Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition Review - A Rough Run on Switch 2

Sega recently marked Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th birthday with the release of Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. While the gaming community hoped for a new entry or a remake of classics like Unleashed or Heroes, we instead received this updated port of the 2022 open-world title. After spending time with the game on Nintendo's latest hardware, it’s clear that while the core experience remains intact, this isn't the polished performance we’ve come to expect on the platform.

The Gameplay Experience

For those unfamiliar with the title, Sonic Frontiers tasks the Blue Blur with stopping Robotnik while rescuing his friends—Amy, Knuckles, and Tails—across the Starfall Islands. It was the franchise's first foray into open-world design, featuring giant Titan boss battles and the typical rail-grinding platforming Sonic fans expect. While the groundwork laid by Sonic Team is solid, the world often feels empty, lacking a variety of activities to fill the space between objectives.

However, the "Definitive Edition" does bring some charm to the table. I genuinely enjoyed the birthday celebration features, which allow you to toggle party hats, decorate the islands with balloons, and switch the rails to pink. Listening to a special version of 'Happy Birthday' while running through the zones in various outfits is a fun touch for long-time fans.

Performance on Switch 2

This is where the "Definitive" label starts to lose its luster. Comparing this to how well Sonic x Shadow Generations runs on the Switch 2, it is disappointing to see that Frontiers didn't receive the same level of fine-tuning. While the game looks acceptable in docked mode if you prioritize graphics, there are persistent rendering issues, especially regarding foliage and trees.

I strongly advise against playing in handheld mode, as the visual fidelity takes a significant hit. Furthermore, there are frustrating technical hiccups; I encountered instances where button inputs failed to register, causing Sonic to tumble to the ground during Titan boss encounters despite being locked on. These issues were not present in the PS5 version of the game.

Our Verdict