This is an enjoyable one I can easily recommend to fans of Classic Sonic games. The highlight is the aesthetics. The music feels fittingly upbeat and fast-paced while still sounding distinct. The visuals are also stylish and unique. Good luck mistaking Fallen Star for any other fangame.
The gameplay is about as solid as the classic games. Interestingly, they chose to remove the Lives system. No more worrying about Game Overs. This does mean Rings have less utility, since they're only for taking hits or gaining points, but a common complaint about the classics is how getting hit and losing rings feels inevitable at high-speed. Making rings less valuable might take the sting out of losing them.
If I had to compare the level design to another Sonic game, it'd be Sonic 2. Levels are open for intense speedrunning or exploring, but they don't reach the density of Sonic 3 & Knuckles or Sonic Mania, and they moreso prioritize speed. It also has Sonic 2's issues of occasional cheap enemy placement or homogeneous level design. Outside of gimmicks, many levels incorporate similar speedy roads. While this means the pace is rarely broken, levels can feel too similar to each other, making them harder to remember. Contrast in the kinds of stages would make each one stand out (for example, say what you will about it, but I remember Sandopolis Zone Act 2). Generally though, the levels are fast and progression is intuitive. That counts for a lot, considering how often some get Sonic level design wrong.
I have some gripes. The level art can appear cluttered. Sometimes seeing platforms or obstacles is hard due to visual noise. Special Stages are also surprisingly punishing. Once you learn you can just stay to the far left or right with max speed and avoid everything, they kind of become a joke, but before then, it's easy to make a mistake that requires you to restart the Act to try again.
Aspects of the game's presentation remind me of Sonic After the Sequel, to the point where Fallen Star feels derivative at times. Mostly in the cutscenes and how the story is paced, but some level themes and gimmicks also feel familiar (compare Thunder Turbine to Storm Station for example). Not to say that Fallen Star doesn't have its own identity. Even setting the aesthetics aside, the game has stand out levels like Carnival Crater and Raspberry River, as well as creative boss fights. Still, I'd prefer to appreciate what this fangame offers without being reminded of other ones. It's hard to beat Foliage Furnace Zone.
Still, this is worth the time of any Classic Sonic fan. It's built on that familiar, solid foundation while offering it's own pleasant vibe.
The gameplay is about as solid as the classic games. Interestingly, they chose to remove the Lives system. No more worrying about Game Overs. This does mean Rings have less utility, since they're only for taking hits or gaining points, but a common complaint about the classics is how getting hit and losing rings feels inevitable at high-speed. Making rings less valuable might take the sting out of losing them.
If I had to compare the level design to another Sonic game, it'd be Sonic 2. Levels are open for intense speedrunning or exploring, but they don't reach the density of Sonic 3 & Knuckles or Sonic Mania, and they moreso prioritize speed. It also has Sonic 2's issues of occasional cheap enemy placement or homogeneous level design. Outside of gimmicks, many levels incorporate similar speedy roads. While this means the pace is rarely broken, levels can feel too similar to each other, making them harder to remember. Contrast in the kinds of stages would make each one stand out (for example, say what you will about it, but I remember Sandopolis Zone Act 2). Generally though, the levels are fast and progression is intuitive. That counts for a lot, considering how often some get Sonic level design wrong.
I have some gripes. The level art can appear cluttered. Sometimes seeing platforms or obstacles is hard due to visual noise. Special Stages are also surprisingly punishing. Once you learn you can just stay to the far left or right with max speed and avoid everything, they kind of become a joke, but before then, it's easy to make a mistake that requires you to restart the Act to try again.
Aspects of the game's presentation remind me of Sonic After the Sequel, to the point where Fallen Star feels derivative at times. Mostly in the cutscenes and how the story is paced, but some level themes and gimmicks also feel familiar (compare Thunder Turbine to Storm Station for example). Not to say that Fallen Star doesn't have its own identity. Even setting the aesthetics aside, the game has stand out levels like Carnival Crater and Raspberry River, as well as creative boss fights. Still, I'd prefer to appreciate what this fangame offers without being reminded of other ones. It's hard to beat Foliage Furnace Zone.
Still, this is worth the time of any Classic Sonic fan. It's built on that familiar, solid foundation while offering it's own pleasant vibe.