Takashi Iizuka Presents Extensive Sonic Superstars Footage at TGS 2023

Nice to see some in-depth looks. Honest thoughts at this point are that the gameplay looks solid enough and fun (as expected). I think where Sonic 4 burned me (and because the Mania team aren't working in this and instead it's Arzest) I still feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop - but I also love a good comeback story for a studio.

In general I do think some levels still look kind of sparse or open, I don’t know if that’s just the art style they've gone for or the fact that they are accommodating for 4 players. I don’t always feel this way when looking at the screenshots or videos, but there are moments where I’m either of the opinion that the game looks stunning, or just super bland. It's 100% better than Sonic 4's efforts, but it's also a weird inconsistency. It might be I just feel a bit well fed with generations art style, but I'll take this at 60FPS anyday. 

Speaking of 4 players on screen, it's going to be manic (but that’s expected). At least the other players get snapped to P1 pretty quickly if they get left too far behind as well, but I suspect it’s not really going to as fun for them being tethered to the main player, however there is not much in the way round that with this kind of game. 

Battle and multiplayer looks decent enough too, these modes don't really interest me personally - but considering the price tag on this title I’m impressed that they have added additional modes like this into this game, it adds value and engagement outside the main campaign. Having in game cosmetic unlockables and things to strive for is always a plus (if you aren’t paying extra).

What I will say with the other level footage shown off is that I’m also a bit puzzled why the name/location of the zone pops up twice before the level starts, IMO you don’t need to announce the area then announce it again with the act. 

Also gutted about the mini boss and main boss music, they really went and drove it back into the Sonic 4 vibes. This clarifies my earlier concern about having multiple composers on this project, the soundtrack is probably going to end up all over the place and not remain consistent (and I'm not talking in terms of quality here), it's just going to be super weird in a 2D Sonic title. 

Otherwise… roll on October! :)

Co-op looks just about as messy as I expected it to be, if not even more.  Though my overall opinion of this game is pretty positive, I can't shake the feeling that this is the umpteenth instance of the Sonic series trying to do something that is currently "cool", regardless of how well it actually suits Sonic gameplay.

I agree about the music; it's erratic.  The theme song and Bridge Island sound like they're trying for the same vibe as "Friends" in Sonic Mania, by Hyper Potions, Speed Jungle sounds like it's moving in the direction of Angel Island Zone from S3K, and Pinball Carnival sounds like a Tee Lopes song.  To be fair, Sonic Frontiers also had a rather varied soundtrack, but arguably all genres of music there reflected the game's general theme of unease and mystery.  This game just sounds like multiple composers being multiple composers.

4 hours ago, Scritch the Cat said:

Co-op looks just about as messy as I expected it to be, if not even more.  Though my overall opinion of this game is pretty positive, I can't shake the feeling that this is the umpteenth instance of the Sonic series trying to do something that is currently "cool", regardless of how well it actually suits Sonic gameplay.

I think co-operative gameplay could work with Sonic gameplay, but you've had to do some extensive reworking with the mechanics, level design, and general pacing to accommodate multiple players--whether it be building an entire new game around co-op (like Nintendo does with their 2D platformers) or building a side mode dedicated to co-op, that complements a single-player game (like Colors did with the Sonic Simulator/Game Land--the execution there was poor but they had the right idea).

Unfortunately, Superstars is doing neither; it's very much yet another single player Sonic game with extra players haphazardly tacked on for the ride. There's not actually anything wrong with that in a vacuum--co-op in the MD games has historically been a bonus feature to the game and nothing beyond that. The problem is the PR for Superstars billing it as A Big New Addition to the formula; when in regards to the co-op multiplayer put in practice, it seems to be anything but.

11 hours ago, Sonicka said:

Also gutted about the mini boss and main boss music, they really went and drove it back into the Sonic 4 vibes. This clarifies my earlier concern about having multiple composers on this project, the soundtrack is probably going to end up all over the place and not remain consistent (and I'm not talking in terms of quality here), it's just going to be super weird in a 2D Sonic title.

4 hours ago, Scritch the Cat said:

I agree about the music; it's erratic.  The theme song and Bridge Island sound like they're trying for the same vibe as "Friends" in Sonic Mania, by Hyper Potions, Speed Jungle sounds like it's moving in the direction of Angel Island Zone from S3K, and Pinball Carnival sounds like a Tee Lopes song.  To be fair, Sonic Frontiers also had a rather varied soundtrack, but arguably all genres of music there reflected the game's general theme of unease and mystery.  This game just sounds like multiple composers being multiple composers.

I'm split on these response because while I agree to some extent, it wasn't that far back where we had Sonic games with music that was largely (if not entirely) handled by one composer, and their particular weaknesses were evident throughout the product. Like Senoue's work with Sonic 4 and Ohtani's work with Lost World and Forces (at least for some, myself included).

It's harsh, but if Senoue was the sole composer of Superstars, and other people like Lopes weren't there with their own contributions...I can't imagine I would had found much if any tracks to like, lol. Probably would had even written the game's music off entirely.

Yikes co op looks really bad. If I  wasn't following news on the game,  I wouldn't have thought it was a central feature. The game doesn't like it's been made to accommodate for four players at all.

I like some good chaos

Co-Op looks insane in ways that seem both frustrating and pretty fun, but it's clear that the format itself kinda has to be forced into something like Sonic. Other than that, the game is looking great. Pinball Carnival's stage design looks really broad and expensive, and the way the background changes as you progress through it is pretty neat.