Sega Reveals Sonic Superstars' First Six Zone Names

Sega shares the names of the first six zones that fans will play through in the upcoming co-op platformer Sonic Superstars.

Sega has unveiled the names and some details of the first six Zones that players will run through in the upcoming Sonic Superstars. This entry will be a revisit to the Genesis days of the franchise, being a 2D platformer like 2017's Sonic Mania. Unlike Sonic Mania, Sonic Superstars has a bigger emphasis on co-op multiplayer platforming action, allowing for four playable characters on screen at once. Another distinction it has from Sonic Mania is a focus on brand-new Zones.

One of the big complaints of recent Sonic games, including Sonic Forces, Sonic Frontiers, and even Sonic Mania, was the reuse of familiar level aesthetic and designs. There was some heated discourse regarding the reuse of the Sonic franchise's famous Green Hill Zone, where fans disliked the reliance on it as a means of nostalgia, especially when it kept appearing in the aforementioned games that many wished for Sega to come up with something new instead of relying on the familiar level. Shortly after Sonic Superstars was revealed, Sega stated that all the Zones found in this game will be brand-new and original, with the first six Zone names and their themes now revealed.

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In a preview piece from Game Informer, Sonic Team creative head Takashi Iizuka explained that since Sonic Superstars is on a brand-new island, they planned on having all-new stages right out of the gate. While the game won't have Green Hill or Chemical Plant Zone, there are some stages that feature similar themes and aesthetics that call back to some of these, just with a different take. The first zone for example, Bridge Island Zone, is similar to other first level zones from past 2D Sonic games, but takes place on a beach instead of a grassy plain. The acts also change the environmental atmosphere, such as transitioning from daytime to a sunset between Act 1 and 2.

Following Bridge Island is Speed Jungle, where the level features vines that Sonic and his friends can grind on to travel to different areas in the Acts. Next up is Sky Temple Zone, which is inspired by Sky Sanctuary and Windy Valley, with the stage also appearing to be a single long level that is nine minutes long according to the interviewer. Pinball Carnival takes place after that, which is a classic Casino-inspired Sonic level. Lagoon City is the classic Water level, where the Chaos Emerald Water power shines best, and the desert level is known as Sand Sanctuary.

The interviewer was forced to stop playing after Sand Sanctuary, but was given the names and some screenshots of two more levels in Sonic Superstars: Press Factory and Golden Capital Zone. Press Factory appears to be one of Eggman's bases, where players have to contend with a rickety area filled with robots, while Golden Capital seems to be some sort of castle with lava traps underneath.

Sonic Superstars launches in Fall 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Source: Game Informer

Freelance writer and enthusiastic gamer regarding all things Sonic, Mario, Yakuza, Persona, and much more.