Sonic Superstars Release Date
The Sonic Superstars release date is here, and it’s set to drop on October 17 – a date that, while not exactly packed, sees it sharing the limelight with plenty of high-profile releases. From Assassin’s Creed Mirage to Metal Gear Solid’s Master Collection, and of course the return of Detective Pikachu, there are plenty of big games set to release this month, and Sonic Superstars is right at the centre of it.
With a Sonic game set to release alongside Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the reimagined 2D sidescroller marks a significant milestone for the Mario franchise, and will likely generate significant buzz and attention as a result. It’s a risky move from Sega, given that Superstars will face competition from a number of high-profile games, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder in particular.
Historical Struggles
Historically, Sonic has struggled against Mario. The introduction of 3D Mario games in the 90s and 00s put the blue hedgehog in a tough spot, as he was clearly struggling to keep pace with Mario’s evolution.
Sonic fans have seen their blue hero take on the big red plumber time and again, and historically, he’s not exactly come out on top. Even when Nintendo was stuck in 2D, Mario games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World clearly felt like a step up from the Sonic games of the era.
So releasing a new Sonic game on the same day as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which will undoubtedly generate a lot of buzz and attention, is perhaps a risky move from Sega. There are two options here, and they’re not mutually exclusive: either Sega has great confidence in Superstars, or it lacks faith in the game, and thinks it can be overshadowed by other releases.
Personally, I would have delayed Superstars by a month and put it out in November, when Sega traditionally puts out its Sonic games. That way, it avoids Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and gets the November release all to itself. It would also give it a little more time to polish the game.
Regardless, I’m a long-time Sonic fan and I’m going to play Superstars. I’m optimistic, and I hope it’s a great game. But I know that many people will have to choose between the two, and history suggests that Mario will be the more popular choice.
It’s certainly not the first time that’s happened, and I hope that, if Superstars turns out to be a real gem, it will be able to stand on its own two feet and win players over. It’s by no means a foregone conclusion that Mario will come out on top. It certainly won’t be easy.
Find out more about the Sonic Superstars release date here. Check out all the other big games releasing this month here.
