Sonic Frontiers and Like a Dragon: Ishin previews at MCM London

The last weekend of October always holds a special event for pop culture, that being MCM London. I was given the chance to check out MCM and found myself checking out two very special games from Sega which were being released quite soon. The first was Sonic Frontiers and the other was the Yakuaz spinoff Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Both titles were playable at MCM this weekend gone and I was able to get a sneak peek of what to expect.

Sonic Frontiers





Sonic over the last few years has not had the best of times, especially in 2006 when loyal fans lost their collective s*** and since then, Sonic has had good, bad and games best forgotten about. I feel for Sonic and knew that one day the series would come back in a blaze of glory. Not that there haven’t been good Sonic games, but not great mainline Sonic games. That could be until now!

Sonic Frontiers was revealed earlier this year and the reaction was mixed. While many were happy about the return of the blue, gold ring-loving Hedgehog, others showed signs of confusion and worry as something felt very off by the gameplay reveal. Honestly, it wasn’t gripping my attention, but I wanted to check it out nonetheless and after playing the recent demo at MCM, I’m actually very hopeful and even a little hyped for Sonic Frontiers.

The demo showcased a small section of the open world, along with some combat and a bunch of collectable rings. This entry to the franchise is taking Sonic to an open world, something that feels a little like Elden Ring, and like before, there is trouble brewing and only he can stop it.

I began with some exploration of land covered in mist and rain, painting a gloomy and rather oppressive tone. The calming yet sombre music played gently in the background as I viewed a world that felt emptied and cold (in the best way). It was clear this was painting a very different picture and bringing Sonic into a more grounded, yet tonally shifted environment. I actually dug the weird mix of Elden Ring-style world being inhabited by cartoonish, evil robots and bright blue Hedgehog who can go really fast.

It was captivating and I felt the urge to go forth and find rings! And I did.

What was clear from my time in the demo was that the developers took the core gameplay elements of the classic game and infused them into a modern setup. There were hoops, jumping pads, secret paths and much more, filled with golden rings for me to obtain. Again it's very weird seeing this somewhat bleak setting (for the demo, as the rest of the game looks much brighter and varied) and being able to collect shiny rings which make that satisfying noise everyone knows from the Sonic series.

I collected a whole bunch of rings and went out of my way to find as many as possible, and there were plenty. I loved how many paths there were to traverse just for a few extra rings, and how Sonic’s momentum and speed actually fitted in well with the environment. I sped along iron rails, jumped through hoops and climbed ruined temples just to explore further. It was all fun and the controls/movement felt right at home for the setting.

Combat, while simple is also quite a bit of fun! There was one enemy type in the demo, and a sort of mini-boss I had to face. While the main attack was Sonic charging at them in a ball, I could engage in various tactics to trick enemies and evade their attacks. Combat arenas felt spacious, compensating for Sonic’s massive speed boost and the enemy's field of reach, which when winded up enough could be far. It was quite exciting to see Sonic battle it out and use his movement to evade and attack.

Lastly, I was able to obtain an ability that allowed me to draw out rings on the ground, which came in handy for a puzzle before the end of the demo. While again it is a simple mechanic, it could open up a lot of lateral elements, where players would need to draw out shapes to unlock a gate or reveal a secret code. It has potential and I can see it being used effectively if the demo’s promising level design and various environmental activities.

While the demo was short, it left a big impression on me, and I was thoroughly engaged with what I played. I liked how the environment was designed, and this allowed Sonic to go nuts with his incredible speed. The multitude of rings to collect and various platforming elements integrated were enjoyable and held the same entertainment factor as the older games. The world, which was vastly different from many previous games was fascinating and a good chance for Sonic to explore and be somewhere unlike anywhere else before.

I have high hopes for this entry to the legendary series. Sonic Frontier is out on November 8th.




Like a Dragon: Ishin





Yakuza is an absolutely legendary series, spanning nearly 20 years across a multitude of games, and spin-offs. It has brought countless hours of fun-filled mayhem, intense and brilliant storytelling and all that Japanese goodness like Karaoke and Dance Machine mini-games.

But now is the time to set the clocks back a couple of hundred years, to a time when there were no dance machines or Pokemon, but rather a brutal time when Japan resembled more the wild west than a beautiful neon-lit paradise.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is the latest spinoff game and set in 1867 in Kyo Japan. You play as Sakamoto Ryoma, a lone samurai who will change the course of history in his search for justice. Looking to find your father’s killer, and clear yourself of his murder, Sakamoto will shed blood for the honour of his family and his name.

Set near the end of the samurai era, and where Japan would vastly soon enough when opening itself up to the world, players will see a Japan that’s been rarely seen before. We have seen in recent years the likes of Ghost of Tsushima and the upcoming Rise of Ronin, but Like a Dragon: Ishin felt quite different when playing, and something more special.

I was a massive fan of the now-forgotten series Way of the Samurai, and Ishin rekindled memories of the cult classic series. There was a profound gravitas to its storytelling, and while the Yakuza series' execution of its narrative is phenomenal, I felt a much more humble tone here in Ishin. The cutscene at the start of the demo introduced a series of high-profile samurais, who most deem Sakamoto beneath them. Each of them controls and runs gangs in one of the many districts of Kyo, a massive city where danger lurks around each corner. After a heated exchange between Sakamoto and the men, I was able to explore a beautifully crafted 1800s Japan. The detail was refined, the atmosphere rich and the world thriving with life.

I couldn’t help but just wander around and have my curiosity peek at the sighting of something shiny. After leaving the castle grounds, I ventured into the city and came across bustling streets, shouty merchants and cute cats which I sadly couldn’t pet. However, Sakamoto is seen as a trouble and venturing into one of the districts out of his control will draw the attention of any local gang members. When they spot you and approach, does bloodshed.

So far, you might think Ishin will be a different affair from the over-the-top nature of the other Yakuza games .. and you would be so, so wrong. (Just a note, this is real-time action combat and not turn base).

When combat begins, everything is freaking over the top, but wonderfully entertaining. The basic swordplay packs a punch indeed, but Sakamoto can unleash a number of devastating combos and special moves that level the playing field. I couldn’t help but be utterly enthralled by the madness on screen, as Sakamoto spun around like a tornado, slicing anyone in his path and unloading a barrage of bullets from his musket pistol. It was fabulously insane, and I loved it!

Combat is a lot of fun, and that’s good as you can expect a lot of trouble quite often. As I wandered around town, more gangs showed up and it was difficult to outrun them. But the city has plenty of cover and many alleyways to slip through in order to remain hidden. This made it feasible to visit merchants, talk to local people and try and pet a cat … which I couldn’t.

As mentioned, the world was very detailed, highly organic and felt beautifully historic, making me reminiscent of the 2000’s cult classic samurai series, Way of the Samurai.

Sadly the demo ended, but I again was thoroughly pleased with what I played. While I have played only a selected number of titles, I can certainly see myself investing many, many hours. Like a Dragon: Ishin comes out on the 21st of February 2023.




Overall?


I was massively pleased with both games and genuinely excited to check out Sonic Frontiers, and see how good it was. Both games feel like a massive highlight for Sega, who do indeed publish some great content, but both Sonic Frontier and Like a Dragon: Ishin, is possibly set to really stand out. We will have to wait and see when both titles release, but I have high hopes for both indeed.