SEGA released a new gameplay video for Sonic Forces showing a new Classic Sonic stage called "Casino Forest." IGN's channel also published a slightly different gameplay video showing another possible route through the stage, unlike the one shown on Sonic's channel.
The colorful, brightly lit stage features pinball-based level design, including bumpers, flippers, and slot machines typical of the casino stages in the hedgehog's games. SEGA's video description says: "Classic Sonic enters 'Casino Forest,' ancient ruins that Eggman is turning into a casino. But it is not all fun and games, as dangerous traps line the ancient façades."
The stage looks like a combination of elements from the "Casino Night Zone" DLC for Sonic Generations and "Silent Forest" from Sonic Lost World. Fan reactions online, however, are sharply divided. Although it is difficult to judge from such short videos, fans are criticizing what they can see: the complete absence of enemies from the stage (apart from ordinary environmental traps), few monitors, too many boost pads ("accelerators"), linear level design, the stage's short duration, its physics, and its music.
I personally disagree with the criticism of the stage's linearity, because I could see several sections with alternate routes in the video. Compared with Sonic Mania, however, the level design really is simpler. Although the stage does not actually show any badniks (Eggman's robots), fans pointed out that the famous "Casino Night" from Sonic 2 had only one type of enemy and that it barely appeared, which is also true. Still, the level design is not as exciting as that of the original "Casino Night," at least from what we have seen so far.
On the other hand, I agree that the stage seems short, lasting about 1:30. It is a little difficult to judge precisely, however, because the video begins somewhat "out of nowhere," at what does not appear to be the exact start of the stage, although another Classic Sonic gameplay video released earlier also featured a stage that seemed very short.
I personally think it is silly to compare Forces with Mania, since the games have completely different goals and were made with different engines. The intention was never to give Classic Sonic physics perfectly identical to those of the classic games, but rather to create physics that are very close within the game's own engine, just as happened in Sonic Generations.
Even though I do not think the physics should be compared because that is not the purpose, it is undeniable that Sonic Mania's level design is genuinely excellent, which puts Sonic Forces at a disadvantage in this regard.
And still on the subject of physics, Sonic really does seem to lose a little speed at certain moments when going downhill instead of gaining it, and there is a certain excess of boost pads to accelerate Sonic when he could simply run without their assistance, making everything feel a little too automatic.
Finally, the music is also dividing opinion: some fans loved it, while others hated it. The track uses drums with a distinctly "Mega Drive" sound, giving Classic Sonic's stages a different tone. Although I personally liked the music, I would not mind if it had CD-quality sound.
Overall, of everything shown from Sonic Forces so far, this was the first video that left me with a genuinely mixed impression. I did not hate anything in particular, but I was not very excited by what I saw either. SEGA has still shown almost none of the game's stages, so let us hope the full game surprises us when it is released. What did you think of the new stage?
Sonic Forces will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on November 7.
