While plenty of popular video games have been released in recent years, it is uncommon for several game companies to release their major IP-intensive games at around the same time. With three important franchises releasing their games from Oct. 17-20 this year, avid players may benefit from an increased understanding of each game before choosing which one to play first.
“Sonic Superstars”
The Sonic the Hedgehog series has been trying to find its footing in the gaming industry for years now. After the overwhelming success of “Sonic Mania,” a game released in 2017, Sonic has been chasing the same high ever since, attaining mixed opinions from the gaming community.
Sega followed up on “Sonic Mania” with “Sonic Superstars,” released on Oct. 17. Sonic Superstars brings Sonic and his classic friends back to a 2-D platform. The game is filled with vibrant colors, creative level designs and twelve original zones to blast through.
While “Sonic Superstars” brings back a lot of what made classic Sonic great, some problems disappoint and frustrate players throughout.
The collectibles are tedious to obtain, the music quality is inconsistent and the game has some of the toughest bosses in the series, bringing the fast-paced adventure to a grinding halt.
Although “Sonic Superstars” is not the next “Sonic Mania,” the game still provides a solid adventure better than other recent Sonic content. “Sonic Superstars” is a creative ride fans can explore alone or with friends.
Rating: 7/10
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder”
The Super Mario series has had a bit of a hiatus in original 2-D platformers, with the latest one, “New Super Mario Bros. U,” released in 2012. Even then, fans were disappointed with the lack of creativity and charm in recently released games in the Super Mario series.
Thankfully, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is not another rehash of barebones Mario platforming.
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” was released on Oct. 20 and quickly drew widespread critical acclaim.
“Wonder” gives the Super Mario series a much-needed design update by changing the art style to a beautiful pastel style oozing charm from every corner.
With the addition of some creative new power-ups and a sleuth of badges, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is an exciting installment for players of all skill levels.
Rating: 8/10
Marvel’s “Spider-Man 2”
Superhero video games have been around for almost as long as gaming itself, with Marvel’s “Spider-Man” from Insomniac Games being one of the best in recent memory. The game had style and heart throughout the cinematic journey. With an expansive add-on and a whole side game, Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” fans have been waiting for a proper sequel to the widely popular game.
Marvel’s “Spider-Man 2” was released on Oct. 20 to overwhelming high praise. With an expanded map, updated gadget wheel, web wings add-on and streamlined skill trees, “Spider-Man 2” takes great strides to fix the imperfections of two already phenomenal games.
While the new outfits pale in comparison to the older titles, and despite a slight delay with the main objectives icons, Insomniac’s new take on the Venom story, “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2”, is the killer app for the Playstation 5.
Rating: 9/10
