Sonic Superstars Reviews
undefined.After its strong first impression I quickly started to see the cracks in Sonic Superstars, but I kept pushing forward in the hopes that when all was said and done the game would rise above its flaws. This never happened; the more I dug into the game, desperately hoping for it to pull everything off in the end, the more frustrated I became as I realized it was never going to do that. I don't like to directly compare a game from a totally different franchise in a review, but given how Superstars released only three days before Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it feels inevitable. Super Mario Bros. Wonder nailed its gameplay while reimagining Mario's look for a new era, setting what could be a new standard for its franchise for years to come. Meanwhile Sonic Superstars looks back, basing its look on the animated shorts accompanying the retro aesthetic of Sonic Mania and Sonic Origins. Superstars should've been the new standard to live up to Sonic's Genesis run, which just makes it sad that the game fails to even match the standard that was set over twenty years ago.
Sonic Superstars is is a spindash in the right direction, but makes some missteps that could be improved upon.
Sonic’s latest adventure brings him back to his roots while modernizing that classic 2D formula. While the gameplay doesn’t reach the highs of Sonic Mania, it doesn’t hit rock bottom in the way of Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Sonic Superstars is a fun adventure, full of many surprises, which will delight fans of the blue hedgehog, and 2D platforming as a whole.
The heavier, stiffer controls hinder some aspects of the experience for Sonic veterans seeking an old-school feel. Nevertheless, Sonic Superstars still captures enough of Sonic’s essence – high-speed platforming and explorative gameplay – for both veterans and newcomers to have a decent time. It serves as a valuable addition to the franchise, even if it doesn’t quite reach the peak of classic 90s gameplay.
Sonic Superstars is ultimately nothing short of a major letdown.
Sonic Superstars is not a good experience, nor is it an experience that I can recommend in the slightest to any player, regardless of how much of a fan they are of this iconic mascot. The levels are so poorly designed that almost the entire experience becomes frustrating to the point of wanting to tear your hair out – especially the boss battles. Only the artistic direction and one idea or another prevent this game from being a complete failure, but they don't prevent it from being one of the worst games ever in the Sonic the Hedgehog series and one of the biggest disappointments of the year.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sonic Superstars, net of a few minor smears, is a little gem capable of restoring the two-dimensional series dedicated to SEGA's iconic blue hedgehog to its former glory.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sonic and friends are back in a new 2D adventure to thwart Dr. Robotnik's evil plans in Sonic Superstars! It even has multiplayer options. Is it any good? Read more about it so you can decide for yourself.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Sonic is still popular. His current adventures try to move on and keep up with the times, but in this case the result is inconsistent and Sonic lacks the charm of previous games in the series.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Sonic Superstars is a satisfying platformer entry that does a lot of things right and misses out on some essential details.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Sonic Superstars draws upon its classic roots and wears that inspiration on a sleeve. The cooperative play is superb, but the unimaginative zones and underwhelming battle mode prove the stage a superstar performs on matters.
Sonic Superstars represents a new return to Sonic's roots, with plenty of frenzy and speed, attractive graphics, adequate sound and of course the 2D feel that has accompanied the blue hedgehog so much throughout his career. Two jarring notes: the overly confused co-op and a longevity that is not top-notch for a game sold at full price.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In the end, Sonic Superstars is a fun, modern take on the classic 2D Sonic formula. Its solid moment to moment gameplay, fun new visual style, and great soundtrack make for a very fun experience. The game falters a bit in the new addition of Emerald Powers, which aren't fun to collect and aren't useful when collected. The major difficulty spikes in mid-stage bosses and end bosses make for a frustrating combat experience rather than a rewarding one. Still, Sonic Superstars manages to pull together an experience old and new Sonic fans-or 2D platforming fans in general-will get plenty of enjoyment out of.
Sonic Superstars has all of the ingredients, but something has gone askew in the baking, resulting in an adventure overburdened with gimmicks while lacking in coherence. While the colorful world, nostalgic presentation, and fun cast of characters shine, Sonic Superstars frequently proves unwieldy and antagonistic, wrestling against its own design while roadblocking fun. There’s enjoyment here for the dedicated fanbase, but the wider community should look elsewhere.
Sonic Superstars is a solid title with a lot of appeal, but lacks the imagination and soul that made this mascot a star.
Sonic Superstars doesn't do much to wow players when it comes to 2D stage design or mechanics. Still, the new gameplay features it brings to the table are fun enough for a decent experience for all kinds of players. While this game is quite safe in its approach, it still can be a decent time for everyone involved.
Sonic Superstars is a good recreation of the adventure of the classic Mega Drive games and is best enjoyed when treated like one of them: playing solo through the main campaign. Some innovations are welcome, like the Emerald Powers, but others, like the focus on multiplayer, don't make the game shine. Overall, the title has a certain lack of polish that doesn't make it excellent, but it doesn't stop it from being good fun for fans of classic Sonic.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sonic Superstars is a game that understands the broad strokes of 16-bit Sonic games, but not any of the finer details. The new ideas it brings to the table are undercooked, and its multiplayer component is too poorly utilized to recommend. There are undoubtedly moments of genius here when everything lines up just right. But any goodwill I had for the game was ruined by the tedious, arduous boss battles. If you’re a Sonic fan who has thoroughly mastered the classics, you may find some entertainment here. But you deserve so much better than this.
With Sonic Superstars I think Sega, for once, listened to what fans have been asking for years and upped the ante by improving the classic and not staying with a timid installment without risking anything. Don't get me wrong, the game isn't perfect, but I think it knows how to capture the essence of the Sonic that many of us grew up with and gives it just the right additive to attract new generations and enchant longtime fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Superstars is exactly what fans have been wanting to see from a modernized 2D Sonic game. It plays like the originals, but is expanded upon with new mechanics and gimmicks. Graphically, Superstars is a stunner. It takes a hit running on Switch compared to other platforms, but performance is rock-solid, always locked in at 60FPS. Although some of the ancillary modes are rather bland, like Battle Mode, or clunky, like co-op, the single player experience is the (pardon the pun) real star of this game. With four playable characters to choose from, there’s plenty of replay value to be found in Superstars, as fans will want to hop back into stages and explore using the characters’ different abilities. Launching right ahead of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, 2023 feels not unlike the glory days of SNES versus Genesis, except now you don’t have to pick a side in the console wars; go give Superstars a purchase, it’s a must-have.