Sonic the Hedgehog is a gaming icon, known and beloved by millions of fans. The franchise has spawned legions of toys, several comic book runs, animated TV shows, and now two successful Hollywood movies. However, in his home court of video games, Sonic has had his ups and downs, to put it mildly.
It seems that no era of Sonic titles is fully free of controversy, as newer fans often admit that they just don't get the appeal of the older 2D games, while aging Sega kids insist that the newer entries in the series just don't have the same vigor as the Genesis classics. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, there are definitely a few Sonic games that are universally considered Sonic's better outings, from the dual-cartridge classic Sonic 3 & Knuckles to the 3D side-scroller mashup Sonic Colors. The officially licensed fan-made project Sonic Mania is also often included in these discussions, and it's my personal favorite game in the series.
At this early juncture, it's unclear if the recent Sonic Frontiers has broken into this rarefied air, and only time will tell if it will continue to grow in esteem. However, despite its technical issues, fans have heralded it as a bold new direction for the series, and a sign that Sonic Team is looking to innovate once again. If you've already played all the best Sonic games, the good news is that there's plenty of Sonic-like platformers to enjoy on the market these days. Here are some of our favorite games like Sonic the Hedgehog--that aren't Sonic the Hedgehog.
Spark The Electric Jester 3
Spark The Electric Jester might sound like the sort of name that a Sonic name generator would spit out, but no, he's a real character with his own fairly successful series of indie games. Though the Spark games have enjoyed limited name recognition outside of Sonic fan circles, 3 might be the best take on 3D Sonic-style gameplay ever, with plenty of rail-grinding, wall-running, and loop-de-loops for you to sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a game in the style of Sonic and Shadow's levels from Sonic Adventure 2--or the several "Boost Sonic" games that followed--Spark is definitely worth a look. It also has a vibrant speedrunning community, for what that's worth.
Pizza Tower
The newest game on this list, Pizza Tower came out in early 2023 after a lengthy development cycle, and it's already made quite an impression on the indie scene. Inspired by the cult Wario Land series, Pizza Tower features an art-style that looks right out of '90s Nickelodeon, with exaggerated figures and many wacky animations. Its gameplay is a unique hybrid formula that combines elements of score attack games, the exploration and puzzle-solving of the Wario games, and movement techniques designed to introduce players to speedrunning. It's one of the highest-rated games on this list by Steam user score, so if you're at all interested, it's definitely worth a shot.
Ori and the Blind Forest / Ori and the Will of the Wisps
If you play video games, you've probably heard of the two Ori games by now--and for good reason. By any standard, they're two of the most visually stunning games ever made, and they're well-known for their well-balanced gameplay, too. Though the Ori games are technically metroidvanias that revolve more around careful exploration and pinpoint platforming than the best Sonic games, they strike a similar chord in terms of art style, control, and overall quality. Just don't forget the tissues--these games can be pretty moving, too.
Panic Porcupine
Arguably the most obscure game on this list, Panic Porcupine is a challenging platformer in the vein of Super Meat Boy and Celeste. Described as a "hedge-like" by developer Spicy Gyro Games, the game combines the physics of the original Sonic games with the trial-and-error approach of "masocore" platformers like the Meat Boy series. These sorts of games are a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, but Panic Porcupine is such a silly parody of Sonic that it might be worth a look for even those who aren't fans of the genre. It's also only $8 and often on sale for less, so what's the worst that could happen?
Ristar
Yet another name that hardcore Sonic fans are familiar with, Ristar is a classic platformer that came out late in the lifespan of the Sega Genesis. Originally envisioned as a possible mascot for the system, Ristar has appeared in many Sonic-themed compilations over the years, and several members of Sonic Team worked on the game. Ristar lacks the Blue Blur's speed and style, but his stretchy arms can propel him all around the stage, and the levels have the same multi-layered design of classic Sonic stages. If you can handle a few retro gaming bugbears--limited lives and continues--Ristar is one of the best Sonic-like platformers out there.
Kaze and the Wild Masks
Kaze and the Wild Masks is an indie platformer that draws heavily from Rare's Donkey Kong Country series. However, though it wears its influence on its sleeve--down to player-character Kaze's hover ability, which is taken directly from Dixie Kong--the game is well-made enough to get away with it. The first two hours are a bit slow, but once you get into the tougher worlds, its level and puzzle design really shine through. If you're a Sonic fan willing to give a chance to a game inspired by a different classic platformer franchise, this is definitely one to try.
Freedom Planet 2
The first Freedom Planet began life as a Sonic fan-game, and it's not hard to see why. Though the first game played like an excellent take on the Sonic formula, Freedom Planet 2 takes the blast processing to new heights, with huge levels, a large number of playable characters with their own moves and gimmicks, and some of the best music you'll hear in any indie game. If you have even a tiny grain of love for the Sonic games--and even if you prefer the 3D ones--Freedom Planet 2 is an absolute must-play.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.