Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D speed-based platformer but with multiplayer

I don’t know why it took Sega this long to add “same screen co-op multiplayer” for their long-running 2D Sonic games -momentum-heavy platforming with sprawling maps for exploring. After all, its competitor -Nintendo’s Mario series- has been doing this since 2009 with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Then again, the team who handles the Sonic franchise have never been sure what they’ve wanted, save for a few gems involving a few Sonic lore fans and creators who ended up getting involved starting with Sonic Mania.

Still, better late than never, as now we have the series’ first co-op multiplayer 2D platformer Sonic Superstars, and it’s what you expect from the franchise and then some. Is it the addition it sorely needs to freshen things up for the blue streak hero and his plethora of friends? Well, let’s just say at least the single-player Sonic & friends formula is still unspoiled.

Coasting Along

For starters, the 3D graphics look good and colourful, accompanied by Tee Lopes-composed jingles and music tailor-made to emulate the 90s Megadrive Sonic titles while sounding like they belong in 2023. Many of the stages from the first Bridge Zone to the last few desert, gear-heavy, and ice-filled levels are familiar but still fun to traverse, escalating only in difficulty gradually and expanding its horizontal layout further. The platforming difficulty curve is fair, with intended frustration only coming in at the appropriate final few levels, keeping in line with how the 90s Sonic games were.

One of my favourite level moments is a mechanical stage called Press Factory Act 1 involving a background timer, where if I do not press pressure plates in time, the whole screen is enveloped in flames resulting in instant death. The obligatory Casino Zone tribute, Pinball Carnival, is also a riot to play through, if only because of the plethora of bonuses, fun vibe and atmosphere, and music help elevate the experience further.

There’s even a Fantasy Zone nod in one of the stages where you deal with the game’s enemies, stage mechanics, and bosses in 2D shoot-em-up style. My level highlights include the character-specific ones involving Knuckles (who glides and climbs walls) and Amy (double jump), each with their own cute story to fill in the blanks of the game’s simple narrative that ties everything together. Not only that, but these levels make you use each character’s specific ability well lest you get stuck and possibly die.

The best part? There’s no lives system, so you can keep retrying from the last checkpoint until you get it right. And the game adopts a level select system and records your collections, so you don’t have to replay the entire game to get all the Chaos Emeralds. Speaking of which, each of the ones you collect now bestow new powers to you, ranging from growing ivy platforms for horizontal movement to summoning a bunch of avatars to clear the screen; a personal favourite of mine. You can even use the power of air dashes, and even slow time down for certain obstacles. While half of them are stage and hazard-specific, these new Emerald powers are pretty handy when you need to deal with some of the cheap elements in the game like purposefully-placed hazards or platform segments you want to bypass on the go.

If you want more of a challenge, there are post-game playthroughs involving new mysterious character Trip, who has their own set of moves and new challenges. Their levels are remixed versions of the base game, and are incredibly challenging and will test the mettle of even the best Sonic players out there. Just a protip: get all the Chaos Emeralds in the first base playthroughs because the additional EX levels will lock you out of progress if you don’t have specific emerald powerups.

Better With Friends?

But what of the multiplayer experience? Single-player Sonic Superstars playthroughs are fun and all,  but I don’t think the multiplayer feels very well thought-out. Depending on who is leading, one character among the two-to-four player group will be the focus with everyone else having to follow the lead. The lead will change over time through the stage, and that’s where it gets chaotic, so to speak.

Part of it is due to how large the stages are, and how fast the characters can go and spiral beyond the screen you’re at. The fact that player focus during multiplayer can feel randomized means that it’s anybody’s game when it comes to whoever advances first. While there is a possibility for a multiplayer co-op Sonic game to work properly – I felt same-screen two-player is manageable at least- Sonic Superstars is not it.

Despite that issue, Sonic Superstars retains the same 2D nostalgic joy thanks to its fun levels and challenges, though we advise playing the game solo if you actually want to finish it. You’ll still find a lot to love from the game’s levels, though they aren’t as strongly-designed as the ones in Sonic Mania. I personally had fun with Pinball Carnival and Press Factory, which both offers unique look and challenges that befits the momentum platform genre.

Sonic Superstars does enough and a bit more with its charm, especially for completionists. Though I could do without Knuckles’ recovery frame when he sticks onto ledges, or Tails’ flying method being the way it is (sins of past games and adherence to tradition for ill), the overall game is a solid 2D jaunt for all ages. The co-op really needs work though and is nothing more than a party favour.

Pros

• Solid level design and gameplay feel.
• Extra post-game levels & challenges help add some longevity.
• Useful Emerald Powers for when you’re in a pinch.

Cons

• Last few bosses can be cheap.
• Some old-school Sonic tropes should be scrapped.
• Multiplayer feels chaotic.

Final Score: 60/100

Review copy provided by Sega.