TheSonicfranchise is one of the most cherished in gaming, with a long history of revolutionizing the platformer genre and creating one of the most recognizable mascots in the industry. In that time,Sonichas done just about everything that’s expected from a major gaming mascot, from classic 2D adventures to racing games. There is one genre, however, that has proven to be rather difficult forSonicto pin down, and that is 3D platforming. Nevertheless, the franchise’s 3D lineup is preparing to expand with the 2022Sonicgame that is rumored to be titledSonic Rangers.
As exciting asSonic Rangerssounds, there is already a lot of pressure on the game. While theSonicfranchise has produced a number of impressive 3D releases, the last decade has birthed 3DSonicgames that have done considerable damage toSonic’s entire image. The effects of that damage can still be felt to this day, and although there’s reason to be optimistic aboutSonic Rangersand itsBreath of the Wildcomparisons, it’s going to have to do a lot of work to get pastSonic’s 3D reputation.
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The State Of 3D Sonic Before Sonic Rangers
It deserves to be said thatSonic’s 3D efforts weren’t always as heavily criticized as they are today. TheSonic Adventureseries andSonic Heroesare largely considered to be great entries in the franchise, but somewhere along the way there was a serious drop in quality. The main culprit that many fans point to is 2006’sSonic the Hedgehog, colloquially known asSonic 06. Aside fromSonic 06’s strange narrative decisions, it was littered with bugs, excessively long loading screens, and frustrating gameplay mechanics.Sonic 06was widely panned by fans and critics alike, and few have forgotten about its shortcomings.
AfterSonic 06, it seemed like the franchise couldn’t fall any lower, but for some time it actually began to dig itself out of its hole.Sonic ColorsandSonic Generationscombined 2D and 3D in a way that fans enjoyed, and it seemed like Sega and Sonic Team might have finally hit its stride in the early 2010s. Unfortunately, 2014’sSonic Boom: Rise of Lyricwould come in to destroy all of that progress with yet another unpolishedSonictitle that became infamous for its glitches and unpopular gameplay decisions. There hasn’t been a dedicated 3DSonicgame since, with the exception ofSonic Forces, and few can blame Sega after all of the backlash it received.
How Sonic Rangers Can Avoid Past Mistakes
Sonic Rangersplans to be the first major 3DSonicgame sinceSonicBoom, and it’s going to have the tall task of picking up the pieces from over a decade of mistakes. While it may never be able to overshadow the reputation ofSonic 06andSonicBoom,Rangersdoes have a chance to stand out in its own way by being a quality game. If the game simply isn’t a glitchy mess, that would already be a big step in the right direction, but ensuring gameplay is solid is just as crucial.Sonic Team has already comparedSonic Rangersto the iconicSonic Adventure, so this could be a hopeful sign thatRangerswill be focused on providing a polished experience.
Not much has been revealed aboutSonic Rangersin the months since its initial announcement, but there’s no doubt that there’s already a great amount of pressure on it. TheSonicfranchise has struggled with its 3D entries on more than one occasion, so it’s understandable thatthe ambitions ofSonic Rangersmight make some fans nervous. The recent release ofSonic Colors Ultimatedoes show that Sega is able to recognize when it does something right, so hopefully that attitude will carry on intoSonic Rangers.
