It’s truthful to say the Sonic the Hedgehog collection has seen one thing of a resurgence over the previous couple of years. From the well-loved Sonic Mania, Sonic films, and even the risky-but-it-works Sonic Frontiers final 12 months, Sonic has had a great streak of video games as of late. Now, Sega returns to the basic 2D system with a novel artwork model that tries its finest to mash old-school Sonic with newer mechanics. The tip outcome with Sonic Superstars is a solidly enjoyable however very uneven expertise.
Sonic Superstars is precisely the way it seems: a modern-day tackle 2D Sonic. In case you’ve performed any basic Sonic sport, you already know what to anticipate. Various phases, bizarre boss fights, a blended bag of platforming (extra on that in a second), nice music, and, in fact, a lot of cash. This contemporary tackle 2D Sonic introduces a brand new artwork model, a mixture of 2D gameplay with 3D visuals. There’s additionally the addition of Emerald Powers, a particular energy up you need to use after gathering sure Chaos Emeralds from bonus phases. These vary from slowing down time to creating an entire bunch of duplicates of your self that rush onto the display screen to destroy enemies.
Whereas a sport like Sonic the Hedgehog 4 tried, and failed, so as to add one thing new to 2D Sonic, Sonic Superstars nails what makes the previous video games beloved, whereas making an attempt so as to add one thing new. It’s total gameplay is completely stable, which is an enormous deal. The aforementioned Sonic 4 was infamous for feeling equal components floaty (the place the character surprisingly felt prefer it floated approach too lengthy when leaping) to approach too heavy. Whatever the character you select, Sonic Superstars nails it’s second to second gameplay. Working and leaping really feel just a little slower than these basic Genesis period Sonic video games, nevertheless it merely feels good to manage every of the characters, though I have to admit I largely performed as Sonic.
It additionally helps that Sonic Superstars seems very nice. I personally preferred the brand new artwork model; it feels contemporary whereas nonetheless feeling like the old fashioned Sonic. Environments are wealthy in particulars, characters are tremendous expressive, and the cutscenes are very nicely executed. It’s an enormous enchancment over Sega’s earlier makes an attempt with 2D Sonic (assume Sonic 4 or Sonic Forces) and truthfully makes the entire expertise fairly memorable. The cherry on high of its nice visuals is the music. Older Sonic video games had completely nice soundtracks and, fortunately, Sonic Superstars follows swimsuit. Whereas not each monitor hits, the general soundtrack for Superstars is top-notch. Belief me, you’ll be buzzing just a few tracks from this sport each time you step away from it.
Whereas Sonic Superstars does nicely at being a modern-day tackle 2D Sonic, not each new addition works. Emerald Powers sound like they might make a very enjoyable addition, permitting for distinctive gameplay modifications when you play. The issues are that getting the Emerald Powers is extra annoying than it’s enjoyable, they usually aren’t very helpful. To get the facility ups it’s a must to full the Bonus Stage. The factor is, discovering these phases in ranges isn’t straightforward. Clearly, that’s a part of the problem however I discovered myself unintentionally discovering a Bonus Stage in essentially the most random of spots, slightly than feeling like I discovered it in a really intelligent location.
Then, when you get the facility ups, their use is…blended at finest. Sonic Superstars limits when you need to use the facility ups and, 9 out of 10 instances, you may’t use the facility up within the spot the place it might be helpful. The sport flashes an icon at a random level on every stage the place you need to use the facility up, and nowhere else. This sort of defeats the entire level of getting this function, as I don’t care to make use of, say, a number of variations of myself in the course of the stage on 4 enemies. It’s not helpful to restrict after I can use this, particularly when it was such a ache to search out after which accumulate the facility as much as start with.
The opposite main problem I’ve with Sonic Superstars is its wildly uneven issue spikes. I’ve seen main issue spikes in video games earlier than, however Sonic Superstars could be essentially the most whiplash I’ve had in a very long time. The most important points are the mid-stage and remaining boss fights. Mid-stage boss fights sometimes aren’t that tough, and you may simply determine learn how to defeat the enemy with out taking a lot or any injury. In Sonic Superstars, the mid-stage boss fights are tougher than the end-stage bosses. In truth, defeating Dr. Eggman on the finish of every stage is basically, very easy; you simply bounce up and hit him on the top of his robotic. His assaults aren’t laborious to determine, and also you beat them with ease.
Mid-stage boss fights? It’s fairly unclear learn how to beat the bosses once they begin up, and they’re laser centered on hitting you and in the end defeating you. It’s an odd and really uneven expertise that seems like somebody at Sega unintentionally switched the code by mistake.
Then, there’s the final Eggman boss battle. It’s laborious, like approach too laborious for its personal good. It takes 13 hits to his head to defeat him in the long run, and you may’t merely bounce on his head each time to wreck him. With out spoiling the boss battle, let’s simply say they modify up the way you injury him in the course of the battle. The general expertise comes off as annoyingly tough slightly than a rewarding problem.
In the long run, Sonic Superstars is a enjoyable, trendy tackle the basic 2D Sonic system. Its stable second to second gameplay, enjoyable new visible model, and nice soundtrack make for a really enjoyable expertise. The sport falters a bit within the new addition of Emerald Powers, which aren’t enjoyable to gather and aren’t helpful when collected. The main issue spikes in mid-stage bosses and finish bosses make for a irritating fight expertise slightly than a rewarding one. Nonetheless, Sonic Superstars manages to drag collectively an expertise previous and new Sonic followers—or 2D platforming followers normally—will get loads of enjoyment out of.