Summary
Sega has unveiled the names and some details of the first six Zones that players will run through in the upcomingSonic Superstars. This entry will be a revisit to the Genesis days of the franchise, beinga 2D platformer like 2017’sSonic Mania. UnlikeSonic Mania,Sonic Superstarshas a bigger emphasis on co-op multiplayer platforming action, allowing for four playable characters on screen at once. Another distinction it has from Sonic Mania is a focus on brand-new Zones.
One of the big complaints of recentSonicgames, includingSonic Forces,Sonic Frontiers, and evenSonic Mania, was the reuse of familiar level aesthetic and designs. There was some heated discourse regarding the reuse oftheSonicfranchise’s famous Green Hill Zone, where fans disliked the reliance on it as a means of nostalgia, especially when it kept appearing in the aforementioned games that many wished for Sega to come up with something new instead of relying on the familiar level. Shortly after Sonic Superstars was revealed, Sega stated that all the Zones found in this game will be brand-new and original, with the first six Zone names and their themes now revealed.
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In a preview piece from Game Informer, Sonic Team creative head Takashi Iizuka explained that sinceSonic Superstarsis on a brand-new island, they planned on having all-new stages right out of the gate. While the game won’t have Green Hill or Chemical Plant Zone, there are some stages that feature similar themes and aesthetics that call back to some of these, just with a different take. The first zone for example, Bridge Island Zone, is similar to other first level zones from past2DSonicgames, but takes place on a beach instead of a grassy plain. The acts also change the environmental atmosphere, such as transitioning from daytime to a sunset between Act 1 and 2.
Sonic Superstars Zone Names:
Following Bridge Island is Speed Jungle, where the level features vines that Sonic and his friends can grind on to travel to different areas in the Acts. Next up is Sky Temple Zone, which is inspired by Sky Sanctuary and Windy Valley, with the stage also appearing to be a single long level that is nine minutes long according to the interviewer. Pinball Carnival takes place after that, which is a classicCasino-inspiredSoniclevel. Lagoon City is the classic Water level, where the Chaos Emerald Water power shines best, and the desert level is known as Sand Sanctuary.
The interviewer was forced to stop playing after Sand Sanctuary, but was given the names and some screenshots of two more levels inSonic Superstars: Press Factory and Golden Capital Zone. Press Factory appears to be one of Eggman’s bases, where players have to contend with a rickety area filled with robots, while Golden Capital seems to be some sort of castle with lava traps underneath.
Sonic Superstarslaunches in Fall 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
