My Take on Sonic Dream Team

[@jarkspore]

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[@Mardiculous]

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[@ChannelPup]

You are on the GRIND! Keep this up, I'm loving these.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Agreed

[@jarkspore]

I really like this discussion about balancing “level design” and “world design.” I think that’s something that **every** game has to figure out, though it’s particular to Sonic, since levels have a predisposition towards the abstract. I’ve actually played a bit of Dream Team recently, and one thing I wanna mention is the multiple character types. There was a section at one point that didn’t look like Sonic could get to, probably for one of the other characters. But because of how Dream Team is, without the “lock and key” style level interaction that Wisps tended towards, I tried and eventually got there as Sonic. I think this shows a good psychological effect that multiple characters can have, even if you haven’t unlocked them! It encourages a kind of experimentation and challenge that’s at least adjacent to core Sonic dogma. TL;DR: **everyone** needs Knuckle.

[@LupinticDream]

i would have a take on Sonic Dream Team if i could actually play Sonic Dream Team

[@xiiiunmetal]

They need to put it on non-Apple platforms immediately

[@GamerMinilla]

Id love to hear your takes on Sonic-Inspired games like Freedom Planet, Spark the Electric Jester and Penny's Big Breakaway

[@ryananthony2869]

Sonic Dream Team is the Cake Pop of Sonic games.Yeah,it's small and doesn't have much in it,but damn it's so good and fills me with so much pleasure. If the next Open Zone Sonic game does play like if Frontiers and Dream Team had a baby,I think Sega will have a hit on their hands. Next time,just don't lock it onto a subscription exclusive to iPhones.

[@petergriffinsbrother2499]

The new timer looks so much better

[@BrokenAce1295]

Dream Team is one of my favorite Sonic games to replay since the characters feel so fluid and fun to control. The added skills from the updates further make the game fun to play. The level design is also really well made for both speed-running and exploration, so it hits a near perfect balance in terms of its design. I'm excited to see how Shadow is going to play once the update arrives on Dec 18th.

[@jonbeecee]

Omg that timer friggin rocks

[@jaysolaris06]

Can't say much about the gameplay since I have no way of playing it lmao. However, I will say the aesthetic of the game is top notch. Your point about the dream world being built around the characters themselves and less focused on being a livable world is something I never picked up on. But I also see the dream world as sticking close to a more Sonic like aesthetic. Heroes is a great comparison of this where the stages in that game feel vibrant and fantasy like which works really well for Sonic. Not to say realism is bad, it has its place, especially in this series if the Adventure games and 06 are anything to go by. There's room for both realism and something more stylized! I will say though leaning into more of the exaggerated nature of the environments would be good for the series going forward to create more memorable locales. Lastly, since this came to mind during my thinking process. Looking back at the Starfall Islands with what you said about creating a livable environment in mind, I really wish they had more time to flesh out the islands to show that they were inhabited. I feel like the structures were used too sparingly and could have done wonders if utilized more for environmental storytelling.

[@hamstersandwich9917]

My only gripe with the dream aesthetic is that the game doesn't really take advantage of it until the last portion with Ego City. Considering that Cream was a main factor of the story, I would have loved to see the levels reflect her state of mind a bit

[@jaysolaris06]

@@hamstersandwich9917 That's a valid point. It would be interesting to see how Cream's mind would affect the environments conjured up by Eggman or even have a level dedicated to her own dreamscape.

[@seanhumphreys9423]

Thank you Evan for your kind words! I worked as one of the level designers on this game (also had some input on movement) and also am a huge Sonic fan. Actually I think you'll find my story rather interesting - I have plenty of industry experience but I made a fan project (it was more of a movement demonstration) back in 2021 and it helped immensely in landing the role, which looks like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpXPhK2ees6YaqMfeature=shared

[@hamstersandwich9917]

I just wanna say, you and the entire team at Sega Hardlight genuinely knocked it out of the park with Dream Team bc. I especially adore the way you all designed the levels so that they can be played by the different characters, it really calls back to the days of the adventure games. Hopefully Sega let's the team do more projects like this cause the game is great.

[@BLUESTREAK91]

Sonic Dream Team when it comes to level design is what I believe future mainline Sonic games after Sonic X Shadow Generations of course pulls from! The game itself is a ton of fun and I too hope one day Sega actually would bring it to consoles! Switch at least! Heck the Sonic community was tweaking when they tried saying how this game is better than the likes of Sonic Frontiers which is to me personally complete Tom foolery!

[@Miju001]

New timer!! Awesome!! You talked about Dream Team, Unleashed and Frontiers, but I'm gonna bring up Generations for a moment. I think Sonic Generations does a better job at making you feel like you're playing through actual environments compared to Shadow Generations. It might be because of the architecture (I feel like the setpieces in Shadow Generations are more sparse and spread out sometimes), or it might be because of the lighting (Shadow Generations has some harsh lighting and duller color palettes that might not highlight background elements as much). But either way, that's the impression I get.

[@jarkspore]

Yeah, Shadow Gens is more “level design” than “world design”, at least compared to Generations. The best examples are the city stages. The Normal Gens cities have a **lot** more detail than the original levels, with going into buildings with detailed rooms and whole new areas, like more parks in City Escape. Compare with Shadow Gens Sunset Heights, which mostly shows streets and tunnels from Forces. Not that Shadow Gens doesn’t have new ideas for levels, mostly in Act 2’s. But those feel more gameplay related, like the water in Sunset Heights. …dare I say, this actually fits the Shadow ethos better though. He’s a more focused character, with clear missions. He wouldn’t get distracted passing by a random home gym. Though that might be giving them too much credit. I think it’s just an extension of Frontiers level design, haha.

[@Miju001]

@@jarkspore Couldn't have said it better myself! Sonic Gens has you go through rooms and parks and other environments (odd example, but the fountain in Sky Sanctuary Act 2 comes to mind). Shadow Gens feels more gameplay-oriented. I don't mind Sunset Heights Act 1 from that point of view, but the water in Act 2 is a great example, like you said; specifically the pipes on the wall that open up. Very much feels like a gameplay obstacle more than a properly built plumbing system

[@Vantoxify]

I was so surprised how good Dream Team was, the expectation going in was "eh, its a subscription based mobile game. It probably wont feel like anything more than a average mobile game". I was so wrong because I would say this game is on par with Sonic Colors and sometimes even better than it. I really hope it gets a proper port for those that can't experience it.

[@hadyalbagu8615]

Do i have to keep paying to play this game? Or can i just pay once and always play this game?

[@Vantoxify]

@@hadyalbagu8615 you need a subscription to play it unfortunately

[@bro-dude99]

What is Drake Bell doing here?

[@SlickEvan]

Soon we're gonna need 7 minutes! Been enjoying everything so far!

[@MrPaul2204]

Oh hey! You got a new timer! :D

[@hadyalbagu8615]

Do i have to keep purchasing the arcade subscription to play this game or can i just pay once and always play this game?

[@thesupermayoreo]

I know Sonic Dream Team is an exclusive for Apple Arcade and I find it a little frustrating, but Sega missed an opportunity of doing another exclusive partnership with Nintendo.

[@AnnCatsanndra]

Where do I buy the timer?

[@partyjams]

I like the new set up. Generally positive about this game. Love that we are getting quality Sonic games from multiple development teams. But there's two things that bother me that aren't related to the game itself so much as the reception. One is complaints about Apple Arcade. I understand some people may not Apple devices but games (including Sonic games) being exclusive to platforms is nothing new. Hopefully it does come to other platforms but if anything people should be thankful that Apple's desire to bolster their platform lead to this game's existence. The only way we get more Dream Team is if Apple wants to pay for more. Also if people want great Sonic exclusives for their platforms then they should be asking those platforms to get in touch with Sega The second is the comparisons to console games like Frontiers. Obviously people can have their preferences but I feel some individuals are being rather disingenuous about Dream Team being better than Frontiers. Maybe it has aspects people like more, such as the art direction, level design, or even the physics. But ultimately Dream Team itself is small mobile game. From it's design, scope, UI, and even gameplay loop, Dream Team feels like a game meant for the mobile platform. I'm afraid that once it does come to console that will be more apparent and we will see some undeserved backlash from those who haven't played the game yet

[@jarkspore]

I’m torn on the exclusivity. On one hand, I feel like current exclusivity is mostly arbitrary and somewhat anti-consumer. On the other, I think it **could** bolster healthy competition. I suppose it’s situational. Hard agree on the second point though. I’m reminded of Mega Man X DiVE Offline, which feels strange divorced from its mobile birthplace.

[@partyjams]

​@@jarkspore exclusivity is very anti consumer. but it's a standard that's been normalized for gaming. To the point where people are upset Xbox is putting some of their titles on Playstation lol. Anyway I wouldn't be so upset at people for being upset if we told other platforms to stop doing the same thing. Like Sony with Final Fantasy. Or Nintendo with some Team Asano games. These titles will go multiplatform but they get gated for a while. Apple is just following the trend

[@hamstersandwich9917]

The issue with exclusivity is that it's one thing to be exclusive to a certain market like mobile games or certain consoles, but an Apple Arcade subscription is a pretty small market to cater to, much smaller than any other platform like android or the switch which many people have. When you cut off such a large percentage of the consumer base, what's the point anymore?

[@partyjams]

@ well couple counter points to this. Apple funded it so the project so there’s that. Even if it was small they would have to give the game and keep it exclusive based on the contract details. Second, Apple Arcade has over 100 million subscribers according to Google. Plus several more people just own Apple devices and may subscribe later. It’s not a tiny amount of people. Third, Apple Arcade has other Sonic titles on it too and likely Apple saw their customers like Sonic games. That’s why they funded a new game. So there is an existing fanbase even if they aren’t the ones who usually engage in discourse. Finally, reaching to a consumer base that doesn’t usually engage with Sonic games makes sense so the consumer base can expand. That is a big point. Plus it’s a low risk effort to do so cause Sega’s dev costs are covered by the platform holder. (Could make a point about Sega wanting to get more customers on mobile in general and that’s why they bought Angry Birds dev Rovio but that’s a tangential point)

[@KidEDarus]

I've said this before & I will not shut up about it. I'm still waiting for the day this game gets ported over for the modern consoles. It's cool to see Apple had a hand with providing the funds that are needed to make this game happen, super happy about more of the Sonic Cast got to be playable after so long, can't stop watching that beautiful 2D cutscene, but yeah Sonic Dream Team is a good first step forward for a full 3D Sonic Game. Only thing I'm kinda hoping for in future updates is that the cast has their unique attacks. Example, Amy has her hammer but doesn't use, Cream doesn't tell cheese to attack, Rouge doesn't do her kicks etc etc. you get the idea. The day this game finally does get ported, no doubt will be seeing a lot of unique mods for this game.

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

Sonic dream team animations and intro looked GOATED. I actually didnt like the models for some reason tho, idk, it didnt feel it The gameplay was goated, the style that you can be anywhere do to it being a dream practically Tho in later sonic games they dont always have to be real to the sonic world, after all they gotta be creative The gameplay was fun too, very open and all, and with shadow gens also being good, im guessing frontiers 2 will also be good