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

Given that they talked about trying to accurately recreate classic Sonic gameplay before anything else (and looking like they mostly succeeded) I think it really is a new framework entirely, and they probably looked to the retro engine for inspiration

 

I'd assume they might just look at their own source code for the classic titles and establish a foundation in HE2 if they really were big on getting it done right for future use and convenience.

 

The level design is the biggest pressing concern, but I mean, it looks better than Sonic 4. Even the "need something to illuminate the path" thing seemed less like an inherent pain in the utter arse and more like it tried to keep you from remembering the paths in the pipe mazes so easily, so it hopefully won't be as annoying as S4 could be, but while I'm still iffy on $60, plenty of zones and plenty of decent level design will be enough at least.

But hey, the bosses are neat and imaginative to some degree so far, so that's a major plus.

 

A quote from Iizuka's IGN interview that I think you guys might find relevant and reassuring:

Other tidbits of note are that there will be no repeat stages- all completely new environments on the North Star Islands- and that the 3D models have allowed them to pursue interesting new gameplay decisions in the 2D format.

 

The only thing I don't like in this game is its name. "Sonic Superstars" screams a spin-off party game to me.

 

I would've switched around the titles for Sonic Origins and Sonic Superstars. Think about it. Which one sounds like a compilation and which one sounds like a new adventure going back to Sonic's roots?

 

The cowards should've named it Sonic & Knuckles & Tails & Amy 5.

 

Adventure 2: Battle

 

It doesn't help Sega already made the spin-off games Sega Superstars and Sega Superstars Tennis. I really don't know why they chose a name with such spin-off energy to it.

 

Does anyone think there's a chance the boss music is a possible unused song from Sonic 4 EP 1 / 2?

 

If they really are using a whole new and more authentic framework for the physics then that really begs the question of why the hell they didn't do that in Forces

Like, apparently they could actually just Do That the entire time and didn't. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

 

That or whatever might have been made for Episode 3.

 

It wouldn't surprise me much if at some point in development, this project had its roots in picking up where Sonic 4: Episode 3s own development left off, or at the least is using concepts from it that never saw the light of day. It's shocking that even to this day there's so little information on what Episode 3 was going to entail.

 

I wonder if a Sonic 5 would be Classic or Modern.

 

Oh, seems like it is an Sonic Team + Arzest collab. Heartwarming really...if nothing else, this could be a really fruitful longtime partnership.

 

I think they should completely screw the concept of Classic and Modern as present/past. Just make classic or modern games whenever you want and don't let the visual style and design of the characters affect the continuity.
Classic as past Sonic only makes sense in Generations for obvious reasons... aside of that, it's just Sonic, a change of art direction shouldn't need a lore explanation.

Sonic 4 is a game that can be part of the classic era, because there are no modern elements in it besides gameplay, and its story is a direct sequel of Sonic CD's; it uses the modern design, but I refuse to think that's set in the future because of the appearance of the characters.

IMO a Sonic 5 should use classic design and gameplay, but still continue the story from where Sonic 4 left (need to save Little Planet).

 

Obviously they should have gone with Sonic All-Stars and New Sonic the Hedgehog Switch-PC-Xbox-PlayStation. Rolls right off the tongue, and with accurate physics to boot.

 

The Act 2 boss music is an extended arrangement of this:


I don't know what to think about the boss music yet. If its a placeholder like White Park music, I can deal. But if that's actually what the new music in the game sounds like, then fuuuuuuuuuck they dropped the ball so hard. The gameplay looks really good (albeit with too much automation so far) and the visuals are excellent. The music needs clarification though. They're even using the Mania Act Clear jingle, which is stylistically totally different to everything else.

 

This is in Brazilian Portuguese but it might be of interest.

At 04:17, one of the guys who played the demo mentioned that upon getting one or more shield monitors, you can mantain both of them simultaneously. He got the magnetic shield and the standard shield, and when damaged, he only lost the standard shield and could still use the other one.