Sonic Forces: Speed Battle was first in development in June 2016 after analyzing the latest capabilities of present-day phones.[2] It began as a prototype by Hardlight, checking if synchronous gameplay would work as well as they expected.[2][3] These early prototypes used existing tech and games as testing grounds for the gameplay, like Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom.[3] The game was originally planned for the Sonic Boom franchise, using the main cast of characters from Team Sonic.
From the beginning of the project, Hardlight wanted the game to have flexible levels for more expansive gameplay. For this, they developed a modular system that allowed them to create any track piece they wanted. Hardlight also wanted, right from the start, for the game to be a skill-based, global multiplayer. While relying on the classic staples in the Sonic series, branching paths on the tracks were added to make the game more exciting and unique. Extra care was also made to ensure the levels fit the mobile environment. During development, the staff focused on making the tracks feel appropriate before polishing their design.[4]
Hardlight pitched their idea to Sonic Team back in 2016 when the latter was looking for a mobile game. After discussing with Takashi Iizuka, the teams settled on what would become Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. Hardlight subsequently expanded their team while working on the environments and metagame. After being in development for about a year, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle received a soft launch so Hardlight could test the game and work out the remaining bugs before the global launch.[3] The game was scheduled to have three Zones with twelve tracks for its global launch, with more Zones being planned on being developed.[4] It was revealed on 16 March 2018 that Mystic Jungle would appear as a new Zone in an upcoming update.
Achievements
Name
Description
Rewards
We can do this!
Reach Tier 3
500 pts
You're too slow!
Win 10 Battles
500 pts
This is happenin'!
Reach Tier 4
1000 pts
Long time no see
Unlock 5 Runners
1000 pts
You think you can keep up with me?
Win 50 Battles
1000 pts
You've got this Sonic!
Reach Tier 5
2500 pts
Get a load of this!
Perform 10 Runner Upgrades
2500 pts
Welcome to the next level
Unlock 10 Runners
2500 pts
You think you can beat me?
Win 250 Battles
2500 pts
One more last fist bump
Reach Tier 6
5000 pts
The more the merrier!
Perform 50 Runner Upgrades
5000 pts
Now we're talking!
Unlock 15 Runners
5000 pts
The ultimate lifeform
Win 1000 Battles
5000 pts
All systems, full power!
Perform 150 Runner Upgrades
10000 pts
Reach for the stars
Reach Tier 7
10000 pts
Reception
The reception for Sonic Forces: Speed Battle since its launch has had a range of quite positive to mixed. The head of Hardlight, Chris Southall, stated that the game "exceeded expectations" shortly after launch. The game has a 4.4/5 star rating on the Google Play Store with over 450 thousand ratings, and a rating of 4.6/5 stars on the App Store with over 40 thousand ratings. It has a rating of 4/5 stars on Amazon with nearly 15 thousand ratings. It currently has a Metacritic rating of 7.2 based on 26 ratings.[5] The game has been praised for being fun, challenging, and entertaining, while being criticized for being multiplayer only.[5]
The online battle-racing game also earned a spot on the '#10 Top games' category on the Google Play Store. Additionally, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle has received individual ratings for various aspects of the game on the Google Play Store. These include: Gameplay (4.5 stars), Graphics (4.6), and Controls (4.4).
According to Ric Cowley of Pocket Gamer, "Sonic Forces: Speed Battle is a lot of fun to play, though it's probably best off experienced in short bursts," while noting, "there's a ton of grinding before you open up new levels, and after the hundredth run on the same two stages, you might start to grow a little tired of the experience."[6]
Two weeks after its launch period, the iOS version of Sonic Forces: Speed Battle had gained 2 million downloads.[7] As of 16 March 2018, the game has over 12 million downloads. It managed to exceed 10,000,000 downloads on the Google Play Store. On 21 April 2020, the game passed the 50 million download milestone.[8] On 30 September 2021, the game passed the 100 million download milestone.[9]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of Sonic Forces: Speed Battle consists of reused tracks from Sonic Forces and past games for the most part:
Hardlight Staff: Alastair Graham, Andrew Paul, Andrew McMillan, Antony Lavelle, Ashley Khan, Billie McMillan, Chris Southall, Claire Chamielec, Claudia Farre, Daniel Darnbrough, David Foster, Dawid Esterhuizen, Gordon Theobald, Harinder Sangha, Ian Sullivan, Jacob Jensen, Jan Strajnar, James Back, Joel Atkinson, Joseph Stone, Liam Rüdel, Lisa Waldron, Louis Macan, Laura Back, Lubomir Baran, Louis McLaughlin, Lucy Lavelle, Luke Boscott, Marc-Etienne Beinio, Mark Milton, Matt Allan, Neall Jones, Neil Armstrong, Neil Topham, Nia Knibbs Vaughan, Nick Adams, Paul Twynholm, Richard Smith, Richard Sugden, Rebecca Thompson, Rob Ruck, Ryan Simpson, Scott Griffiths, Scott Orchard, Simon Foster, Shaun Lawrence, Stephanie Brooke-Harris, Stuart Grant, Tom Gaulton, Thomas Quartly, Tom Woodward, Yordan Gyurchev
Thanks: Adrian Klimczak, Anthony Lewis, Csaba Berenyi, Inna Slepstova, James Booth, Miklos Hajma, Oleg Salyakhov, Richard Tawn, Rick Nath, Simon Dew. Thank you to all at SEGA, our contractors and our fans.
↑"SEGA HARDlight on Twitter". Twitter. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021. 100 MILLION DOWNLOADS!! From all of us at Team HARDlight, thank you for your support.
