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News Sonic Superstars announced for PC and consoles (UPDATE: release date trailer, coming October 17th)

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neon said:
I mean I have the same concerns about coop but prior forces, sonic team used to always output pretty good levels imo. Generations 2D was very well designed, its biggest problem was shitty physics dragging it down.
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Generations has its moments;... I don't find the Level Design there to be particularly spectacular, definitely not near close of what used to be on the classic games (it couldn't be, with 3D environments being so much more taxing on hardware, and the physics not being that great, meaning they needed to design things around it), but it's alrighty... I like Crisis City Act 1, actually lol.

But the best there wouldn't be that fulfilling for a whole 2D game with post-Mania expectations;
 
I've tried to get into Generation like 4 different times and I always step away pretty early on. The Modern Sonic levels are fun but the Classic Sonic just feels awful to play as.
 
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Adulfzen said:
Isnt the part where the 4 characters are running during some kind of boss sequences (with the big robot fish), might be also a scripted instance where you're being chased and/or slowed down on purpose regardless of the player count.
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They also show the 4 characters moving slow before that. I also don't think the fish scene is a boss fight, more the 2d version of the orca scene from Sonic Adventure 1.
 
BassForever said:
They also show the 4 characters moving slow before that. I also don't think the fish scene is a boss fight, more the 2d version of the orca scene from Sonic Adventure 1.
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are you talking about this part of the trailer ?



Because here it doesn't seem really like any of the characters would be at their full speed yet tho it does look slower.
 
Adulfzen said:
are you talking about this part of the trailer ?



Because here it doesn't seem really like any of the characters would be at their full speed yet tho it does look slower.
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The fact Knuckles flies in from off screen makes it hard to know if that is editing magic (camera zoomed in to hide all 4 characters), or a further confirmation that it's classic sonic multiplayer where the camera focuses on player 1.
 
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CyberWolfJV said:

Well, at least this is encouraging;

Though long ramps like these weren't never the problem in games like Generations and Sonic 4 (Episode II, in fact, made sure you were aware you gained speed by going down slopes in the very first trailer); But at least I can have a shred of hope on it not feeling totally off... I'll take something like Generations 3DS feeling controls for sure;
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That got a small but possibly significant retweet:


And now I have hope.
 
totofogo said:
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Seems to show our first look at the new Oshima-designed antagonist too. Curious about what their deal is!

Triple-Trouble-2.png
 
totofogo said:
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Those empty stars on the title screen Probably 2 more playable characters that have to be unlocked, either Mighty and Ray or it could be Fang and the new character switch sides(Or could be both and the latter two just don’t get added to the title XD)
 
It looks too competent to be Arzest - maybe they're co-developing?

Then again, I guess you could say the same for Sonic Team...
 
Maronic03 said:
Ah yes the Sonic cycle: I get excited about a new Sonic game, then it comes out and I end up loving it.
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The NEW Sonic cycle!

Also the gameplay looks pretty good ngl. Really eager to hear some music too and who is actually composing this game.

also I'm still just so happy they FINALLY made Classic Knuckles and Classic Amy models like the Sonic and Tails we've had since Generations.
 
Characters look nearly perfect. Environments could use some work, but tbh it's good enough for me.

Between PoP, this, and recently titles like Dread and Monkey Ball.... I am so glad to see smaller (AA?) games getting the spotlight and finding market success! I feel like a title like this would have previously been "digital only" or a handheld title and smaller in scope, so I'm glad to see the market trending otherwise!
 
totofogo said:
Between PoP, this, and recently titles like Dread and Monkey Ball.... I am so glad to see smaller (AA?) games getting the spotlight and finding market success! I feel like a title like this would have previously been "digital only" or a handheld title and smaller in scope, so I'm glad to see the market trending otherwise!
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Agree completely. AA games have been needing to make a comeback for over 15 years now.
 
Did they even confirm a physical release? Or are we going round three after Mania and Origins got their physicals a year later...
 
Things i've picked up on from all of the footage / impressions:
  • Sonic has the Drop Dash.
  • Amy has a double jump, and can also Spin Dash.
  • The 3D Special Stages are where you get the Chaos Emeralds; the Sonic 1 Special Stages are the Bonus Stages where you collect medals (ala Blue Spheres in Mania).
  • First (?) two Emerald Powers: Water (swim up waterfalls AND in other bodies of water; that wasn't shown in the trailer) and Avatar (attack at the end of the trailer, summoning clones of yourself to attack).
    • Emerald Powers can only be used once at a time, and have to be replenished at Star Posts.
    • You select them via an ability wheel, and a countdown timer appears in the corner of the screen while they are in use.
  • First zone is called Bridge Island; second zone is Speed Jungle; the cyber / retro themed zone in the trailer doesn't appear to be in the demo. The shot of Northstar Islands in the trailer at the very least implies Carnival, Factory, Temple and Desert themed zones; possibly a Mountain zone and some sort of Ice / Crystal zone (not sure which of these is the cyber zone; could be the factory or the crystal, or maybe it isn't on the map at all). No clear final zone on the map, and two islands in the archipelago with no clear landmark; right now I think we'll end up with around 10 full zones though, give or take.
EDIT: Seen enough to make me confident that the "factory" is actually the cyber / retro zone, so scratch that bit of the post.

Jahranimo said:
Did they even confirm a physical release? Or are we going round three after Mania and Origins got their physicals a year later...
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A physical is confirmed!
 
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totofogo said:
Characters look nearly perfect. Environments could use some work, but tbh it's good enough for me.

Between PoP, this, and recently titles like Dread and Monkey Ball.... I am so glad to see smaller (AA?) games getting the spotlight and finding market success! I feel like a title like this would have previously been "digital only" or a handheld title and smaller in scope, so I'm glad to see the market trending otherwise!
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I'm glad it will be marketed as a big title, but I do worry about it underperforming and scaring off Sega from doing a game like this again. Crash 4's sales were apparently disappointing, which makes me feel these smaller platformer games might be seen as risky outside of Nintendo.
 
Mekanos said:
I'm glad it will be marketed as a big title, but I do worry about it underperforming and scaring off Sega from doing a game like this again. Crash 4's sales were apparently disappointing, which makes me feel these smaller platformer games might be seen as risky outside of Nintendo.
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There's probably two different things that work in this game's favor.

One, Sonic is enjoying a pretty good resurgence. 3D fans got fed with Frontiers, and now, it looks 2D fans are getting their turn with Superstars. The more they do to showcase that Sonic Team means it when they say they're doing their damndest to replicate the "feel" of the 2D games, the better off it will be.

The other is that, unlike Mania and Origins, this will be a thing that will see a retail release from the jump. That's very important for a brand like Sonic, even if Origins and Mania did well enough on their own as games that launched digitally.
 
I didn't realise how many clips Sonic Stadium have put up lol. Two acts per zone confirmed. Bridge Island transitions from sunset to night at the end of Act 2.



and here's both Speed Jungle act bosses:


 
Oh goodness, this pair is gonna be so much fun
(Thanks @MondoMega for the clean first one on discord, it’s tough to clip on mobile)
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I do wonder if they’re the unlockables teased by the title screen, or just Mighty and Ray(or some curveball like Chaotix)
 
JR436 said:
It looks too competent to be Arzest - maybe they're co-developing?

Then again, I guess you could say the same for Sonic Team...
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Well, they have a fair more budget, and probably people from Skip, Vanpool and AlphaDream.
 
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JR436 said:
It looks too competent to be Arzest - maybe they're co-developing?

Then again, I guess you could say the same for Sonic Team...
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I would not call their 3DS games bad games. It was just ok, but it's what you get with mid budget. We still can see that they are competent enough to make good 2D platformers.
 
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frog said:


It looks good...

The Sonic cycle begins anew...
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Physics are a little off. About 12 seconds in, Sonic doesn't roll all the way down the slope into the spring instead coming to a stop despite rolling downhill. Still reasonably excited though.

---

My prediction is the new character will have a moment where they take their helmet off to reveal their actual character design than switch sides to help Sonic. So basically Shade.
 
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It's a little worrying that they specified late 2023 but not even a month yet, but if the game gets delayed for whatever reason that's a net positive.
 
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So Tim and Blessing from Kinda Funny liked how the game felt. Said it's not Sonic Mania 2 but it feels more like early sonic and Sonic Mania than Sonic 4. Blessing said, "Sonic plays exactly how you'd expect" so I guess the physics are pretty good from playing as Sonic.
 
Game Informer Preview

However, the announcement was met with a dose of skepticism, as, for many, it immediately conjured memories of the poorly received Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the last time the franchise attempted a devoted, modernized take on the 2D gameplay. I went hands-on with Sonic Superstars during Summer Game Fest, and I’m pleased to report that it feels like a true continuation of the early years of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise
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Save for Sonic Mania, each successive 2D Sonic console experience has felt off. Whether you’re talking Sonic 4’s broken physics and momentum mechanics or the floaty and imprecise nature of the 2D sequences in 3D games like Sonic Forces, the 2D gameplay has left much to be desired in most games in the modern version of the franchise. Sonic Superstars veers closer to the Mania end of the spectrum, giving off a feel of picking up momentum that is loyal to the classic 2D entries in the series. Speeding through Bridge Island’s two Acts feels familiar and intuitive, and not just because the zone feels like a combination of Green Hill and Emerald Hill from Sonic 1 and 2 respectively.
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I really enjoyed my time with Sonic Superstars. My initial assessment upon seeing the gameplay featured in yesterday’s trailer was that it would basically give us Sega’s version of Nintendo’s New Super Mario Bros. series, but Sonic Superstars not only feels good, it feels bold and novel in a way the New Super Mario Bros. series doesn’t anymore, all while feeling like a strong continuation of the original 2D Sonic games. I can’t wait to experience more of this modern 2D adventure when Sonic Superstars arrives this fall.
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Going off the impressions and the eye test, it looks like Superstars at least retains the feel of the classics and Mania even if it isn't a complete 1 to 1. Here's hoping that is indeed the case.
 
These are all really encouraging first impressions. And great information round-up, @MondoMega! I'm getting more confident that they'll nail this. Even if it's not perfect, this feels familiar but also exciting and fresh. I would love to see a new 2D Mario game in this vein, pushing new mechanics and worlds.

If this is as good as I hope, it might be my favorite game this year besides TotK.
 
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Impressions have turned my skepticism around for sure.

Game looks beautiful.
 
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This is off to a way better start than Fronters was, they did a pretty poor job early on previewing that game. And honestly even after release while it certain plays a lot better than the early previews from what I've always hated the "Generic Unreal 4 demo with Sonic awkwardly place into it" aesthetic they went with. Superstars though looks great, and I think it really captures that magic the OG Sonic Trilogy + Mania had, both in terms of gameplay and visuals. Visually the only real problem I have is that fucking fog effect, I don't like how it's just a solid shade of dark gray, make it look more cloudy/foggy, otherwise I think they're golden.
 
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Easy Allies accidentially flashed the debug level select on stream during their B-Roll; whoopsies.

FyPAo06X0AA4IHW


Make of Zone05_ActAmy what you will.
 
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