Title: Sonic Superstars Review: A Turbo-Charged Return to Classic Sonic Style
Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: October 17, 2023
Sonic Superstars, developed by Arzest and Sonic Team, brings back the beloved side-scrolling action to the series after a six-year break. This latest installment retains the fast-paced 2D formula that Classic Sonic fans adore while introducing new elements that make it accessible and enjoyable for newcomers as well. With its stunning 3D visuals, tight level design, and local co-op play support, Sonic Superstars is a standout among today’s platformers.
Visually, Sonic Superstars is a treat, featuring a fully rendered 3D style that showcases colorful and vibrant graphics. While it may lack the charm of the sprite-based graphics from earlier games, the game’s art direction and distinct zones make up for it. The 3D visuals also enhance gameplay mechanics involving foreground and background layers, making these features easily discernible.
One of the notable aspects of Sonic Superstars is its ability to replicate the sense of movement from the original 2D games. The game retains the build-up of speed when accelerating and gradual deceleration when slowing down, allowing players to make precise jumps and control Sonic with finesse. Unlike previous entries, every zone in Sonic Superstars strikes a perfect balance between speed and platforming, ensuring that players can enjoy fast-paced sections while also engaging in well-paced platform challenges.
Exploring hidden areas and uncovering secrets using Sonic Superstars’ Emerald powers is a rewarding experience. Collecting the Chaos Emeralds not only leads to a true ending but also grants unique abilities to the player, enhancing gameplay and encouraging replayability. The game’s diverse roster of zones, each with their own visual style and unique gimmicks, provides a fresh and exciting experience.
However, the boss battles towards the end of each stage can be frustrating and repetitive. The design of most bosses follows a pattern where players must wait for an opening to attack, which can sometimes test the player’s patience. Additionally, the boss music and the majority of the game’s soundtrack are not particularly noteworthy, with only a few standout tracks.
Sonic Superstars offers multiple playable characters, each with their own unique abilities and playstyle. Playing as characters like Tails, Knuckles, and Amy provides a fresh perspective and adds variety to the gameplay. Co-op play for up to four players is supported, but unfortunately, online play is not available at launch.
In terms of accessibility, Sonic Superstars lacks options for players with specific needs. While the controls are simple, the high-speed nature of the game may benefit from additional on-screen assists for those who require them. Features like motion and screen shake reduction, as well as colorblind filters, could have made the game more inclusive.
In conclusion, Sonic Superstars successfully revitalizes the classic 2D Sonic style while introducing new elements to keep the game fresh. Despite some shortcomings, such as underwhelming boss fights and a lackluster soundtrack, the game is an excellent choice for both Sonic fans and newcomers alike. With its fantastic gameplay and the ability to engage in solo or local co-op play, Sonic Superstars is a must-play 2D platformer.
(Note: The review was based on playing Sonic Superstars on PS5, completing the game as Sonic, and collecting all Chaos Emeralds. The playthrough took approximately six hours, including revisiting previous stages.)
