Reminder: Sonic Superstars Free Amy Rose Outfit And LEGO Sonic Skin Now Available

January 2024? Woah I better rush now then.

You remember Sonic? Well now he's back! In LEGO FORM.

I'm biased, but Amy (and especially her cutscene interactions with Trip) are the absolute highlight of Superstars for me. She's animated so wonderfully with the way her facial expressions and anime-esque emotion signifiers change to fit the circumstances. Its all perfectly in character for her. The same can be said of the 2d animated parts. I love the fact we have the choice of the two dresses for her too, both look great! ...However!

I really was hoping that there would be unlockable costumes or accessories to customise all characters... but so far the medals you collect can only be spent on customising your robot avatar thingy for the battle mode, which I really don't care about and it's all a bit half baked anyway.

I expect we'll eventually get different outfits, skins and looks for the main characters that we'll have to buy, like there were for the recent Monkeyball game. And like a sucker, I'll buy them all. Yes, I'm aware I'm a part of the problem. Sorry.

@Vexx234 You might kid but when that date rolls around there’s going to be a lot of angry people lol.

But the I'd have to play Sonic Superstars.

@LikelySatan Which would be a good thing.

@JohnnyMind If anyone scrolls through my comment, just know it's in jest. No bashing the game or anyone's enjoyment of the dlc.

@JohnnyMind you're right.
I meant to say "but theN I would have to play Sonic Superstars."

@Lanmanna gross. They already locked up Yuji Naka for creating Sonic, you want to go that way?

@LikelySatan I think you are just really bored. Honestly, is seems your brand of humor stems from a place of malice. Your brand of sarcasm isn't funny. It's just eye rolling.

Obviously, nothing I say matters, as it's just going to be noise to you, but I say it for anyone who scrolls by, to hopefully see and not engage.

There's enough toxicity around to last decades. Not every corner of the web needs to have it constantly.

@samuelvictor I've got around to playing some of the game now and like yourself, I'm really enjoying the game, it does feel like a true succession to the classics. The music is a little disappointing to me though, it reminds me of Sonic 4 and feels a bit repetitive. A couple of the tunes have stood out at least.

@LikelySatan ight, I'll bite. How does Naka end up in jail for a series he hasn't worked on since 2005?

@Ristar24 I'm really glad you're enjoying it! 😀

My original opinion of the music was that none of it was bad, but it didn't jump out to me as instantly memorable either, and yes some of it definitely loops too quickly.

On further reflection, I feel that perhaps the problem many are having (and sounds like you experienced) is that the soundtrack is split between Tee Lopes and Jun Senoue. Tee Lopes is always well regarded by fans for his work on retro style Sonic projects. Jun's stuff is more mixed - his Crush 40 stuff and "real music" (for want of a better word) with guitars and vocals etc for the 3d Sonic games and theme songs are always very well recieved, but when he tries to make 16bit style instrumental synth tracks, many people aren't as keen. This was the case with the Sonic 4 soundtrack, so its probably his tracks that give you that feeling. I don't personally feel they are bad at all, but the Tee Lopes songs are very obviously stronger / more fitting for this style of game.

@samuelvictor Yeah, if it's get a sequel, I hope the devs drop bot bottle mode together and in exchange a costume shop or items you can use in the levels to just have fun.

Collecting coins for robot parts just wasn't the best idea on the table.

Im still not 100% sure on how I feel about co-op. I don't wanna be that that person who's absolutely sure of himself. After reading behind the scenes, I can see it was more or less an experiment where devs weren't too sure.

So, I propose they go at it one more time in maybe a spinoff title without the added pressure of being the next big-ish Sonic game. This would afford devs time to refine and experiment with the idea to see if it sticks in the long run.

@Vexx234 I agree with all that - but for me unless they go split screen I don't see how either co-op or competitive multiplayer could really work with Sonic because of the emphaisis on speed and branching paths. For me, its nice to have it as an option for people who want to play as a family or mess around with friends after a few drinks but it can't ever really be the main selling point, as its always going to be a stop and start inbalanced mess.

As a single player experience though? Superstars is almost as good as 2d Sonic has ever been. And thats coming from someone who loves old 2d Sonic games more than life! lol

I got mine yesterday. Got the email to redeem the skin on release night and at 12:18 AM yesterday I got the skin. Now, whenever I get Sonic Superstars off of the Xbox store on my PC, I’ll get the skin with it.

@samuelvictor Yeah, that's why I think a spin-off title not starring Sonic could allow more freedom to make a co-op focused experience.

You remove Sonic and everyone can be balanced just fine in his absence. I'm not sure who a 4th character could be in his place or maybe a new one? That's a bit too risky.

Or just a three player affair? But yes, without worrying about the guy who's faster than the speed of sound, would make exploration and puzzle solving less chaotic when everyone is moving relativity at the same pace.

I'm fine with Amy taking lead as she seems just right for such a setting

@Vexx234 Now you're talking! I think Amy, Trip and Cream would make a really good team up. They'd all play together well, are the same size and the emphasis cold be on team work and considered platforming rather than speed.

Or maybe a Chaotix game with Vector, Espio, Charmy and Mighty? Again, less emphasis on speed, more on teamwork. Perhaps a bit like a 2d Sonic Heroes? Just spitballing.

Obviously I've nothing against Sonic, I love him! Just not sure how he can work in multiplayer when all characters are on a single screen.

I know that's what the actual LEGO minifigures look like, but the LEGO skins essentially turn the Classic Sonic characters into the Modern Sonic versions. Not sure how I feel about that.

Regardless, eventually I'll get the rest via the Digital Deluxe Update. I got both of these skins and downloaded the update, which I didn't think would be a big one but apparently it was around 3GB.

@samuelvictor I think that's fine myself if I may interject. Sonic just isn't designed for such a game. Which is perfectly fine. Not every character can be thrown in every genre.

Sonic is at his best when it's just him alone. The extra cast has the potential to stand out on their own if Sega gave them all a chance.

Please don't think Im making a comparison here, just an observation.

Various game series over years have shown it's quite possible for the side characters to stand on thier own without the main star attached.

I think all it takes is for Sega to give Sonic a a mini break (Im not suggesting a long one), and see what they can do with the cast around him.

They each have special traits that I think the right genre would let them thrive. That would give Sega a chance to see how much fun they can have with everyone.

@samuelvictor Having played three players on one screen for Superstars, I thought it wouldnt work. I heard it was Sonic 2 where each player was screwed.

Honestly I find that this plays fantastically in co op. A little slowdown once in a really graphically intensive area but once we passed it smooth sailing.

The branching pathways is hilariously a good time. We were joking and talking about which way to go. It plays just like Mario co op. Honestly I like it better because I have yet to actively die catching up to a teammate. The game actively puts you in a safe spot 100% of the time.

Sonic Superstars coop works. I know some may disagree but if you look at Mario co op runs...unless the group SLOWS down, someone usually gets left behind.

@Quiet2down Sadly it seems that's how he responds to everyone. I dont get it. If pizza wasnt your thing you wouldnt go to Papa Johns just to complain. It's a waste of time. Just accept it isn't for you and let those who enjoy the product enjoy it without your negativity.

@Primarina I'm really glad you had fun with it! I definitely see how it can be funny and/or challenging with friends all together and I'm sure some families will enjoy playing together too. I just personally feel its never likely to be the main event of a Sonic game. You'll note I wasn't advocating for its removeal, however. Its nice to have as an option. And again, really nice to hear you are enjoying it 😀

@Quiet2down Yeah I agree with that, I'd like to see other characters get their own spin offs like what happened with Knuckles and Tails back in the 90s (and I suppose Shadow in the 2000s)

Everytime I play a Sonic game I find myself thinking, "Why isn't Sonic made out of LEGOs?" It just adds so much to the experience.

@samuelvictor Haha. Poor Shadow, his debut shouldn't have went down like that. For Shadow fans, I'd like him to have a second chance one day.

You played Sonic 06? I think that version of him is what should have been in his solo game.

@Primarina It's okay. Really it is. I had a family member who was like that all the time. We eventually stopped inviting him to any gatherings whatsoever.

I just wanted to say something as a warning to others who might engage them out of genuine curiosity only to be met with a rude response.

As you can read above, user JohnnyMind asked a question from a place of curiosity only to (unsurprisingly) be given a middle finger as answer.

@Vexx234 Yeah despite the obvious problems due to it being over ambitious and rushed to hit the 10 year aniversary, '06 had a huge amount of potential, not least in the rounding out of lots of the characters. "Shadow the Hedgehog" was a game that I can't say I ever particularly want to play again, but I played it with my eldest child when they were little and its one of their earliest happy memories, so I love it for that at least. 😀

@samuelvictor Shadow was one cigar away from being every 80's action hero ever made.

This line right here is why I think for Shadow fans deserves one more chance with him in a new game:

"If the world chooses to become my enemy, then I will fight like I always have."

That right there is the what separates him from Sonic. I wish I knew why Sega took Shadow to such a odd place in his solo game. I chalked it up to trying to make him not seem so much like Sonic.

I would be lying if I didn't say I used to not get the appeal of his character, but, I see why he has a fanbase even after all this time.

That line alone isn't the words of someone making excuses. It's acceptance. That even if people end up hating him in the end, he won't revert to who he was before.

@Vexx234 Oh yeah there's a tonne of potential in the character, he's not just the "Edge-hog" stereotype. I'd be up for another Shadow game, or a deeper story for him in one of the mainline games.

Spoiler if you haven't seen the second Sonic movie I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with him in the third movie. I really thought they did a great job with Knuckles in the second one!

@samuelvictor Yes, I think Jun Senoue is composer (or co composer) of the Frozen Junkyard track in Team Sonic Racing, which is great. I definitely feel it's something of the arrangement and instrumentation here, but it doesn't quite match the other aspects of the game for me. The SEGA blue skys are there, but the music feels slightly lacking.

Overall though, I think the game seems great and I really enjoy the call backs to the 8 and 16 bit titles. I know some have complained about the slower pace, but I like that as reminds me of Sonic 1 and the Master System games. I'm wanting to replay and explore the levels rather than speed through them in a linear path.

@Ristar24 I definitely feel that same way. Really happy you are enjoying it! 😀

At least better than these Lego Skins, I won't load.

@Nua ...he didn't. I was being a silly goose.

@Quiet2down I don't care what you think.