Sonic Superstars is not a new game. It is a collection of three older Sonic games, each given a fresh coat of paint and a new frame rate. The package lands on Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PC, and PS5, and it asks players to choose between nostalgia and novelty. Most of the time, the novelty wins.
Trailer, via Sonic the Hedgehog.
The Three Games Inside
The collection splits into three parts. The first is a remaster of Sonic CD, the Sega Genesis game that let players change the past to shape the future. The second is a remaster of Sonic Mania, a fan-made project turned official that brought together stages from the classic Sonic games. The third is a brand-new game built around Sonic’s history, letting players pick characters from across the series for a fresh adventure.
Each game runs at a smooth frame rate, and each looks sharper than it did on its original hardware. That is the easy part of the collection. The harder question is whether the new framing adds enough to justify the purchase.
Sonic CD and the Time Loop
Sonic CD is the standout. Its time-loop structure, where players can go back and alter the past to change the present, still feels clever today. The remaster preserves that structure without changing it, and the improved visuals make the levels easier to read. The game is short, but it earns its place in the collection.
Sonic Mania is the other strong entry. It gathers stages from Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, and it does so with care. The level design holds up, and the new frame rate makes the action feel faster and more precise. It is a solid way to revisit the series’ early years.
Sonic Superstars and the New Game
The third game is where the collection stumbles. Sonic Superstars takes the idea of character choice from Sonic Mania and pushes it further, letting players pick Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Silver, and others for each stage. The idea is sound, but the execution is thin. Levels repeat with minor changes depending on who is running them, and the variety promised by the roster never fully delivers.
The difficulty curve also shifts depending on which character is chosen. Some stages feel generous with Tails, while others punish Silver with harsh timing windows. The result is a game that tries to be accessible to everyone but ends up frustrating those looking for a real challenge.
Presentation and Performance
Across all three games, the presentation is consistent. The menus are clean, the load times are short, and the frame rate holds steady during play. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the collection runs at a smooth pace. On PS4 and PC, performance dips are rare but noticeable during busy scenes.
The audio is faithful to the originals, with familiar tracks and sound effects carried over without loss. It is a technically solid package, even if the content beneath the surface is mixed.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The strengths of Sonic Superstars are its technical polish and its respect for the source material. The weaknesses are the uneven quality of the new game and the repetition that sets in once the novelty wears off. Players who have not touched Sonic CD or Sonic Mania before will find plenty to enjoy. Those who have will likely see this as a convenient package rather than a reason to return.
The collection is best enjoyed in short sessions. Sitting through all three games back to back reveals the seams, but playing one at a time lets each shine on its own terms.
Key Facts
- Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
- Games included: Sonic CD, Sonic Mania, Sonic Superstars
- Score: 7.7/10
Sonic Superstars is a competent package that respects its source material while adding enough new content to justify the purchase for longtime fans. It is not a revolution, but it is a solid addition to the Sonic library.
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