Sonic Superstars: A New 2D Sonic Game (Fall 2023)

Yeah, it immediately made me think of Advance 2's Sky Canyon, which was another floating landmass with windmills. Of all the levels we can see in the intro, that's the only that piques my interest the most.

 

The Mayan-style ruins on the ground piqued my interest a little, as in some past games they've been used as the inspiration for ruins related to the Echidna civilisation. Whether or not that'll be the case in Superstars remains to be seen, but a full-on Echidna temple Zone could be interesting. I'd love to see one that's ancient Echidna ruins and traps fused with Eggman's robotic technology - don't think we've ever had a mechanised ruins stage, have we?

I'd also be interested to learn whether the lava area to the left of the ruins is depicting the same stage or a separate one, as depending on which is the case, by my count we can see depictions of either 7 or 8 of the game's Zones. The lava does look like it has crumbling ruins jutting out from it, and it'd be weird to have two ruins stages so close together, so maybe it's all one Zone? A Lava ruins Zone, but with Mayan-style temples rather than the Grecian-style ruins Marble Zone had?

 

Finally

 

Wait Sega owns TMS? Is that why Sonic X had SA1 and 2 adaptations? Also they did Man of the Year? I've learned so much today.

 

https://twitter.com/sonicstadium/status/1681831715122315264?s=46&t=S0_YkQ8TRA2Bk54XvKgWfw
https://twitter.com/sonicstadium/status/1681840364829945858?s=46&t=S0_YkQ8TRA2Bk54XvKgWfw

 

The Professor Layton games had great animations by PA Works (with Bones pitching in for the movie) and that shit was getting crunched right down for the DS screen. I think it’s completely possible to get a CD-tier intro in this day and age, probably even easier than ever, actually. It’s just a choice that SEGA has to make regarding the selection of the studio they work with and the direction that goes into the animation. I think direction is probably the biggest factor here, tbh. Empty looking wide shots aren’t the fault of the animators.

 

Gah, I was debating going to SDCC (was some other stuff I wanted to see), decided against it... regretting that more now.

 

A little more Superstars gameplay.

 

Wish I was there...

Thought an emblem/red ring collectible was back but it was just them getting 100 rings.

 

Ngl I’m slightly disappointed. I was looking forward to tracking down all the medallions. Then again the 100 ring reward could be cool if the game has a shop where we could spend rings to unlock alt. costumes or concept art.

 

just bring back using rings to get fruit for Chao like in Advance

 

Bridge Island is a Sonic CD stage if I've ever seen one. The building-like structures made of small floating platforms, the springs that appear behind you, the focus on airborne gameplay and bouncing around.

I love it so much.

 

also isn't that a Sonic Overture spiral tunnel at 0:13

 

Game Informer is doing a huge Superstars piece in an upcoming issue

 

The style is reminiscent of the free poster that came with every megadrive, with all the available games listed on the back.

 

This'll be that floating island level seen in the opening animation.



E: Sounds like we'll be getting more from GameInformer. They appear to have partnered with SEGA for the next month, in a similar way IGN did for Frontiers.

 

OH GOD IT'S SKY CANYON NO NO NO I ALREADY FINISHED THE ADVANCE 2 VIDEO GET IT THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME

Nah but for real it looks good

 

something weirdly funny about seeing classic knuckles doing the modern sonic Nike-tick smile. looks cool though!

 

They’re also having features on Penny’s Big Breakaway, Super Mario Wonder and Hi-fi Rush… ngl I might want to purchase a print issue of the mag

 

I love the fact that you can jump directly into those mid-air quarter pipes and use them to gain air/momentum. I did not expect that level of environmental interaction, and if we are able to do directional influence with midair objects like that, it really will nail something that's been missing for years.

It's the benefit of a speed-booster without the problems of automation, and something which fixes the issues seen in Dimps/Sonic 4 like design. The restoration of player control over their enviornment. That's a subtle but notable classics staple right there.