Sonic: Lost World

 Wii U
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2013
  • Also On: 3DS, PC
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 64 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 64
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 64
  3. Negative: 9 out of 64
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  1. Eurogamer Italy
    Oct 18, 2013
    90
    Sonic Lost World is a great platform game. SEGA did a great job creating a brilliant level design and mashing up the best elements from Colors and Generations. This is a solid Wii U exclusive which, along with Rayman Legends, can easily sell the Nintendo console to platformers lovers.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 18, 2013
    90
    Its best moments feel like the first accurate representation of classic 2D Sonic gameplay in three dimensions.
  3. GamingTrend
    Oct 18, 2013
    89
    Sonic Lost World is a wonderful addition to the Sonic legacy and one of the best exclusive titles on the Wii U. It harks back to the classic days of gaming that got me into video games in the first place, a time when developers aimed to challenge players rather than guide their hand through a movie experience.
  5. Games Master UK
    Nov 27, 2013
    87
    The best true Sonic in years. [Christmas 2013, p.83]
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  6. Game Over Online
    Nov 7, 2013
    85
    Lost World looks incredible, sounds great, and is a must-have for anyone seeking a completely new Sonic experience in 3D with some 2D sprinkled in for good measure.
  7. GamesBeat
    Oct 18, 2013
    85
    Sonic Lost World is beautifully brutal. More important, however, is that it’s a worthy addition to Sega’s most beloved franchise.
  8. Universo Nintendo
    Nov 12, 2013
    80
    Sonic Lost World doesn't have a good story and requires a lot of adaptations to the controls. But it is a excellent game, fun, addicting, varied, with ingenious boss battles and is full of content.
  9. Hardcore Gamer
    Oct 31, 2013
    80
    It may be a departure from previous titles, but Sonic Lost World is an enjoyable new take on the Speedster.
  10. Everyeye.it
    Oct 22, 2013
    80
    Sonic Lost World is the ideal title for those seeking an immediate and funny platform meanwhile waiting for a new Mario.
  11. Eurogamer Germany
    Oct 21, 2013
    80
    It isn't perfect, Sonic never was. But if you accept it for what it is, you'll find this to be a very fresh new take on the famous hedgehog.
  12. XGN
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Sonic is back. This game is absolutely amazing on the Wii U and it keeps you busy for hours.
  13. SpazioGames
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Sonic Lost World is certainly not a Sonic-themed Mario Galaxy. Yet, this is the most advanced and most comprehensive Sonic of the last years. Those who expected a masterpiece will probably be disappointed, but this time what we got is - at least - a good game.
  14. IGN Italia
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Sonic Lost World is a gorgeous game and a really enjoyable Sonic game. Sonic Team goes back to the roots of the hedgehog, while exploring new ways to keep him running and exploring like never before. Too bad there's some really annoying moments and the Wisp powers are boring and inconsistent.
  15. Digital Spy
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Sonic: Lost World is a fresh and unique take on Sega's mascot that recaptures everything that was great about his 2D adventures, rights the wrongs of his 3D outings, and takes him into uncharted territory.
  16. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    It won't be giving Mario any restless nights, but this is a far better balanced proposition than the 'hog's Wii output and is solid fun throughout.
  17. Guardian
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    The finest Sonic game in years, a riot of ideas that at times approaches the quality of Nintendo EAD's work. It may not provide much insight into where games are heading, but as a Sonic-themed celebration of the past few years, it's a surprising delight.
  18. God is a Geek
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Even though the hedgehog’s deceleration is a resounding success, that precision in gameplay is hindered by a temperamental homing attack and subsequent cheap deaths. That aside, though, Sonic Lost World is unquestionably a return to form and a reason to care again – thankfully without the rose-tinted specs.
  19. GamesRadar+
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    Sonic Lost World feels like a Sonic game, works like a Mario game, and feels totally at home on the Wii U as a result. With the most convincing 3D Sonic gameplay by some margin, it’ll no doubt be looked back on as the game that aimed for the Galaxy, missed by a small amount, but still landed in the stars.
  20. GameTrailers
    Oct 18, 2013
    76
    Lost World nearly trips over itself to find a compromise between pure speed and stopping to smell the roses, but unlike many other Sonic games, this one does a pretty good job.
  21. NZGamer
    Oct 30, 2013
    75
    As I mentioned, the boss fights and characters in the game have their own style and charm, and the graphics and pacing of the game is, for the most part, spot on. While the game doesn’t reach the heights of Sonic Adventure, it does manage to fit nicely alongside most of the recent Sonic offerings.
  22. InsideGamer.nl
    Oct 25, 2013
    75
    Sonic: Lost World makes a step in the right direction. Sonic is mostly easy to control, the variety in the levels is there and certain actions you’ll have to perform with the Gamepad work well. The difficulty can spike though, and the cutscenes look like a twenty year old soap opera. It also goes a little too much by a trial and error principle.
  23. Destructoid
    Oct 18, 2013
    75
    Sonic Lost World can wildly swing from brilliant to horrific at the drop of a hat, but when one steps back and takes a look at the whole production, one sees far more to love than hate.

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best Wii U Game of 2013
3
#3 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2013
7
#7 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 604 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 324 out of 604
  2. Mixed: 188 out of 604
  3. Negative: 92 out of 604
  1. RangerManiac
    Oct 29, 2013
    10
    This is a great game! I have been playing for a week now and it is amazing.Of course it's not perfect but besides the boss fights this is aThis is a great game! I have been playing for a week now and it is amazing.Of course it's not perfect but besides the boss fights this is a game that is worth your time and money if you are a sonic or platformer fan… Full Review »
  2. mysteryracer
    Oct 30, 2013
    7
    Sonic Lost World, in a way, is almost like having a bipolar disorder; at one moment, the game almost perfectly captures the essence of a goodSonic Lost World, in a way, is almost like having a bipolar disorder; at one moment, the game almost perfectly captures the essence of a good Sonic game, while at others, becomes an incredibly infuriating and frustrating platformer that tries to put Sonic in situations where he does not excel in. For what Sonic Lost World does right, it really hits home, reflecting on the multiple archetypes Sonic's initial outings in terms of its level structure. However, for its wrongdoings, one can only question why SEGA did not overlook these wrongdoings, as they become apparent so easily. Specifically, Sonic Lost World is a balance between levels whose philosophy in design reflects his initial outings, and levels whose philosophy in design is questionable at best.

    In terms of this balance, the levels are associated with two different categories. One category places an emphasis on speed, and balances it out with plentiful of platforming and many alternate hidden paths and exits. This emergence of depth in level design was shown to an extent with Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, but has not been shown with as much depth since Sonic's initial outings. Sonic Lost World rekindles this fire incredibly strong in these sorts of levels. Grinding Levels are also welcome to this edition, as their depth has risen drastically. Multiple routes to grind and tons of ingeniously tricky spots make these levels almost, if not as enjoyable, as the sorts of levels listed above. The second category, however, withdraws almost all of these aspects in place of gimmicky and linear level design that lacks the depth of the multi-route levels. Whether this may be rolling around in a snowball, having to remain hidden from an owl, scale up a linear set of platforms, etc., it withdraws from the essence of Sonic's initial outings in place of something mediocre at best.

    To be even more precise, let me list every level that's fun, okay-ish, and not fun:

    Fun:
    Windy Hill: Act 1, 2, 3, 4
    Desert Ruins: Act 1, 2, 3, 4
    Tropical Coast: Act 1, 3, 4
    Frozen Factory: Act 3
    Silent Forest: Act 1
    Lava Mountain: Act 2

    Okay-ish:
    Tropical Coast: Act 2
    Frozen Factory: Act: 1, 4
    Silent Forest: Act 3
    Sky Road: Act 1
    Lava Mountain: Act 4

    Not Fun:
    Frozen Factory: Act 2
    Silent Forest: Act 2, 4
    Sky Road: Act 2, 3, 4
    Lava Mountain: Act 1, 3
    Hidden World: Act 1, 2, 3, 4

    There are 32 zones in total (Not counting the Hidden Stages in each world, the Carnival Stages, or the Nights DLC), and 14 of them are fun, 6 of them are okay, and 12 of them are not fun. This means 44% of the stages are fun, 19% of the stages are okay, and 37% of the stages are not fun. Add either the fun stages and the okay stages, the okay stages and the not fun stages, or none as you will, but only 44% of the game is truly and undoubtedly fun. Luckily, that 44% of the game nails the gameplay down just fine. Also, if you think about it, 14 acts is roughly 7 zones in Sonic 2, and more acts than Sonic 3 (not & Knuckles) has to offer. Adding the okay acts with the fun acts, and you have almost as much acts as Sonic 3 & Knuckles (and that's not even counting the omission of Sandopolis and Lava Reef Zone -due to their mediocrity- from the list). If you think about it, that 44% isn't really that bad in retrospect.

    Sonic Lost World fumbles a lot, which is definitely a huge disappointment to an otherwise fantastic game. However, the parts that Sonic Lost World doesn't fumble on are truly fantastic and unforgettable parts. Take Sonic Lost World how you will, but it's a game in which its good aspects are engaging and creative enough to become incredibly replayable. Sonic Lost World is a game that may stumble quite a lot, but it comes through in the end on its feet.    … Full Review »
  3. jcbelinda
    Oct 31, 2013
    7
    Well i have made it to the 5th world... and i must say that i was both impressed and let down. At first, the levels were fun and exciting, butWell i have made it to the 5th world... and i must say that i was both impressed and let down. At first, the levels were fun and exciting, but as the game progressed, the difficulty level increased so much and there were millions of death traps at every turn by the time i reached the frozen zone. At this point i became extremely frustrated and cut the game off. The first few worlds were amazing and fun for me. The game does a lot of things right, but it also does a lot of things wrong... i do see the resemblance between mario galaxy and this game, and i must say, im a 100% fan of the mario galaxy franchise, and this doesnt come close. but i am an extreme fan of sonic, having every sonic game from the genesis days, to the dreamcast day games, and the newer ones when sonic went to gamecube, xbox 360 and now wii u, and anything in between. I have every game... and this is ok to me. To me this game is like Sonic Colors, its ok. I have never been a fan of the color powers myself... im more into sonic generations gameplay style myself.... and evne sonic adventure 2 gamestyle. but its worth picking up at least.… Full Review »
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