Sonic Mania Impressions (Mostly Hype) · 4:24am Aug 30th, 2017
Welcome back, Team Sonic.
Also, Spoilers.
With the release of the PC version, I feel it's now appropriate to talk about Sonic Mania. I've been playing it since my Collector's Edition shipped on its release... and I basically completed everything in one sitting. Now here comes a lengthy blog where I just gush about everything I love about it.
I got all the Chaos Emeralds with a Sonic/Tails file and a Knuckles file. I cleared all the Blue Spheres stages and unlocked every secret. I had a lot of fun, and unless Mario Odyssesy or Sonic Forces can top it, this might be my game of the year.
Like where do I begin? This game is awesome! From fighting the Death Egg Robot to Green Hill, to the boss reversal in Hydrocity, the Metal Sonic showdown in Stardust Speedway, lighting Oil Ocean on fire, and Mean Bean Machine! Sky Chase! Fang, Bean, and Bark finally appeared in a game after nearly twenty years! There's so much charm and so many references that I couldn't help but smile.
I love the level design and how even the remixed levels brought something new to the table, leaving it as little rehashed as possible while leaving nods to other levels that didn't make it in. Like the Marble Garden pulleys in Stardust Speedway, or the Sandopolis gimmick in Oil Ocean, and even the bubble mechanic from Sonic 2 Game Gear in Hydrocity.
The four new zones we do get are just oozing with creativity. Studiopolis, Mirage Saloon, Titanic Monarch, and Press Garden (which may honestly be my favorite new zone). The Hard-Boiled Heavies were great bosses. And I love using the Drop Dash to keep going fast.
Even the little things were great, such as the return of the Super Emeralds, the trio each get Super forms, and Knuckles has a few differences in level design. I grinned when I unlocked Debug Mode and the Insta-shield, and I laughed when I unlocked the greatest mode ever programmed into a game: & Knuckles, where instead of Tails following, it's Knuckles. And yes, you can have two Knuckles. And you do get something for completing the game with that.
Speaking of completing the game, the good ending was a nice surprise. It explains how Classic Sonic ended up in the next game, Sonic Forces. We don't see Modern Sonic or Infinite, but its pretty obvious based on the pose and the Phantom Ruby.
I highly recommend it to any longtime Sonic fan, or anyone looking for a good platformer. It's smooth, well polished, and overall a fun time.
I may just do a separate blog on my favorite music tracks in the game. See you then!
Have it. Played it. Loved it. This is a complete throwback of nostalgia, and I love it ever since I've played Sonic 1 and 2. The very first Sonic games I played. And I look forward to play Sonic Forces as well. I'm not a huge fan of Sonic, since I don't fantasize an OC of me or whatever. But, hey, worth a try something.
And speaking of Mania, I have a little challenge for you. I don't know if you got it already, but here it is:
In Mania Mode, get a CONTINUE!
Well, I'm off reading, good luck on more of your work!
4652512 Glad to hear you enjoyed it too. I hope Forces can keep this up (personally I am expecting it to be good).
And as for your challenge, I assume you're talking about the extra Blue Spheres? I only touched it once cause seeing green and purple spheres threw me in for a loop and made me question my sanity, but I'll see if I can survive.
4652737
No. I meant a CONTINUE, as in if you get a game over, it gives you another chance to keep playing the level after loosing all your lives. If you player Sonic 2 and get at least 100 rings and fastest time possible in 1 Act, you get a Continue, giving you a little version of Sonic at the end of the level, but in Sonic Mania, try getting it on UFO Special Stages, and try to collect at least 85 rings or more before you catch it. Best chance of getting it up to 90 rings or higher. Also, try collecting blue spheres for bonus points, it works as well. I've tried and its different for the other levels.
4653216 Oh that. I've never actually done that before. Nice find, I can at least try.