Disappointing, not the worst. I had high hopes for this game, but it turned out to be nothing but a massive disappointment. It had so much potential but it was rushed out the door like every game after generations.The soundtrack is mediocre at best, there are some good ones like “luminous jungle” and “fist bump”, but the other songs are just meh. But the same can’t be said about classic sonic’s, it sounds like someone smashed a genesis, and recorded the sounds as the console died.The levels are bare bones and too easy aside from the 2-d segments of modern sonic, they’re all straight lines that you just boost through with the only challenge being to try and stay awake. Not to mention for things like turning, the game does that for you. And there’s no point in ... MoreDisappointing, not the worst. I had high hopes for this game, but it turned out to be nothing but a massive disappointment. It had so much potential but it was rushed out the door like every game after generations.The soundtrack is mediocre at best, there are some good ones like “luminous jungle” and “fist bump”, but the other songs are just meh. But the same can’t be said about classic sonic’s, it sounds like someone smashed a genesis, and recorded the sounds as the console died.The levels are bare bones and too easy aside from the 2-d segments of modern sonic, they’re all straight lines that you just boost through with the only challenge being to try and stay awake. Not to mention for things like turning, the game does that for you. And there’s no point in speed running the levels like in Unleashed or Colors, cause in a majority, there are unskippable QTEs. Not to mention there aren’t any alternate routes, or anything like that to try and complete the Level in a quicker time.Speaking of missed potential, Infinite and the rookie are characters with lots of it. For example, in sonic unleashed, the friendship between sonic and chip feels real, because they actually went on this journey together and worked through each other’s tough times. With sonic and the rookie its like some kind of fanfic. Not to mention infinite, this character could’ve been a good villain but we got a villain more edgy than all of shadow the hedgehog.Back to my point of it being easy, there’s no challenge aside from some platforming, which is only somewhat difficult because of the terrible controls. Enemies barely fight back, bosses are predictable and don’t change halfway through their fights. Sonic ‘06 actually required you fo learn, to improve, to learn how the game works and what else it could throw at you, and when a game is worse than Sonic ‘06, than you know you screwed up.The rookie is a good idea but a poor execution, its just sonic but you don’t have boost. The wispons are a good idea, they add a sense of replay value, opening up different routes depending on which you have equipped but they are severely underused. Many wispons either do none to a lot of damage making them unusable for certain bosses like Your first fight with infinite, and to the point where you can blow through the game with just burst.The story is also a colossal joke. The writers present something to try and shift your emotions, but when they show it, it’s like the completely forget about it. An example is when classic sonic shows up, in prior cutscenes, the characters bring up after sonic was defeated, Tails “lost it” and it missing, but when we see him, he’s still the same useless character he always it. Why bring it up if they’re not gonna show it?In conclusion this game has been nothing but lies and deception. Sega and sonic team promised a game to bring sonic back to the spotlight, but instead we got this. This is mostly likely on sega for rushing it instead of waiting.

This game isn't terrible, But it is far from good.The physics are janky at times, the levels are short, and at times tend to just be unfriendly to the player, occasionally launching you off the stage for not taking a turn 100% correctly.The avatar levels are decent, but they often fall into the trap of the levels playing themselves. In one level, I counted 12 seconds where I didn't have to do anything. 12 seconds isn't a lot, but it is when the level only lasts a minute more.The customization options are enjoyable, playing dress up is always fun.The classic sonic levels aren't too bad, but they have such weird feeling inertia. It feels awkward to start moving forward, and has such an abrupt stop. The drop dash from Mania is included, and is a nice plus, it works ... MoreThis game isn't terrible, But it is far from good.The physics are janky at times, the levels are short, and at times tend to just be unfriendly to the player, occasionally launching you off the stage for not taking a turn 100% correctly.The avatar levels are decent, but they often fall into the trap of the levels playing themselves. In one level, I counted 12 seconds where I didn't have to do anything. 12 seconds isn't a lot, but it is when the level only lasts a minute more.The customization options are enjoyable, playing dress up is always fun.The classic sonic levels aren't too bad, but they have such weird feeling inertia. It feels awkward to start moving forward, and has such an abrupt stop. The drop dash from Mania is included, and is a nice plus, it works well, makes things faster and more fun.However, the level design in the classic sonic stages is underwhelming and feel tacked on. Which, I guess is appropriate since classic sonic doesn't seem to have a reason to actually be there.The story is fine, nothing to write home about, but not offensively bad.Nothing further comes to mind.

A decent modern Sonic game

I am a huge fan of Sonic from the Sega Genesis era even up to the ps3 and 360 Sonic Unleashed days.First of all this game is not like Sonic Mania the masterpiece released two months before it. With this said Sonic Forces should not be discounted. I like the avatar and all the cosmetic, gear and weapon options which I unlocked all in the daily missions. Additionally, the price of the game is about right being around $30 or less. If you like 3D Sonic games this game is very playable. Just don't go in thinking it is as deep as Sonic Unleashed, Generations or Colors. Visually the characters and levels look nice and some of the music was done well to the level of say Sonic Colors or Unleashed which in my opinion have some of the best modern Sonic music. The many ... MoreI am a huge fan of Sonic from the Sega Genesis era even up to the ps3 and 360 Sonic Unleashed days.First of all this game is not like Sonic Mania the masterpiece released two months before it. With this said Sonic Forces should not be discounted. I like the avatar and all the cosmetic, gear and weapon options which I unlocked all in the daily missions. Additionally, the price of the game is about right being around $30 or less. If you like 3D Sonic games this game is very playable. Just don't go in thinking it is as deep as Sonic Unleashed, Generations or Colors. Visually the characters and levels look nice and some of the music was done well to the level of say Sonic Colors or Unleashed which in my opinion have some of the best modern Sonic music. The many in-game unlockables really works well for the game. Sonic Forces creatively uses daily and weekly challenges related to wearing and using certain gear, which brought a lot of variety as well. Additionally there are challenges for completing stages within a certain time. However, I do feel the levels are short and you can blast through them and just mash "X" most of the time. Finally, this game seemed a bit like Sonic Heroes, Colors and Unleashed combined with your avatar able to use a variety of weapons as well as run, which in my opinion is very interesting. The Shadow the Hedgehog DLC was a nice bonus as well.

Better than the critics say (for the price it is)

30 short stages. 3 Play styles. A dozen or so bonus stages. Infinite (pun) possibilities so character customization and all for a really low price. Sure this game isn't anything spectacular, but its nice to have another 3D Sonic game us Playstation owners can actually play (Colors, Lost World and the 3 BOOM games were all Nintendo exclusive) The music is generic with no Crush 40 which sucks and ranges from catchy to repetitively annoying. Thankfully there are less instant death moments like in Sonic: Unleashed and the Buddy system is actually really fun. Different species have different abilities and it makes for fun and slightly varied gameplay. Look you now what you're getting in for when you buy a Sonic game these days. If you a pompous old school purist, go play ... More30 short stages. 3 Play styles. A dozen or so bonus stages. Infinite (pun) possibilities so character customization and all for a really low price. Sure this game isn't anything spectacular, but its nice to have another 3D Sonic game us Playstation owners can actually play (Colors, Lost World and the 3 BOOM games were all Nintendo exclusive) The music is generic with no Crush 40 which sucks and ranges from catchy to repetitively annoying. Thankfully there are less instant death moments like in Sonic: Unleashed and the Buddy system is actually really fun. Different species have different abilities and it makes for fun and slightly varied gameplay. Look you now what you're getting in for when you buy a Sonic game these days. If you a pompous old school purist, go play Sonic Mania. If you'e up for something new and fun, try this game.The critics all said that the stages were lacking, I don't know about you but 50+ total stages plus free Shadow DLC is pretty good, and I actually really like the shorter length of the stages. It makes for faster, funner gameplay and easy replayability, especially when going for those Red Star Rings, Numbered Rings and Silver Moons (100% enthusiasts will understand). Plenty of fun to be had with the goofy story that is taken way too seriously. The bosses suck though and the new big bad guy has no reveal or payoff which was disappointing. He's literally a new masked character with no twists or development and without the free Shadow prequel DLC you know nothing about his character. Also critics said the movement felt clunky like Sonic was too heavy, not once did I ever experience misplaced jump. I guess they just suck at the game.

Fun but wasted potential

Sonic games are always hit or miss in terms of quality and this one falls in the "meh" category. Its not terrible but its not amazing either. Its just Ok. If you have played any current modern Sonic game such as Sonic Unleashed, Colors or Generations the game play is nearly identical which isn't necessarily a good thing. Being the first Sonic game on a true next generation console I expected a little more improvement in the gameplay and graphics department but what we got was actually a step back from what the previous games had already established. Mechanics that were previously introduced like drifting around corners is now gone replaced with the game doing it for you. While it looks cool its take away actual input thus causing a lot of the levels to feel ... MoreSonic games are always hit or miss in terms of quality and this one falls in the "meh" category. Its not terrible but its not amazing either. Its just Ok. If you have played any current modern Sonic game such as Sonic Unleashed, Colors or Generations the game play is nearly identical which isn't necessarily a good thing. Being the first Sonic game on a true next generation console I expected a little more improvement in the gameplay and graphics department but what we got was actually a step back from what the previous games had already established. Mechanics that were previously introduced like drifting around corners is now gone replaced with the game doing it for you. While it looks cool its take away actual input thus causing a lot of the levels to feel "automated" and that's problem with the majority of the game. Most the modern Sonic levels can be beaten by simply holding the analog stick forward for a couple of minutes and the level ends. They brought classic Sonic back but somehow he controls worse than he did in Generations. Rolling down hills will not carry your momentum causing you to abruptly stop, and the levels are filled with "hidden" springs for no good reason. You can create and customize your own character which is a neat addition but it still doesn't help the somewhat boring level design. The custom avatar gets a few new tools such as the ability to use weapons called "wispons" which add a little variety but it quickly becomes mundane when the enemies just stand there posing no threat whatsoever. Big disappointment for a game that supposedly been in development for 4 years.

May be my favorite "boost style" Sonic game!

Of course people are entitled to their opinions, but I highly disagree with harsh criticism this game received. I thought it was one of the best games in the so-called "boost era" (2008-2017) of Sonic games. One of my favorite things about this game was it brought back the large ensemble of characters the series is known for. This really helps livens up the world in Forces, it really helps connect it to the previous games in the series and makes Forces story of Eggman finally ruling the world more impactful, that the situation is so dire it requires almost every one of Sonic's friends to set things right.The levels are all very detailed and varied, there's always something going on in the background that helps tell a story for each stage.There are 3 main ... MoreOf course people are entitled to their opinions, but I highly disagree with harsh criticism this game received. I thought it was one of the best games in the so-called "boost era" (2008-2017) of Sonic games. One of my favorite things about this game was it brought back the large ensemble of characters the series is known for. This really helps livens up the world in Forces, it really helps connect it to the previous games in the series and makes Forces story of Eggman finally ruling the world more impactful, that the situation is so dire it requires almost every one of Sonic's friends to set things right.The levels are all very detailed and varied, there's always something going on in the background that helps tell a story for each stage.There are 3 main playable characters, Sonic, Classic Sonic, and the player created Avatar. All three have different play styles, with Sonic playing like he did in other "boost" games (Unleashed, Colors, & Generations), Classic Sonic plays just like he did in Generations, now with the added drop dash from Sonic Mania, and the Avatar character plays similar to Sonic though you can choose what weapon they use which helps differentiate them from Sonic. Shadow is also playable via free dlc, though he basically has all of Sonic's same abilities.Finally I want to say the music is fantastic, while this a given to many Sonic fans, the songs in this game really helped connect me to the story. The Avatar's stages almost always has vocals, the lyric of these songs made me feel deeply connected on an emotional level to the story, and what the Avatar character (and the others) needed to do. These songs really helped motivate me to want to defeat Eggman and save the world.

Mediocre at it's finest

Please don't spend $30 on this game. As a sequel to previous similarly-styled Sonic games it fails in nearly every way, not improving or building on anything that previous games might have established. The level design is absolutely horrid (save for a few 2D segments in Modern and Avatar levels) and the physics are all over the place. For a platformer, it's incredibly hard to make even simple jumps with the crazy rate of acceleration that this game has. Not to mention the fact that you can't even run up slopes even if you've built up momentum... in a SONIC game.The graphics of the new engine are clearly up to snuff, but the art style of the game is bogged down tremendously with oddly contrasting colors and constant reuse of the same assets... both from this game ... MorePlease don't spend $30 on this game. As a sequel to previous similarly-styled Sonic games it fails in nearly every way, not improving or building on anything that previous games might have established. The level design is absolutely horrid (save for a few 2D segments in Modern and Avatar levels) and the physics are all over the place. For a platformer, it's incredibly hard to make even simple jumps with the crazy rate of acceleration that this game has. Not to mention the fact that you can't even run up slopes even if you've built up momentum... in a SONIC game.The graphics of the new engine are clearly up to snuff, but the art style of the game is bogged down tremendously with oddly contrasting colors and constant reuse of the same assets... both from this game and previous ones. The music is just okay. Most of it is loud, obnoxious dubstep-inspired garbage while the rest is just kind of fine. Classic Sonic's themes are unarguably the worst, however, being done in a style to emulate the SEGA Genesis soundfont (and doing so excellently) but having absolutely no rhyme or rhythm to it. It's just like the rest: loud, obnoxious, 16-bit crap. Tl;dr, this game is simply not worth your time or money. Pick it up later when it's $20 or less, but anything more is basically throwing your money in the garbage. Even then you probably will still not be satisfied with it, but at least you won't be paying Sonic Team for making a poorly put-together game so that they'll do it more down the line.

Overly mediocre, with little redeeming qualities

This is the most passable Sonic game I've played. The Adventure games haven't aged well, but they're still ambitious in gameplay, story, and scope. Unleashed gets a bad rep, but arguably has the best art direction/graphics and soundtrack Sonic has ever achieved. Even Lost World has a sense of platforming and soundtrack, even if it's somewhat confused.Sonic Forces has none of that. Gameplay has literally become "boost to win", coupled with short, linear stages that don't promote exploration or excitement. Classic Sonic somehow feels and moves worse than Generations (only emphasized further by the stellar Sonic Mania), Avatar is too slow to be exciting, while Sonic is just... passable.Everything just seemed mishandled. The story seems to neglect any history or ... MoreThis is the most passable Sonic game I've played. The Adventure games haven't aged well, but they're still ambitious in gameplay, story, and scope. Unleashed gets a bad rep, but arguably has the best art direction/graphics and soundtrack Sonic has ever achieved. Even Lost World has a sense of platforming and soundtrack, even if it's somewhat confused.Sonic Forces has none of that. Gameplay has literally become "boost to win", coupled with short, linear stages that don't promote exploration or excitement. Classic Sonic somehow feels and moves worse than Generations (only emphasized further by the stellar Sonic Mania), Avatar is too slow to be exciting, while Sonic is just... passable.Everything just seemed mishandled. The story seems to neglect any history or personality traits characters did have, and attempts to tell a serious war story without understanding the severity of the scenario itself (why is Sonic still cracking jokes? why don't we ever see the effects of imprisonment and "torture" on Sonic?). The music actually has amazing compositions, but is plagued by using the same instrumentation (the same synth is in every song) and poor implementation (Classic sonic stages attempt to emulate the Genesis font, but comes off as irritating).The only thing in this game I can praise is the graphical quality. As a game that asked for $40 at launch, I wouldn't recommend purchasing. And even at $20, I still wouldn't recommend.

Probably the Worst Sonic Game of all Time

Sonic Forces is the type of game that puts you on a watchlist. If you only play like one or two Sonic games before and don't care about basically anything in your games, it's fine, but for people who do love Sonic at least the slightest bit, this game is trash. The game has no substance to it. In the Sonic (he's not modern, he's just Sonic) and Avatar stages, the 3D parts are so shallow that quite a lot of the 3D parts you can beat without barely pressing anything. There's so much automation that it shouldn't even be there, but there's so little of the 3D (at least in the Sonic stages) that it just becomes another 2D filled rehashed, which at that point a new Sonic Rush game should've been made. The Avatar stages are kinda neat since the customization options is ... MoreSonic Forces is the type of game that puts you on a watchlist. If you only play like one or two Sonic games before and don't care about basically anything in your games, it's fine, but for people who do love Sonic at least the slightest bit, this game is trash. The game has no substance to it. In the Sonic (he's not modern, he's just Sonic) and Avatar stages, the 3D parts are so shallow that quite a lot of the 3D parts you can beat without barely pressing anything. There's so much automation that it shouldn't even be there, but there's so little of the 3D (at least in the Sonic stages) that it just becomes another 2D filled rehashed, which at that point a new Sonic Rush game should've been made. The Avatar stages are kinda neat since the customization options is only real rewards you get for S-Ranking stages, but they really don't do much and are also pretty shallow. Sometimes there's a double boost section in some of the stages, and these are so automated, that you don't even have to press the button at all, and you'll still do it just fine. Classic Sonic is also back and he's totally shoehorned in. Just comparing it to Generations, his level design is so plain and boring and doesn't take advantage of the space being 3D. But when also comparing it to Mania, the pure 2D level design is way better and the repeated level themes from the Genesis games are so much more interesting and fun to play than this. The presentation of the game is pretty bland when compared from the Sonic games of the previous generation of consoles, let alone the games from the PS2 generation and the Dreamcast games. The models feel very ridged and there's barely any movement on the models, to the point where Sonic doesn't have any idle animations. The environmental graphics feel very plastic (like Lost World) in comparison to the lush and beautiful landscapes of Unleashed and Generations. The music is good, but you can just listen to that on Youtube or Spotify. The story wants to be cool and serious like previous games, but fails at this with the unfunny and out of character dialogue and the rushed pacing. The world doesn't even have normal humans when the past games have shown they're in towns everywhere. This game is just an absolute mess. Go play Sonic Mania or even go back and play any other Sonic on previous consoles instead of this.

Video cases Missing Game Inside

When the child recipient opened this Christmas gift, the case was empty. Case was shrink wrapped with price seal. Best Buy exchanged it for the same new game which clerk opened before we left the store to make sure the game was in the case. Apparently theft is happening at the distributor level. Another large store has reported lots of same thing. Buyer beware!