Think about my shock after I reached a later stage within the latest Sonic journey and obtained hit by a wave of familiarity. What I first thought was sleep deprivation was really a cool throwback to a basic Sega arcade shooter nestled deep into Sonic Superstars.

Sega is actually no stranger to wafting in self-nostalgia. In spite of everything, it has been shoving its old-school arcade roms into video games for the reason that days of Shenmue. Keep in mind Area Harrier? Sega won’t ever allow you to neglect.

The pattern has continued for many years, and that’s the one cause I knew what I performed was one thing I’ve skilled just a few instances earlier than. No, it’s not Area Harrier (sufficient with Area Harrier!), however in case you’ve performed Yakuza or Judgment not too long ago, you must acknowledge it too.

Sonic Superstars incorporates an homage to Fantasy Zone, an old-school arcade shooter

Whereas enjoying Sonic Superstars, you little doubt observed when it all of the sudden turned a shooter. Frozen Base Zone Act 2 drops you into an egg shuttle, the place you will need to shoot down ten pink enemy spawners. It’s Fantasy Zone, precisely, however with an Eggman veneer. All the pieces is robotic, versus the bizarre aliens of the unique.

I wouldn’t have guessed if I hadn’t only in the near past performed the sport in Misplaced Judgment, the place it additionally seems as a Grasp System cartridge you’ll be able to play in your workplace. Sonic Superstars additionally has a tackle two Fantasy Zone bosses, appropriately robotified.

It’s an enthralling nod to a recreation not many individuals outdoors of longtime Sega arcade followers would learn about. Or, you already know, individuals who not too long ago scoped out a Membership Sega in Yakuza 0 or Misplaced Judgment.

Fantasy Zone launched for Japanese arcades in 1986. It was later ported to many consoles, together with the Grasp System, NES, MSX, Sport Gear, and extra. Some might keep in mind it being referenced in Shenmue, the place its characters, together with the protagonist, Opa-Opa, may very well be capsule toy awards.

And now you’ll be able to get pleasure from an ode to it as an arcade shooter stage in Sonic Superstars.