Sonic Superstars keeps the blue blur’s momentum going with another strong outing.
If you are a longtime fan of Sonic The Hedgehog, you undoubtedly know that the Blue Blur has had a lot of ups and downs when it comes to game releases in the past two decades. Titles like Sonic The Hedgehog (2006), Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (2014), and Sonic Forces (2017) left a bad taste in the mouths of hardcore Sonic fans. Sonic is not an annual release franchise, so it is understandable that there is a lot of hype leading up to the release of a new title.
Sonic games usually perform well when the Sonic Team is able to blend the old with the new. When Sonic Generations released back in 2011, it did just that. The 2D segments played like a dream and definitely had me wanting more from classic Sonic gameplay.
When Sonic Mania was released back in 2017, it received critical acclaim for being a true return to form for the blue hedgehog while also introducing the new drop dash mechanic that is now a series staple. Then, in 2022, Sonic Frontiers was released, brimming with content and free updates to follow its launch. We were finally witnessing upward momentum for the franchise.
At this year’s past Summer Game Fest, host Geoff Keighley announced a new 2D Sonic entry was arriving this year in the form of Sonic Superstars. What a time to be a Sonic fan. Now that Sonic Superstars has been released, does it deliver a speedy, good platforming experience? It is safe to say, yes. Sonic The Hedgehog is back!
Sonic Superstars was developed by Arzest, a Japanese game developer that formed in 2010 in conjunction with Sonic Team. For better or worse, I must commend the Sonic Team, as they always look to innovate for new Sonic titles. In the case of Sonic Superstars, the teams experimented with ways to modernize the old formula.
Firstly, I want to address everything that Sonic Superstars does right. The decision to add a four-player co-op is a no-brainer, and, shockingly, we have not seen this yet for the franchise. There are four playable characters to choose from: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. Each character comes equipped with their series staple abilities. As Sonic, you can perform the drop dash by double-tapping and holding the jump button, then releasing it when Sonic hits the ground. This will cause him to spin forward immediately.
Tails can fly all around and can attack enemies with the tip of their tails mid-flight. He can also grab other characters, as he is able to do in previous 2D Sonic entries. Knuckles can glide and climb walls, and Amy can perform a double jump, making it easier to platform and land more risky jumps.
In addition to that, Amy can also swing her trusty hammer all around her, allowing her to dish out damage in a wider radius than the rest of the cast. Everyone plays like a dream in Sonic Superstars. Each character also has their own “Act” in each zone that caters to their unique abilities. For instance, in the Knuckles level, you will be gliding from A to B while also wall-climbing on certain platforms to reach new areas.
In Sonic Superstars, the action takes place on the brand-new Northstar Islands, a wondrous archipelago filled to the brim with vibrant, colorful environments. From jungles to carnivals, Sonic Superstars manages to take familiar locales from Sonic’s previous outings and turn them into gorgeous new levels.
Dr. Eggman is back at it again, kidnapping the island’s bigger inhabitants and turning them into badniks to aid him in retrieving the Chaos Emeralds to take over the world. This time, he is joined by none other than Fang the Hunter, an old adversary of Sonic who first debuted in Sonic The Hedgehog Triple Trouble (1994).
A mysterious armored character named Trip the Sungazer is coerced into helping Eggman and Fang’s cause, leading to a triple threat against our heroes. Sonic Superstars does not aim to reinvent the wheel for the franchise; instead, it is all about offering a classic Sonic experience with a modern flair. If you have played a majority of prior 2D Sonic titles, you will know what to expect from the gameplay by now. Loop-de-loops, plenty of Special Stages, and a nice balance of platforming and exploring.
Just as Sonic games before it, Sonic Superstars has levels that are begging to be explored. It was a blast discovering different paths that led to all sorts of goodies like power-ups and even giant golden rings that transport you to a Chaos Emerald bonus stage. Speaking of which, Chaos Emeralds are back in a big way. As fans have come to expect, collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds will unlock a super transformation for each character.
As long as you have fifty rings at any given time, you are able to transform, granting you super speed, invincibility, and higher jumps. However, In Sonic Superstars, you are granted emerald powers from each emerald collected. For instance, the first emerald you collect unlocks the Avatar ability, which multiplies whatever character you are using to run and jump across the screen to attack any enemies in your way!
Immediately, Sonic Colors (2010) comes to mind with the similarities between emerald powers and Sonic Colors‘ wisps that granted Sonic “Color Powers”. The emerald powers were an awesome touch and gave players an incentive to go emerald hunting beyond the purpose of obtaining the super transformation. And if that wasn’t enough incentive, you can access the game’s true ending by obtaining all emeralds and completing the post-game story.
Apart from Chaos Emerald bonus stages are standard Special Stages that play much like the ones seen in the original Sonic The Hedgehog (1991) for Sega Genesis. In the first Sonic, these stages were used to obtain the Chaos Emeralds, whereas in Sonic Superstars, they are used to collect medals. Medals act as currency for the in-game shop, where you can buy parts to build your own robot!
These robots can then be used in Sonic Superstars’ Battle Mode in a series of randomized mini-games. There are plenty of unlockable pieces for your robot, so there is an incentive to collect as many medals as you can if that strikes your fancy. While the concept of making your own robot and using them in Battle Mode sounds fun, the multiplayer mode ultimately falls short. While not awful by any means, it isn’t particularly fun or memorable either. For some, it could be a time waster.
The main appeal of Sonic Superstars is its co-op functionality. Four-player co-op is a series first in Sonic Superstars, and it is actually quite surprising we have not seen this sooner. I had an absolute blast playing the co-op with some friends for this review. Plenty of chaos and hilarity ensued in our game sessions, and it is some of the most fun I have had with a Sonic game to date. That is not to say that there aren’t issues with it, though.
The camera would struggle with deciding on who it wanted to focus on, leading to a lot of unnecessary chaos. This can easily be fixed with a future update. After all, this is the first time the Sonic franchise has had this feature, so I will give it a pass as the developers can figure out how to work some kinks out in that regard. Otherwise, it was a fun experience and highly recommended!
Sonic Team and other developers they choose to work with in the future have a good thing on their hands with the co-op functionality. I certainly hope they choose to keep this feature in future 2D Sonic projects. The co-op is good ol’ shut off your brain fun, but if you want to play the story without any sort of interruption from other players, single-player is still the way to go.
While the game is a joy to play, the art direction is outstanding. The Northstar Islands are a feast for the eyes. The second Zone, Speed Jungle, was my favorite locale to gawk at as I raced my way through its lush greenery and vibrant colors. Speed Jungle is just one out of multiple Zones that are a blast to play through and gawk at. The animated cutscenes are a beast all on their own.
My only complaint with that is I wish there were more cutscenes throughout the story. Each character is animated to perfection, with a wide array of expressions that convey the story expertly without the use of words. I always find it to be quite the feat, saying so much without uttering a single word.
The music is always on point in Sonic games and is no different in Sonic Superstars. You may remember Tee Lopes, who composed the soundtrack to Sonic Mania and gave birth to a plethora of outstanding tracks in that game. He lends his talents to Sonic Superstars’ music direction and is evident from the start.
Sonic Superstars is a superb outing for the little blue hedgehog that has its share of smaller issues. As I briefly mentioned, the camera could use a bit more work as far as co-op play is concerned. The price tag is also a bit of a deterrent, as Sonic Superstars comes in at a whopping $59.99. As there is a fair bit of content for a 2D Sonic game, that doesn’t mean it is worth the price of admission.
Sonic Frontiers, which was released in 2022, launched at the same price with way more content with free updates to follow, adding even more to an already meaty package. I did experience some stutters and slowdown when too much was happening on screen, such as the use of the Avatar Chaos Emerald or playing as any character in their Super State.
This is a Switch-specific issue, but is otherwise a great gaming experience. Some glitches would occur here and there, but none that ever broke the game. Again, a minor patch here and there can go a long way in ensuring the quality is up to snuff. Sonic Superstars is absolutely worth your time, especially for hardcore Sonic fans. I would recommend waiting for a sale, as Sega games go on sale semi-frequently. Longtime fans of the Blue Blur are not going to want to miss out on the latest and greatest 2D Sonic adventure!
