It’s honest to say the Sonic the Hedgehog collection has seen one thing of a resurgence over the previous few years. From the well-loved Sonic Mania, Sonic motion pictures, and even the risky-but-it-works Sonic Frontiers final yr, Sonic has had an excellent streak of video games as of late. Now, Sega returns to the basic 2D components with a singular artwork fashion that tries its finest to mash old-school Sonic with newer mechanics. The top end result with Sonic Superstars is a solidly enjoyable however very uneven expertise.
Sonic Superstars is precisely the way it seems to be: a modern-day tackle 2D Sonic. In the event you’ve performed any basic Sonic recreation, you understand what to anticipate. Numerous levels, bizarre boss fights, a blended bag of platforming (extra on that in a second), nice music, and, after all, numerous cash. This contemporary tackle 2D Sonic introduces a brand new artwork fashion, a mixture of 2D gameplay with 3D visuals. There’s additionally the addition of Emerald Powers, a particular energy up you should use after amassing sure Chaos Emeralds from bonus levels. 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 recreation 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 general gameplay is completely strong, which is an enormous deal. The aforementioned Sonic 4 was infamous for feeling equal components floaty (the place the character unusually felt prefer it floated method too lengthy when leaping) to method too heavy. Whatever the character you select, Sonic Superstars nails it’s second to second gameplay. Working and leaping really feel slightly slower than these basic Genesis period Sonic video games, nevertheless it merely feels good to manage every of the characters, though I need to admit I principally performed as Sonic.
It additionally helps that Sonic Superstars seems to be very nice. I personally preferred the brand new artwork fashion; 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 effectively executed. It’s an enormous enchancment over Sega’s earlier makes an attempt with 2D Sonic (suppose 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 observe hits, the general soundtrack for Superstars is top-notch. Belief me, you’ll be buzzing just a few tracks from this recreation each time you step away from it.
Whereas Sonic Superstars does effectively at being a modern-day tackle 2D Sonic, not each new addition works. Emerald Powers sound like they’d make a extremely enjoyable addition, permitting for distinctive gameplay modifications whilst 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 you need to full the Bonus Stage. The factor is, discovering these levels in ranges isn’t simple. Clearly, that’s a part of the problem however I discovered myself by accident discovering a Bonus Stage in probably the most random of spots, moderately than feeling like I discovered it in a very intelligent location.
Then, when you get the facility ups, their use is…blended at finest. Sonic Superstars limits when you should use the facility ups and, 9 out of 10 occasions, you possibly can’t use the facility up within the spot the place it may very well be helpful. The sport flashes an icon at a random level on every stage the place you should use the facility up, and nowhere else. This sort of defeats the entire level of getting this characteristic, 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 seek out after which gather the facility as much as start with.
The opposite main situation I’ve with Sonic Superstars is its wildly uneven problem spikes. I’ve seen main problem spikes in video games earlier than, however Sonic Superstars may be probably the most whiplash I’ve had in a very long time. The most important points are the mid-stage and closing boss fights. Mid-stage boss fights usually aren’t that tough, and you’ll simply work out the best way 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 actual fact, defeating Dr. Eggman on the finish of every stage is actually, very easy; you simply soar up and hit him on the pinnacle 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 the best way to beat the bosses after they begin up, and they’re laser targeted on hitting you and finally defeating you. It’s a wierd and really uneven expertise that seems like somebody at Sega by accident switched the code by mistake.
Then, there’s the final Eggman boss battle. It’s laborious, like method too laborious for its personal good. It takes 13 hits to his head to defeat him in the long run, and you’ll’t merely soar on his head each time to wreck him. With out spoiling the boss battle, let’s simply say they alter up the way you injury him in the course of the battle. The general expertise comes off as annoyingly tough moderately than a rewarding problem.
Ultimately, Sonic Superstars is a enjoyable, trendy tackle the basic 2D Sonic components. Its strong second to second gameplay, enjoyable new visible fashion, 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 most important problem spikes in mid-stage bosses and finish bosses make for a irritating fight expertise moderately than a rewarding one. Nonetheless, Sonic Superstars manages to drag collectively an expertise previous and new Sonic followers—or 2D platforming followers typically—will get loads of enjoyment out of.