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Sonic Dream Team Takes a Deep Dive into Eggman and Cream’s Psyche
Sonic the Hedgehog has a thrilling new game set to launch next month, blending his iconic high-speed 3D platforming with the replayability and discovery of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Sonic Dream Team, developed by Sega’s Hardlight studio, offers a unique experience by delving into the tangible dreams of Dr. Eggman, along with the introduction of a new character to the Sonic universe.
Sonic Dream Team, which Polygon had an opportunity to play at a hands-on preview event earlier this week, draws inspiration from a multitude of sources. Its levels are inspired by skate parks, with grind rails, halfpipes, expansive pathways, and the mind-bending dream architecture seen in Christopher Nolan’s Inception. These brightly colored levels represent a condensed version of Dr. Eggman’s dreams, as filtered through Sonic’s companion, Cream the Rabbit.
The skate-park-inspired levels of Sonic Dream Team are built for players to run multiple times, with different objectives in mind. Some levels require finding keys to unlock new pathways, reaching a goal within a time limit, or locating hidden objects. Each level’s architecture adapts to the goal, promoting repeated visits. Hidden collectibles, such as blue coins and red stars, are scattered throughout the levels.
Cream is playable in a solo 3D capacity for the first time in a long time.
Image: Sega Hardlight/Sega
Certain collectibles and areas can only be reached by specific characters. Sonic and Amy Rose play identically, while Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, and Cream are all unlockable and playable. Knuckles and Rouge have the ability to glide and climb walls, granting them access to unique locations. Similarly, Tails and Cream can fly around levels for a short period of time.
For players wanting to collect everything in a level, they can switch between any unlocked character mid-run, as long as they are stationary. This feature allows for a dynamic gameplay experience, albeit with some limitations.
Sonic Dream Team focuses less on combat and more on maintaining momentum by having enemies scattered throughout the levels, ready to be dashed and smashed into using characters’ boost attacks. The game aims to immerse players in a flow state, where they can seamlessly chain together jumps, slides, and speed boosts to navigate through levels. Its short-session levels are designed for maximum replayability, with players aiming for 100% completion runs and faster times.
Some of Dr. Eggman’s dreams take on a darker tone.
Image: Sega Hardlight/Sega
Sonic Dream Team also includes an overarching story, presented through voiced in-game cutscenes. The plot revolves around Dr. Eggman’s discovery of a dream-catcher-like device called the Reverie, which has the ability to manifest dreams in the real world. Assisting Sonic and his friends in unlocking the Reverie’s powers is Ariem, a newly introduced anthropomorphic sheep character created by Hardlight and Sonic Team artist Yuji Uekawa.
Sonic Dream Team is set to launch on Apple Arcade and will be available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The game offers intuitive controls, ensuring a fast and responsive gameplay experience. While it is exclusive to Apple’s gaming subscription service for now, its potential release on other platforms remains uncertain.
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