Even though there are many different genres of video games, there's usually something unique about how each game plays to stand out. Mario and Sonic are both platformer titles, but Sonic is founded on the idea of letting players progress through levels at a break-neck pace, whereas Mario lets fans explore levels at their own pace. It seems these differences may be made clearer when it comes to Super Mario Odyssey and Sonic Frontiers.
Sonic Frontiers was teased during a Sonic the Hedgehog "Direct" called Sonic Central, and was properly revealed at The Game Awards 2021. Once fans got a glimpse of the in-engine footage, many were quick to liken it to Breath of the Wild, ecstatic at the idea of a similar Sonic game. However, with the way Sonic Frontiers refers to itself as "open-zone" rather than "open-world," there's a chance it may run closer with Super Mario Odyssey.
Sonic Team is Often Inspired By Nintendo
Many fans of both Sega and Nintendo know there's been an overlap between the two companies for decades, having similar ideas and scopes for their games. Even Sonic as a concept was imagined to be Sega's answer to Mario. While ties between the two conglomerates have grown more friendly than aggressive since Sonic was created, Sonic Team still looks to Nintendo for ideas.
Some games are more obvious on their inspirations than others, such as fans noticing similarities with 2006's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and 2008's Sonic Unleashed that go beyond the "turning into a wolf" storyline. Another Sonic game that seems rather unapologetic in its inspiration is Sonic Lost World and Super Mario Galaxy, even in what themes are seen across the games' levels. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Super Mario Odyssey's Level Design
Nintendo prides itself on innovating for the sake of bringing new gaming experiences to the table. While Mario's 3D ventures have largely all felt a certain way, their scope has changed from Super Mario 64 to Super Mario Odyssey. With Odyssey, the range of actions each player can take is increased almost ten-fold, and this is made evident by how the game's kingdoms are designed. With each one Mario visits, they seem to increase in scale.
When comparing Breath of the Wild's map size to Super Mario Odyssey, none of the kingdoms match up to Hyrule. However, just how much players have to find and explore adds up to almost the same amount. Nintendo keeps in mind what fans would use to explore every inch of Odyssey's kingdoms, and makes sure each one is filled with plenty of secrets, Power Moons, and more to be discovered. In the end, this leads to the scale of both games balancing out well.
What Sonic Frontiers Could Take From Nintendo
In terms of level design, the fact that Sonic Frontiers calls itself "open-zone" is unique given how the game seems to be open-world in nature. The word "zone" in regards to the Sonic series typically applies to the game's levels. The location seen in the game implies there's not just one island to explore, but several, and this is where it may take inspiration from Mario's latest 3D venture.
Sonic Frontiers has been teased by leakers to feature a gigantic hub world filled with enemies that allows players to discover other levels through gateways. The other islands are implied on Sonic Frontiers' website to feature different biomes such as deserts, meaning they might be completely separate from each other in the form of an archipelago. If these features turn out to be true, Super Mario Odyssey was most likely the inspiration behind designing the Starfall Islands.
Some say, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," while others say, "Good artists copy, but great artists steal." Sonic Team has spent its time copying, but this might be its chance to steal great designs and apply them in its own way. While Super Mario Odyssey may be a driving force for how the Starfall Islands were designed, it's clear by their towers, wide-open spaces, and ancient aesthetic that Breath of the Wild also played a key part in how Frontiers was developed.
Even with the inspiration found with two of Nintendo's greatest hits, Sonic Frontiers presents itself in its own way. Frontiers may borrow some design pointers from Nintendo, but this time it may lead to the game making something wholly unique rather than simply emulating what came before. With that in mind, Sonic fans may be in for a treat that sets up an interesting foundation for Sonic's future this holiday season.
Sonic Frontiers is scheduled to be released in holiday 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.