Speed through worlds as Sonic and his friends.
Sonic Superstars is now available on consoles and PC. We had the chance to check out the PlayStation 5 version of the game.
Here’s what we thought.
Sonic Superstars is the latest game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The side-scrolling platformer takes players to the Northstar Islands, where they’ll be challenged to rescue captured animals from the evil Dr. Eggman and his allies.
Sonic Superstars features three gameplay modes: Story Mode, Battle Mode, and Time Attack. The game allows players to choose from four playable characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. Players can also choose from different skins (costumes) for these characters.
Each character behaves slightly differently. For instance, Tails can use his two tails like a helicopter, allowing players to hover for a short time, while Knuckles can glide forward for short distances. Players can switch between characters after they begin the game’s Story Mode in order to find the one that best suits their tastes.
Players can complete the Story Mode in Sonic Superstars on their own as well as team up with up to three other people in the same room for some cooperative gameplay.
The Story Mode allows players to complete levels across a variety of themed worlds. For instance, one world features environments inspired by pinball tables. Each level features a variety of platforms to jump on and/or over, obstacles to avoid (like spikes), enemies to defeat (or avoid), and more.
Levels are built to allow players to rush through environments by quickly speeding through loops, jumping off of bounce pads, and more. At the same time, players also have the option to complete levels more slowly and methodically if they want to see everything the game has to offer.
Players can collect rings scattered throughout each level as they play. When players take damage from an enemy or hit an obstacle, they’ll drop their rings and will have a few seconds to pick them up before they disappear. If players run out of rings and take another hit, they’ll “die” and will need to restart at the beginning of the level or a nearby checkpoint, if they’ve activated one in the stage. The game also features certain environmental hazards that will instantly kill players, even if they’re holding rings.
Some levels in the game’s Story Mode feature hidden bonus areas players can access to collect Chaos Emeralds or Medals, the game’s currency. Each time players collect a Chaos Emerald, they’ll receive a new ability they can use throughout the rest of the game. For instance, one ability allows players to summon a group of clones that move across the screen, while another allows players to shoot themselves into the air.
Medals, meanwhile, can be used to purchase different customization options (like heads, bodies, and paint colors) for a robot character that is used in the game’s Battle Mode.
Finally, the game’s Story Mode features numerous boss battles, which sometimes feel like puzzles. That is, players may need to observe a boss’s behaviors and determine how to attack them while trying to avoid getting hit themselves.
Outside of the game’s Story Mode, Battle Mode allows players to compete in a series of mini-games as their customizable robot character. Players can play offline against computer-controlled opponents and other players in the same room, as well as compete online with other real people.
These mini-games may ask players to collect as many stars as possible in a limited amount of time, race through an environment, and more. Players will earn points at the end of each mini-game, depending on their performance, and the player with the most points at the end of the final game wins.
Finally, the Time Attack mode challenges players to finish individual stages as quickly as possible. Once players finish a stage in the Time Attack mode, they can replay the stage to race against a “ghost” of their previous performance in an attempt to improve upon their best time.
Sonic Superstars is a very challenging game, so whether or not a person will have “fun” with the experience will be determined by whether or not they enjoy deliberately difficult gameplay.
That being said, the game does a nice job of giving players a real feeling of speed as they race through environments, and it’s fun to perform huge jumps and move through areas with so much momentum. At the same time, this speed can also make the experience feel chaotic at times, as things may be happening so quickly that it’s hard to follow what’s going on.
We enjoyed playing cooperatively in the game’s Story Mode, even though it makes the experience feel even more chaotic. When playing with another person, if someone falls behind, they can quickly respawn with the other player or their group and keep playing. This makes cooperative gameplay a good option for younger or more inexperienced players who may need help completing levels. However, we should point out there are instances when a character isn’t allowed to respawn.
Sonic Superstars doesn’t offer much in the way of a tutorial for younger players or those who aren’t familiar with the way Sonic games are played. However, a few controls are listed on the game’s Pause menu.
Sonic Superstars is a challenging game that won’t appeal to everyone. Fans of previous Sonic games may appreciate the game’s mix of speed and careful platforming, but those who prefer a more relaxed experience should look elsewhere.
That being said, the game’s multiplayer option is great for families with younger or more inexperienced players who may be interested in playing a Sonic game, but aren’t quite ready to tackle the difficult gameplay on their own.
Sonic Superstars is now available for $59.99 on Switch, PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and PC.
The Digital Deluxe Edition of the game is priced at $69.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game of Sonic Superstars, as well as extra skins for the playable characters to wear, exclusive parts for the mech robot in Battle Mode, and more.
Sonic Superstars is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
Disclosure: SuperParent received a code for the Digital Deluxe Edition of Sonic Superstars for coverage purposes.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
