Sonic Mania VS Sonic Superstars - Which Game is Best? (The answer may surprise you!)

[@wAABBsif]

I think Mania's splashes of creativity are far better than the dull painting that Superstars is in comparison.

[@kaobunn]

makes sense you'd say that

[@bulletcola7890]

@user-hq7js2wf7hsonic Manias new zone have MUCH more going for them in their themes in terms originality compared to Superstars, despite Mania being designed as sort of a rehash sort of game since it’s a return of the Classic formula. Oh and the past zones also usually have a unique mix in its act 2’s.

[@hankosanko]

@@bulletcola7890 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BitCoin-iu6sp]

Superstar Makes Sonic look slow and the OST is too generic. Classic Sonic always had music that reflected the pop music of the current times

[@vegitoeditzz_]

I think mania and creativity shouldnt be in the same sentence

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

You know what. I really disagree when people discredit mania for reusing past zones. Because I would rather play manias version of the past zones over the game they originally appeared in. The versions of the zones in mania are objectively better. they put so much effort, love, music and detail into improving the past zones. There hidden details within the level backgrounds themselves. like how in stardust speedway and metallic madness you can see the bad future being made in progress with eggmans return. Small stuff like that. Not to mention manias versions of the zones got rid of annoying slow down gimmicks. Mania improved these zones so much and gave them new life. We never expected metallic madness to return but they made it into something special and thats a feat in itself. And lets not forget how well the new zones play into the old ones. Titanic monarch being final fever is such a cool thing to me and it being located in metallic madness. Mirage saloon being the desert outside oil ocean. Studiopolis being the city in the background of chem plant. I could go on and on. I really wish sonic superstars didn't have annoying slowdown gimmicks and had a better soundtrack. That really disappointed me and its why I replay mania more than I've played superstars

[@ninjdraw8305]

Agreed with a lot of this. A lot of people seem to focus on the "originality" of Superstars when it isnt originality alone that makes a level. The level design philosophy of Superstars where they constantly throw a gimmick in there to slow down the experience was so annoying 😫 I dont want to be a squid right now, I dont want to wait for that thing in the background to stomp the ground so i can keep playing, i dont want to slowly float around these lasers to continue playing the level, i dont want to wait for the wind to boost me up so i can keep playing. Then theres the ones that dont slow down the gameplay and instead just straight up suck like the Speed Jungle light butterfly thing or the rotating ball things you use to launch yourself in (i think) Press Factory Act 2, something included in Sonic Mania but with significantly worse controls here. This games constant "stop and go" philosophy made me stop playing midway through Trips story.

[@JoMaTo1]

Honestly, I don't really see reusing old zones as a bad thing and would like to see it more. However, when reusing zones, they should be improved or built on somehow, and they should not just be the most known ones reused again and again. Also, even though Superstars had original zones, they didn't really fit together. I mean, with a few exceptions, there were barely any transitional cutscenes between the zones, and they don't really feel connected. Granted, the original Sonic the Hedgehog did it do, but after games like Mania and even Sonic 1 for the Master System/Game Gear have done these kinds of connections, do we really need to devolve.

[@maccamachine]

Real

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

@@JoMaTo1 I do agree with you.I think people often forget how well mania improved the past zones, New act 2 themes, new level backgrounds that add more to the story. They can reuse zones as long as they aren't doing the same ones over again. I wouldn't mind seeing underused locations return. If mania can make metallic madness and oil ocean fun zones, (that rap in metallic madness is still brought up to this day, just goes to show how well it was in mania) than I bet they could also have brought back other zones that where not very popular and make them actually fun to play. I also agree, Alot of superstars feels really disconnected from each other From soundtrack to zone themes. which is my issue. In mania, Despite most of the zones taking place far away from each other, found ways to explain this. Like the phantom ruby teleporting or the way the new zones connect into the old.

[@kaobunn]

so we're gonna excuse reusing zones now as long as they have a twist????

[@Ari-Stotl]

People trashing on mania for using old zones are completely forgetting one thing: While Act 1 is a return to the zone's origins, Act 2 puts a modern spin on the zone by adding a completely new mechanic to it. The bouncy gels in chemical plant, the burning fog in Oil Ocean, flying battery's inside/outside, etc. Some zones (the CD zones, Speedway and Madness) flip this formula around. They put the new stuff in the first act and upgrade the original stuff in the second. They all upgrade the old and add something new.

[@seriesx9508]

​@ohosmandivine6770We dont know Sonic Mania's digital sales. We only know that it sold over a Million in its first week. And it sold more than Superstars. When Mania comes to mobile we will get sales numbers. Sonic 2 remastered sold 150 million on mobile. I expect Mania to destroy Sonic Superstars. Sega may keep digital sales a secret, but the Apple and Android app store reports it

[@best_mate456]

That is still reusing the aesthetics

[@alphetti4348]

@@best_mate456no doy It’s a celebration game It’s not like it’s shamelessly rehashing the aesthetics and calling them entirely new zones while shoe horning gimmicks that don’t belong with music that tries so hard to replicate the genesis soundfont

[@theinktician]

@@best_mate456 if aesthetics are the problem. every game from the 2010s is guilty. The only one that didnt bring back green hill and chemical plant was Lost World - and Windy Hill shares a striking resemblance. On the topic of aesthetics, Superstars using classic designs gets an excuse too? What about copied and pasting portions of levels?

[@camocaplamo]

It’s a complete double standard to criticize other games for reusing old level themes but also defend Sonic mania for doing the same thing You can’t criticize a game like Sonic forces for reusing levels and then turn around and praise Sonic mania for its reused levels Pick a lane And let people criticize Sonic mania already Sonic mania is a critically acclaimed game that’s been out for years it doesn’t need your defense

[@RM2011ish]

Mania is honestly my #1 favorite Sonic game. No contest. I don't care if they recycled Zones. They added enough new touches to make them feel fresh again. It's a MUCH better game in execution than Superstars. Plus, Tee Lopes' OST is God Tier. The Special stages are my favorite in the series and the new Zones slap hard. Superstars was admirable and tried new things, but it experimented with so much and it didn't really pay off in the end for me. It was fun, but very inconsistent.

[@ChannelPup]

Completely respectable perspective!

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

my problem with superstars new zones is that Alot of them are just knock offs of existing zones. For example, Lagoon city is just a worse version of hydrocity, they even stole part of its theme which annoys me because every time I hear that part in the soundtrack I expect to hear the eargasmic hydrocity but then its replaced with something else. I will give credit to speed jungle, golden capital, cyber city and press factory zone for having really unique ideas. as much as I hate playing press factory act 2, it really has a cool background. I may not like the music of golden capital but I can give credit for it being a really unique idea of being a giant golden smelting plant I will say, I would like to see more levels like mania did it, Manias original zones where actually creative. Studiopolis being a movie studio, Mirage saloon being a giant bar, press garden being a printing press in the middle of a red forest in the snow, titanic monarch being a giant robot. Stuff like that. Of course theres nothing wrong with having more normal settings, But just reusing past level tropes and not really innovating on them is not really new

[@anyaforger8484]

ahahaha your tripping no way you say golden capital was a good zone you can explain me why ?@@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778

[@AltairEgo1]

​@@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778Lagoon City reminds me more of Aqua Lake, but yeah, it has sections very much like Hydrocity

[@TravisLee33]

Question, did you grow up on 2D Sonic specifically Sonic 123 or CD?

[@nerdcastproductions5778]

Man pup, the consistency in which you put out quality content is so appreciated

[@ChannelPup]

Thank you! That means a lot.

[@allanjohnstone5258]

As a fan who grew up with classic sonic and spending years and years assuming we would never get any more, I'm just happy to have two new classic sonic games, both of high quality. Both games do different things, both games are great fun to play and are very good classic sonic games in their own right.

[@With2Ls]

I’m still gonna watch the video because I love your content but it’s obviously mania it has so much love put into it and is so good whereas superstars feels corporate and boring

[@ninjdraw8305]

For the features section, everything superstars does feels so undercooked it hurts. With the skins im pretty sure everyone (including me) expected a lot more but what we got was barely much, everything in the robot shop is too expensive to really have fun with, the online battle mode it takes barely any time before it gets dry because of how limited the games are (it shouldve straight up just been a race mode instead of a little minigame collection), and the actual local multiplayer is straight up doodoo cheeks. Ive seen people compare it to the New Soup Mario games but thats not even a competition. Idk how many of those people actually played New Soup multiplayer, but that shii has always been a blast with the fun coming from the chaos. Always fighting each other, and never the camera. Mania i think takes the cake with features including medals to unlock extras, an actual competitive race mode, the 2 extra playable characters, and an extra little mode with each of these features being fully thought out and realized. Mania set out to do something with each of its features and did it, while Superstars felt like it gave up half way through the idea.

[@mechajay3358]

Mania most definitely, Superstars is a solid game on it's own, but I personally continue to go back to Mania. Its just overall a more perfect game.

[@jdr4503]

Sonic Superstars is amazing. Why/how would a sonic fan hate on it? I love Mania just as much but so many reused zones does maybe allow Superstars to surpass it

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

I think the hate mainly comes down to people getting stuck on trips fang boss and then after that they started raging about all the bosses. If you look online it is all they whine about. The bosses arent even that hard, they arent that long and they are so much more interesting then older sonic 2d bosses

[@jdr4503]

@charg1nmalaz0r51 you're probably right. They did go a little overboard with that final boss. But yeah the rest of them are really cool

[@SonicTheCutehog]

You know how everyone says Superstars has more originality than Mania, I'd say it's the opposite. Mania's new zones are much more creative and fresh than any of the zones Superstars has and even the returning zones have interesting new mechanics. Majority of Superstars zones feel like themes we've already been through so many times before.

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

the idea of a printing press, movie studio, giant eggman robot and saloon are more creative zone themes than what superstars gives

[@EzekielBread-fv1xc]

those zones actually reference old zones and one scrapped zone, fun fact. even though i think superstars zones are pretty original, we all have opinions.

[@agentomecha634]

I do think Sonic Mania is the better game overall. However, I don’t find myself going back to play it often. With Sonic Superstars, it’s not as polished as Mania, but I find it more interesting to play through. Plus, Mania relies on a lot of nostalgia and reuse of levels from older Sonic games whereas Superstars tries to do something more original with newer stages and gimmicks. This is just my opinion on the matter.

[@JaysonJeansChannelTM]

This is how I feel towards the two games as well. While Mania is better, I appreciate the originality and gimmicks Superstars had done over Mania. Heck, I 100% Superstars and enjoyed every moment of it while finding it extremely difficult to even boot up Mania.

[@joe_mama__]

@@JaysonJeansChannelTM Mania is way more original than Superstars

[@Far2Sega4U]

Curious, have you tried the Time Attack in Superstars?

[@KnucklesWTD-uu3ps]

Most people playing Mania cant even identify the reused levels except Green Hill. If my cousin asked me for a Sonic game, I'd say Mania

[@KnucklesWTD-uu3ps]

​​@@joe_mama__The way I see it, if my buddy across the street asked me to recommend a Sonic game, I'd say Mania. Thats what a regular everyday person would enjoy more. While people on the internet always argue and have contrarian takes, all that matters is,what general public believe

[@GiovanniKody100]

Mania: It’s Mania. 10/10! Well, 9/10 because I’m so mean! Superstars: It’s not Mania. 0/10! Well, 1/10 because I’m so nice! Discount “It’s not Melee” joke aside, both games are good in their own way.

[@saniquinho10]

1/10?

[@GiovanniKody100]

@@saniquinho10 yep, 1/10 because i’m so nice (it’s a bfdi 4 reference)

[@zenderwi]

My boi pup comin straight from the adhd hyperfixation content mines!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ChannelPup]

I'm here with my pickaxe!

[@jateyboi1108]

This comment is way to relatable

[@alphetti4348]

Honestly I don’t care that mania’s returning levels are “not original” like no doy it’s a celebration game 🤷‍♂️, id rather take returning levels than ones that aren’t that creative And even then I think the original levels in mania beat out all of superstars only by sheer creativity

[@cakelayer]

Ones that aren't creative? How absolutely biased and blind do you have to actually be? Mania LITERALLY REUSES LEVEL DESIGN 1 TO 1 WITH ALMOST NO DIFFERENCES, absolute hypocrite, why is every Sonic Fan so hypocritical? Sonic Mania is almost completely unoriginal yet everyone praises it like the messiah and any classic game that tries to be different in any way like having the homing attack or having slightly different tweaked physics makes it instantly dogpiled on and if you dare say said games are better than the precious FLAWLESS genesis games people grew up with, you're called not a true sonic fan, Sonic Fans are so toxic, elitist and hard to please

[@AdonAdaniel]

@@cakelayer your comment is the long version of “please stop saying dumbass things! You are not even making sense” and then immediately get bent by Sonic Mania’s ost. Or literally anything Sonic Mania does. It’s not my fault you don’t recognize quality when you see one.

[@ProwerVolt]

Personally, i do appreciate Superstars for its originality, but i just don't like the level design. the first zone is absolutely amazing, but from there to me it just gets boring. i haven't finished the game due to how i wasn't enjoying it, so maybe it'll look up by the end once i get around to it, but even as a sonic fanatic, i'm personally just not a fan of Superstars. in a game where you're supposed to go fast, find ways to beat high score times, and have good reactions, Superstars takes a spin i'm not a fan of where it makes you have to stop and solve mini puzzles and stuff like in Press Factory. I just don't like the forced gimmicks in the levels, and the fact that while it used mania's physics, you don't get to notice that because the idea of going fast conflicts with the majority of the game where you're taking your time.

[@HyperSuck771]

I’d wait a few years to have this conversation. Let superstars sit with us for a bit and let all the biases and drama around this game go away. See how much we revisit these games after 1 month, a year, and beyond. Then and only then will this be a necessary and fair conversation

[@kaobunn]

i think channel pup let the game sit enough with him at this point

[@HyperSuck771]

@@kaobunn I mean people keep bringing up the point that they don't return to Mania all that often after it released years ago. We haven't even had the opportunity to see if people would go back to superstars in that same amount of time

[@Digital-um6nu]

​@@HyperSuck771I dont think random comments on the internet represent what most gamers think. Sonic Superstars has to actually sell well for a proper argument to be made

[@Digital-um6nu]

Back in 2009 people kept bringing up that they are boycotting Sonic if Jason Griffith and 4Kids cast dont get fired and replaced by Sonic Adventure cast. Sonic sales didnt increase after Griffith got replaced. Thats why these random comments on the internet mean nothing

[@MB-cb2he]

​@@Digital-um6nuThe internet says Sonic games are not good or that there are only a couple good Sonic games

[@L47Le]

Mania is destroying superstars

[@boomprower]

Nah.

[@Cearaagora193]

Superstars is better man😊

[@miyukihikawa18]

Agree

[@boomprower]

@@miyukihikawa18 wrong.

[@boomprower]

@@Cearaagora193 🤣💀

[@thehedgehognerd]

Easy answer.....BOSSES IN SUPERSTARS SUCK, and tho I prefer Superstars over Mania because it has original content and new art style.......but Mania feels more fair and less unfair in terms of level design and bosses

[@kaobunn]

your discussion videos are so fun and so interesting to watch ngl id easily sit here and watch a full video on you ranking every costume in frontiers and superstars or something like that lol its just that fun to listen to you talk about things great video and i agree with it!

[@AlexanTheMan]

Mania without question. Superstars is pretty good but it went too fad ahead with the co-op game design without optimizing actual co-op camera control itself, making co-op not particularly attractive. So elements like boss battles are brought down for single player mode.

[@malharezyoutube]

29:24 to fix this we got Bridge Zone, Jungle Zone, Sky Canyon Zone (from Sonic Advance 2), Carnival Night, Hydrocity, Sandopolis, Oil Ocean, Marble Zone, Cyber Track, Metropolis/ Ice Cap, and Sonic 3's Death Egg. These are based on themes mostly. Thank me later, pup.

[@VampireA1056]

I think Mania is better but at least Superstars doesn't rehash levels for the 30th time

[@Encore2017]

Sonic blast is actully sonic 2D blast

[@crackheadspeedway6788]

LMAO

[@Catohat52]

Sonic mania for sure that game is awesome I love it superstar is very disappointing but hey my opinion

[@jaretco6423]

Yeah. I'm gonna have to pick Mania as an better choice. It does reused most of the zones. But they added gimmicks or different layouts that at least looks different than what they originally were. They have better level designs, musics, content and plenty more. Superstar is nowhere near that same level as Mania or 3&K has and since it costs 3× more than Mania has, it's very depressing.

[@jonathanc2959]

I was and still concerned by Superstars quality because Arzest made Balan Wonderworld and we all know how that game turned out reception and sales wise but I will admit Superstars can get improved upon but it 100% needs to have as much development time possible to test and polish the game before release.

[@SAGEtheGOD01]

its personal preference, i like super stars more the bosses are longer and the final bosses on the main story and Trips story can be pawned easily with all seven Chaos Emeralds. Plus I like the dragon boss u fight with Super Sonic after Trips Story, also the fact that Trip has her own original Super form besides Sonic.

[@jdh9419]

You are the first person I've met who actually *likes* the longer bosses

[@nickcaruso3052]

@@jdh9419 what’s the point of a boss if you can just spam with I frames and cheese half the time? Mania has equally as long boss fights in most cases but no one talks about that, I don’t see the issue of a boss fight being a boss fight. I just wish it was only during the second act so it isn’t as egregious, I bet people would complain a lot less

[@jdh9419]

@@nickcaruso3052 Hey, I never stated my opinion on this matter. Just that I hadn’t yet seen someone with the opinion of the original poster

[@nickcaruso3052]

@@jdh9419 well I’d assume you come from a different stance if you haven’t found someone with the same sentiment as op? That was my assumption

[@jdh9419]

@@nickcaruso3052 I don't have a preference between the longer bosses and the shorter ones. I just hadn't yet seen anyone with a preference for the longer bosses

[@XTHHedgehog]

Honestly, gotta go with Superstars. More playable characters (before Plus), original stages, proper multiplayer, fun level gimmicks, and honestly looks better to me. I also love the Special Stages and the use of individual abilities for the Chaos Emeralds.

[@JeffreyLor-ex9zr]

I agree

[@anyaforger8484]

i find the game ugly as fuck (texture) slow and they are no news mechanique and the boss are so boring bro and the game have the difficulty of nes game for me is the most insistent sonic of all 2D sonic but hey everyone have different taste

[@MB-cb2he]

Superstars is quite ugly

[@MacUser2-il2cx]

I like Mania more but I don't hate Superstars either. Honestly it's nice to talk about GOOD Sonic games in the post modern age. :D

[@gamejitzu]

The combo instrument music was actually pretty good. Especially if they were solely made to prove a single point in a lengthy video

[@AnimalXing]

I’m shocked you managed to make this an hour-long discussion. Mania for sure

[@Y0gi4]

Subjectively, Superstars was really fun but it doesn’t hold a candle to Mania. Nostalgia aside Mania is THE best 2D Sonic game.

[@Hyp3rSonic]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles???

[@Y0gi4]

@ awesome game. A true favorite. Subjectively I think Sonic Mania is the best Sonic 2D game ever. It took what 3&K, 2 etc built and expanded upon it. Borrowing and original concepts alike. Nothing about this is objective other than thankful for Sonic the Hedgehog!

[@liefdenhaezer3359]

i don't get it. i really don't sonic superstars had so many problems and was full price even tho it's a 40$ game at best and some ppl who ripped apart sonic frontiers are way nicer to this game even tho this game shouldn't have the problems it does since it's based off of the very consistent classic style. i don't get it great video tho

[@HopeReviews]

Great video, haven't watched this channel in a while. Gonna start watching more often :p

[@poohwithtimbs7027]

Okay imma be honest. Although yes Mania does bring more refinement to the classic style of Sonic, I feel it played way too safe in everything it does like the abilities, levels, boss mechanics etc..... I can see Sonic Mania as good for someone who's never played a Sonic game before but it's not perfect like many KZbinrs and Sonic fans claim to be. It played it too safe and in my opinion got boring. Although Sonic Super Stars is by no means perfect regarding soundtrack, story or gimmicks, it at least tried something new and that's what I appreciate in this game more than Sonic Mania. It has new abilities which although not perfect, gave more replayability in the stages, new levels are just an A plus, and a new character Trip is just amazing as I love her play style and character. I just felt people only liked Sonic Mania by either nostalgia bait or the people who made it rather than the game's identity itself which can be annoying, especially since Super Stars just came out and people are already saying it's sub par at best. I just wish people gave Super Stars a chance.

[@roiitzkovich4545]

I can respect the effort put into this video. However, all the different modes and the story/premise aren't really major factors when judging a Sonic game. Music and graphics might be more relevant, but what people are REALLY looking for a solid campaign (level design, special stages and bosses). While I can see why people will prefer Mania, I actually prefer Superstars. This is my comparison: 1. Level design- I actually don't care that Mania reused old stages and layouts. If it's fun, that's all that matters. I enjoy cyberspace stages from Frontiers, and 20 of these are reused. They are derivitive, but good level design is still good level design. Same goes for Mania. It borrows good levels, so the level design, by default, is good. What I DO have an issue with is just how much automated segments Mania loves to spam. Whether it's the enormous amount of slopes (where you just press down to roll downhills) or the gimmicks that barely require any player interactivity, Mania seems to be too obsessed with speed, while not putting too much attention into how actual platforming is involved. Take Studiopolis for example: The Sega popcorn machines are automated, the radio launchers are like Oil Ocean launchers (AKA automated). And this isn't exclusive to Studiopolis. The bouncy ropes in Press Garden often lock you into a certain direction and can block progression. The freezers have you sliding inside an ice cube for a while (I know you can escape, but sometimes it's mendatory for progression). The boats in Hydrocity make the stage slower. The guns in Mirage Saloon send you forward so much that you skip some of the level. And literally THE ENTIRETY of Titanic Monarch is a collection of gimmicks and hazards that require minimal input from the player. Why do this? I wanna play the game dammit! The other classic games have automation too, but in Mania it genuinely feels like 50% of it is automated. I also don't like how long some stages are. Stages like Flying Battery, Oil Ocean, Lava Reef and Titanic Monarch last for too long (7-8 minutes per act, unless you speedrun it), to the point of exhaustion. It's like Sandopolis from 3&K. As a result of that, Mania is quite unreplayable for me. I don't get the urge to go back to it. My last playthrough was 2 years ago, and it was only my 6th in total. Meanwhile, Superstars doesn't often rely on automation to push the player forward. There IS some automation, but it's only 20% of the game. I feel much more involved in the levels I'm playing, which helps to keep the excitement going. Throughout my 6 playthroughs of Superstars, I didn't find myself pressing down to roll all that much, nor did I say to myself: "Well, time to put down the controller for 30 seconds and let gimmicks carry me through the stage" (at least, nowhere near as much as I said it to myself while playing Mania). I also love how stages aren't quite as long. Even the somewhat long stages like Golden Capital and Egg Fortress won't go over 6 minutes per act. All of this makes for a game that's more replayable to me. I played both games 6 times by now, but take into consideration that Superstars is merely 2 months old, whereas Mania is 6 YEARS old. Even now, I feel a stronger urge to go back to superstars simply for how good the gameplay flows. Less automation and more balanced stage length go a long way to make a game easier to pick. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Special stages- This one is tricky. In terms of which one is more enjoyable IN A VACUUM, the UFO races in Mania are better than the swinging arenas in Superstars. HOWEVER, special stages aren't exactly the focus of the gameplay. It's all about the stages you play. When I look at which special stage format I prefer, I think about which one compliments the game flow better, since the flow of the campaign is what matters most. The special stages in Superstars are very quick if you know what you're doing and time your swings well enough. You can finish plenty of them in a few seconds. All you need is to understand the strategy and practice skill. Mania's special stages often last as long as some of the actual stages, which makes them often drag a bit (especially if you do several of them in one stage). And in a game where many stages already drag, it only makes this issue worse. So, while I think the UFO races are more fun than the swinging arenas, in the context of the games they are in, I DO prefer the swinging arenas. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Bosses- The bosses in Superstars aren't too bad if you use the emerald powers, and Tails and Amy have easier time with them for their aerial advantage. You can skip a lot of the waiting by using these powers. And it's not like you're just waiting for a while doing nothing. You still have to dodge attacks and pay attention. I don't really get bored fighting them. The devs even lowered the amount of hits you need to land on the bosses to make up for the inability to attack them multiple times. The final bosses for the main campaign and Trip's campaign and great tests of patience and reflexes where these's almost never a dull moment. And... c'mon... let's not pretend like Mania didn't have some long bosses with a lot of waiting too. The Puyo Puyo boss (cool as a reference, but drawn out gameplay-wise), the auto-scroller boss in Studiopolis act 1, the Metal Sonic fight, the Hydrocity act 2 boss, the Mirage Saloon act 1 boss on the Tornado, The Oil Ocean act 2 boss and the final boss all have you do some waiting for openings. Admittedly, Mania has the less pace-breaking bosses. But when I look at the overall image, I don't think Superstars's bosses are such a huge drop in quality. The only 3 bosses I DO flat-out hate in Superstars are the Sand Sanctuary boss, the auto-scroller fight with Fang and the purple dragon (the former 2 I hate for them being long and drawn-out, while the purple dragon is too luck-based). ------------------------------------------------------------- So overall, I DO prefer Superstars, but I can recognize it boils down to my preferences when it comes to Sonic game design.

[@anyaforger8484]

i personnaly hate the game and pu a 3/10 but its my opinion and sonic mania is for me the top 3 best sonic game all time

[@roiitzkovich4545]

@@anyaforger8484 OK. I disagree, but whatever.

[@PlatformPanic8369]

I say, superstars is better than mania if the bosses weren’t so aggravating.

[@saniquinho10]

Yes

[@MrH1pster]

I prefer Superstars. This is coming from someone who bought Mania on every platform I own and beaten it more times than I can count. I adore Mania and I think it and Superstars are mostly equal in terms to how I enjoy them. But the thing that separates them is that, to me at least, Superstars felt like an evolution to the 2D games, while Mania felt like a tribute and further refining of the Classics it wants to adapt. But I can easily see why one would prefer Mania or vice versa, it’s all up to personal taste.

[@Stickboy321Go]

Finally, someone who knows what an original good game is

[@jaretco6423]

Shame that Superstar isn't nearly as well polished as Mania in terms of the level designs, bosses & other parts of the gameplay. Not to mentioned the co-op sucks.

[@Stickboy321Go]

@@jaretco6423 Sonic Superstars has good level design and story. When you play sonic mania it just feels the same and nothing new until you reach act 2, sonic superstars has a way better level select and even if you haven’t completed the game you can revisit any level and act you completed, while sonic mania doesn’t even let you choose an act. Sonic superstars is awesome plus it’s enjoyable to replay, sure it has more bugs than mania but you’re forgetting it’s a 3D LEVEL DESIGN GAME and the bosses are fun ngl if you ignore the boss music and you explore the powers of the chaos emeralds. Sonic mania isn’t bad but it’s super overrated and gets over appreciated in fact you can’t even release a new classic sonic game without it being a sequel to sonic mania for people to like it also sonic mania’s special stages are UGLY, that isn’t even polished.

[@jaretco6423]

@@Stickboy321Go Superstar may have new and original zones. But that doesn't make them better. Mania does reused most zones. Sure. But they added gimmicks and features that weren't in the originals before and not only were they better at that, but so were the levels themselves too. It's much more streamline and awards with speed. With Superstar, it's more tedious and not nearly as good. It's mostly just stop & go, pushing this, incoming obstacles or enemies and alot more spacies due to it being co-op. And combined with the horrendous bosses, it kills the pacing so hard that's feels unplayable.

[@Stickboy321Go]

@@jaretco6423 Now that’s just a skill issue for you, not to be toxic but it’s just true. You’re only looking at the level design which isn’t even bad, sonic superstars literally has the same physics as mania so with that logic mania is unplayable. Sonic superstars has speed and it’s a mixture of parkour like sonic 1 and speed like sonic 2. I don’t see how mania is like that plus sonic mania is boring to replay and sonuc superstars has fun online mode, sonic mania is the most overrated sonic game in the franchise plus you’re just being focused on the music, sonic superstars’ bosses are pretty good and fun and sonic mania’s first final boss is just “BOUNCY CIRCLE BOUNCY CIRCLE PUT YOU IN ALTERNATE ILLUSION LEVELS”. I don’t hate sonic mania but it’s just overrated and it keeps overshadowing new classic sonic games also not to mention the bland STORY. Sonic generations has reused levels and yet has a story and don’t say the overused “it’s not about the story it’s about the gameplay” excuse cuz sonic forces has fun gameplay (if you ignore the level design) but it has a bad story and you guys complain about it so don’t

[@Mr-Cough]

I see mania as a celebration of the genesis era while superstars is evolving the classic formula. sure, there's going to be growing pains and some ideas might not work when trying something new, that is why the team creating these games should take the criticism and make improvements.

[@4rttyzz575]

Superstars is a good game, just wish they polished it up a little more. Bringing Evening Star for next 2.5d game is the best choice imo, great video Pup.

[@EzekielBread-fv1xc]

i think both games are amazing, with mania you got a reimagining of old zones mixed with new zones referencing older zones themselves, the music expansion is steller, with mighty and ray it makes the game all the funner, but sadly no amy, and sonic superstars adds amy in, along with all original zones some with a modern classic sonic feel to them which is beautiful, and that old genesis synth, i will agree the boss tracks besides cyber station are bad, but it's not that bad, i think the game is amazing with the generations 2.5D platforming, and the adding of a new character and the fact that eggrobo is back is just a win, i think both are a win overall.

[@eliezersarcos7813]

I think sonic superstars is solid but sonic mania is great imo superstars just had too many gimicks that some landed and some just dident land + its overly hard lol but thats fine. Overall Superstars 7/10 Mania 8.5/10

[@JasLamArr91]

I liked both games. But I enjoyed Superstars a little bit more, since it was 100% original.

[@seriesx9508]

Its not original. Its takes from older levels but gives them a different art style to make it look original. Gameplay wise, its not original. Just artvwise

[@AltairEgo1]

​@@seriesx9508I'd rather it borrows from the good than the bad, so I'm okay with it. Not as if every zone in classic Sonic games was completely original. Emerald Hill is basically an easier remix of Green Hill. And let's face it, Metropolis is like a longer version of Scrap Brain with its elevators, traps, difficulty and even theme. Casino Night and Collision Chaos borrow heavily from Spring Yard.

[@kenallenchannel3911]

Mania is better because it’s a lot more fun and creative, made with love and effort, less boring and repetitive unlike superstar, the game was boring and repetitive but i do love the visual of it tho

[@WebstersYouTube]

I definitely prefer Superstars. As much as I loved Mania, it was a little too reliant on what had come before. It's a fantastic celebration of Sonic's legacy, but lacks much of its own identity as a result. Meanwhile, Superstars might be a fairly mediocre Sonic game, but it is its own thing and I can see myself firing Superstars up more often than I do Mania.

[@KaleBennett]

I've never considered either of these games to be phenomenal, or even great. I think Mania is a really good game while Superstars is just okay. While I was underwhelmed by Mania's difficulty and lack of additional content like collectibles and a grading system (issues I have with Classic Sonic as a whole), I could at least overlook it as it was a 20 dollar release meant to feel like a what a 2D Sonic game on Sega Saturn might have been like, whereas Superstars is 60 dollars and felt like it was advertised as a truly "modern" 2D Sonic game, but still feels lacking in content, on top of lacking in other departments like its 3D zones that feel less imaginative and detailed than Mania's 2D pixelart, its soundtrack that feels like it has an identity crisis, its bosses taking forever to beat, its questionable additions like its multiplayer, and so on. Mania felt like a much safer, less ambitious game with its lack of additional content and reliance on old zones, but it felt like a more consistently fun and high-quality experience all around, while Superstars felt more inconsistent in quality and in its intentions. I don't know how much more Classic Sonic talk you have left in you, but something I think worth discussing is where Classic Sonic as a whole should go next assuming it'll co-exist with Modern Sonic and be the only source of 2D Sonic. Whether that's a video worthy topic or not, it's something I'd like to discuss since I think some of Mania and Superstars' issues could relate to how much they try or don't try to deviate from the Genesis originals. Also, those original songs you made with the Genesis synth are pretty good, especially the third one. You've got a good ear for music, both making and listening to it.

[@ChannelPup]

If you ask me, I'd say the next step would be to have Evening Star make a fully original 2D Sonic game. Entirely original levels. Have a story that goes a little bigger and steers away from the cutesier aspects Superstars leans into. Then from there maybe consider taking Classic Sonic into a fully 3D title akin to Penny's Big Breakaway.

[@KaleBennett]

​@@ChannelPup While I do think a great game could be made without Evening Star, it does make sense to bring them back given how much experience they have with Classic Sonic. I especially hope they do all original zones that are as imaginative as Mania's originals. I still think Classic Sonic would benefit from things like a grading system and collectibles like Red Star Rings to give each of the levels more replay value and insentive for speedrunning. It's part of why I find the Classic stages in Generations and Forces more engaging, even if the controls aren't as polished. I especially hope the characters are given slightly expanded individual movesets rather than the superpowers from Superstars. I like playing the 2D sections from Unleashed and Generations more than the strictly 2D Classic Sonic games because of how large Sonic's moveset is (homing attack, lightspeed dash, stomp, wall jump, etc.), making the platforming feel varied and engaging. Classic Sonic and his friends don't need that expansive of a moveset, but I think just one or two additional abilities exclusive to each character would help in making these games more fun. I don't know if that would make the games feel less like "Classic Sonic" games, but I just feel the small moveset of Classic Sonic makes for less engaging level design than Modern Sonic or even Sonic Rush.

[@tylerwilson1024]

I’m not sure if this was fully touched on in the video but what I like about the hub world in Superstars is that it makes it far less tedious to get the chaos emeralds. I fail, can just go to the hub world and redo the stage to try to get the emerald again. That’s a huge plus to me since I couldn’t do that in mania. I think Super stars is a great game and honestly think the game gets a bit too much unnecessary hate. My only complaints are 1) Boss fights (yes I know very skilled players can just completely skip bosses and stuff, but I’m not that skilled) 2) Trip’s story stage lay out sucks. Just freaking spikes every damn where. 3) some stages feel a bit too bloated at times with things everywhere. I had this same problem in mania and most 2D Sonic games though so this is most likely just a me thing most likely

[@ArcNeoMasato]

Honestly, if the bosses were fixed, I'd honestly adore Superstars over Mania, and even with the bosses as they are, I had a great time with it, so they mainly just slow my replay. I honestly would LOVE a Superstars Plus with some boss tweaks. Heck, fix the Fang autoscroller fight and lower the invincibility times on the other bosses, that's really it for my "fix" list. As the games exist now, I find Mania to be the better game, but if the bosses are fixed in Superstars, I'd actually just put them on equal ranks, as they'd both be incredible games.

[@MrBrowser1881]

Mania is a well executed Sonic mod at best, you can't go anywhere else forward with it because rather than a new Sonic creation, it looks like just a love letter to oldskool gamers looking for nostalgia in my opinion. Superstars genuinely has that Oshima Sonic Team touch, it reminds me of the Saturn era when sure, games like Burning Rangers and Nights weren't the most solid executions, but man just had a touch of genius you can't replicate. I do like the sound track of Superstars because it feels arcade-like and when I think of the Sonic series of the 90s, I also consider the game gear and master system games like chaos, triple trouble, and so forth. I think Sonic Superstars fits right in there with all of them, I even like the difficult, strategic elements of the bosses, I don't agree for a second you should be able to mash through bosses because it tells no narrative or gives any kind of experience. It's like the first appearance of that metal Sonic at the end of Sonic 2, a complete waste of time.

[@AnthonySmith-t9s]

I be listening to a bunch of detailed explanations as to how superstars is good, while I listen to Press Garden music in the background. I love mania, especially the new music like Lights, Camera, Action! from Studiopolis Act 1.

[@rubydragoon720]

Hmm.. it seems the answer didn't surprise me, At all.

[@CEOMisterJohnSaxon]

Mania does nothing for me outside of making me think, "Man, I really wish I was playing Sonic The Hedgehog 2 or CD right now" while playing it. Superstars is a fresh experience that keeps me immersed for the entire playthrough. It is my second favorite 2D Sonic game, right behind Sonic 2.

[@TheBeggies95]

Played both and enjoyed them both but Superstars is my favorite

[@sitarkid8892]

Mania easily. Hot take but Mania wouldn't be any better if it solely featured original levels. Green Hill and Stardust Speedway are my personal favorites. Who cares if they're unoriginal if they're, without exception, better in Mania than their home games, and they were high quality to begin with? I value consistency over context in art and Mania is easily the most consistent Sonic game. 28:09 People also love to over exaggerate the extent that Mania's Act 1s are borrowed, as if they're complete copy and paste jobs. Being a self-proclaimed Sonic obsessive, you should've recognized that Mania's Act 1 of Stardust Speedway (of which you were showing gameplay during this section of the video) and Act 1 of Metallic Madness are, yes, completely original levels, or that the other Act 1s feature plenty of new sections to explore, such as Green Hill's entire underground cavernous area, highest path, and ending. Playing these levels is a "waste of time"? Really? Don't you enjoy playing these levels in their home games? Why are they less fun in Mania, especially if it really is the exact same thing? I genuinely don't understand this point and why so many people seem to adopt this opinion, help me understand as someone who values consistency in art. Also, it's cool that you wrote some tunes for this video. Have you written music before this video?

[@custardcream2226]

They are absolutely NOT better in Mania than the originals. Hydrocity with its slow, Aqua Lake inspired bubbles, Flying Battery with its annoying electricity barriers and Oil Ocean with its pace-breaking submarines are all GLARING examples of significantly less fun stage design.

[@AltairEgo1]

Both are good in different ways. Mania is more like Sonic 2 and 3, and Superstars is more like a faster, harder version of 1 and CD. There's merit in two of the styles. Imagine a game collab with Whitehead and Oshima at the helm, that would be a very interesting title. I'd say between the two, Superstars is more challenging, but sometimes for bad reasons. Mania leaned a little too much on the easy side, but it's better to time attack than Superstars. Both have high replay value though. So far I've put over 30 hours in Superstars, and over 100 in Mania.

[@travismarshall3089]

Apples and oranges and I like both! I like the visuals of Superstars because it seems both nostalgic and fresh. Similar to what we've seen from RETRO Studios with DKC Returns and From Nintendo with Link's Awakening, Mario RPG and to some extend Mario Wonder. I really REALLY like the style and direction SEGA went with Superstars. It feels in line with current trends and not a step behind. I like Mania because it is that retro pixel art style made even better with new animations and such a fluidity of motion. Not BLAST PROCESSING...I'm talking the fluid motion and smooth frame-to-frame animation. It's awesome.

[@TGVBT640]

best things about superstars for me are tee lopes' songs and amy being playable

[@7aemr]

and what about sonic origins?

[@hortinus]

Sonic Superstars on paper is vastly superior to Mania by every aspect, however, it falls flat on its face right into MCZ's spike pit in terms of execution. Originally is nothing without execution.

[@XAutumnXonYT]

Manias more content and better levels make this not even a debate

[@GottaGoFast91]

Bruh, I was about to work on this same video with a very similar thumbnail! I searched it up to see if someone already did it. Guess I was an hour to late!

[@chaphidoesstuff]

Comparing the issues of these 2 games is like comparing undertale to deltarune, its all the same issues but rearranged

[@DrJay-iy8rv]

Anybody What’s the music @ 42:37?

[@meganbriskar7170]

What I’m hearing down here is Mania, Mania, Mania so that’s what I’m getting

[@alexandrpeterberg390]

So overall the score of Mania vs Superstars in terms of premise, story, structure, mechanics, features, visual presentation, level selection, cast, music, and value for money, the score is Mania:6 Superstars:4. Well, I do prefer Mania over Superstars so far. Also, for the zone rations in Mania, we have 1 from Sonic 1, 2 from Sonic 2, 2 from Sonic CD, 3 from Sonic 3&K (not counting Angel Island), and 4 original zones. Also, Iizuka is the reason why Arzest was the dev of Superstars instead of the Mania team? IIZUKAAAAA!!!

[@SuperPlacido1]

I can not wait to see this video!

[@Yali_iNinview]

37:21 I. NEED. THESE. SONGS.

[@cliffturbo2146]

Just wanna know: Is there a full theme of your intro? It's so good!

[@lonelyonionagain.]

It's in the description, at the bottom.

[@cliffturbo2146]

@@lonelyonionagain. Ah, thanks!

[@lonelyonionagain.]

@@cliffturbo2146 No problem!

[@mrterrychaos]

I think I got more out of Mania despite my frustrations with reused level environments. I think I just prefer the sense of flow I got from the level design in Mania. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts though. Either way there's fun to be found in both. I'm just waiting for Sonic and the Moon Facility now.

[@Digital-um6nu]

Remember, Mania was supposed to be a 4 level pack released in 2016. Iizuka accepted the pitch but told them to extend the game by adding older levels by making it an all-in-one Classic Sonic game. Its not the fault of Mania's team. They already planned out the 4 levels for Sonic Discovery and Iizuka gave them last minute instructions

[@shaankelly1302]

For me its Sonic Mania and its not even close. Mania is near the top of the S tier top3 sonic game of all time. Sonic Superstars is good. I like it. But its firmly in the A tier for me. The all original zones is the only point in its favor. Mania has better level design much better bosses better music i prefer the pixel art and th elemental shields are far better than the chaos emerald powers. Superstars is def good and im happy with it. They did a good job. Good job Sonic Team! But it falls short of the S tier of sonic games for me. Nothing wrong with being in A tier its probably a Top 10 sonic game.

[@SpiderGoblin2012]

So, while this is an interesting video, you mentioned something towards the end about how you want Jun Senoue to still have a place in the Sonic Series, and I think there's already a good answer to that, in the place you'd least expect it. Colors Ultimate. Say what you will about that game's remixes, but I think everyone agrees the tracks done by Senoue are outstanding! And since those tracks were originally composed by Tomoya Ohtani, it shows that those two can make amazing stuff together. And that's what I think they should do! Let Senoue and Ohtani work together on the soundtrack for the next big release, stop banishing his amazing guitar riffs to the spin offs, and make an OST of Non-stop bangers!! Now granted, just because they work well together on Remixes, doesn't mean that would be the same on original tracks, but I think it's worth a shot at least

[@BitCoin-iu6sp]

Idk, Superstars has too much slow platforming whereas Mania only has that plane chase in mirage saloon act 1. For some reason 3D side scrolling makes Sonic feel slower at times for me whereas in Mania there are times where Sonic & Friends go so fast the screen has to play catch up so yeah Mania is the better game Plus Mania’s OST = All Bangers

[@NikolasConstantinides]

og sonic fan from the 90s, mania felt like i was back in my childhood, like if sonic4 was made a year after S&K, Mania would be that game... Played it loads of times... in contrast i didnt even finish superstarts once. I feel like there's no point in making 2d sonic games if they wont play like the originals.

[@pokechao0308]

37:19 Good fan track.

[@sonicenergy51]

You can have all of abiliries in Sonic mania by typing 9001 in debug moed

[@bunc89]

Cant get it right now went back to Sonic 4 Ep 1 & 2 getting those world ranks

[@LindsayBoike-sl5gm]

I agree with you on the fang fight in Golden capital it is bad I always keep dieing I think its bad too.

[@saniquinho10]

Many are saying how much Mania is superior to Superstars, but I disagree in parts, in Gameplay, Graphics, Replay, Characters, Innovation & Duration I give it to Superstars, in the rest it's Mania, so yes Mania is better overall but Superstars still Yes it's great!

[@odirmenjivar2076]

Mania is better, but superstars is the direction the classic titles need to take in order to survive

[@captainflappyarms8277]

Idk what sonic superstars even us yet lol

[@nenoroalzafen30]

okay i will pretend i don't remember the story for both and will buy both versions on switch cause i love sonic and i have never finished the master system and game gear version

[@jkrunch2166]

Superstars isn't bad, but thanks to its inconsistencies, besides Sonic 4, it's the weakest classic-styled game in the series. Mania might reuse many old zone themes, but it is packed to the brim with creative reinterpretations that breathe new life into them, and the four new zones we got are all top notch.

[@maccamachine]

It should be obvious it’s mania but superstars is decent I had a bit of fun with it besides the bosses

[@jakezom2389]

Mania is very clearly the superior game

[@TylerChou059]

Mania outclasses Superstars in every category (especially the boss fights)

[@appleandaria6947]

Which game is best? The answer is subjective; everyone has different tastes in video games.

[@justawhiteman.8550]

I prefer Sonic Mania, those boss fights in Sonic superstars kill any enjoyment of the game I did have. (Trip’s campaign was crap too.)

[@hamzamohamed6774]

17:14 you'll regret saying that

[@NoelComiX]

Mania. I like Superstars but the final bosses are not fun and the level design isn’t quite as good as mania. Mania also has Genesis physics and a banger soundtrack.

[@מאורמזרחי-ו5ת]

Listen man, this black dragon is the thing that robotic wants Trippin faint to find

[@AltairEgo1]

As for the music, yeah, I think Tee Lopes/Mania has this, but Jun did a respectable job. I don't know who exactly did which track, all I know is Tee Lopes did Act 2 of Lagoon City. That was all him. And yeah, hands down the worst theme in the game was Frozen Base. It's not a terrible job, but it felt so basic, and kind of ruined the vibe. As far as playtime, I've put in over 30 hours, and for my money, replay value is king. I could have a 40 hour game, and never touch it again. Whereas I could play a game with about a 2 or 3 hour length, and come back to it enough times that I'd eek out more playtime hours in total. Is it worth 60 dollars? Well, maybe it's $40 to $50 I'd say. But for the playtime hours I put into it, and the quality, I don't mind the pricetag. Most people would disagree, as it's a 2D game. But I really don't think it matters so much. Remember there was a time when we spent up to about $70 to $80 for these types of titles. If the game is worth the time and investment, then I don't really balk at a $60 pricetag.

[@deepsoul7418]

It was like listening to Sonic 3D Blast 16 Bit genisis score that immediately lost it's identity in less than a second once it got caught in between the Sonic 4 and Sonic Forces Classic Sonic's zone score.

[@HugoElcabezas]

Sonic mania is way more fun, superstars is so good to play with friends but alone not that much

[@Stickboy321Go]

Sonic superstars just wins Tbh. It’s just overhated I mean sonic mania just has reused levels with some unique ones, unoriginal reused designs but shiny and it just feels like all the games fused together but with the phantom ruby and some fun glitches while sonic superstars actually has an arc like with trip and fang, and you get to play amy again so yeah mania is kinda stupid looking back at it after playing superstars while sonic mania is one of the most overrated sonic games ever going along with unleashed

[@PistachioFrog]

Superstars is a very great game, but mania is literally the best classic sonic game.

[@dynastylobster8957]

your animation movement looks like getmadz

[@LuigiFonzar]

Mania Vs Superstars = Both if them

[@drewmantia]

Mania and it’s not close. But I’ll watch the video regardless lol

[@SuperMartinezGamers6.1]

There both amazing sonic 2D games but I love sonic superstars more 100%

[@asdfdc1946]

why put a question in the title where the answer is braindead obvious? HINT: it ain't Superstars...

[@thecoolbroscoolman4672]

Yeah, it’s Superstars😂

[@asdfdc1946]

@@thecoolbroscoolman4672 🧢

[@ALegendaryBlueHedge]

You're right Sonic Blast Clears both

[@theoneandonly-qs1uw]

Nah, Sonic Jam on the Gamecom is way better

[@asdfdc1946]

@@theoneandonly-qs1uw lol