At Summer Game Fest, Sega made a surprising splash by announcing a new 2.5D Classic Sonic platformer known asSonic Superstars. For manySonicfans, this announcement was relatively unexpected, with only a few debatable leaks floating around suggesting a game like “Sonic 5” was in development prior to the announcement. Comparatively,Sonic Superstarsis looking to be the far better option than a return totheSonic 4formula, and it’s even due sooner than expected with a release window of fall 2023.
However, even as this new Classic Sonic game is “looking to be the better option,” many fans were skeptical of the game when it was first announced. It might impress in terms of its graphics and the animations on the Classic Sonic cast may be rather cute, but it’ll take far more than a playable Amy Rose to win over a few hardened Classic Sonic loyalists. What’s most important with Classic Sonic games - especially those developed by Sonic Team and any of its partners - is howSonic Superstarsplays.
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Sega’s Current Marketing Tactic with the Sonic Franchise
Sonic Team revealed its current marketing plansfor theSonicfranchise a year ago whileSonic Frontierswas still in development. In years prior, the developers attempted merging both of the 2D and 3D aspects of the series together in games such asSonic GenerationsandSonic Forces.After the hype of having Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic in the same game definitely isn’t as successful as it used to be, Sonic Team has elected to keep them separated. This decision in particular was decided after 2017 saw the release of the 2DSonic Maniaalongside theForces, which seemed to please a broader spectrum of fans compared to when the two were put together.
It doesn’t take much to notice that thenumber of 2DSonicgames to release alongside 3D oneswas numbered from the start, though, even if it may seem that Sega could keep rereleasing Classic Sonic games forever. There are certainly still a number of titles likeKnuckles' Chaotixthat are still stranded on retro systems but the company has a different answer to this problem. Sonic Team has been given the green light to make at least one new 2D Sonic game to fill this void and keep this marketing tactic going strong, and that’s whereSonic Superstarsenters afterSonic Frontiers’recent bold success.
How Sonic Frontiers Built Sonic Back Up Again
Five years afterSonic Forces,Sonic Frontiersreleased late last year to mixed reception from critics, but tons of adoration from fans. Generally, many players agreed that while the game wasn’t perfect, it was an incredible start to what Sonic Team has stated is the “foundation” of 3DSonicgoing forward. Things weren’t as bright for the newest 3D game, though, asFrontiershad a rather rough press cycle after the first proper gameplay reveal in June 2022 to where Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka had to state that the fans who didn’t like the gameplay “didn’t understand it.”
Once more people were able to try it at events such as PAX AUS and Gamescom, those who got to play it quickly spread the word thatSonic Frontierswas more than what it seemed on the surface. Now, despite all the skepticism fans had at first,Sonic Frontiersis the best-selling 3DSonicgame of all time. Frontiers isn’t even finished yet as the game has two free updates for all players due out later this year that will even add new playable characters beyond just Sonic himself. While series loyalists now await the futureFrontiersis ringing in with newfound trust, the same can’t be said for Classic Sonic.
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Why Sonic Team Still Needs to Prove Itself with Classic Sonic
While the future of 3DSonicmay be brighter than ever, there’s still much to be desired when it comes to Classic Sonic gameplay in Sonic Team’s own titles. The most recent 2D Sonic game,Sonic Mania, was incredibly well-received, making it the highest-rated Sonic title in years. However,Maniawas developed by Christian Whitehead, Pagoda West, and thefuture developer ofSonic Origins, Headcannon. The most recent that Sonic Team handled Classic Sonic itself wasSonic ForcesandSonic 4: Episode 2.
Both games left quite a lot to be desired in terms of physics and execution for many fans. PlayingSonic Forcesin the game year asSonic Mania’sfantastic returnto the franchise’s roots made the discrepancies all the more apparent, which played a part as to whyForceswas disliked by many players. It’s understandable that fans may remain unsure aboutSonic Superstarsbeing developed by Sonic Team with the studio’s previous 2D history in mind.
That said,Sonic Superstarsis off to a good start so far. Following itsSummer Game Fest reveal, the new title could be played as part of Summer Game Fest’s Play Days event, which gave many fans a chance to try out a demo version. Reception to the demo has been very positive, incidentally following in the footsteps ofSonic Frontiers’fan impressions. Takashi Iizuka even took a few interviews at the event, revealing that Jun Senoue and Tee Lopes would be working on the soundtrack. Further, Naoto Ohshima has not only designed a new character known as Trip for the game, but has also brought in his company Arzest to help develop the game.
However, this doesn’t change the fact thatSonic Superstarsessentially holds the entire current marketing strategy forSonic the Hedgehogon its shoulders. With the number of 2D games that Sega can release alongside theSonicfranchise’s 3D titlesslowly decreasing, the only hope it has of lasting longer is if new games can pick up the slack. IfSuperstarsflops due to bad execution in any way, then Sega may have to go back to the drawing board on what to do with its iconic mascot.
Sonic Superstarslaunches in Fall 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
