Why Sonic Superstars Will Test the Limits of Sonic Fans Like Never Before
Sonic Superstars faces immense pressure as Sonic Frontiers set the bar high for the franchise's comeback Sonic Team must prove themselves once again with classic Sonic and compete with their own marketing tactics to keep fans engaged
Sega surprised Sonic fans at Summer Game Fest with the announcement of Sonic Superstars, a new 2.5D Classic Sonic platformer. While some leaks hinted at a possible "Sonic 5" game, this announcement caught many off guard. Compared to a return to the Sonic 4 formula, Sonic Superstars seems to be the better choice and is set to release in fall 2023. However, some fans remain skeptical and are looking for more than just cute animations and playable characters like Amy Rose. The true test of Sonic Superstars will be how it plays, especially considering its development team.
Sega's Current Marketing Tactic with the Sonic Franchise
Sonic Team's marketing plans for the Sonic franchise were unveiled a year ago, during the development of Sonic Frontiers. Previously, the developers had attempted to merge the 2D and 3D aspects of the series in games like Sonic Generations and Sonic Forces. However, after the success of having Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic in the same game began to wane, Sonic Team decided to keep them separate. This decision was made after the release of Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces in 2017, which pleased fans more when they were released separately. While there are still classic titles like Knuckles' Chaotix that are only available on retro systems, Sonic Team has been given the go-ahead to create at least one new 2D Sonic game to fill the gap and keep this marketing strategy alive. Sonic Superstars is the game that will follow on the heels of Sonic Frontiers' recent success.
How Sonic Frontiers Built Sonic Back Up Again
After a mixed reception from critics, Sonic Frontiers was released to a lot of love from fans, who saw it as a great foundation for 3D Sonic games going forward. However, the game had a difficult press cycle after its first gameplay reveal, with Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka having to defend the game against critics who didn't understand it. Despite this, as more people got to play it, Sonic Frontiers proved to be a hit and is now the best-selling 3D Sonic game of all time. With new playable characters coming in free updates later this year, fans eagerly await the future of Sonic Frontiers, but Classic Sonic fans may not be as optimistic.
Why Sonic Team Still Needs to Prove Itself with Classic Sonic
Classic Sonic gameplay in Sonic Team's titles has yet to reach the same level of success as Sonic Mania. While Sonic Forces and Sonic 4: Episode 2 attempted to capture the essence of the original games, they fell short in terms of physics and execution, disappointing many fans. The success of Sonic Mania only highlighted these shortcomings, and it remains to be seen if Sonic Team can deliver a satisfying Classic Sonic experience with their upcoming game, Sonic Superstars.
Despite its promising start, Sonic Superstars carries a heavy burden as the sole focus of Sega's current marketing strategy for Sonic the Hedgehog. While the positive reception to the demo and the involvement of talented individuals like Takashi Iizuka, Jun Senoue, Tee Lopes, and Naoto Ohshima give cause for optimism, the game's success is crucial for the future of the franchise. With the dwindling number of 2D games in the pipeline, Sonic Superstars must deliver on all fronts, lest Sega be forced to reevaluate their approach to their beloved mascot.
Sonic Superstars launches in Fall 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
