Unleashing the Ultimate Power: Sonic Superstars vs the Chaos Emeralds

Highlights

Sonic Superstars introduces new and unique powers associated with the Chaos Emeralds, adding a twist to the traditional gameplay formula.

The incorporation of these abilities poses a future obstacle for the series' games and their approach to maintaining continuity and incorporating the Chaos Emeralds' backstory.

It is essential for Sonic Superstars' newfound powers to be thoroughly clarified and seamlessly woven into the expansive Sonic mythology, be it through in-game cinematic sequences or upcoming installments.

The Chaos Emeralds in the Sonic the Hedgehog series have always been enigmatic gemstones that grant limitless power to those who possess them. In various games, these Emeralds serve as integral elements of the storyline or valuable collectibles that can unlock the true conclusion, like in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic Superstars follows in the footsteps of its Classic Sonic predecessors by tasking players with gathering all seven Chaos Emeralds on their quest, but with a unique twist.

In Sonic Superstars, the Chaos Emeralds possess distinct powers associated with them, which players can utilize to discover new routes, access different areas, and gain an advantage over bosses. Each individual Emerald manifests its own unique ability, such as the blue Emerald's "Avatar" power, which generates multiple clones of the user, or the green Emerald's "Ivy" ability that prompts plants to grow and reach higher platforms. These captivating abilities, however, present a challenge for future games beyond Superstars that cannot be dismissed.

How the Sonic the Hedgehog Series is Stabilizing Its Lore

Superstars has decided to enhance the already boundless power of the Chaos Emeralds while the entire Sonic franchise is currently restructuring its storyline. Sonic Frontiers, in particular, spearheaded this movement with an impactful narrative filled with references that helped players grasp the events and chronology of Sonic's world, while also solidifying the key characters. Frontiers delved into the origins of the Chaos Emeralds, finally addressing longstanding questions in the series. Overall, Sonic Frontiers made a powerful impact on the lore, marking the beginning of a new era for the iconic blue blur.

Since the launch of Sonic Frontiers, there has been a noticeable transformation across various aspects of the franchise. Characters like Amy have undergone subtle adjustments to align with the modern direction of the series. Ongoing media projects such as the IDW comics and Sonic Prime have been carefully curated to establish a cohesive universe. Additionally, there has been a significant focus on Sonic and his friends in other ventures. However, Sonic Superstars may potentially disrupt the recent cohesiveness.

Why Games After Sonic Superstars Can't Throw Its Power-Ups Under the Rug

Close to a year after Sonic Frontiers, a game that unveiled the origin of the Chaos Emeralds for Sonic fans, Superstars is once again altering the properties of the Emeralds. With the Sonic storyline constantly evolving, there is an implicit demand and expectation that the new Chaos Emerald powers in Sonic Superstars should not be a one-time occurrence without any explanation. While the gems are called the Chaos Emeralds for a reason, this alone is insufficient justification for the unique abilities associated with each gem to disappear without a trace after Superstars.

It may seem challenging for Sonic Team and Arzest to provide an explanation for these powers in a game without dialogue, but there are indeed ways to achieve this. These powers could be connected to something significant on the North Star Islands, the primary setting of Sonic Superstars. Perhaps there could be cutscenes that depict a new awakening within the Emeralds, followed by their eventual disappearance at the conclusion of the game. Alternatively, these powers could seamlessly integrate into the broader Sonic lore and appear in future games as if they had always been present, potentially starting with the sequel to Sonic Frontiers.

Sonic Superstars will release on October 17 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.