The long awaited “Sonic Superstars” was released on October 27, 2023. The game aimed to amp the levels of the already action-packed “Classic Sonic Formula” by adding better visuals and graphics, newer zones, while giving the emeralds a new purpose through the likes of game mechanics and powers. However, the most anticipated of the newest additions is the four player local co-op which allows the gamer to play with their families or friends.
Upon release, “Sonic Superstars” received mixed reviews and feedback. According to Metacritic, the game had only averaged a “mixed score” of 73. From that same site, critique and complaints mainly consisted of “unpolished level design and zones”, and even the anticipated four player co-op was seen more as a drag.
Review
Sonic Superstars gives you four characters to play as: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy. The controls are perfectly clear and fluid for the game. Sonic’s iconic buddies all control the same as they used to, and the game hasn’t done their unique abilities wrong at all, whether it’d be Tails’s ability to fly, Amy’s hammer or Knuckles iconic glide. The zones are the same as past games, although, the design level is another story.
At some points the disjointed level design can be tedious. I found multiple occasions where I’d have momentum and then I’d suddenly run into an enemy that was originally off-screen. It seems as if they were placed there just to make the player lose their momentum and rings, of which, for some reason in this game, can only be recollected for a maximum of 20 rings.
Emeralds
In the new game, the purpose of the emeralds goes farther beyond a super form and getting the perfect ending. This time, they allow the player to have special abilities which range from turning into a fireball to being able to find hidden secrets.
While the intention of these abilities is good, instead it actually harms the classic Sonic formula. On multiple occasions I was forced to sacrifice Sonic’s speed to explore and find more emeralds, which made a boring session of gameplay.
Local co-op between four players
I tested the co-op with my siblings. At first it was fine, but later into the game it becomes a pain rather than something to appreciate. There were multiple times where one of us wanted to go forward, and another one wanted to explore the area that we were in a bit more but couldn’t. The camera doesn’t have a priority player, so it just diverted away from one player to the other, and many times it was unpredictable. It’s as if the multiplayer wasn’t designed properly.
Game Rating
I would still say that the game is an enjoyable one. When the game simply sticks to the classic Sonic formula it has been providing for all of these years, it’s really fun to play.
Spin-dashing through tubes, running up and down slopes, getting more speed and height from springs is really fun, but when it attempts to divert, it feels forced and unpolished, which can ruin it. However,”Sonic Superstars” is a step in the right direction for the Blue Blur.
The Torch’s rating for “Sonic Superstar” is 3.8/5
