A modder of Sonic Superstars shows off a Sonic Rush-themed mod that makes the game play more like the Nintendo DS exclusive spin-off. Sonic Superstars released earlier this month, heavily resembling the classic 2D games from the Sega Genesis days and 2017’s Sonic Mania. Not only that, but Superstars introduces some new gameplay elements that make it stand out, such as the Chaos Emeralds having unique powers. Despite the game only being out for about a week now, there are already some mods being developed for the 2D platformer, with one aiming to make it play like another 2D Sonic game: Sonic Rush.

Sonic Rush was another game in the series that took the franchise back to its 2D roots while adding modern touches, much like the Sonic Advance trilogy on the Game Boy Advance before it. It was released in 2005 as a Nintendo DS-exclusive platformer, taking advantage the handheld console’s dual screens, while introducing some elements that would become series staples like Blaze the Cat and the Boost mechanic. While it isn’t the most acclaimed Sonic game, Sonic Rush still has plenty of fans that work on replicating its unique gameplay and artstyle. This can be seen with a Sonic Rush conversion mod for Superstars that is currently in development.

This preview video was released by its creator, Beatz, who was showing off their early progress on this Sonic Superstars mod. This includes overhauling the entirety of the game’s UI elements, making it closer to Sonic Rush‘s, including the ring counter, timer, and even the boost meter. Beatz’s mod changes Sonic’s classic-styled model to the more modern but retro one from Rush, while also implementing Rush‘s unique mechanics. This includes the ability to do tricks after a jump, the Boost, and even the aerial boost.

Many commenters were impressed with Beatz’s efforts to convert the gameplay of Sonic Rush into Sonic Superstars, especially with the amount of coding required to make the mechanics work. A lot of fans were quick to note the short amount of time it took for fans to make a mod of this style, even if it’s an early version. While it’s still a work-in-progress, it shows a lot of promise and proves that the modding scene for Superstars is already off to a good start.

Sonic Rush is one of many Sonic the Hedgehog 2D handheld games that are locked to Nintendo’s older consoles, alongside its two sequels, Sonic Rush Adventure and Sonic Colors. This mod might be the closest to fans getting a brand-new Sonic Rush game, with some even calling Beatz’s early look “Sonic Rush 3.” Considering both Superstars and Rush have the same kind of 2.5D presentation, the moniker is appropriate.

Sonic Superstars is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.