Summary

  • The Sonic Frontiers modding community keeps the game fresh with unique mods like Desert Bus Frontiers.
  • The Desert Bus mod recreates the notoriously long game experience, with Sonic speeding it up from 8 to 3 hours.
  • Fans can now complete the Desert Bus journey in Sonic Frontiers.

A Sonic Frontiers modder has recreated the experience of playing the infamously long Desert Bus. The Sonic Frontiers modding community is incredibly dedicated, as fans have been creating many different experiences ever since its 2022 release. These mods range from adding in new characters to tweaking Frontiers' gameplay. Some of the most impressive mods are the ones revolving around its cyberspace levels, as fans have created both wholly original and nostalgic levels within Frontiers' engine. One ambitious, and incredibly hilarious, mod for Frontiers is one that recreates Desert Bus.

Desert Bus is a notoriously long simulation game that was part of the canceled Sega CD mini-game collection called Penn & Teller's Smoke and Mirrors. Desert Bus has the player driving on a straight road between Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas. The game has no other vehicles and the scenery consists of a desert with dead trees and bushes. The most memorable part of the game is its length, where it takes roughly eight hours in real time to complete the route between the three states. Fans can now have this same experience in Sonic Frontiers.

Created by modder weezley, this mod is known as Desert Bus Frontiers, and can be downloaded on GameBanana. The modder notes the trip usually does take eight hours, but since Sonic is one of the fastest video game characters, he can cut down that experience to roughly three. This figure takes into consideration Sonic's Power Boost in Frontiers, with the actual trip being much longer if it isn't used. Desert Bus Frontiers replaces the first cyberspace level in Frontiers, and just like the original Desert Bus, this level is a featureless straight road without any vehicles, flora, or music.

Desert Bus Frontiers Gameplay

This mod goes the extra length to recreate the Desert Bus experience, as Sonic will start veering to the right every so often, requiring players to correct their position like in the original game. Players can also recreate the true experience, as Sonic's non-boost speed is the exact same speed as the bus in Desert Bus, taking a full eight hours to beat the level. The mod features a checkpoint every 50 kilometers, so if the player accidentally runs off the road, they will go back to their last checkpoint. The modder also notes that due to the size of the level, there will occasionally be some instability and graphical flickering, which may cause issues for epileptic gamers.

Despite Desert Bus' infamy, it has also become the centerpiece of the Desert Bus for Hope Charity Livestream charity event. If they like, fans can now do their own marathon stream of Desert Bus with a Sonic flavored twist thanks to this mod. The Frontiers modding community praised weezley for the mod and recreating the original game.

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Sonic Frontiers
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8 /10
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Released
November 8, 2022
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Worlds are colliding in Sonic the Hedgehog’s newest high-speed adventure! In search of the missing Chaos emeralds, Sonic becomes stranded on an ancient island teeming with unusual creatures. Battle hordes of powerful enemies as you explore a breathtaking world of action, adventure, and mystery. Accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high-velocity, open-zone platforming freedom as you race across the five massive Starfall Islands. Jump into adventure, wield the power of the Ancients, and fight to stop these new mysterious foes.

Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes. With nothing but a handful of questions and a disembodied voice to guide you, set out to save your friends and the enigmatic inhabitants of the Starfall Islands from a colossal, mechanized threat.

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Sonic Team
Publisher(s)
Sega
Franchise
Sonic
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
Sonic running through a field in Sonic Frontiers
8 Images