Summary
- Sonic Dream Team has gained popularity among Sonic fans on Apple Arcade despite its initial controversy for being exclusive to Apple devices.
- The exclusivity period for Sonic Dream Team is expected to last for the next three years, making the wait for non-Apple players to enjoy the game more difficult.
- Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Dream Team are introducing features and gameplay elements that resemble those from Sonic Adventure titles, suggesting a potential return to the beloved features of the classic games.
Sonic Dream Team has only been on Apple Arcade for a short while and it's already made a name for itself with Sonic fans. Developed by Sega Hardlight, the mobile game was originally controversial among potential players for being exclusive to Apple devices. While there may be some hope that Sonic Dream Team will go to consoles and PC, it's still quite a ways off as the exclusivity period will likely last for the next three years. For those who don't have the means to play Dream Team, the wait may seem a bit painful as other players enjoy the level design and platforming.
Waiting to see if Sonic Dream Team will leave Apple Arcade and go to other platforms is made even harder as the mobile game has a rather sizable character roster, starring two characters that tend to sit on the sidelines. On top of featuring a simplistic but fun story with mechanics that take advantage of the momentum and players' memory, Sonic Dream Team brings back interchangeable cutscenes, which is an interesting returning feature after Sonic Frontiers' DLC.
3 Important Details that Sonic Dream Team Changes Up After Sonic Frontiers
Sega Hardlight's Sonic Dream Team its own unique approach to designing an open-ended Sonic playground that's different to Sonic Frontiers' open-zones.
Sonic Adventure Fans Are Being Given a Light of Hope By Sonic Dream Team and Sonic Frontiers
What Sonic Frontiers Established For Future Sonic Games
Before Sonic Dream Team was even revealed, Sonic Frontiers was released at nearly the end of 2022, and it completely changed the game. Introducing the new open-zone formula said to be the "foundation" of future Sonic titles, Frontiers brought with it a story full of self-discovery for the blue hedgehog's friends. The game eventually ends with the group saying they're going to go on their own separate journeys, making players think Sonic Frontiers' sequel will have multiple storylines like a Sonic Adventure game would.
The Return of Playable Characters and Differing Cutscenes in Sonic Games
This tease of new character-driven narratives was in Frontiers' base game, which meant fans were in for a surprise as new playable characters DLC for Sonic Frontiers was announced just barely under a month after release. This content allowed fans to play as Tails, Knuckles, and Amy alongside Sonic completely for free. This would later be revealed to be yet another new initiative for the series as Sonic Team would choose to aim for multiple playable characters in future titles.
Continuing this trend is Sonic Dream Team, which not only offers playable characters, but raises the total options from four to six. Rouge and Cream are given the chance to shine against the four main cast members in a proper platforming adventure for the first time in years, and Cream and Cheese in particular are important to the overall story. However, Sonic Dream Team once again adds something new in the form of cutscenes that change depending on the player's choice, a feature not seen in Sonic games since Sonic Adventure.
What Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Dream Team Teasing Sonic Adventure Features Means
While Sonic Dream Team's cutscenes that depend on who fans play as don't change the overall story, the resemblance to Sonic Adventure is hard to ignore as its own differing cutscenes simply showed the narrative from a different perspective each time. It's an interesting inclusion that, with these games launching one after another, seems to suggest a pattern.
Nothing is known for sure just yet, but it could be possible that Sonic Dream Team and Sonic Frontiers are purposefully leaning closer and closer to the Sonic Adventure titles to test the waters and see if old features that the two classic games are known for are still welcome in more modern releases. If this is the case, then this trend should certainly continue, especially as both games have been very well received by fans so far. As Sonic Adventure 3 is still on the wishlist for many, Sonic Team may want to see enough support before taking the plunge at last.
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Worlds are colliding in Sonic the Hedgehog’s newest high-speed adventure! In search of the missing Chaos emeralds, Sonic becomes stranded on an ancient island teeming with unusual creatures. Battle hordes of powerful enemies as you explore a breathtaking world of action, adventure, and mystery. Accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high-velocity, open-zone platforming freedom as you race across the five massive Starfall Islands. Jump into adventure, wield the power of the Ancients, and fight to stop these new mysterious foes.
Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes. With nothing but a handful of questions and a disembodied voice to guide you, set out to save your friends and the enigmatic inhabitants of the Starfall Islands from a colossal, mechanized threat.
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sonic Team
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Franchise
- Sonic
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
- Metascore
- 75
