Sonic Superstars Review: A Triumphant Return Marred by Inconsistencies

Sega’s proposition with Sonic Superstars is clear: it’s a spiritual successor to the original Mega Drive/Genesis Sonic trilogy. While the less-than-stellar Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and the critically acclaimed Sonic Mania exist, Sonic Superstars aims to recapture the essence of those early titles. We at Gaming News embarked on this adventure with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, eager to see if Arzest, in collaboration with Sonic Team, could deliver a true continuation of Sonic’s 2D legacy. What we found was a game brimming with potential, innovative ideas, and nostalgic callbacks, but ultimately held back by uneven level design and inconsistent performance.

Reviving the Classic Formula: Gameplay and Mechanics

Sonic Superstars confidently plants its feet in the well-trodden ground of classic Sonic gameplay. Players control Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose, each possessing their unique abilities. Sonic retains his spin dash and peel-out maneuvers, while Tails can fly for a limited time, Knuckles can glide and climb walls, and Amy wields her hammer for a double jump and ground pound. This familiar moveset provides a solid foundation for the game’s core mechanics: high-speed platforming, collecting rings, and defeating enemies. The physics, crucial to the Sonic experience, feel largely faithful to the original games, allowing for precise jumps, satisfying momentum, and exhilarating speed bursts.

Emerging Emerald Powers: A Fresh Layer of Strategy

One of Sonic Superstars’ key innovations lies in its Emerald Powers. Throughout the game, players can collect Chaos Emeralds, granting them unique abilities that can be activated at any time. These powers range from summoning clones to aid in combat or traversal, to creating a temporary waterfall for reaching high platforms, to transforming into a bullet-like invulnerable form. These Emerald Powers add a strategic layer to the gameplay, encouraging exploration and experimentation. Mastering their use is crucial for navigating the game’s more challenging sections and uncovering hidden secrets.

The Illusion Emerald: Creates mirror images of your character, attacking enemies.

The Water Emerald: Allows the character to turn water into climbable geysers.

The Fire Emerald: Gives the character a dash move that can be used to burst through enemies and objects.

The Lightning Emerald: Slows down time around the character.

The Invisible Emerald: Makes the character invisible.

The Vision Emerald: Reveals hidden platforms and rings.

The Change Emerald: Turns the character into a different creature.

Multiplayer Mayhem: A Fun, Yet Chaotic Experience

Sonic Superstars introduces a four-player local co-op mode, allowing friends to experience the game together. While the idea of tearing through levels with three other players sounds appealing, the execution is somewhat flawed. The screen can quickly become cluttered and chaotic, making it difficult to track your character and navigate the environment. The fixed camera struggles to keep all players in view, often leading to off-screen deaths and frustration. However, when the chaos subsides, the multiplayer mode can be genuinely fun, especially when coordinating Emerald Power usage and competing for the highest score.

A World of Wonder, But With Uneven Pacing: Level Design

Sonic Superstars boasts a vibrant and colorful world, filled with diverse environments. From lush jungles to futuristic cities to underwater ruins, each zone presents a unique aesthetic and gameplay challenges. The level design incorporates classic Sonic elements such as loop-de-loops, springs, and bottomless pits, while also introducing new mechanics and obstacles. However, the level design suffers from inconsistencies. Some levels are brilliantly crafted, offering a perfect balance of speed and platforming, while others feel cluttered, confusing, and overly reliant on trial-and-error. The pacing is also uneven, with some zones dragging on for too long, while others feel rushed and underdeveloped.

Zone Variety: A Visual and Mechanical Feast

The game’s diverse environments are a major highlight. Each zone is visually distinct, with unique color palettes, background details, and enemy designs. The levels also incorporate different gameplay mechanics, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.

Boss Battles: A Mix of Nostalgia and Innovation

The boss battles in Sonic Superstars offer a mix of nostalgia and innovation. Players will face off against Dr. Eggman in a variety of inventive contraptions, as well as new villains with unique abilities. Some boss battles pay homage to classic Sonic encounters, while others introduce new mechanics and challenges. However, some boss battles suffer from repetitive patterns and predictable attacks, making them feel less engaging than they could be.

Visuals and Performance: A Stunning Showcase, But With Hiccups

Sonic Superstars boasts a visually stunning presentation, with vibrant colors, detailed character models, and impressive special effects. The game’s art style is a faithful recreation of the classic Sonic aesthetic, while also incorporating modern graphical techniques. However, the game suffers from occasional performance issues, particularly in the multiplayer mode. Frame rate drops can occur during particularly chaotic sections, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

Art Style: A Modern Take on a Classic Look

The game’s art style is a perfect blend of classic and modern aesthetics. The character models are detailed and expressive, while the environments are vibrant and colorful. The game’s visual presentation is a testament to the developers’ dedication to recreating the look and feel of the original Sonic games.

Performance Issues: A Blemish on an Otherwise Polished Experience

Unfortunately, Sonic Superstars suffers from occasional performance issues, particularly in the multiplayer mode. Frame rate drops can occur during particularly chaotic sections, impacting the overall gameplay experience. These performance issues are a blemish on an otherwise polished experience.

Sound Design: A Nostalgic and Energetic Soundtrack

The sound design in Sonic Superstars is excellent. The game features a mix of original compositions and remixes of classic Sonic tunes. The soundtrack is energetic and catchy, perfectly complementing the game’s fast-paced gameplay. The sound effects are also well-done, adding to the overall immersion.

Music: A Perfect Blend of Old and New

The game’s soundtrack is a perfect blend of old and new. The original compositions are catchy and memorable, while the remixes of classic Sonic tunes are a nostalgic treat for long-time fans. The soundtrack perfectly complements the game’s fast-paced gameplay.

Sound Effects: Adding to the Immersion

The sound effects in Sonic Superstars are well-done, adding to the overall immersion. The sound of Sonic’s spin dash, the clatter of rings, and the explosions of defeated enemies all contribute to the game’s satisfying soundscape.

Conclusion: A Promising Return That Needs Refinement

Sonic Superstars is a promising return to the classic 2D Sonic formula. The game introduces innovative mechanics, boasts a vibrant world, and features a nostalgic soundtrack. However, the game is held back by uneven level design and inconsistent performance. While the multiplayer mode is a fun addition, it can also be chaotic and frustrating. Despite its flaws, Sonic Superstars is a worthwhile experience for fans of the Sonic series. With some refinement and polish, it could become a true classic. We at Gaming News hope that Sega and Arzest continue to iterate on this foundation and deliver a truly exceptional Sonic experience in the future. This game is a 7/10. It is a good, solid offering, but with missed potential.

Sonic Superstars: Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick rundown of the game’s strengths and weaknesses:

Pros:

Cons:

We hope that this comprehensive review has helped you make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase Sonic Superstars. As always, thank you for reading Gaming News!

You also may like 〣〣