"A Low Effort Run For Nostalgia": Sonic Superstars Review

screenrant.com:

is the latest release from developers Arzest & Sonic Team, and publisher SEGA. Taking a step back from the open world of, aims to bring players back to traditional 2D side-scrollers with a few new features and enhancements along the way.

In, players can race through the traditional levels of the game playing as one of the several available character options, each with unique abilities. While working through the main storyline, coins will be accrued for use in the shop where different customizable items may be purchased for use in the online Battle Mode.

appears to be playing off the revitalizing success of, another 2D side-scroller that saw a return to the blue hedgehog’s roots that was widely praised by critics. However, what fails to accomplish is everything that made that game special. While the core elements are there — returning to the more classic play style and graphics — there isn't any innovation or iteration to help showcase what makes these games appealing to casual players or veterans.

Though the new environments in were needed for the franchise as a whole, they lack any genuine uniqueness, and could have benefited from a little bit more out-of-the-box thinking. Launching alongside, is justifiably overshadowed by the former's more varied, memorable approach to world-building.

One of the best features in is the ability to play as one of four iconic characters from the franchise: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. Each has their own unique ability in addition to the ones unlocked throughout the story mode, providing some variety and the ability to customize a playthrough. Unfortunately, one of the brand-new aspects being debuted in tied into this feature is chaotic at best.

While a certain level of chaos is