I think about what I want, the more I realize I just want another Sonic Adventure game, but I'm just worried about them bringing back polarizing alternate gameplay styles as well as all the "ow the edge" of SA2 and onward.

[Carbo]

There's also no context to the levels at all - a fact that greatly diminishes my interest in the game.

Lost World offers far more context than Generations could ever hope to achieve. Even if I know what you're getting at in terms of not liking the levels, the word you're using to describe it works against Generations' favor.

[Celestia]

I think something like Adventure 1 level design would work well, with more emphasis on alternate paths and such. Adventure did have a few here and there, so there's that. Seriously, I could easily see SLW Sonic fitting in SA1, with some tweaks.

 

If only this had ended up on PC so we could have a Generations hacking community sort of thing.

Edited October 22, 2013 by ElementofChaos

[Jovahexeon Jax Joranvexeon]

I think something like Adventure 1 level design would work well, with more emphasis on alternate paths and such. Adventure did have a few here and there, so there's that. Seriously, I could easily see SLW Sonic fitting in SA1, with some tweaks.

 

If only this had ended up on PC so we could have a Generations hacking community sort of thing.

I get the feeling that Sonic Team's best bet with the current circumstances would be to tweak the controls of SLW Sonic and give more adjusting care to the level design.

 

From what I've heard SLW would've gone much better with improved level design.

[azoo]

I'm starting to think they should make controlling Sonic more traditional again.

 

As handy as it seems to have been according to some, having a signified 'run' button goes against what the Sonic series has had for well over 20 years, and seems to be the most alienating design choice for most players. Besides, acceleration over gear-shifting is more fun lol.

 

Maybe they should bring back parkour and make it the exclusive ability on the right trigger. Like, Sonic can move same as he always could without it (plus grabbing ledges), but timed press-and-holdings of the R trigger make Sonic vault over ledges (either running off them or jumping towards them), hop over smaller stage objects, and wall run. Kind of like Assassin's Creed, I guess?

Edited October 22, 2013 by Aspoopkara

[Sami]

Lost World offers far more context than Generations could ever hope to achieve. Even if I know what you're getting at in terms of not liking the levels, the word you're using to describe it works against Generations' favor.

 

I thought of the levels in Generations as little bubbles in the context of the games that the original levels were from, but fair enough. Gens was pretty much a glorified level select, and that was a problem I personally had with the game that I was willing to look past on account of its status as an anniversary celebration. 

 

As far as the level design itself goes, yeah, you get what I'm trying to say.

[Autosaver]

I'm just saying that Generations was a much stronger game on its own merits than Lost World seems to be, and that I vastly prefer that style over this one.

Sonic Generations took a concept from Unleashed and perfected it.

 

Sonic Lost World tried a brand new concept and had some flaws with it - many that can be ironed out. This is one of the reasons why I wouldn't mind another Lost World styled game that fixed the problems (aka make it a bit faster, iron out level design, make the controls easier with tutorials explaining each function, ditching gimmicks/useless wisps, etc) instead of just ditching it outright.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Autosaver

[Voyant]

Despite Lost world being I dud in some ways I'm still happy that Sonic Team tried something new. I was getting tired of them playing it so safe. At least this time though reviewers are fussing about "gameplay" and not stupid shit like characters and story elements that are not bad for the franchise.

 

Everything is Lost World was fine presentation wise it just has a flawed core. I would like Sonic Team to take Lost world elements and fuse them with boosting of Generations...its very possible. I believe this because the spindash in this game is pretty much a nerfed boost. If they can do this in Lost World they can do it in a Generations style game.

 

But the more I think about it....the more this sounds like a more refined Adventure style game. Hahaha we criticize the hell of the Adventure games, but maybe our inner child is calling to us or something. :U

Edited October 22, 2013 by Voyant

[Sami]

Aping Mario is about as safe as it gets.

[Soniman]

Aping Mario is about as safe as it gets.

 

I guess we could just ignore the new gameplay/control style that hasn't been done in Mario or Sonic then. :/

[Nepenthe]

Having a unique gameplay style doesn't necessarily prohibit heavy influence from other sources in other areas of game development.

[azoo]

The run button lends itself a lot to stopping and going, which is what much of the level design is built on in SLW (although you can potentially just keep going with skill, which is good, but in this it almost seems you have to go out of your way to do it, just like stopping and looking around in Unleashed/Gens).

 

Thats also why if we were to go back to Adventure-ish level design, where there's platforming and such but its all more centralized towards moving forward a lot instead of stopping so much, the difference between 'walk' and 'run' mode will either have to be minimal or removed altogether.

 

And since people are sort of upset with how the levels are too "Mario" in this case and need to be faster and more flowy, that's what I'm guessing they're gonna do. Its also why I'm assuming they're gonna bring back parkour as the only actions on the trigger in the next game.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Aspoopkara

[Doctor MK]

TSS Wii U Review is here!

http://www.sonicstadium.org/2013/10/tss-review-sonic-lost-world-wii-u/

 

Did we love it? Did we hate it? Read on and find out...!

[Autosaver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTiBoTMWrW4

 

- Control is superb

- Amazing graphics

- Kickass soundtrack

- Best Multiplayer in a Sonic game yet

- New ideas are well implemented. One example is falling to your cheap death is avoided by Sonic parkouring up the ledge.

- Unlimited amounts of alternate routes that increase replay value

- Goes back to what Sonic's classic gameplay. Speed was never the main focus, just a marketing gimmick.

- Spindash allows you to go close to super fast speeds closer to Sonic Generations.

- Great level design

 

9/10

[Chaos Warp]

TSS Wii U Review is here!

http://www.sonicstadium.org/2013/10/tss-review-sonic-lost-world-wii-u/

 

Did we love it? Did we hate it? Read on and find out...!

You seemed to flip-flop around a lot in this review. Did you like it overall, dislike it overall, were you "meh" on it? I had trouble drawing an overall conclusion from it. Maybe I'm just stupid?

[Mando-Whirl-Wind]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTiBoTMWrW4

 

- Control is superb

- Amazing graphics

- Kickass soundtrack

- Best Multiplayer in a Sonic game yet

- New ideas are well implemented. One example is falling to your cheap death is avoided by Sonic parkouring up the ledge.

- Unlimited amounts of alternate routes that increase replay value

- Goes back to what Sonic's classic gameplay. Speed was never the main focus, just a marketing gimmick.

- Spindash allows you to go close to super fast speeds closer to Sonic Generations.

- Great level design

 

9/10

So wait, so we got some of the best multiplayer so far? we really need more focus on this aspect

[Narukami07]

I honestly think a return to boostboostboost is what Sonic needs now. Sidescrolling platforming and boost 3D worked and offered something no competitors do. For me, Lost World has been the lowest point in the series since '06, mayyybe a little better than Black Knight (at least Black Knight kept it dumb and simple...).

Alright, pardon me if i'm going to sound blunt by saying this, as others are allowed to express their opinion. But i personally find this statement inherently insulting.

For all of Sonic Lost world's legitimate flaws, there is no way in hell that they could compare to that abomination that was 06. Heck, i'd be offended if Unleashed was compared to 06 as well. I realize that i may not consistently enjoy SLW as much as Gens or Colors once i get it, but sure as hell won't look at it as a huge disaster that is unanimously agreed to be a shit stain towards the franchise as a whole. At least with Lost World it could back itself up with neat presentation, visuals, and a somewhat promising development (even if it went to a halt near the end). With 06, its so bad that the game's strongest points would steer towards erasing most of its existence in the end and good music.

That game was in a whole new level of trash, and i'd be disappointed if Sega reverted back to boosting out of blatant discourage of ever evolving the series towards something more than just less depth with more speed focus.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Narukami07

[Autosaver]

So wait, so we got some of the best multiplayer so far? we really need more focus on this aspect

Colors multiplayer was pretty bad. Sonic games haven't had a decent multiplayer mode in a while.

 

It's a relief to see multiplayer come back with actual levels to run through. Shame it doesn't have online.

[Doctor MK]

You seemed to flip-flop around a lot in this review. Did you like it overall, dislike it overall, were you "meh" on it? I had trouble drawing an overall conclusion from it. Maybe I'm just stupid?

 

Pretty much what the conclusion says really - I think it's a good game but I couldn't help but notice its many flaws, hence why I spend time discussing both the highs and lows in detail. And "flip-flop" is a good way of describing what the game itself is like, actually. One minute it's brilliant, the next it's frustrating.