I have to hold my hands up and admit early on that I am, indeed, Sonic fan. Like many my age in my neck of the woods, my love of gaming really started back in the heady days of the Master System. Personal biases aside, it’s fair to say this gaming icon is on a bit of a good run just now, with a number of solid titles under his belt. The latest being Sonic Superstars, developed by Japanese studio Arzest and the iconic Sonic Team and very much a throwback but with a modern feel.
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A few 3D Sonic game fans will be disappointed, as is very much a side-scrolling affair where you can play the story with up to four mates taking control of Sonic, Miles “Tails” Power, Knuckles the Echidna, and Amy Rose.
And this is just the tip of what’s new. For the first time in a long time there are no revisited zones in the game meaning all the levels are fresh cuts. There are also new emerald powers that mix up the gaming a little as well and add a new spin to things.
Sonic Lore
There is also a relatively beefy tale at its core. Gone are the days of just going fast, jumping on Eggman’s doom machines and then freeing your animal buddies. OK, not really. This is still the back bone of the story but it’s been fleshed out to make a tale of it.
This is presented through a number of truly stunning animated cut scenes that have a real Sonic CD vibe to them, that tell a tale of Sonic and co. having to stop Doctor Eggman and his new lackey – Fang the Hunter.
But to be honest, even with the efforts to make something more of the story, it fades into the background extremely quickly. And that’s more than fine. I am here for the gameplay over some Saturday morning cartoon adventure.
Momentum and Cadence
The gameplay, especially on the controls side, is as tight as a drum, Sonic Superstars absolutely captures the feel of the Mega Drive era perfectly. Sonic Superstars has that sharp responsiveness and that real sense of momentum that made Sonic a superstar to begin with.
The biggest change to the gameplay is the emerald powers which give you real incentive to collect all the chaos emeralds. Each one unlocks a special ability that can really shake things up.
For example, Avatar that lets you fill the screen with clones to do extra damage for a set time. Or Bullet, which lets shoot off at a surface braking speed in one direction. The effects are fun but they never feel like they totally gel with the core.
Seeing you having to stop more often than not, to pick which one you want to activate. This kills the momentum of Sonic Superstars. It’s also worth noting that some powers will not work in some circumstances – like boss battles – so they feel all the more situational.
Accommodating Level Design
Also levels don’t feel like they have been designed with powers in mind at the beginning. With the sections where you can use them really feels like being tacked on and more often than not an afterthought.
Stages are also a bit of a mixed bag. Some are brilliant and some are forgettable or ill-conceived. There are quite a few that rely more on gimmicks than solid design. When they work, they’re a fun diversion; when they don’t, they highlight the lack of inspiration or foresight.
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With this being a four-player title, there are also a few sections that feel like they’re designed for group trial and error play. Which is fine if you have three mates handy but not so good when you’re alone.
Bosses on the other hand are a mix of challenging and forgettable. Worse still, some of your emerald powers make many of them trivial. On the whole though, you’ll be kept on your toes during boss battles with some throwing in some novel tactics that might catch you off-guard.
Each character also has their own areas within each stage, which best take advantage of their powers and abilities. And there is a bit of replayability to be found running stages again as new characters.
Unlockable Era
After completing the game you unlock a new character with their own story mode. These Game Plus journeys are complete with remixed levels to better fit the new character’s skills.
These add a real challenge to things, and present the Sonic Superstars‘ hardest levels. No spoilers.
There is also a multiplayer battle mode. You create a bot by unlocking parts with medals that you earn in game. You then take your metal fighter into battle in three randomly selected mini-games.
It’s an decent mode but it never grabbed me. It’s worth noting that you can play offline with AI opponents but you can’t earn more medals that way, sadly.
Art of Sonic
Sonic Superstars is a joy to look at. It’s bursting with colour and detail, each zone feels different and has razor sharp textures. From the quills on Sonic’s head moving as you speed by, to the way enemies are animated, it’s a true joy for the eyes.
Though there is an odd effect around the lighting in the game that seems to highlight objects to standout. And other times it does nothing. Characters too can be hit with this odd effect but this is a minor grumble.
The soundtrack front of Sonic Superstars is a bit so-so. There are a handful of standout tracks while the rest feel like a tribute act. And in a series known for its S-Tier bops, this is more disappointing than it would be normally.
Average Blue Band
Sonic Superstars is far from the best Sonic title we have seen lately. It’s let down by odd choices and weak design around new elements. That said, Sonic Superstars recreates that great sense of speed and feels like classic Sonic game at times. And, ultimately, the game is fun.
Sonic Superstars falls short in some areas, but fans young and old will find something to enjoy here regardless. There are a few rough edges and some missteps but when it flows, Sonic Superstars sucks you in.