Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars have a lot in common. Both feature 2D gameplay that is closer to the original vision of the franchise. Both offer cooperative and competitive multiplayer options. Both offer modern visuals. And both provide players with new gameplay concepts and abilities that expand upon the original franchise vision in unprecedented ways. However, perhaps the most shocking thing that these two games have in common is when they were released.
In the 1990s, Sonic the Hedgehog was the only series able to briefly challenge Mario’s claim to the platforming throne, and next week could prove that the series’ fates are forever tied. Sonic Superstars will arrive on all consoles (including Switch) on October 17th, with Super Mario Bros. only coming on October 20th. A few days before Wonder lands exclusively on Switch.
“I think it’s an interesting coincidence,” says Super Mario Bros. Wonder producer Takashi Tezuka. “We’ve been making 2D action games for a long time and of course we want as many players as possible to enjoy these games. Scrolling games, Mario and otherwise.”
Sonic Team creative officer Takashi Iizuka, who serves as producer for Sonic Superstars, shares similar sentiments. “It’s been a while since Mario and Sonic released a completely new 2D platform game, but I feel a little lucky about the fact that they’re coming out in the same week,” he says. ” “People say Mario and Sonic are the same, but each has different fun elements. I hope you play both games this year and feel the difference in enjoyment.”
It’s been 11 years since the last all-new 2D Mario platformer was launched on home consoles by New Super Mario Bros. U, while the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise released its last 2D game, Sonic Mania, 6 years ago in 2017. Before that however, the last brand new 2D Sonic platformer on consoles was Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, which came out 11 years ago in 2012.
Whichever game you’re more excited about, we were impressed with our time with both titles. Despite all of the aforementioned similarities, each brings its own unique gameplay and visual style, and each retains the core elements that have shaped the respective franchise over the past three to four decades. With this one-two combination of promising 2D platformers, fans of 2D platformers are in for an exciting series.
Sonic Superstars arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC on October 17 (you can read our review here ). Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches exclusively on Switch on October 20. Another similarity between the two titles is that they both land on the cover. Sports Informer In 2023
You’ll find all our exclusive Super Mario Bros. Wonder coverage can be found here (or click the banner below). You can visit our exclusive coverage hub of Sonic Superstars here. And of course, keep your eyes peeled for our reviews of both of these highly anticipated titles in the coming days. To learn more about Mario and Sonic’s intertwined fates, go here to hear from Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Iizuka, and more about how Sonic made the jump to Nintendo consoles, and Mario and Sonic first time. How come together in the same game?