Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 5 have received flak from fans who feel like their skill trees are bloated and overcomplicated to the point where they become grinds. These directions taken by Sonic Frontier show that the game is likely looking to avoid the mistakes that sometimes come with skill trees in games. That approach might be the best way to implement new features for the combat-focused gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. Having abilities like these which are focused on the long-established qualities of the character seem like they may be a great way to add variety while preserving the original identity of the series. Some examples shown in a recent trailer for Sonic Frontiers include Phantom Rush, which triggers after a combo, attacking at almost invisible speed and Sonic Boom, a long-range option that is still based on Sonic’s signature speed. With Sonic Frontiers, it seems like the abilities are built around Sonic’s most recognizable traits, iterating upon them in ways that fit the new gameplay. Some of the more notorious examples are the Werehog sections of Sonic Unleashed and the swordplay of Sonic and the Black Knight. Sonic as a franchise has taken quite a lot of experimental approaches in the past, but the ones that are usually the worst received are those that try to change Sonic as a playable character too much. What’s more, the skills available work well with Sonic’s classic toolkit. That’s also a philosophy apparent in how small the game’s skill tree is compared to others. Sonic Frontiers forgoing this hopefully means that unlocks are more impactful due to how sparingly they occur. That kind of micromanaged progression often makes games feel like a grind to marginally improve abilities in overly large skill trees. While that doesn’t have much to do with the original formula of Sonic specifically, it’s a smart move nonetheless. Locking iconic and rudimentary skills behind a skill tree is a surefire way to hurt the pacing of a game, especially one with so much emphasis on momentum, yet it’s one that many skill trees often make.Īlso seemingly missing is the addition of further upgrades within each skill. This is an important decision to have made to preserve the classic feeling of Sonic. Sonic has his spin, homing attack, drop dash, and stomp available by default rather than unlocking them through progression. Part of what makes the approach to a skill tree in Sonic Frontiers seem more appealing than other games comes down to what isn’t included rather than what is. Sonic Frontiers’ Skill Tree Balances Innovation With Tradition
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March 2023
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