Sonic Superstars' Chaos Emeralds: Unveiling the Sweetest Secrets

Highlights

Sonic Superstars introduces specialized Chaos Emerald Powers, which offer a range of effects and add a new dimension to the gameplay.

Obtaining all the Chaos Emeralds is essential to unlock the game's true ending, similar to previous Classic Sonic games. To acquire the Chaos Emeralds, players must explore and locate the Warp Rings in special stages, adding an additional challenge and amplifying the game's Classic Sonic essence.

Sonic Superstars, the latest 2D Sonic game, is now available, much to the delight of Classic Sonic fans. The game offers a fresh experience while maintaining familiar controls. Players join Sonic the hedgehog and his friends as they combat Dr. Eggman, Fang the Hunter, and Trip the Sungazer in a mission to liberate the Northstar Islands. Despite capturing the essence of the original Sonic titles, Sonic Superstars introduces exciting new gameplay mechanics.

One notable addition to the Classic Sonic formula is the introduction of specialized Chaos Emerald Powers. Each Emerald grants unique abilities, such as "Water," which transforms the player character into water, "Vision," which uncovers hidden platforms, and "Ivy," which allows plants to grow and elevate characters to higher platforms. During the game's pre-launch period, opinions on these abilities varied. Some critics found the implementation of the ability wheel to be awkward, while others believed that the Emerald Powers were too strong. However, now that the game is available, players understand that these abilities are completely optional and appreciate their strength.

Sonic Superstars Holds Onto a Tried and True Tradition

Given Sonic Superstars' heavy emphasis on the unique powers of the Chaos Emeralds, including the inclusion of the "Avatar" power in the game's opening animation and the ability for some abilities to be freely used in previews, some fans may mistakenly view these powers as mere gimmicks rather than actual power-ups. However, this is not the case, as the Chaos Emeralds once again serve as valuable prizes that can be obtained in Superstars' Special Stages. To access these stages, players must locate special Warp Rings scattered throughout specific levels. If players fail to find these rings, they will miss out on the opportunity to utilize the powers of the Emeralds.

This implementation of the Chaos Emeralds aligns well with Sonic Superstars' nostalgic appeal, as it reintroduces a key aspect of the Classic Sonic games that has been present since their inception. In previous 2D Classic Sonic games, collecting all the Chaos Emeralds unlocked the coveted "true ending," which could involve anything from avoiding Dr. Robotnik's mocking "try again" screen to facing off against final bosses and experiencing completely different endings.

The Chaos Emerald Powers in Sonic Superstars are Rewards Above All Else

In Sonic Superstars, players must earn the Chaos Emeralds to unlock special abilities and reach the true ending. To collect these coveted gems, players will need to search for rings scattered throughout the stages. However, accessing the special stages to find the Emeralds is limited to certain stages to maintain the game's pacing. This prevents players from quickly accessing all of Sonic Superstars' new features, including the ability to use Emerald Powers against bosses.

While fans of the Emerald Powers may not appreciate the extra effort required to obtain them, it adds to Sonic Superstars' nostalgic Classic Sonic appeal. As the Chaos Emeralds serve as rewards to work towards, the Emerald Powers function as powerful upgrades that offer great value for those who choose to seek them out. However, it is important to note that all levels can still be enjoyed without these powers. Consequently, some players may utilize the Emerald Powers to breeze through the game quickly, while others may opt for a more traditional platforming experience.

Sonic Superstars is now available on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.