Sonic Superstars Xbox Series X Review
| Game: | Sonic Superstars |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | SEGA |
| Developer: |
Unpopular opinion alert: I like Sonic Superstars more than Sonic Mania. While Sonic Mania faithfully recreates the 2D pixel art style and nostalgia of classic Sonic games, which innovatively reimagines old zones while introducing new ones, its gameplay feels excessively frenetic. The constant running, bouncing, and chaotic movement, combined with cluttered environments, make traversal feel like a chore.
On the contrary, Sonic Superstars adopts a more leisurely pace reminiscent of the original Sonic games I grew up with. It offers ample space for exploration while incorporating speedy sections that leverage physics and characters’ agility. I particularly appreciate the softer colour palette in Sonic Superstars, which lends levels a serene and calming atmosphere, with less visual clutter. Additionally, the character designs are endearing, although Sonic’s deviation from his iconic blue hue slightly irks me.
Sonic Superstars isn’t without its flaws. It inherits some of the issues classic Sonic games faced, notably the lack of warning before colliding with enemies. Moreover, the game’s use of multiple background layers sometimes causes the camera to zoom in excessively, leading to inadvertent collisions with foes and frequent ring losses. The placement of obstacles throughout levels feels haphazard, occasionally resulting in unfair challenges, particularly on downhill slopes where you are often moving at full speed.
Despite these drawbacks within the levels, I found the boss battles in Sonic Superstars enjoyable, a feat considering my usual disdain for such encounters in games. Unlike in many other games where I typically hand over control to my partner for boss fights, I found myself actively engaged in defeating the bosses in Sonic Superstars. The bosses offer a blend of fun and frustration akin to the challenges found in games like the Crash Bandicoot series, culminating in a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon victory. Each boss typically consists of two phases, although I occasionally found the first phase so demanding that I’d forget about the subsequent phase upon reaching it, leading to occasional setbacks.
Furthermore, Sonic Superstars reintroduces new special stages where the objective is to collect a Chaos Emerald within a timed open environment, offering additional powers upon collection, offering a refreshing twist to the traditional Chaos Emerald hunt. You must swing around the area and towards the Chaos Emerald to catch it, easier said than done though a welcome challenge. Bonus stages, reminiscent of those in Sonic 3, also make a comeback, tasking you with collecting medals to unlock items in the in-game shop.
The game features four playable characters initially: Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, along with a newcomer named Trip, whose species I couldn’t quite discern. Each character possesses unique abilities in addition to the standard running and jumping controls. While some skills, like Amy’s double jump or Knuckles’ wall climbing and gliding, provide distinct advantages, others contribute to gameplay with varying degrees of difficulty, particularly in boss encounters. Fang the Weasel–or Knack as I know him–makes his comeback as another foe for Sonic to face.
Despite these engaging elements, Sonic Superstars still grapples with certain shortcomings. Co-op mode, while present (for up to four players), feels somewhat clunky, with the camera often struggling to keep pace with multiple characters and respawn mechanics occasionally causing frustration. Unexpectedly, the music featured in Sonic Superstars lacks memorability, favouring a rather generic soundtrack instead, though it compliments the overall feeling of serenity the game provides.
While Sonic Superstars presents a refreshing take on the classic Sonic formula with its relaxed pace, charming visuals, and engaging gameplay mechanics, it’s not without its flaws. However, for those seeking a nostalgic yet relaxed Sonic experience, Sonic Superstars offers a compelling alternative to Sonic Mania.
