There is nothing like a good video game rivalry, eh? While these discussions can occasionally turn toxic, when had in earnest, it can be fun to compare two similar properties to see where one succeeds while the other falls short.Super Mariovs.Sonic the Hedgehogis one of the most famous rivalries in gaming; these two competed throughout the ’90s to stand at the top of the platformer world.
While this competition has slowed, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars have reignited this legendary duel. Now, let us look at these two launches to discuss what category each excels in to find the better platformer.
8Setting - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
In an interesting coincidence, both Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars are set in entirely new locations for their stories. Mario visits the Flower Kingdom while Sonic battles Eggman on the mystical Northstar Islands. While both settings are inventive and unique for their series, Super Mario Bros. Wonder does more with the Flower Kingdom to make it feel alive.
While the levels in Sonic Superstars are enjoyable and diverse, nothing about the Northstar islands feels entirely different from previous locations Sonic has explored. The same animals and levels themes persist, which causes the setting to feel less memorable. The Flower Kingdom, however, has its prince, population,power-ups, customs, and enemies that stand out from previous Mario titles. The location had deep thought put into it and how it would fit into the Mario world.
7Level Design - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Level design is one of the most significant elements in a platformer. The bulk of the gameplay in this genre is navigating obstacle courses, and these courses need to be engaging and inventive. Sonic Superstars starts strong with well-thought-out level gimmicks that give each of the game’s zones a distinct identity.
Zones like Golden Capital and Cyber Station do plenty with their concepts to remain engaging. However, for every inventive idea it introduces, Superstars has clunky or frustrating levels that become a chore to navigate. Super Mario Bros. Wonder not only perfects the level design of 2D platformers that are engaging and challenging but also introduces a unique level gimmick in each stage with the Wonder Flower. From changing the way you play or the entire level layout, each level has a memorable identity on top of being a joy to experience.
6Graphics - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder confidently takes the crown in the visual department. The unique art direction and quality of the visuals give it a charm entirely of its own. The colors look sharp and pop off the screen. The lighting effects are dynamic as well in multiple locations. None of this is to say Sonic Superstars doesn’t look good.
The saturation of the pastel cast makes them all stand out nicely. However, the character models and animations lack a particular polish that Super Mario Bros. Wonder excels at. This is most notable in the environments. The backgrounds can appear blurry, while the quality of the stage’s visuals leaves something to be desired.
5Gameplay - Tie
Both games maintain tight controls and physics that allow for reactions in a pinch. The ability to operate with faith in your controller inputs is essential to the genre. Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars manage to nail this.Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy are each a joy to playwith their unique abilities intact.
While the cast of Super Mario Bros. Wonder lacks a diverse roster, this doesn’t distract from the impeccable gameplay. Movements like the spin and wall jump are easy to execute, precise, and responsive.
4Boss Battles - Sonic Superstars
Boss battles are tricky to handle in platformers. With combat being limited to jumping on the enemy. They often need to be designed as puzzles that require clever use of your movement to solve. This is an area Sonic Superstars excels in as the boss battles introduce new gimmicks that will consistently keep you on your toes while remaining enjoyable puzzles to solve.The Emerald powersadd even more dimensions to each encounter.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder features fewer bosses than Sonic Superstars, and though they’re well-designed, solving the encounter never becomes as engaging throughout a playthrough.
3Difficulty - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Difficulty in platformers is about introducing complex but understandable hazards so they can be reliably overcome through enough experience. While both games can be challenging, the bulk of Sonic Superstars' difficulty can be attributed to poorly executed ideas and level design that frustrates you.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces a gradual difficulty curve that slowly builds up your skills before dropping tough challenges on you. The difficulty comes from a level design philosophy that consistently challenges you to improve, which creates rewarding experiences upon completion rather than irritation.
2Enemy Design - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars introduce new enemies to their rose gallery. While both games bring some intriguing designs, Super Mario Bros. Wonder consistently has enemies that are the stars of their respective levels. These foes require time to understand their patterns and constantly change how you interact with the game.
Sonic Superstars has new enemies, but few need a new approach to beat. Typically, you’ll spin dash through them so fast that they won’t have enough time to leave an impression or don’t interact with the level design much, making them interchangeable with other foes.
1Conclusion - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is something special. The game brings imaginative ideas, slick controls, fair challenges, and an inviting setting in a gorgeous package. As an evolution of 2D Super Mario, it exceeds expectations.
Sonic Superstars is still an enjoyable experience that fans of Classic Sonic will adore with its engaging boss encounters. The game, however, lacks polish and doesn’t push itself far enough. Both games are something any fan of the platformer genre should experience.
