Hello, everybody! Last Tuesday (15th) was the release of Sonic Mania (or if you're on PC, then this Tuesday coming), so that can only mean it's time for a Game Review!
Sonic Mania (2017, Switch/PS4/Xbox One/PC)
Developers: Headcannon & PagodaWest Games
Publisher: Sega
Overview
Sonic Mania is the 'classic' component of Sonic's 25th anniversary celebrations. It may be a year late, but given what happened with the 15th anniversary… maybe that's a GOOD thing!
Plot
As Sonic and Tails, the game begins with them being flown by the other to Angel Island (which has fallen into the sea again), immensely reminiscent of the beginning of Sonic 3. But once they arrive, the Hard-Boiled Heavies, Eggman's new minions, excavate a pink gem… that turns its surroundings negative (colour-wise) and teleports everyone to the Green Hill Zone!
Not a lot of plot happens beyond this point, apart from the true final battle, where the leader of the Hard-Boiled Heavies rebels against Eggman.
So in light of this, I give the plot:
⭐⭐⭐
It's not amazing, but it's a plot that gets the job done. As well as that, it happens to be more plot than the game it's based off of, so… yep!
Gameplay
The gameplay of Sonic Mania is heavily inspired by Sonic 3's gameplay, down to 'item boxes cannot be broken from below', Giant Ring placement and the elemental shields.
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| Knuckles in Mirage Saloon Zone, Act 1. The morning colour palette gives the stage a different feel from the noon palette. |
It, like other classic Sonic games, is a 2D platformer where you collect rings and defeat enemies by jumping at them from any angle. You can choose to play as Sonic, with his new Drop Dash ability, giving him another way to accelerate from a standstill, as Tails, with his ability of flight allowing you to climb high into the sky, or as Knuckles, who can glide long distances and climb up vertical walls.
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| Tails in Press Garden Zone, Act 2. (The one where the ground freezes for no reason other than to become an ice level.) |
The objective of each level is to reach and defeat the boss, there being a different boss for every level. These may fight by freezing you or challenging you to a race, but each fights differently. (Oh, and the list of minibosses includes the first game's final boss.)
Each character has a 'Super' form, accessible by collecting all of the Chaos Emeralds, which are hidden in Special Stages, accessible only by finding Giant Rings hidden in each level.
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| The later Special Stages are absurdly difficult. But the concept is fun nonetheless! |
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| As a direct result of the difficulty, this screen took FAR too long to get to. |
And if you pass a checkpoint with 25 Rings or more, you gain access to the Bonus Stages, which are the 'Blue Sphere' Special Stages from Sonic 3!
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| I'm surprised this screen didn't take LONGER to get to than the one before! Also, obligatory reference to Sonic & Knuckles + any game that isn't Sonic 2 or 3. |
If you complete enough of them, you unlock new features, like:
& Knuckles Referencing an internet meme, add Knuckles as a partner to any character! EVEN KNUCKLES.
Mean Bean Well, technically Puyo Puyo, but it's the localised version. It's also the Chemical Plant Act 2 boss.
D.A. Garden Listen to the game's music with this feature from Sonic CD.
Blue Spheres Tired of having to win at Blue Sphere 32 times? Have some more!
(Seriously, 32 times is hell.)
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| …I really wish the screenshots would be saved as PNGs, not JPGs. 🙁 |
Anyway, I give the gameplay aspect of Sonic Mania:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent gameplay, only brought down by the fact you need to complete Blue Sphere 32 times to unlock everything. It's not so tedious it removes a star, but is still annoying.
Replay value
As a platforming game where you can select which Zone you want to go to, with three characters, seven Special Stages and countless Blue Sphere stages to perfect, Sonic Mania can keep you playing for ages.
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| This screenshot? Taken after I beat the game. A while after, too! |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great replay value; Sonic Mania has kept me busy for ages after beating it!
And now, with all of the scores added together, Sonic Mania's final score is…
🌟🌟🌟🌟
It's an excellent game and a fantastic homage to the Sonic games of the first half of the 1990s. It's only £16, so if you like Sonic games, I highly recommend buying it!
Anyway, that's all from me for today. See you again on the 10th of September!