Sonic Frontiers' Skill Tree Seems Faithful to The Game's Identity
Sonic Frontiers' release is right around the corner, and excitement for its changes to the classic franchise seems to be high. While the biggest new addition is of course the first-ever open world in the series, there's another first that the game brings that could be more controversial depending on its execution. Sonic Frontiers gives Sonic an all-new skill tree, with abilities to be unlocked as the player progresses through the game.
Skill trees are a common addition to open-world games, sometimes used to restrict certain areas or activities organically without shutting out exploration. However, their inclusion in games where they previously didn't exist doesn't always go to plan, so Sonic Teamwill need to tread carefully when adding it to a game that is already so different from the rest of the franchise. Luckily, it looks like the system's implementation in Sonic Frontiers has been done in a way that preserves the original Sonic identity.
Sonic Frontiers' Tone Could Work for a New Shadow the Hedgehog Game
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 has his spin, homing attack, drop dash, and stomp available by default rather than unlocking them through progression. This is an important decision to have made to preserve the classic feeling of Sonic. 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.
Also seemingly missing is the addition of further upgrades within each skill. While that doesn't have much to do with the original formula of Sonic
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