I honestly think it’s possible they could start on a frontiers sequel in 2024. More staff is absolutely a good thing but I’ve heard that Frontiers’ credits discount the theory that Frontiers had a small dev team. Are Frontiers’ credits online on an accurate wiki or something yet?
The thing is, from a layman's perspective I can't be sure if that's actually increasing the personnel count. We've seen a lot of people come and go from Sonic Team -- is there a good way to know if these positions are actually adding to the team, or just replacing people who've left since Frontiers went gold?
I didn't even look at the names in the Frontiers credits, but if it's anything like Mania, they threw everyone who set foot in a SEGA propery in there. They got 3 different QA teams, 2 IT teams, the HR team, the Facilities Manager and the Receptionist.
Oh it was everywhere. I was in a store just a month or so ago and some child was running around saying “gotta go fast” over and over again. A few months before that and shortly after the movie had come out, I saw another child running around in a mall with a blue Sonic spikey quill hat and a sonic plushie. I am pretty sure the movies were pretty big with the kiddos. I feel you completely about some things here. I don't think I'll ever feel the same way I did in the early '90s when the first games came out. I doubt much could compare to that but I did enjoy the movies for what they are. Too Americanised in my own opinion and Sonic became this wisecracking comedic protagonist and the pop culture references were nearly unbearable at times, but for all of that, they also did a bang up job in other areas like having really good versions of Knuckles and Tails in the second movie and as much as I should hate it in a logical sense, I found myself really digging some scenes like the wedding or the dance off. I don't know why but those scenes ended up being more enjoyable to me than they had any right to be. But I dig the adventure in the second movie quite a lot and the big set pieces. I do wish they'd have included actual locales from the games like West Side Island or Angel Island, though. But, as far as the direction the series is on, I think sure it could be way better. If they'd do something like Sonic Utopia, it'd be perfect in my book, but I can't have expectations that high with this series. I think Frontiers is a worthwhile direction. It won't recapture the nostalgia of Sonic 1/2/3 but I really applaud them for taking it in a new(ish) direction and I don't mind the combat. I still don't really like some things about it, though. In time, if this formula is perfected, it might be totally ok though and that is worlds more promising than Forces or something.
Sonic in 2022 didn't deliver redemption, so much as rekindled hope. There's actually a sense that everyone behind the franchise is getting their shit together, but not quite comfortable yet. Growing pains for a new era.
I still think the game is awful but I've been listening to the OST when I've been marking students' books. The OST is beautiful and very varied. I think it's a bit of sleeper hit and won't get due recognition as one of the best Sonic soundtracks until some years.
It has been widely already considered that since it's release....even before that just with the Kronos island themes we got before release, then the game released, and things like Undefeatable became instant classic, millions of listens across all streaming services and memed to death -affectionately- This is one of my favorites i am confident in saying that no other soundtrack this year got this much attention and appreciation and getting memed like that It's not some hidden gem that no one appreciate lol, people love this shit, even got nominated for best OSTs of the year in Steam -and the nominations get selected by users there, so it gives good indication to what the average user thinks about it, instead of been selected by select few in a jury-
To go a step further with what Laura may have been getting at (and if not, to jump off from that into something else). Theme of Starfall Islands got some attention due to being part of the marketing, but understandably, a lot of the attention online seems to have gone to the more upbeat pieces. At least, the island music itself I haven't noted as much appreciation for in the bubbles I'm in online (emphasis on how anecdotal that is). There's a lot of really great stuff there that's just harder for the average person to show appreciation for. Memes and the like make the hype boss songs easy to connect with and share, but it's harder to pin down how Chaos Island 4th Movement has a section that hits me emotionally the same way that certain nostalgic SA1 tracks hit for me. Ones like, say, a Lost World or a Gamma's theme. I don't really have words for it, I just know that when 1:30 of the track kicked in for the first time while playing I had to stop and go "Oh, damn." I've enjoyed most 3D Sonic soundtracks, but it's been a long time since music in this series was able to elicit that specific feeling from me. Before Frontiers I'd rate Tomoya Ohtani as one of the most consistently solid composers in the series, never doing my favorite work with his compositions, but never letting me down either. As far as my personal enjoyment goes, he's definitely changed that some with the score here. Another point working against those island pieces is that "Island Name Number Mvmt." doesn't keep them easy to remember and distinguish without going out of your way to note which are which. In terms of us fans listening to the BGM in our spare time, I think over the years they do unfortunately risk falling by the wayside a bit in favor of the boss music and standout Cyber Space tracks. The soundtrack is definitely being celebrated, but I do hope it will continue to be recognized in its entirety over the years. I know it's not for everyone, but as someone who has enjoyed the more "emotional" ambience tracks from this series, enjoys EDM, and enjoys Metal Gear Rising , it felt laser targeted right at me. Pound for pound my favorite OST in this series since...probably Unleashed. Whether or not it's actually getting the recognition it may deserve, I'm going to be enjoying it for years to come.
It’s a big island and Sticks is a recluse, it’s not that hard to believe. Also I’m not an old fart? I’ve been invested in this series since 1994… when I was 3 or so.
I would say that a lot of people share the sentiment that those island tracks are really good and emotional, even if they are not as "memable" In fact, i know TWO people that weren't even actually interested in the game -and one of them even mocks this series consistently and hated Generations!-, but then they listened to those island themes, Kronos and Ares themes, it actually sold the game to them, they got it after that, they loved it, huge part of it due to the atmosphere made by those moody island themes -and funnily enough, one of them hated the metal songs- i guess my point is, those tracks were not only appreciated, but actually sold the game to some people! Also i would take this chance to share this thing i watched, it goes into depth into those island themes and why they work so well
I could also gush about Frontiers' OST forever. It's a solid 10/10 for me, up there with SA1 and Sonic CD's soundtracks imo. Of all the island themes, Ouranos is probably my personal fave. Sounds like it came from a studio Ghibli film
I was talking about myself, not you. I don't know how the hell you got that idea. I did not intend to insult anyone.
Technically, they're all part of Kronos's theme that I guess they split apart. -- or maybe Ouranos was originally going to play during a final set of events.
Man I don’t wanna sound like a weird guy but that song, it just hits me right in the heart. It perfectly captures the wonder and curiosity I felt when I first saw the open zone, and it had a beautiful crescendo in the middle of the song that makes a wonderful climax of “your journey is almost at its end but not over yet” I really wish I could hear it for the first time again.
I didn’t watch that vid yet but I know the thumbnail. This guy is pretty good. He’s either a composer or someone else who’s pretty well versed in music theory (for some reason). He makes fantastic videos on Sonic OST tracks if anyone wants a recommendation. I also make music and he really knows what he’s talking about. Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR ya nerds. Pretty good year for Sonic. Frontiers was way better than I expected and even if you don’t like it, I think we’re going to see a bigger budget on the next game. So hopefully the people in charge know where to put it. Edit: Watched it. Similarly fantastic to all his other work. Maybe it’s just my own preferences and biases sneaking in, but the island themes do escape me more than the more in your face stuff so I’m glad he made this.
I legitimately think this is the same deal as the Cyber stages. I can't remember what the number for "3D city level what was shown in them trailers" was, but I remember Ephemeral, the music track. And I've been using the mod which sets the stage names to the music tracks. So now it's not just "The Sky Rail level", it's Transparent Highway, which is a fucking bop. It's not "that one really annoying Unleashed act" anymore, it's Enjoy this World, the most ironically-named stage ever. I hope that any and all future Sonic games give their levels actual names instead of just numbers, because it legitimately makes all of it way easier to talk about. Kronos Island 1 and 2 are radically different, and both of them are way off from 6 and 7, but their names are so indistinguishable I keep forgetting if the piano one from the trailers is actually movement 1 or 2 (at least call them acts, you cowards!). This might be part of the reason Rhea and Ouranos stood out more to people, because besides being great, they only have one unique theme to keep track of each. Hell, I want to see Rhea's theme used again for any future "building to the final boss" scenarios in Sonic games, it's criminal to keep it just for one area.
that's not weird at all haha! If I ever write a piece of music that elicits this kind of emotional response then I'd feel very satisfied as a songwriter lol
