Lost World: Discussion, Impressions and Fan Reviews

[Scar]

Without spoiling it.

 

Amy has SOMEWHAT of a role.

 

This is the worst role I have ever seen Knuckles in. He's basically an extra.

Worst role?

Worse than 06? Really? You could do much worse than merely being an extra.....

[Carbuncle]

Worst role?

Worse than 06? Really? You could do much worse than merely being an extra.....

 

It's his worst role because he's virtually not in.

 

I think he has...2 lines of dialogue?

[Kuzu]

Yea, Knuckles is kinda useless here. In 06, he at least DID something, even if it was minor and inconsequential.

[DarkLight]

Yeah, as much as I enjoyed his antics with the little animals, Knuckles was really the only character that could've been cut out of the game and nothing would've changed. 

 

Then again, expecting him and Amy doing anything important than just sitting around babysitting the animals was just optimistic thinking.

[Carbo]

Beat the game. Going to need some time to pin down all my thoughts but I'll say as someone who's had a lot of negative things to say about the 3D Sonic series as a whole, I'm finding it hard to give anything other than a strong recommendation for this game.

[Kuzu]

Oh shit guys, Carbo liked a 3D Sonic game; the end is truly near.

[Soniman]

Oh shit guys, Carbo liked a 3D Sonic game; the end is truly near.

 

Well hed DID like a few others so it's not that far fetch'd really.

Edited October 19, 2013 by SoniManbeast

[Carbo]

Well hd DID like other so it's not that far fetch'd really.

Well, I'd say I'm only kind of fond of Colors and Adventure. I consider every other installment sub-par at best.

[Robuttnik]

Sonic Lost World Wii U has to be the biggest cock tease ever.

 

The first few levels in = Fantastic.Good controls, beautiful graphics, brilliant music, good level design and fun story.

 

Later levels in: WTF is this shit? Huge difficulty spikes, terrible and frustrating level design, useless Wisps and too much automation.

 

I'm at Lava Mountain Zone 2 right now and this is more frustrating than Frozen Factory Zone 2 was. Some of the enemy and obstacle placement is just terrible, but the biggest problem is fighting the air inertia. 

I didn't think Frozen Factory 2 was frustrating. I thought it was a nice unique stage myself. I didn't really struggle with it. But yes, late game level design is absolutely awful.

[Soniman]

I didn't think Frozen Factory 2 was frustrating. I thought it was a nice unique stage myself. I didn't really struggle with it. But yes, late game level design is absolutely awful.

 

Late game as in? Like the last two-three levels or what?

[Kuzu]

Late game as in? Like the last two-three levels or what?

 

From what I saw, basically Sky Road onward.

[WarioBone]

they didn't just knock the ball completely out of the park, they made a full home run as well!

 

Th-This is the same thing. <w<;

 

-quietly steps out-

[Narukami07]

^Is it worse than the later stages of Colors?

[Soniman]

^Is it worse than the later stages of Colors?

 

Wha? If anything the game got BETTER later in the game.

[Robuttnik]

From what I saw, basically Sky Road onward.

Pretty much. Though certain aspects of Silent Forest felt annoying as well, like the owl searchlight section.

[Carbuncle]

I wouldn't say anything in the game was very hard, like Ninja Gaiden or even certain parts of Mario.

 

It's more like that the game can just throw bullshit cheap obstacles your way. And, almost all the time, these cheap obstacles are insta-kills. I'm thinking of those bomb-carts in the rail levels, the lava and the chop-blades as examples.

 

Once you've played the level, it's fine, but until then it's trial and error bs.

 

It's made worse by the lives system, which seriously needs to be dropped.

Edited October 19, 2013 by Carbuncle

[Narukami07]

Are you so blind and can't see how this game is bad or you just another fanboy of modern Sonic games? Controls sucks. Music sounds like a shit. Graphics sucks. This stupid squares...

Sonic was the the antipode of Mario. ANd what now? Sonic licks Mario's ass.

Can we please not start this shit again? It's one thing to express an opinion but it's another when you take it towards a new level in provoking unnecessary flame wars in a forum in regards to throwing the "your a fanboy" card against an individual.

We're in a Sonic forum, not Gamefaqs. Let's keep it that way and agree to disagree.

Edited October 19, 2013 by Narukami07

[Detective Shadzter]

Beat the game now. Love the story, but the game as whole I'm 50/50 on. Half the levels are fun, while many in the later half of the game are just frustrating in my opinion. Will be contributing to the TSS review with a small second opinion.

[WarioBone]

Can we please not start this shit again? It's one thing to express an opinion but it's another when you take it towards a new level in provoking unnecessary flame wars in a forum in regards to throwing the "your a fanboy" card against an individual.

We're in a Sonic forum, not Gamefaqs. Let's keep it that way and agree to disagree.

 

>calls you blind for not seeing made up flaws

 

>makes up flaws to blindly ignore game's stronger points

 

mkay

[Narukami07]

Wha? If anything the game got BETTER later in the game.

Aww crap, wrong game. XD

Have there been any mainline Sonic game's where it's later half is comparable to Lost World by any chance?

[Carbuncle]

Aww crap, wrong game. XD

Have there been any mainline Sonic game's where it's later half is comparable to Lost World by any chance?

 

I think it's comparable to how Sonic Adventure gets pearshaped with levels like Lost World and Final Egg.

[Narukami07]

I think it's comparable to how Sonic Adventure gets pearshaped with levels like Lost World and Final Egg.

Oh....those levels....DX

I'm guessing it's also like (sorry if i'm asking too much) Unleashed-2.0 in terms of fun and frustrating levels also?

[Carbuncle]

Oh....those levels....DX

I'm guessing it's also like (sorry if i'm asking too much) Unleashed-2.0 in terms of fun and frustrating levels also?

 

I don't think any of the levels are anywhere near as bad as the Werehog was.

 

If we are talking about Daytime levels, I would consider nearly all levels In Lost World better.

[TheOcelot]

I've completed Lost World. So here are my first impressions (this post does contain spoilers):

 

Gameplay:

 

I think the whole parkour system is a very interesting idea. It’s implemented pretty well. The walking, running and spindash controls are quite easy to get used to, although I haven't yet mastered the parkour wall running. The addition of the kick move is an interesting idea. It’s pretty much another version of the homing attack. I like how Sonic 'arcs' when using the homing attack. The majority of the gameplay in the 3d stages is good fun.

 

The sliding sections in the snow levels are a bit annoying because you can’t jump and steering isn't easy. The areas where you skate across the ice are pretty cool. The section where you bounce from cloud to cloud is a lot easier than it looks. I envisioned dying loads of times, but I found it easy to land even on the smallest of clouds.

 

Now we get to the tight platforming in the 2d stages. The controls are fucking bullshit.

 

To quote a recent post of mine:

 

"Just been through hell in Zone 4 of Silent Forest. I died an insane amount of times because I was trying to get the red star rings. I managed get all five, but the tight platforming sections were so fucking frustrating.

 

I tried using walking speed, running speed, single jumps and doubles jumps to get to a really difficult to reach red star ring over bottomless pits and I just couldn't time it right. When I jumped too far I pressed the opposite direction and Sonic would turn back so far that I would miss the platform completely. The trick of course is that when you are in mid-air and let go of the walk button, Sonic comes to a complete stop (like in Sonic 4 Episode 1), but even then the screen often rotates in a circular direction which can throw you off slightly, thus I still missed the intended platform when I jumped. Cheap difficulty and poor controls for the 2d levels."

 

I've been screaming at Sonic Team for years to get the tight controls right, to get rid of the slippery controls. This is what stops me from enjoying the gameplay in Unleashed, Heroes and ShTH. So how come Sonic Team still can't perfect this formula ‘Tight controls with good momentum phyiscs’. It’s a no brainer and is essential to all platformers playing well. As a result I am finding it really hard to like the 2d stages.

 

Also sometimes when I need to move fast and I jump, Sonic grabs the nearest ledge (to parkour) which I don't want, which results in a few seconds delay before he lets go and can lead to cheap deaths.

 

Generally the controls are pretty good, and SLW is the first installment of brand new formula so I should cut it a bit of slack. That said, you are asking for trouble if you don't get the controls right. Throughout the game you constantly need to switch between walking and running controls, and it’s really fucking annoying when you jump/double jump over a large pit and there is no momentum. Feels like Amy’s controls in Sonic 06.

 

The rail grinding 3d areas are quite good. There are a few sections in the Lava Mountain grinding stage where you have multiple rails that you can move across. Moving from rail to rail is really easy and fast. I haven’t been so impressed by the rails controls since SA2. Unfortunately the 2.5d rail sections can go die in a fire. The cheap difficulty enemy insta-kill placement is bullshit. The ‘air inertia’ is complete arse.

 

I think I’ve died like 300 times due to the controls screwing me over. Thanks Sonic Team! 

 

 

The graphics:

 

Sonic Lost World is a beautiful looking game. It has a very unique art style - very different from recent installments - which I haven't seen in a Sonic game since Sonic CD. At times quite breathtaking to look at. Levels such as Desert Ruins, Lava Mountain and Frozen Factory are gorgeous. The sheer attention to detail looks amazing on the Wii U hardware. The 2d stages are a real stand-out in terms of the visual design.

 

 

Music:

 

SLW has a fantastic soundtrack. Are we really surprised? We know that Sonic Team brought back composers who worked on previous games like Sonic 06 and Unleashed. No wonder the music sounds so good. Right from the get go in Windy Hill Zone 1 you get a very upbeat piece of music which continues throughout the different worlds. Having addictive music is very important in SLW because the game focuses so much on trial and error. I am definitely going to buy the soundtrack. The title, hub world, bonus level and boss music are really pleasant.

 

 

The story:

 

IMO this game has the best story since Unleashed. It has quite a few unexpected twists and turns. I think there are more cut-scenes in LW than there in Generations, Colours and Unleashed. The interaction between the characters can be very entertaining at times. The aftermath of the cut-scene whether the Deadly Six attack Sonic, Tails and Eggman, is the high point, There are so many funny scenes. Eggman and Sonic both loathing each other - despise working together - and the banter and sarcasm you get as they trade insults is probably the best I have heard in any Sonic game. Likewise the strained relationship between Tails and Sonic, they clearly both get hurt and it's nice see that side of their relationship explored.

 

The interaction of Cubot and Orbot is better in this game. Those two are growing on me. Ever since I finally got a chance to play Colours (two weeks before Lost world), I've come to really enjoy them. When Orbot asks Sonic whether he could be his sidekick, that was pure gold. 

 

Lost World has very interesting story, which does end a little abruptly and could have been flushed out more, but the story is entertaing enough to show that some real effort has gone into the writing this time. I hope this trend continues in future games. 

 

I love how Knuckles boasts in both of his cut-scenes at how he could have done things better than Sonic. He portrayal is pretty good. I admit I jumped the gun when I previously said he was being treated like an idiot (when Amy shoves him out of the way). The scene where the animals pick up Knuckles and carry him off is so cute.

 

The voice actors/actresses.

 

Mike Pollock and Roger Craig Smith are outstanding as Eggman and Sonic. This is helped by the better material they had to work with this time around. Pollock owns that role, I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it. You see a lot more intense emotion from Eggman and Sonic which I feel has been lacking in recent games. RCS was finally able to flex is muscles, playing the full range or emotions from Sonic's sarcasm and witty retorts with Eggman to how hurt he feels when he falls-out with Tails. Speaking of Tails, I love Kate Higgins portrayal of him. Easily my favorite voice actress for the Fox Boy. 

 

Knuckles voice is good, although difficult to judge as he doesn't have many lines. I hope we get to hear more of Knuckles in the near future. The Deadly Six are pretty decent. My favorites are Zeena, Zazz and Zavok. Amy's voice feels a little off but it's not that bad.

 

 

Replay value:

 

Yep the good old Red Star Rings are back yet again. I like them. They encourage you to get creative with your platforming. Still seems weird that you need them to unlock Super Sonic, but I enjoy collecting them all the same. I am definitely going to replay LW. There are those weird 'flying' levels to unlock. 

 

 

Level design:

 

The 3d level design are generally quite open. I like the design a lot in that you can get quite a few branching paths and/or multiple paths on the cylindrical sections.  It’s surprising just how many paths you can find when exploring.

 

Before the game was released, quite a few people said how bland the Desert Ruins stages look. When you actually play those stages, there are many branching paths, some which require you to make full use of the move set available. Some 3d sections come off a bit linear, like the rail grinding or sliding sections, but that’s okay as it doesn't happen too often. I like the level in Lava Mountain where Sonic slides towards the screen. This only happens once in the game, so it makes a nice change.

 

I’m glad that LW has moved away from the boost formula. You get a few mach-speed stages/sections (like Desert Ruins Zone 2) which are well designed and rather fun. I like how the gameplay changes up a lot from very slow platforming to moderately fast paced action. I can appreciate though that such a wide range of gameplay isn't for everyone.

 

The 2d levels are very linear. Most two stages have two routes; the normal route and the high route. I found it quite hard to stay on the high routes due to the tricky controls. I don't like the stages where you have to climb upwards because the parkour (run controls) and walk controls don’t always work well together when you need to switch between them fast.

 

As I have previously said I love the graphics of the 2d levels, but honestly I think in terms of the level design it's a step backwards from Colours and Generations.

 

 

Bosses:

 

I love that they put the boss fights at the end of a normal stage just like in the Genesis titles instead of having their own separate boss act (with the exception of Lava Mountain). 

 

The boss sections are a good mixture of 2.5d and 3d. The fights are pretty easy. The Zavok bosses are the only ones that gave me grief.  Normally I would mark the bosses down for not being much of a challenge, but due to the often harsh difficulty you get in the normal platforming stages, the easier boss fights kind of balances out the difficulty. At least you can just enjoy the ride.

 

The hardest boss? Probably when fighting Zavok in Act 3 of Lava Mountain. It took me a while to work out how to damage him. Then it took ages to defeat him due to the controls not doing what I wanted them to do.

 

The final boss (which is a blatant rip-off of the Colours final boss) is pathetically easy. I thought Colours boss was easy, but the fight in LW is rather underwhelming.

 

 

Badniks:

 

I like the use of the old badniks and the few new ones you get. They don’t pose many problems. Although the insta’kill giant worms (that can eat Sonic) are a pain in the back side, especially in the 2d levels.They look great though.

 

Am I the only one who thinks the worms in Desert Ruins (especially in the 2d Sections) look like a giant penis?

 

 

 

 

 

Wisps:

 

The controls definitely aren't as easy as in Colours, and some of the tutorials of how to use them could have been better. The music and planet wisps are difficult to control. Of all the news wisp, my favourite is the flying wisp. To be honest I don't think they needed to bring back the wisps. The gameplay would have been fine without them.

 

---------

 

With the hub world (the hexagonal effect looks really nice), wisps and 'Baldy McNoseHair' and a copy-cat final boss, there is no doubt that Lost World is the spiritual sequel to Sonic Colours.

 

 

Summary:

 

SLW is a brave attempt to move away from the boost gameplay. It pretty much succeeds with the excellent story, graphics, music and the mostly well implemented parkour system/new moves. That said, the controls can be frustrating especially with the tight platforming, and the difficulty spike seems overly unfair at times.

 

I definitely recommend it. 

Edited October 22, 2013 by -Bender-

[Mando-Whirl-Wind]

Question, has anybody tried it with the Co-op mode yet, it has been seemed to be heavily overlooked, and I am wondering if it might improve the gameplay?

 

And also there has been no mention of the competitive multiplayer either