What’s more, jumping takes a noticeable chunk out of your forward momentum, resulting in leaps that fall far shorter than you’d expect. Moving the left stick puts him right into a leisurely jog that’s more Italian plumber than blue hedgehog, and even while dashing with the right trigger depressed, his speed felt lacking. For one, Sonic doesn’t really accelerate the way he has in the past. Like any other long- time Sonic fan, I’ve grown accustomed to how controlling him feels, and Lost World countermands that comfort in some terribly jarring ways. Lost World is a strange sort of design feat where no one thing is broken, but everywhere you look there’s a subtle, but significant tuning decision that conspires to throw a monkeywrench in the works. Though it subdues Lost World’s look ever- so- slightly, it certainly doesn’t keep it from being pleasant to look at. Colors are well- saturated but occasionally flat- looking, lacking the depth and vibrancy I expect out of such a varied palette.
World one honors Sonic tradition with the trademark “Green Hill” look, and from there it expands to a gamut of familiar themes, from pinball casinos to beachside paradises.
To its credit, Lost World does look the part. D platformer that doesn’t do Sega’s mascot the justice he deserves. 1’s Sonic Generations understood this perfectly well, Sonic Lost World does not, making the Blue Blur’s latest outing a clumsy, ungainly 3.