Sonic Superstars Multiplayer: A Bit of Chaos, A Ton of Fun

Sonic Superstars is the latest mainline entry in the long-running Sonic the Hedgehog series, and it delivers gameplay that comes straight out of the classic Mega Drive/Genesis era.

Of course, that’s not to say this is a straight-up return to the classic Sonic titles of the 90s as it does feature some brand-new additions. These include the Emerald Powers which add a twist to gameplay. Then there’s the multiplayer which allows more than one player to enjoy the game.

Sure, the game is quite fun as a single-player experience for long-time Sonic fans, but it also packs two main multiplayer features that give players a good reason to keep playing. After all, going fast with friends can be even more fun than just going fast on your own as Sonic.

To start, let’s go over why the game’s co-op multiplayer feature is a welcome game mode for players of all skill levels.

Yes, you can play the game in full with couch co-op

This new Sonic game is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. On all platforms, the game features a four-player drop-in drop-out local co-op for its main game mode. Yes, this means you can play the game in full with up to four players locally, meaning you can try this game out with friends and family.

That doesn’t mean all four players will play as Sonic though. Even in the single-player mode, players can choose between Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. Each player character has their own unique abilities. For instance, Sonic can roll to a dash after jumping. Meanwhile, Amy Rose can double jump and attack enemies with a hammer.

So, if there are four players, how does co-op work? Well, you might think that the game features split-screen for its co-op mode. But that’s not the case as the game has all four players play on just one screen.

That doesn’t mean all players must move in sync though (but that’s a fun challenge in its own right). Instead, there is one player who takes the lead, and players who get left behind can instantly respawn to the lead character. With this, players won’t have to fight for where to go as there is only one lead player and the other three can act as supporting players.

This does result in some chaotic gameplay. After all, if there are four Sonic veterans playing on one screen, chances are high that it’ll be quite difficult for everyone to keep at the same pace given the various twists and turns that the levels have.

Even with this chaotic element though, Sonic Superstars’ local co-op offers quite a bit of fun, especially if you think of it more like a fun party game instead of a serious game where pitch-perfect cooperation is needed. Plus, if you are in sync with your fellow couch co-op players, there’s a lot of entertainment to be had here.

Also, this mode might also be good to introduce someone new to the series if you’re a veteran. Think of it like this, because there’s one lead player, the newbie can simply follow so that they get a feel of the game. Who knows, this might just be the perfect mode to get someone hooked into the classic 2D Sonic the Hedgehog formula.

Take note though, that this co-op mode is available only in local play. Though this makes sense given how difficult it would be to communicate it this was made available offline.

On the flip side, the game does have a dedicated player-versus-player mode that’s made for online play.

Sonic Superstars also features a player-versus-player mode

So, what can you expect from the game’s PvP mode? Well, this is specifically called the Battle Mode, and it allows players to engage in minigames in local or online multiplayer.

Instead of going fast in the game’s levels, Battle Mode tasks players with creating robots that they can use to take part in minigames that include races, battles, and more.

This Battle Mode inclusion is a fun extra to try out if you want a break from going fast as Sonic. Much like the co-op mode, this Battle Mode is also fun if you think of it like a party game. It’s easy to imagine a gathering with friends where each person will take turns for these minigames.

The minigames here are fairly on the simple side, but in a way, that’s an advantage for a party setting as it means even non-experienced players can have fun.

Sonic Superstars multiplayer modes make for some fun extras

As a single-player title alone, Sonic Superstars is already a fun game, especially for fans of the old-school 2D Sonic titles. But with the addition of multiplayer, this latest Sonic game is even more of a compelling package, especially if you want to share your love for the iconic blue hedgehog with friends and family.

Sonic Superstars is available now on the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.