by Kintor » Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:16 am
I've just finished Sonic Forces on PS4, I really enjoyed it. I'm not one to give number ratings but I do think that Sonic Forces is better than Sonic Colours and on the same level as Sonic Generations/Sonic Unleashed. The main game is fairly short but there is a ton of replay value here, between working for those S ranks and unlocking new items for the Avatar character.
Haven't had a chance to try Episode Shadow yet, since it doesn't appear to be currently available on PSN. Hopefully, that will change in the next day or so, whenever Sony does their weekly update of the store.
For anyone interested here's a quick rundown of the different gameplay styles.
Modern Sonic - The key difference in Sonic Forces is how the boost energy works. You don't start with any energy at the beginning of the stage. Also, rings no longer recharge the boost, only Wisp containers. This means you need to be a lot more tactical with your use of the boost, if you're not careful you can run out more quickly than in Sonic Generations. Which should temper the criticism that previous versions of the boost were too easy to activate and maintain in a stage.
Classic Sonic - I think that the feel of the physics has been improved since Sonic Generations, to offer an experience closer to Sonic 2 or S3&K while operating in a 3D engine. The level design is also quite good, with plenty of branching paths, even on the earliest stages. Lots of potential for exploration on these 2D stages.
Avatar Character - Something more akin to a PS2 era platformer like Jak & Daxter or Ratchet & Clank, with its weapon based attack. All the Wisp power-ups from Sonic Colours have been repurposed into different handheld weapons for the Avatar to use, which if anything feels more like a natural expression of the Wisp mechanics then even Sonic Colours managed to achieved. Avatar customisation is unlocking by winning new weapons and clothing by completing stages and getting high scores. When you beat the game for the first time you can start creating multiple avatars for use at any time.