fun but not $60 fun, wait for a sale

Sonic Superstars: A Familiar Run, But Stumbles on the Finish Line
Sonic Superstars promised a return to the classic 2D side-scrolling action that made the blue blur a household name. And to a certain extent, it delivers. The vibrant, colorful levels are undeniably appealing, echoing the aesthetic of the Genesis era with a modern sheen. Playing as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Amy brings a welcome dose of nostalgia, each character offering their own unique abilities to traverse the meticulously designed stages. The addition of the Emerald Powers is a clever idea, giving players temporary boosts like water manipulation and cloning to spice up the gameplay.

However, Sonic Superstars ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. While the level design often shines, offering branching paths and secrets to uncover, it can also be frustratingly inconsistent. Some zones are brilliantly crafted, rewarding exploration and skillful platforming, while others feel unnecessarily cluttered and rely too heavily on trial-and-error. The boss battles, in particular, fall flat, often feeling repetitive and lacking the creative flair of previous entries.

The new Emerald Powers, while initially exciting, don't always feel fully integrated into the core gameplay. Sometimes they feel like gimmicks tacked on rather than essential tools for navigating the environments. Their limited duration can force frustrating backtracking if you don't utilize them perfectly, breaking the flow of the game.

Furthermore, the story is largely forgettable, feeling more like a perfunctory setup than a compelling narrative. While nobody plays Sonic for the deep lore, a stronger narrative could have elevated the experience. The voice acting, while not terrible, occasionally feels phoned in and lacks the energy expected from a Sonic title.

Ultimately, Sonic Superstars is a decent platformer with flashes of brilliance hampered by inconsistent level design, underutilized mechanics, and a lackluster story. It's a competent entry in the Sonic franchise, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessors. Fans craving a nostalgic experience might find enjoyment here, but those looking for a truly groundbreaking return to form may be left wanting more. It's a good game, but not a great one, landing firmly in the middling territory of the Sonic universe.

Let me start by saying I played Sonic Superstars entirely upside-down, with my television hanging from the celling and my cat wearing a Tails cosplay for emotional support. I think that was the only correct way to experience whatever this technicolor time-sneeze of a game is.

The game begins, as all great epics do, with Sonic yeeting himself into an interdimensional fruit salad made of nostalgia, chaos emeralds, and physics that were invented by a sleep-deprived cartoonist on a sugar high. Imagine running at 400 mph through a forest made of trampolines and bad life decisions, then suddenly you're a water-dragon, and Eggman is piloting what looks like a sentient gumball machine. That's Act 1.

The new characters feel like fever hallucinations i had in 1997, and i mean that in the most respectful way possible. Fang the Hunter is back, probably against legal advice, and Trip looks like a medieval origami project with emotional baggage. I want to protect her, even though l'm 94% sure she's the final boss or my therapist.

Multiplayer mode? Oh, it's chaos. Pure, unfiltered, Mario-Party-level chaos. I played co-op with three friends and we haven't spoken since. Someone keeps sending me pictures of a pixelated Knuckles crying in the rain.

Final thoughts: This game feels like what would happen if Dr. Seuss and David Lynch co-directed a Sonic title while trapped in an elevator with only a Sega Genesis and a live echidna for reference. And it SLAPS.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I understand what I'm recommending? Not in this reality.
4.7/5 Chili Dogs - deducted 0.3 for giving me dreams of being chased by a golden Amy Rose with laser eyes.