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Sonic Mania |OT| Dreams Come True

Aki-at

Member
OMG I finished the main game earlier but just jumped back in to grab a couple emeralds and discovered if Tails is flying near you can press up and jump and take control of Tails and fly around while controlling Sonic.

Was it like this is Sonic 3? I don't remember that.

Nope, it's a new feature added from the Sonic 2 port by Whitehead.
 
Just finished the final boss (Yes, I'm a madman.)
Final Boss was cool in a wacky way but like many bosses in this game, I only won through taking advantage of the invincibility frames after losing rings over and over again.

Unfortunately
I assume I didn't get the true final boss ala Doomsday for missing 4 of the Emeralds.
Overall, I had an absolute blast and everything is completely on point. I'm actually a big fan of most of the 3D Sonic games but there's no denying the classic 2D games are the best, and this one might just top them all.

One disappointment was that
Hydrocity seemed far too similar to the original compared to the other remixed stages. It had the chains and Labyrinth arrow traps but everything else felt too samey, especially the level design. Also, I may have just missed it but no wall crushing section is unacceptable. The boss fight was fucking glorious though, as most bosses were in this game.

Overall, I'd say that Mirage Saloon 2 or Press Garden 2 were my favourite original stages. Mirage Saloon for the sweet music and incredibly surprising boss fight and Press Garden for the stunning transition and beautiful aesthetics.

Any word on DLC for this game? I'm kind of disappointed
Sonic 1 only got one remixed zone and DLC would be a chance to fix that.

Basically my whole general consensus about the game.
 

Jofamo

Member
This game is everything.

I'm a little confused about how the Chaos Emerald Special Stage entrance rings work though?

Here's what happened; I was playing Zone 6 Act 2, and the game crashed on me. No big deal. I just started the game back up again and had to start from the beginning of Zone 6 once more. However, I came across a new Special Stage ring that I'd definitely never seen before, but it was wireframed and unaccessable. I had 120 rings on me at the time.

Was this just a glitch, or are there entry requirements for the Special Stages? I haven't come across the issue since.
 
After beating the final boss, can you cycle through the stages in a save file like in S3&K? And is Super Sonic the reward for all 7 emeralds?
 

Pachimari

Member
I feel the hype and I want in on it, so this is probably a damn strange question but how do one play a Sonic game the right way?

I've played all from the Sonic 2D games on Gameboy to Sonic Adventure and very quickly dabbled in Sonic Generations but I've never really got it.

Is it about getting through the stage as quick as possible? Kind of like time trial. Is it about collecting the most rings? Is it a mix of both? Is it about getting the greatest scores? Shall one explore and platform ones way through the stages?

I've never really understood the gameplay of Sonic and it frustrates me, especially now with a great new game out.
 
The Amazon email regarding the delays.

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had the same thing for the Switch version, no updated dispatch time and when I checked this morning as I got up (6:30am) suddenly the CE was no longer pre-order/out of stock it was IN STOCK and available for Purchase with Amazon Prime next day delivery

I've been on with Live chat and they couldn't explain it (when can they ever) and said they'd escalate the issue for an update and sooner dispatch

its more annoying since I live the other side of some woods to the main Amazon depot in the area, I could walk there and collect it in 20 min and yet I doubt i'll get it delivered before Thursday at the earliest

This is the second pre-order amazon uk have screwed me over, had the same with Disgaea 5 complete earlier this year, no stock and no eta, I cancelled that in the end and bought it elsewhere, its a bit harder to do with the collectors edition of something
 

Robin64

Member
Is it about getting through the stage as quick as possible? Kind of like time trial. Is it about collecting the most rings? Is it a mix of both? Is it about getting the greatest scores? Shall one explore and platform ones way through the stages?

Yes.

To clarify, yeah, do all those things. Just enjoy it, play how you want. Seek out secrets, they are there if you want them. Or don't, just blitz to the end. You won't get the best ending if you do, but you'll have fun.

There is a dedicated Time Trial mode for when you want to absolutely break the game and pelt along. (Still not sure how people are doing GHZ A1 in under 30 secs..)
 

Falk

that puzzling face
What??? God damn.

I'll surely revisit the game after being done with it once.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I started playing this less than 24h ago, haha.

But really, exploring the maps and tracing out routes for secrets and Special Stage attempts was a pure joy. I guess it'll get a lot easier when people start cranking out maps for the stages, but if trailblazing and exploration is your thing enjoy it while it lasts and Mania is fresh and there aren't a half dozen cheat sheets/guides.
 

NotLiquid

Member
I feel the hype and I want in on it, so this is probably a damn strange question but how do one play a Sonic game the right way?

I've played all from the Sonic 2D games on Gameboy to Sonic Adventure and very quickly dabbled in Sonic Generations but I've never really got it.

Is it about getting through the stage as quick as possible? Kind of like time trial. Is it about collecting the most rings? Is it a mix of both? Is it about getting the greatest scores? Shall one explore and platform ones way through the stages?

I've never really understood the gameplay of Sonic and it frustrates me, especially now with a great new game out.

In standard terms you just want to beat the level. Rings are like a bunch of second chances but also contribute to your score which carries the tension of risk the more you get. The levels are multifaceted, with the high road usually being considered the harder/faster route, and exploring what the levels have to offer yields things like power ups, secret paths and bonus stages where you can collect Chaos Emeralds which are like this game's version of the super secret collectible. It's not really about getting to the end of the stage as quickly as possible, but because of the mechanics of the game, it heavily encourages you to go fast and employing the mechanics of speed in order to access additional areas, which is part of the reason why the best Sonic games are built to be just as good for platforming as they are for speedrunning, even if many games sometimes end up prioritizing one over the other. The Genesis games, and Mania, strike the best balance and are more crafty when it comes to this.

2D Sonic games are heavily contingent on rolling. This is going to be your main move throughout the game. When you're faced with slopes and inclines you want to roll in order to build up proper momentum and go even faster than you would if you were running. Rolling also protects you against enemies that may be in your way or destructible obstacles. If you can learn to pull that off well, you'll be able to go fast while also going safe.

The caveat of course with rolling is that you sacrifice control and that you also have to perform it on proper areas, as well as already having inherited momentum, to maintain your speed, or else you'll grind to a halt, so while there is some risk with it, there's more reward when done right and you can trust that rolling is your "safer" state so to speak most of the time.

Mania also helps finally give Sonic a unique incentive of playing by giving him the Drop Dash which is a fantastic ability that can maintain momentum whenever you feel like you need to regain momentum after a jump.

Basically, learn to use the level design as a tool and applying Sonic's pinball-esque physics for going fast.
 

taoofjord

Member
Never been much of a Sonic fan, even the 16-bit games, but I picked this up and I'm really enjoying it. There's no denying it's a beautiful and impressive passion project. I have a lot of respect for the team that put this together.
 
I was a little heart broken when I got to Stardust zone. Since Marble Garden zone is my favorite of all time, it's when i got to Stardust that I saw all of its objects being used in that zone and i instantly knew it wasnt in the game

But thats when I got to Press Garden and I found a brand new level to love...
and its funny they both end in "Garden".
 

jman2050

Member
This game is fabulous.

Chemical Plant Act 2 is so inventive and fast and lol that boss. The special stages are significantly harder than they appear on video, the third one pretty handily kicked my butt already. Blue Spheres is just as hectic as always, especially when you start getting to some of the new layouts.

My only regret is that I went against my better judgment, again, and picked Tails to accompany me. I love ya Tails but you are not being helpful no stop hitting the boss before I do and getting me damaged during his invincibility aaaaaaa.
 
So for all the old levels, act 1 is remixed and act 2 is remade?

In any redone zone, 1 act will attempt to stay true to the games act while throwing in some new ideas or mechanics.

The other act basically takes the theme of the level and pretends to have never seen any gameplay of the classic acts or the remixed one and basically do its own idea with the enviroment.
 

Evilmaus

Member
My god... so glad I went in blind on this game. I'm only two stages in and it's already blowing my mind. From the amount of secrets, to the familiar yet slight remixed levels, and the incredible music... this game is insane and I'm so glad it's on Switch!

Also, that
Chemical Plant act 2 boss
Completely unexpected, but incredibly cleaver and a massive blast from the past!
 

lawtowler

Member
What a breath of fresh air this game is, a proper call back to my childhood.

I've just reached
Stardust Speedway
and I'm loving every second of it so far. Every zone has been unique and fun, the OST is stunning so far too.
 
Okay the
Oil Ocean
boss can fuck off. Anyone else getting major slow down in that stage with the Switch version?
Also is Sega releasing a soundtrack?
 
Couple of quick questions

Is there at least 1 emerald challenge ring per act/zone or multiple per like in s3&k?

How do I make tails pick me up in single player is that something I need to unlock?

Unlockable question
how many blue sphere challenges to unlock &knuckles mode

for the tails question, just jump while holding up on the controller he should start to fly
 

Jazzem

Member
Post completion spoiler (without having collected all the emeralds):
So happy to see a Sonic 1 esque debug mode as an unlockable, used to mess around so much with that. Slowed the game to a crawl by spamming bonus level rings ha

What's everyone's favourite filter by the way? I love the CRT-sharp one
 

Ducktail

Member
I can confirm the levels change for Knuckles. Very first act of Green Hill Zone is already radically different from Sonic's. Interesting enough, I couldn't find a single special stage zone with Sonic, while I found one after the other with Knuckles. I don't like chasing the UFO :(

This game is a dream, indeed. I couldn't help but smile when I realized there was water in Green Hill zone much like there was on the GameGear/ MasterSystem Sonic 1.
 

Jazzem

Member
This game is a dream, indeed. I couldn't help but smile when I realized there was water in Green Hill zone much like there was on the GameGear/ MasterSystem Sonic 1.

Aye that came to mind too! Also, (spoiler for the 7th zone)
slowly moving upwards in a bubble in Hydrocity brought Sonic 2 8-bit to mind
 

TGO

Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
I read a reviewer say this is the best platformer in over a decade, is that true?
If so I bet that didn't go down well with some folks lol
Still yet to play it even thou I downloaded it at midnight.
Whereas the PSN pre-order bonus stuff like themes and avatars.
do I have to look in my downloads?
 

13ruce

Banned
Holy shit the Knuckles stages are actually different nice.

Is it more drastic compared to S3+K or about the same? Anyway that does not matter much this is my new fav sonic game out of em all.

And i grew up with modern Sonic so that says alot:p

Played the original trio for the first time fully last month or so and they were fsntastic but mania tops em.
 

Menitta

Member
The Studiopolis boss isn't easy. I'm having trouble
hitting the right missiles and keep hitting the ones that always do damage.
 

Tizoc

Member
Hard boiled heavies theme is stuck in my head
It is soooooooo goooooooood

The Studiopolis boss isn't easy. I'm having trouble
hitting the right missiles and keep hitting the ones that always do damage.
Always hit the blue ones
You will see the order they fly in by looking at the background
 

I Wanna Be The Guy

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
I just screamed YES!!!!! when
Hydrocity started
. I got some weird looks but I dont even care. Pure joy.

Also, had a beaminv smile on my face when
Sonic travels to the future for Stardust Speedway act 2. Also that Metal Sonic fight was fantastic.
 

RionaaM

Unconfirmed Member
Do I want this on Switch or Steam? I'm tempted to grab the Switch version right now. The posts in this thread are making me excited.
 
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