The game mechanics in Sonic: Lost World are very similar to those found in Mario Galaxy, and it is not hard to see that the developers where inspired immensely by that game the second you enter Lost World. Sonic: Lost World features bright, colorful graphics alongside beautiful environments with every zone in the game having a specific theme. Players will enjoy platforming through lush fields, hovering forests and even an ice-capped tundra in this fast-moving adventure where 2D and 3D design is mixed ever so distastefully. One minute you are watching Sonic leap across spheres with amazing 3D effects for it all to end and turn dark as our character moves out of nowhere to go into the next section. Lost World is like a clumsily connected game of deleted settings held together by small pieces of tape that can break at any moment just like the immersion in this game.
Sonic: Lost World is beautiful to look at but how does it play? One of the biggest downfalls of Lost World is its extreme difficulty and imprecision. The inconsistencies can be seen throughout the whole game with Sonic either being too slow or too fast on occasions. Players will find themselves having to double jump a lot while platforming, due to the difficulty, which makes Sonic extremely vulnerable. Since Sonic becomes so vulnerable out of ball form during double-jumping then you soon find yourself dying many times while you try to avoid baddies and make it through the level. This can be a real challenge for some, and be a welcome addition, but others may find it too difficult to proceed. Double-jumping also opens you up to susceptibility during boss battles causing you to have to perfect your jump calculations precisely to finish off your opponent. While we love a good challenge like the next person, the difficulty in Sonic: Lost World is due primarily to poorly designed jump mechanics, which makes it more of an annoyance than a challenge.
Sonic: Lost World features a revamped control system that allows you to adjust Sonic's speed during gameplay. Players can use the directional buttons to moderately walk while pressing the trigger buttons to speed him up and take full advantage of new parkour moves. Sonic has a wide variety of new moves, besides the double jump, there is the homing attack, and kick attack. Sonic's Wisp abilities are now more accessible and can be controlled through the touchscreen on the Wii U gamepad. There are even exclusive Wisps designed for the various console versions. What about his powers? Those now include Drill, Laser and Rocket, Eagle, Asteroid, and Rhythm. The Nintendo Wii U features co-op multiplayer which adds some replayability to the game, slight as that might be, and you can even trade items in the Miiverse. An enjoyable part of Sonic: Lost World was the versus races where you can compete against another player through intense multiplayer courses. One player will navigate the course by using the Gamepad while the other uses the television screen and Wii remote. If you aren't the competitive type, the you can enjoy some co-op action by controlling the (R/C) vehicles in the game to assist Sonic which puts planes, choppers, and even UFOs at your disposal. Basically, the most fun we had with Sonic: Lost World was during multiplayer where you could at least laugh off the game's awful moments with a friend.
Sonic: Lost World likes to keep the atmosphere cheery, no matter how many times you die, through its upbeat soundtrack that plays against the game's colorful palettes. Lost World has great presentation value since it reminds you of those beautiful Saturday mornings watching your favorite cartoon shows and gives you hope even with the game's many flaws. But we soon realize after the low-resolution cutscenes pass, that Sonic has lost all its glory and is no longer relevant in today's generation of gaming. Sure, Sonic was great a couple of decades ago, but today he is a mere shadow of his former self. The truth shines ever so brightly in Sonic: Lost World, that the time has come that SEGA needs to retire Sonic before everything he once was is completely destroyed.
CLOSING COMMENTS
In the end, Sonic: Lost World is far from good, but hey I bet as bad as Lost World is that is still isn't the worst Sonic game you have ever played. Sonic: The Lost World does contain some beautiful visuals and upbeat music, but even that is drowned out by the awful storyline, horrendous characters and terribly designed mechanics. Save your money and avoid Sonic: Lost World, you would be better off breaking out your old SEGA console and playing the original where Sonic's dignity is still intact.
Sonic: Lost World is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $49.99 and can be purchased for Nintendo Wii U and 3DS. Sonic: Lost World is rated E by the ESRB for Everyone. For more information on the game, check out the official Sonic: Lost World website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Competitive Co-op Mode
- DLC Support
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: Wii U (reviewed) & 3DS
Release Date: October 22, 2013
- Beautiful, colorful visuals
- Upbeat soundtrack
- Fun co-op options
Cons:
- Terrible gameplay mechanics
- Horrendous storyline
- Badly written characters and voice acting