Sonic Forces: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Try all of the animal types

One of the most significant features of Sonic Forces is the option of building your own playable Avatar. Though you can make a number of aesthetic changes while you play, the key decision you will have to make early is which type of animal you are going to base it on. Each animal possesses a unique trait:

• Dogs restart with five rings upon dying.
• Wolves have items automatically drawn towards them when nearby.
• Rabbits have longer periods of invulnerability after being hit.
• Bears’ Wire Attacks blow nearby enemies away.
• Cats hold onto one ring after being hit.
• Birds are able to double jump.
• Hedgehogs have more time to collect lost rings upon being hit.

Deciding which option works best for you comes down to your skill and play style, but if you’re unsure and you don’t want to waste too much time with an Avatar that doesn’t suit you, try out the rental Avatars that are available when you replay stages. These are Avatars made by other players, and depending on how far they have gotten into the game, they may also possess stronger weapons and abilities.

Know the differences

Between Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and the Avatar, there are a lot of different abilities that you will have to get used to; it may be instinctual to attempt a Boost during Avatar stages, but you’ll be left flailing at nothing every time.

Modern Sonic is not only able to Boost, but can also bounce off of nearby enemies with the Homing Attack. The Avatar has their own version of the Homing Attack (known as the Wire Attack), and is armed with a Wispon that grants them various types of offensive firepower. Classic Sonic is able to Spin Dash in order to pick up speed and plow through hordes of enemies, and can also utilize Sonic Mania’s Drop Dash in order to roll upon landing.

Familiarizing yourself with the nuances of the different characters will allow you to get the best high scores and quickest times. Additionally, if you are struggling to complete one of the Avatar stages, consider equipping a different Wispon that could improve your mobility.

Boost is your friend

Modern Sonic is blessed with the ability to Boost, increasing his speed massively and allowing him to blast through enemies. In order to boost, you will have to either release White Wisps from capsules, or defeat enemies to help fill the Boost Gauge.

The extra velocity is nice, but careful application of the Boost can also allow it to be used to effectively recon unfamiliar areas without fearing that an unseen group of enemies will impede your progress. Blowing through your entire Boost Gauge as soon as you have some energy stored up is unwise, unless you are certain that there will be an opportunity to refill it nearby.

The Boost is also useful for crossing large gaps, particularly when there are enemies in your path. Knowing when to strike with a Boost, and when to opt for a Homing Attack, will prove crucial to progressing through levels like a pro.

Feel free to explore

Each stage features a multitude of different routes to discover. Some are quicker, while others will yield more rings, and potentially even a Red Star Ring. Finding these routes can be tricky, particularly since some are dependent on timing your jumps or attacks on enemies before they fly away.

Comparatively, it is easier to locate new paths during Classic Sonic gameplay, as they are less obscured by the background. Sometimes slowing down and jumping into an unexpected area can yield benefits (though this can occasionally lead to your untimely death). Once you have found the optimal route, using it when replaying the stages can help you to unlock that elusive S ranking.

Complete daily missions early and often

The key to upgrading your Avatar is completing Missions. These can be anything from finishing a stage in a certain amount of time, to successfully accomplishing SOS Missions that appear on the World Map. Most SOS Missions require you to complete a stage either as your Avatar, or as the Avatar sending out the distress signal. Some task you with finding the missing Avatar trapped in a cage somewhere on the stage. If you die at any time, you fail the SOS Mission.

Daily Missions are much simpler, and will boost your experience gains for a limited period of time. Considering that the conditions for these Daily Missions can be something as straightforward as changing the Avatar’s shoes, you should set about achieving them as frequently as you can. The various conditions are time-dependent, and tied to your system’s internal clock, so be sure to check them often to see if there is an easy one you can tick off immediately.