I have always been been a fan of 2D Sonic but it's clear outisde of Sonic Mania there really hasn't been much to like since the genesis days. Watching the initial trailer I didn't get any annoying vibes from Superstars but I still felt skeptical. Still, the game did look pretty and hearing impressions that the physics and levels were very clearly desgined by the classics did edge me into the direction of wanting to try it. The whole multiplayer aspect I did not care for what so ever. Not sure it's possible to do a traditional sonic game in multiplayer and it not be shit. They are just not desgined to be that way with the whole "gotta go fast" mantra.
I have to give Superstars some credit though it is one pretty game and it's gameplay does harkin back to the classics. I really liked the level design in this game. Some of the stage theme's were pretty great and while others might not hit the mark they were not bad or dull. Overall the game plays how I want a traditional sonic game to play and I very much enjoyed my initial playthrough. The levels are a bit longer and really feel even more labyrinthian in nature and feel great to explore. They really did well there. Equal parts of platforming and exploration. The game has pretty good lenghth as well. It's not super long but any longer and I feel like it kills the replay value. I don't know if it's worth the full game asking price but for what I paid I was very happy.
Superstars isn't perfect though. One big glaring issue I have with it is that quite frankly the music in Superstars sucks. It's so dull and unenergetic. Man the one thing you can usually count on in a sonic game and it's not here. I think I would like the game even more if I could be jammin with the tunes like in the classics.
Some other gripes that are most certainly worth mentioning is some of the bosses in this game are really annoying. Not hard but just frustrating. Like going long stretches where the boss can not be damaged and repeating easily avoided phases constantly. It's the one thing that kinda kills the pacing of the game.
The emerald powers I thought were a great idea of adding some flavor to the classic style and offer some great exploration tools and they do just that but still I feel like some of them are rather pointless and underutilized. Wish some were redesigned or given more use.
Another thing that stinks is the story. Now I don't need much of any plot in these games and usually the less the better but some nice stage transitions or a loose structure outline would help it. I feel like something is missing especially with the new character Tripp and the other villian Fang. No idea what's going on there and I certainly didn't know what in the world that unlockable true final boss was. Seemed completly out of left feild. What in the world where they thinking? Still as the base game and base final boss are satisfying enough. I feel the regular "main story" path is enough and the extra tripp mode and final final boss are useless padding that are not needed.
I am happy to say despite what I read online where a lot of people seemed kinda luke warm on Superstars, I happened to like it much more than I thought I would. It might not be as high as Mania or the genesis titles but it's still leagues better than CD or Sonic 4.
Platinum #198
I have to give Superstars some credit though it is one pretty game and it's gameplay does harkin back to the classics. I really liked the level design in this game. Some of the stage theme's were pretty great and while others might not hit the mark they were not bad or dull. Overall the game plays how I want a traditional sonic game to play and I very much enjoyed my initial playthrough. The levels are a bit longer and really feel even more labyrinthian in nature and feel great to explore. They really did well there. Equal parts of platforming and exploration. The game has pretty good lenghth as well. It's not super long but any longer and I feel like it kills the replay value. I don't know if it's worth the full game asking price but for what I paid I was very happy.
Superstars isn't perfect though. One big glaring issue I have with it is that quite frankly the music in Superstars sucks. It's so dull and unenergetic. Man the one thing you can usually count on in a sonic game and it's not here. I think I would like the game even more if I could be jammin with the tunes like in the classics.
Some other gripes that are most certainly worth mentioning is some of the bosses in this game are really annoying. Not hard but just frustrating. Like going long stretches where the boss can not be damaged and repeating easily avoided phases constantly. It's the one thing that kinda kills the pacing of the game.
The emerald powers I thought were a great idea of adding some flavor to the classic style and offer some great exploration tools and they do just that but still I feel like some of them are rather pointless and underutilized. Wish some were redesigned or given more use.
Another thing that stinks is the story. Now I don't need much of any plot in these games and usually the less the better but some nice stage transitions or a loose structure outline would help it. I feel like something is missing especially with the new character Tripp and the other villian Fang. No idea what's going on there and I certainly didn't know what in the world that unlockable true final boss was. Seemed completly out of left feild. What in the world where they thinking? Still as the base game and base final boss are satisfying enough. I feel the regular "main story" path is enough and the extra tripp mode and final final boss are useless padding that are not needed.
I am happy to say despite what I read online where a lot of people seemed kinda luke warm on Superstars, I happened to like it much more than I thought I would. It might not be as high as Mania or the genesis titles but it's still leagues better than CD or Sonic 4.
Platinum #198