Summary
After the success ofSonic Mania,Sonic Superstarsis the latest 2DSonicexperience that aims to bring new things to the table while also feeling just like the classic games players have loved for decades. Playing as either Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or evenSuperstars' Amy, fans can team up in couch co-op to defeat Dr. Eggman and his cohorts Fang the Hunter and Trip the Sungazer to save the Northstar Islands.
While there are many characters to choose from, eventually everyone who picks upSonic Superstarswill have to play as Sonic the Hedgehog himself. This means that it’s a given that Sonic needs to feel nice to play against all of his friends, or else the protagonist of the series will be seen as an annoyance rather thana good mascot for Sega. Between the two most recent 2D releases,Sonic OriginsandSonic Superstars, players may wonder which version of Sonic feels the best to play comparatively.
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Sonic Origins' Unique Remaster Qualities
Sonic Originsand its Plus expansion are a rather interesting compilation of games as it collects remasters done by dedicated Sonic fans Christian Whitehead andSimon “Stealth” Thomley of Headcannonthat were originally made for the mobile releases ofSonic 1and2. Whitehead’sSonic CDport was able to reach consoles, but after much fan demand, the highly-praised mobile remasters were finally brought to most major platforms last year.
Using the power of Whitehead’s Retro Engine,Sonic Origins' ports may not be entirely perfect, but after a few patches, it serves as a great compilation of the first four mainlineSonictitles. Due to how these particular titles are the exact feeling and platforming thatSonic Superstarswants to emulate, it’s important to note how quickly Sonic controls, and how fast fans can manage to go. In most of the games inSonic Origins, Sonic needs a few seconds to pick up speed, withSonic CDhaving the most weight before Sonic begins his sprint.
How Sonic Superstars Does the Blue Blur Justice
While it’s understandable that fans may have their reservations aboutSuperstarsafterSonic 4didn’t measure up when it came to playing as it should, series loyalists have nothing to worry about as Sonic plays exactly how he should. Some players may feel likeSonic Superstarshas a bit of weight to it, but any difference to how the hedgehog feels is strictly due to the difference in art style as physics-wise, he’s as snappy, responsive, and roll-able as anyone wouldexpect from a Classic Sonic game.Sonic 3fans may lament the fact that the blue blur goes without his insta-shield, as Amy’s hammer takes it as her own, butSonic Mania’s Drop Dash has been added, proving to still be very helpful.
If there are any flaws with playing as Sonic inSuperstars, the closest thing to it is that the titular character may feel a little underwhelming compared to other characters such as Tails or Amy after fans get a taste of what playing as them is like. However, if players want the fast, precise platforming that the series is known for,playing as Sonicis a great way to get it without having flight or a hammer shield when jumping to fall back on.
For those who like all kinds ofSonicexperiences, switching fromSonic FrontierstoSuperstarswill likely be a jarring change from the beginning as it is on its own, especially after playing with the final DLC update it recently had. While it’s understandable that switching from 2D to 3D may be a bit rough on some players, just the lack of the double jump that’s part ofSonic Frontiers' skill setmay make fans feel spoiled when they need to work with Classic Sonic’s singular jump. Once players adjust, though, the rest ofSonic Superstarsshould be smooth sailing.
Sonic Superstarsis available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
