From GameWatcher: "In an unusual set of events, Sonic Forces is the second Sonic game this year. Imagine if we’d got two Wolfenstein games in 2017, one being the advanced 3D experience and other being an improved throwback to Wolfenstein 3D? Actually, that’d be awesome, get on that Bethesda. Sonic got the astonishing Mega Drive/Genesis-style Mania just a couple of months ago, now Forces is here for the modern 3D fans. Some might call that an uphill struggle."
The divide between both iterations of Sonic is now reaching spin-off territory, and the way Sega is handling it is both a blessing and a curse.
Game Rant Writes "Sonic Forces is now five years old, and while it has plenty of flaws, there are things the 2017 release handles well enough to affect future games."
Sega aims to release 2D Sonic games alongside the 3D ones each year, but it's questionable how the company plans to continue this trend.
“In an unusual set of events, Sonic Forces is the second Sonic game this year.”
It’s not that unusual for this series. This has happened frequently.
1993- Sonic CD and Sonic Chaos
1994- Sonic 3&K and Sonic Triple Trouble
1996- Sonic Blast and Sonic 3D Blast
1999- Sonic Adventure and Sonic Pocket Adventure
2004- Sonic Advance 3 and Sonic Heroes
2005- Sonic Rush and Shadow the Hedgehog
2006- Sonic Rivals and Sonic ‘06
2007- Sonic Rush Adventure and Sonic & the Secret Rings
2010- Sonic 4: Ep 1 & Sonic Colors
2014- Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal