Sonic Superstars was originally going to be yet another collaboration with the beloved team behind Sonic Mania. According to media outlet Video Games Chronicle, SEGA approached Christian Whitehead and developer Headcannon with the project, but "plans fell through". Following this, it was decided that the original creator of Sonic the Hedgehog would be in charge of the development of Sonic Superstars. Naoto Oshima showed interest in making a new Sonic game with his studio, Arzest, with the director having worked on the first Sonic game and Sonic CD doing level design, and his studio having experience with games like Yoshi's New Island and Hey! Pikmin. Longtime Sonic Team leader Takashi Iizuka said that Jun Senoue will be creating the soundtrack, with outside help from Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes.

Source

 

[SylverReZ]

Is there a stage where you launder money?

 

[Kevbo]

Really not sure about this anymore. I feel Sega is just milking the success of Mania and leaving the devs in the dust I did like some of the games his studio put out though. Time will tell.

 

[CeeDee]

Considering Headcannon publicly spoke about the work conditions and crunch involved with remaking Sonic 3 for Origins... have to wonder if that kind of work environment is why plans fell through.

 

[Chary]

I have zero interest in this game. SEGA has proven time and time again that they don't know what they're doing with 2D Sonic, and even if they're outsourcing this, they couldn't get the game off the ground with the guys known for being the only capable devs of making a good 2D Sonic game, so what's the point?

So, yeah, skip.

 

[Portrait]

Half wager that "plans fells through" because headcannon required the contract to stipulate no denuvo or equivalent drm, and sega refused to budge, given they never willingly remove denuvo from anything.

 

[Xzi]

Mixed signals from this one for sure. The trailer looked great, but Arzest was co-lead developer on Balan Wonderworld, so not exactly the best pedigree there.

 

[tech3475]

Really, as soon as Mania was a success Sega should have been ‘shut up and take my money’.

Despite mixed feelings over Mania, I’d sooner trust the Mania devs to deliver a game I like over Sega/Sonic Team themselves.

 

[dcx6723]

lol

 

[Marc_LFD]

Sounds like quality is going to take a hit and it won't be pleasant. I just hope Sonic doesn't feel heavy like he did in previous games which made it painful and tiresome to play it, sometimes so much I just gave up.

Sega being cheapskate, what's new.

 

[tech3475]

Sounds like quality is going to take a hit and it won't be pleasant. I just hope Sonic doesn't feel heavy like he did in previous games which made it painful and tiresome to play it, sometimes so much I just gave up.

Sega being cheapskate, what's new.

I do wonder if this is just going to turn into Sonic 4 Episode 3.

 

[MikaDubbz]

"The director having worked on the first Sonic game and Sonic CD doing level design"

This is not a point in this game's favor. The level design in CD is probably most consistently the worst in all the 2D Sonic games. And beyond Green Hill Zone, the level design of the original game was always forgettable to straight up bad.

I do think the game looks exciting in principle, and this guy has likely learned a lot since Sonic 1 and CD. Still, the fact that he was responsible for those 2 games' level design is immediately concerning.

 

[CeeDee]

i will not stand for Sonic CD slander

 

[MikaDubbz]

i will not stand for Sonic CD slander

Hey don't be mad, I do like CD overall for some weird reason. I think the concept of traveling through time always gave the game a lot of extra charm and personality. Plus ya gotta love the soundtrack and animated intro.

 

[tech3475]

i will not stand for Sonic CD slander

Sonic CD is mediocre, overrated and the USA soundtrack beyond Sonic Boom sucks, change my mind.

 

[Rahkeesh]

Sonic CD is mediocre, overrated and the USA soundtrack beyond Sonic Boom sucks, change my mind.

Its a billion times better than Sonic 4, which is where expectations are at right now.

 

[tech3475]

Its a billion times better than Sonic 4, which is where expectations are at right now.

I said mediocre, not ****.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Its a billion times better than Sonic 4, which is where expectations are at right now.

Almost anything is better than Sonic 4 Episode 1/2.

However, the Android/WP versions of Sonic 4 Episode 1/2 are actually pretty fun (imo) because the gameplay feels fast just like an actual Sonic game and the WP version is almost akin to a GBA/DS game.



And the Android/iOS version:



Why Sega (well, Dimps developed it) made the PC/Console versions slower than Android/iOS/WP is a mystery.

 

[Bladexdsl]

it's doomed we all know how Balan Wonderworld turned out

 

[ZachariasBarnham]

Welp, that, as they say, is that.

Sega's gonna Sega. It makes me wonder sometimes....