Sonic Mania

 Switch
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 811 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 681 out of 811
  2. Mixed: 52 out of 811
  3. Negative: 78 out of 811
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  1. Insertc0in
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania should be praised not only for how awesome this game is but the context this project came out to existence. Sonic Mania is a product of love, a collaboration of long time sonic fans and SEGA. From Tyson Hesse animation to Tee Lopes soundtrack passing by Hyper Potion music for the trailers we can feel the passion this game tries to convey. Pagodawest, Headcanon and ChristianSonic Mania should be praised not only for how awesome this game is but the context this project came out to existence. Sonic Mania is a product of love, a collaboration of long time sonic fans and SEGA. From Tyson Hesse animation to Tee Lopes soundtrack passing by Hyper Potion music for the trailers we can feel the passion this game tries to convey. Pagodawest, Headcanon and Christian whitehead did an amazing job of balancing the gameplay and gathering the memorable stages, bosses, gimmicks that we all loved in the 16 bit sonic era and put their own signature names on it.

    Sonic Mania is not only a celebration for Sonic fans but also to SEGA fans. This game is filled with Easter eggs and homages to what made SEGA beloved. Sonic Mania should be celebrated by all gamers not only because it's a very good game but also because it opens a new chapter in the gaming industry that companies like Valve used to practice and companies like Nintendo should be more lenient about (AM2R).

    Sonic Mania seems a portable friendly games which seems to be a perfect fit for the Nintendo switch. The small size of the game and its high replay value makes it a potential game that will never leave your switch drive.    … Expand
  2. ricklongo
    Oct 17, 2017
    7
    When I got back to being a big console gaming geek around 2009, one of my cravings was to see just how Sonic was doing. I used to be a fan during the Master System days, but I knew from word of mouth that his games had taken a dive in quality (which yeah, was true). Sonic Mania, then, is a return to form of sorts; although it's fair to question just what kind of a form that one was toWhen I got back to being a big console gaming geek around 2009, one of my cravings was to see just how Sonic was doing. I used to be a fan during the Master System days, but I knew from word of mouth that his games had taken a dive in quality (which yeah, was true). Sonic Mania, then, is a return to form of sorts; although it's fair to question just what kind of a form that one was to being with.

    You see, Sonic Mania is pretty much a fan game. It's made by fans who have made a name for themselves by developing unofficial titles for Sega's mascot, and who obviously have a lot of passion for the franchise. In that regard, Sonic Mania succeeds where many other Sonic games have failed, in that it pretty much feels like a long lost sequel to the Mega Drive series. There are a lot of new and returning zones, and, most importantly, new and returning ideas that mostly feel fun and do justice to the best moments in the hedgehog's existence.

    The thing is (and for that I apologize to eight-year-old me), the original Sonic games had some pretty egregious level design flaws. They were games that had to focus on speed by virtue of just who the main character was, but at the same were at their best when they focused on exploration and the hunt for the elusive chaos emeralds. This led to some pretty schizophrenic levels, which constantly propelled you full steam ahead while luring you with secrets and alternate paths that could only be enjoyed by stopping and carefully acessing your whereabouts.

    As fun as midlessly running around can be, the completionist in me has a huge pet peeve with this approach, especially since you have to find all chaos emeralds if you want to see the true ending (the 'bad' ending for Sonic 2 on the Master System left my young self preeeeeeetty traumatized, let's just leave it at that). As such, my playthrough of Sonic Mania was an experience that got extremely fun at times, but also often felt uncomfortable in its gameplay non-sequiturs.

    TL;DR:
    Sonic Mania is pretty much the sequel to Sonic 3 we never truly got, complete with beautiful 16-bit graphics, catchy tunes, and (yes) weird level design. It should be a blast for fans of the original games, as it follows them to a tee, adding fun new ideas on top. It should be said, however, that the tension between speeding ahead and stopping to explore doesn't do the game any favors, even if ultimately this is a lovingly crafted (and at times loads of fun) homage to the hedgehog's origins.

    Rating: 7.0    … Expand
  3. SrRama
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Soy jugador de Sonic desde Master system, y esto es lo que llevo esperando todos estos años, solo usaré una palabra para definir a este juego: Felicidad.
  4. Dusenedezi
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Best Sonic game ever, combines the excellent gameplay of Sonic 3 with more precision and new mechanics. The graphics are amazing everything has life and the colors are very striking! 10/10
  5. jysaw
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    This game is everything I've ever wanted out of a classic Sonic game and more. I couldn't have asked for a better game in my wildest dreams. The graphics are nice and nostalgic, they're crisp and look great. The animations are very well done. The music is absolutely phenomenal. The level design is genius and it works to allow you play how you want to play. You're able to speed through andThis game is everything I've ever wanted out of a classic Sonic game and more. I couldn't have asked for a better game in my wildest dreams. The graphics are nice and nostalgic, they're crisp and look great. The animations are very well done. The music is absolutely phenomenal. The level design is genius and it works to allow you play how you want to play. You're able to speed through and reach the end as fast as you can. You can take it slow and focus on platforming. You can explore and track that hidden special stage down. It's all here. The levels are massive. You can play the same level 3 or 4 times and not see the same things. The special stages from Sonic 3 and Knuckles return as a means to collect coins and these can give you a nice change of pace if you want to spend some time on them. They are completely optional. The new zones are chock full of set pieces and badniks to keep you enraptured and on your toes. The returning zones have over the top re-imagined layouts and obstacles in the second act. Each act is connected and allows for seamless gameplay. The bosses are all challenging and entertaining including a very special boss in Chemical Plant Zone. There are so many nods and references to obscure and well known Sonic things to keep veterans smiling the whole way through. The game is extremely long with a large amount of zones to explore. And most importantly this game feels like a classic Sonic game. It's the sequel to Sonic 3 that we've dreamed of since we were kids. This game has a little something for everyone. Veterans and newcomers alike. It's a truly masterful 2D platformer that's an absolute must-have for any fan of the genre. It has extras and side modes to keep you satiated after completing the story and it is just a blast to play. I can't recommend this game enough. If you're a fan of Sonic or 2D platformers in general you have to pick this game up. It's a steal at only $20. You won't regret your purchase.… Expand
  6. BMO
    Sep 4, 2017
    9
    This game took me way back. It fixes a lot of the gripes of old sonic games and adds a lot of routes to each stage. Music is on point with some of the songs remastered better than their older counterparts, and the new stages are familiar yet fresh and exciting. Boss fights aren't really that challenging but they're on par with older sonic games (With one special surprise). The art designThis game took me way back. It fixes a lot of the gripes of old sonic games and adds a lot of routes to each stage. Music is on point with some of the songs remastered better than their older counterparts, and the new stages are familiar yet fresh and exciting. Boss fights aren't really that challenging but they're on par with older sonic games (With one special surprise). The art design is clean, the ability to go back to stages and get the emeralds is nice, as is the fact that there are multiple bonus stages to find per stage so you don't have to go searching for one specific bonus stage to get the emeralds. For its price, you get your money's worth and then some, but unfortunately there are a few bugs in the game you might encounter that might hurt the experience.… Expand
  7. Rtheom
    Aug 18, 2017
    8
    This is a really great fan game. It never quite feels like a real sonic game because too much of it is just recycled from older games, and the new stuff that is in there feels just off enough to be easily recognizable as not from the original creators of sonic. The controls are just a hair too loose, sonic's hitbox is just a little too big, and the rings bounce in just the wrong way, butThis is a really great fan game. It never quite feels like a real sonic game because too much of it is just recycled from older games, and the new stuff that is in there feels just off enough to be easily recognizable as not from the original creators of sonic. The controls are just a hair too loose, sonic's hitbox is just a little too big, and the rings bounce in just the wrong way, but overall, a very solid effort. You can tell that this game was created by people that love the entire Sonic Universe (and I do mean ENTIRE). Small tweaks aside, this game really just needed to be all original content and it would have wound up being better for it, but its still a must play for old sonic fans. For newcomers, you should really return back to the originals, though, Sonic 1, 2 and 3.… Expand
  8. TheGeekLantern
    Aug 19, 2017
    9
    Como Nintendero de toda la vida pasé de Sonic y sus juegos hasta sus entregas en la Dreamcast. Por este motivo, fue una grandiosa experiencia encontrarme con el erizo azul y disfrutar del increíble juego de plataformas 2D que es Sonic Mania. Recomendadísimo si eres fan de los juegos retro, amas a SEGA o símplemente quieres ampliar tu catálogo de Switch con un juego de mucha calidad.
  9. Seemuhn
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    An awesome Sonic game, feels just like the 16-bit ones. It looks and sounds like Sonic CD but has better colours and more animations. The only negative thing i can say about it is that it features some levels from the old games rather than have everything made from scratch which just feels lazy.
    This is a perfect game to get for the Switch as it lets you take Sonic with you and as the    An awesome Sonic game, feels just like the 16-bit ones. It looks and sounds like Sonic CD but has better colours and more animations. The only negative thing i can say about it is that it features some levels from the old games rather than have everything made from scratch which just feels lazy.
    This is a perfect game to get for the Switch as it lets you take Sonic with you and as the game is not hardware demanding it looks just as good on the switch as any other platform.
    Buy it right now, its awesome!    … Expand
  10. dsc24axalta
    Oct 25, 2017
    10
    This game is simply amazing. And I don't mean purely from a nostalgic viewpoint either, though it certainly does scratch that itch. The game plays just like the Sonic games from the past, from the legendary titles we all grew up on (assuming you're around my age lol). What's cool about this game is that it adds enough new to keep the game fresh, even when exploring levels from the past. IThis game is simply amazing. And I don't mean purely from a nostalgic viewpoint either, though it certainly does scratch that itch. The game plays just like the Sonic games from the past, from the legendary titles we all grew up on (assuming you're around my age lol). What's cool about this game is that it adds enough new to keep the game fresh, even when exploring levels from the past. I get that some people would have preferred the game to have entirely new Zones. That's understandable to say the least. But what returned is so different from the past that essentially the entire game is brand new. And I love that the Zones themselves are MASSIVE. One of the best elements of past Sonic games was exploring and finding new paths in your runs from A to B and this game definitely gives you a lot to do in that regard. The game is a great blast from the past that has new elements; certainly a very enjoyable game to say the least.… Expand
  11. RexSol
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Sonic was always good. Ok maybe not. But it was a big part of my childhood. The last Sonic game i loved was Sonic 3 & Knuckles. And Sonic Mania is exactly the Sonic game i've always wanted. Perfect level design, perfect soundtrack, the perfect Sonic game, 10/10.
  12. SuperMatt777
    Oct 16, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania is meant to be a throwback to the classic, 16-bit Sonic games of the 90s and boy did it do them justice. Sonic Mania is an amazing game that does a great job of mixing the old with the new. New zones mixed in with some memorable zones from the old games made this an awesome experience. New stages like Studiopolis and Press Garden were beautiful looking stages with coolSonic Mania is meant to be a throwback to the classic, 16-bit Sonic games of the 90s and boy did it do them justice. Sonic Mania is an amazing game that does a great job of mixing the old with the new. New zones mixed in with some memorable zones from the old games made this an awesome experience. New stages like Studiopolis and Press Garden were beautiful looking stages with cool references while returning stages like Chemical Plant and Hydrocity were really awesome retro throwbacks with new twists. On top of all the stages, the game's difficulty was fair too; it was easy when it wanted to be easy and challenging when the time called for it. Sonic Mania is a really awesome game and the game Sonic really needed after his last few adventures. Any fan of Sonic, old or new, should definitely try it out.… Expand
  13. dislexicpotato
    Oct 21, 2018
    9
    With excellent gameplay, stunning retro visuals and memorable music, Sonic Mania is easily the best Sonic game since Sonic Generations in 2011.
  14. Toalbooth
    Sep 1, 2017
    8
    With the rocky situation that the Sonic the Hedgehog series has been since around 2012 with Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, it came as a surprise no less when we all saw Sonic Mania being announced to be going back to its 16-bit (ish) routes, as well as in the hands on those that have had experience with Sonic the Hedgehog one way or the other.

    For a game going back over 25 years,    With the rocky situation that the Sonic the Hedgehog series has been since around 2012 with Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, it came as a surprise no less when we all saw Sonic Mania being announced to be going back to its 16-bit (ish) routes, as well as in the hands on those that have had experience with Sonic the Hedgehog one way or the other.

    For a game going back over 25 years, you would be right to be skeptical, with purposely limiting yourself in terms of visuals and mechanics, but with Sonic Mania, all skepticism would be washed away as it is merely just an old coat of paint with nostalgic colours.

    Yes, Sonic Mania is filled with tons of nostalgia, but it all does work very well and handles much like the classic games, in fact some would even argue that this is the well and true Sonic the Hedgehog 4, but that's irrelevant to this.

    the story isn't anything special, some Egg-Robos are seen obtaining a Phantom Ruby which travels in time and turns them into the "Hard-boiled Heavies" each with their own personality and means of fighting... and that's pretty much it without spoiling the true ending when getting all Seven Chaos Emeralds.

    Now with the gameplay, if you've played all of the previous Sonic classic games, then you've literally played around 75% of Mania, yes when I said nostalgia, I was more referring to the fact that 8 of the 12 zones are all from the previous ones, you have 1 form Sonic 1, 2 from Sonic 2 and CD each and 3 from Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the last four are completely original zones.
    While that may not seem problematic for some, if you're going to make a whole new game, you might as well have more original zones than old ones, and I think we're all sick to death of Green Hill Zone; if you wanted to bring back classic zones, then I think just having 1 from each of the old games and 8 original would've been a more better result.

    Other than that, the music, visuals and gameplay are all fantastic in their own regards, I'm just waiting for the Album to come out on Google Play as I type this, the special stages also have their fair share of fun and challenge and makes the Chaos Emeralds more rewarding.

    While I was smiling to see the Blue Sphere stages return, I was very disappointed to see that I got nothing for getting all Gold Medals, I unlocked the Debug and Sound Tests just by getting all Silvers, so I thought I was going to get something else with my efforts, but alas, nothing.

    So with all of that in mind, this game is an absolutely solid game and is definitely worth its price tag, if it had more original stages, then I would've given this a much higher score of 10/10, but that is it'a glaring flaw in this ragard    … Expand
  15. seiftahan
    Oct 29, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game is incredible and the 2d flashback is really good idea thank you Christian Whitehead for this game but no game without cons the good is

    the old zones is only a name
    this game is really hard Titanic monarch is the hardest zone
    this game is the real return of classic sonic

    the cons
    1- the stages is really bad designed
    2- sonic drop dash is cheap
    3- the controls is bad

    my rating 9.5/10 but no 9.5 on metacritic so I gonna give it a 9    … Expand
  16. holnugget
    Dec 22, 2021
    10
    Got this digitally on sale during Christmas 2021 for $10. For that money, it's a 10/10 and a time kill.
  17. SonicKirbyElric
    Nov 5, 2017
    9
    This is a true sequel to the original Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy. The physics are just right and the level design is what you would expect of the era. Tee Lopes does a fantastic job with the soundtrack, my favorites being some of the boss themes. My only issues is that 4 out of the 12 zones are original and I would've loved to see more originality from this team that held many creative ideas.
  18. MrClassic05
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sonic Mania is my favorite sonic game, and I didn’t expect getting this game for my Switch

    Story:
    Eggman is using a mysterious pink emerald that has a power to take you to another dimension and you have to stop him.
    The game has good and bad ending, Bad ending can be caused of beating the game normally
    And good ending after you collect all 7 chaos emeralds and then beat the game

    Mania Mode:
    Mania mode is the main game where you can play as Sonic, Tails, Sonic and Tails together and lastly knuckles.
    The multiplayer is the same as 3 and knuckles with Sonic controlling the camera and Tails trying to catch up

    Time Attack:
    You basically try to beat the level as fast as possible, this time the counter won’t start until you move forward and the boss battle will be ignored

    Bonus Stages:
    The bonus stages are the blue sphere stages from Sonic 3 except you are rewarded with coins that can unlock extras

    VS Mode:
    You basically race with player 2 with each player having his own screen

    Extras:
    Extras add more to the game such as &Knuckles Mode or Mean bean or peel out from Sonic CD

    Flaws:
    Sometime after beating Hydrocity Zone Act 1 the Game strangely freezes and hydrocity is not the only Zone

    Should you get it
    Yes, seeing how cheap the game is, but if this is your first sonic game you won’t praise the game as a longtime fan.    … Expand
  19. riverkev95
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Simplemente una gran forma de regresar con todo la de Sonic con este juego.
    Entretenido con gran diseño de niveles y variados modos de juego
    Grandioso en todos los términos de nostalgia.
  20. Cjis2Nice
    Nov 20, 2017
    9
    I can't say anything about this game that hasn't already been said before. It's the best classic Sonic game hands down. My only problems with it is that the bonus stages are limited to just the blue spheres, and I wish there were more original stages. Other than that though, this game is great. I would give it a 8.5, but I'll round up because this is the 2nd Sonic game (first beingI can't say anything about this game that hasn't already been said before. It's the best classic Sonic game hands down. My only problems with it is that the bonus stages are limited to just the blue spheres, and I wish there were more original stages. Other than that though, this game is great. I would give it a 8.5, but I'll round up because this is the 2nd Sonic game (first being Unleashed) that was able to surpass my expectations.… Expand
  21. Xcaliber
    Jan 20, 2018
    10
    this to me is the best sonic game since sonic cd. the level design is amazing and the remixed zones are awesome, the sprites and animations are so good and kinda cute sometimes. the music is also amazing with Tee Lopes handling this phenomenal soundtrack! Now for the problems............none. Christian Whitehead, pagoda west, and headcannon have created the best sonic game ever!
  22. dash383535
    Nov 30, 2017
    10
    Introduction: The classic 2D Sonic games are back with a mix of new, old, and remixed levels. Everything has been improved and updated for a classic Sonic game with new surprises that will keep you guess whats next. This is the Sonic game you have been waiting for since Sonic CD.

    Story: The story is pretty simple but it keeps the game going along. Eggman uncovers a mysterious gem that    Introduction: The classic 2D Sonic games are back with a mix of new, old, and remixed levels. Everything has been improved and updated for a classic Sonic game with new surprises that will keep you guess whats next. This is the Sonic game you have been waiting for since Sonic CD.

    Story: The story is pretty simple but it keeps the game going along. Eggman uncovers a mysterious gem that can warp and alter reality. You try to get the gem from him but a group of mysterious robot also want the gem. This gem is responsible for taking you to levels from the past that are completely different from what you remember. They also take you to new zones to explore. Throughout the story, you will fight Eggman with robots that he has used in the past with remixed attacks and you will also fight the new robots in crazy scenarios that could not be possible in the older games. The story helps make this new Sonic adventure feel fresh even though it's like the original Sonic games from the 90's.

    Gameplay: Run and jump just like you always have in Sonic games prior. The only new addition to Sonic arsenal of moves in the dash drop which helps you gain speed back up if you have lost it. This moves fixes some of the slower parts original Sonic games have had. The other thing that is new to the gameplay is the bonus stages. During these stages, you are trying to get a chaos emerald by collecting balls and rings that help you speed up to catch the emerald. These stages are a nice addition to the standard sonic gameplay we all know and love.

    Technicals: The animation presented in this game are amazing. Such detail was put into every frame of this game. This animation makes cutscenes and the game as a whole really pop out. The soundtrack of new and old remixes are amazing as well. Every ounce of this game is bleeding with passion from the original 3 games and should be commended for such.

    Conclusion: If you love fast platformers or Sonic in general, then this is a must buy game. This game is a celebration of what made Sonic good all those years ago and improves on the originals in every way, shape, and form. This game is the first in the Sonic franchise to become a masterpiece    … Expand
  23. NiltonD8
    Jan 26, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Im 34 yrs old n i grew up playing sonic and i'm a fan of sonic since i was a lil boy. congrats on this game and for me it was the game of the year period. its magical to see sonic in 2d again and honestly christian Whitehead is brilliant for putting such a good piece together. i think it should stay 2D because 3D doesnt go too well. congrats!!!!… Expand
  24. LukeWilson
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    Sonic has been a big part of my childhood and after years of disappointment the love that went into this game shows making a game I won’t soon forget. This does what I loved about the old games, being able to go fast and creative levels. I thought this might be just a greatest hits but I was instead blown away by the creativity and love for the sonic franchise that went into this game.
  25. leetl1
    Mar 4, 2019
    9
    Mania is a sonic game that is really good. It brings back the classic style gameplay (in a good way, looking at you Sonic 4) and the music is simply fantastic. It's a nostalgic whirlpool and I love it. Wish there was more new levels.
  26. Krossbone
    Jan 30, 2020
    7
    Sonic Mania is a fun romp for Sonic and the best 2D excursion the Blue Blur has had in a number of years, the best since Sonic Rush (though that game is arguably superior).

    Most of my complaints are the lack of level originality for many of the stages, A lot of them are simply re-used from older games, and it was obvious they could have thought of more new levels similar to Studiopolis    Sonic Mania is a fun romp for Sonic and the best 2D excursion the Blue Blur has had in a number of years, the best since Sonic Rush (though that game is arguably superior).

    Most of my complaints are the lack of level originality for many of the stages, A lot of them are simply re-used from older games, and it was obvious they could have thought of more new levels similar to Studiopolis and Press Garden had they put the effort into it.
    The game is, however, very replayable.

    Long story short, Sonic Mania is a game you can sink many hours into, but it's a really simple game and lacks much in the ways of content. It pretty much feels like an HD Genesis game, and is mostly unoriginal in its choices of stages.    … Expand
  27. Mrbuckminster
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    I absolutely love this game. Wow wow wow

    This is the real Sonic 4.

    The games feels fresh yet nostalgic, something that other revived titles like Crash Bandicoot couldnt do.
  28. MordecaiFloyd
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    This game is really well made.

    This is what every sonic should be. Perfect. It can please everyone, from younger to older and nostalgic gamers.

    The new stages are awesome. I don't know what else to say, just play this work of art.
  29. nicorzF1
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    This is a game that shows some things:

    1. People giving negative reviews because they dont want the blue blur to be back.
    2. That Sonic/SEGA games are always better on the Nintendo consoles
    3. That Sonic is finally back.
  30. Orangedrop
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Didn't hold much hope for this title and to be quite honest I have grown used to being dissapointed by Sonic games. NOT THIS TIME !! Game is glorious, fast, retro and everything I could have wished for from a sonic game.

    Being old enough to have been brought up with a Master System and Mega Drive (Genesis) this title threw me back to the early 90's all over again. Levels are large with    Didn't hold much hope for this title and to be quite honest I have grown used to being dissapointed by Sonic games. NOT THIS TIME !! Game is glorious, fast, retro and everything I could have wished for from a sonic game.

    Being old enough to have been brought up with a Master System and Mega Drive (Genesis) this title threw me back to the early 90's all over again. Levels are large with a good mix of fast pace and platforming just like the originals but better now the dev's have extra grunt available to them. the controls and feel of Sonic on screen are very similar to that of the original and remain tight throughout.

    I'm chuffed to bits that wefinally got what feels and plays like Sonic 4.

    Kudos to the development team, you nailed it and made many fans both young and old very happy indeed.    … Expand
  31. Ziggy93
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    A true Sonic the Hedgehog sequel.

    This game does an amazing job to feel fresh yet nostalgic. It contains remixes of original levels, but whilst still being different. The visuals keep it like the originals but which sequel level improvements to feel still modern. The design of it is brilliant in general. Each character follows a slightly different viewpoint. Each character is unique    A true Sonic the Hedgehog sequel.

    This game does an amazing job to feel fresh yet nostalgic. It contains remixes of original levels, but whilst still being different. The visuals keep it like the originals but which sequel level improvements to feel still modern.
    The design of it is brilliant in general. Each character follows a slightly different viewpoint. Each character is unique like in the originals.

    Boss and level design are uniquely different, but keeps to its original style. The levels are still different, so you have to learn new routes and places, so it's not just a dull rehash of the originals. They are difficult and feel more challenging.

    Overall I give this game a recommend. If you liked the old games, then this will feel like a new but all the while the same.    … Expand
  32. LiTeRaLyShAkInG
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the best Sonic game ever made. It's about 20 years late, but we finally have a worthwhile sequel to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. This is exactly what Sonic the Hedgehog 4 should have been.

    This wasn't made by Sonic Team, instead it was made by fans who were hired by Sega. The love the team has for the originals is everywhere in the game. The game    Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the best Sonic game ever made. It's about 20 years late, but we finally have a worthwhile sequel to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. This is exactly what Sonic the Hedgehog 4 should have been.

    This wasn't made by Sonic Team, instead it was made by fans who were hired by Sega. The love the team has for the originals is everywhere in the game. The game plays very similarly to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Playing this game you can see just how timeless the original formula was. People seem to forget after one bad 3D Sonic after another(although I was a pretty big fan of Colors and Generations) that this was once a brilliant series. Some people have fooled themselves into thinking Sonic was never good. This is complete crap, and this game proves the original formula holds up today.

    The graphics are bit more advanced than the Genesis version, it's more on par with with the 32x. Everything looks great, it's full of color and personality. We get three heavily remixed versions of Green Hill Zone, Chemical Plant Zone, and Oil Rig zone with plenty of new features. The rest of the levels are pretty much original, though some of them share similarities to classic Sonic levels. There are 12 stages in total, which is one less than Sonic 3 and Knuckles. There are two Acts per stage and a secret Final Boss. You'll get a few very familiar bosses, although they've been significantly changed. We even get a couple bosses from the Game Gear games. Fortunately the Sonic 2 Game Gear boss is not one of the Dark Souls DLC-tier difficult ones. The boss design is better than all of the Genesis Sonics, and every single act has a boss fight. Many of the bosses have more than one stage, making things very interesting. The bosses aren't just the only thing that has been improved. The levels are now even more creative than the ones in the originals. Sonic Mania is just an improvement of the Sonic 3 and Knuckles formula, which in and of itself is one the top 100 games of all time in my opinion. It feels like a natural evolution of the series. This should have been Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

    The difficulty is just right. It's starts off pretty easy, but gets harder halfway through the game. Tales is the easiest character to play since he can just fly over obstacles, and you may want to pick him first unless you want more of challenge. Knuckles can glide and climb. Sonic can use the special abilities of shields. You can also play Sonic and Tails. It may not be obvious at first, but you can actually control Tales a bit and allow him to lift Sonic to otherwise unreachable places. Sonic and Tails have the same levels. However, I've only played the first two levels for Knuckles, but the Green Hill Zone is different for him and designed around his climbing ability. I think overall there will be some differences in the levels for Knuckles, much like in Sonic 3.

    If you run out of lives in this game you go back to Act 1 of that stage. This is a fairly big death penalty, though not nearly as bad as Sonic 2 where the final boss was absurdly difficult and if you died you went back to the beginning of the game. You'll be trying as hard as you can to get 100 rings for an extra life to use against the fairly difficult bosses. Prepare to get 90-99 rings and then lose all of them. There are also hidden lives in the levels. All of this encourages you to be careful and also explore the levels. If you explore you'll also find the special stages which are similar to the ones in Sonic CD. Also, the globe special stages from Sonic 3 make a return.

    The levels are huge and multi-layered so when you play them again you can take a completely different path. This adds replay value, which is good because the game is on the short side. You're probably looking at about 5-6 hours to beat it the first time. This a game though that you'll want to play again immediately after beating it, with another character.

    The game is only $20, and frankly I can't think of a better way to spend $20 right now. Sonic 3 and Knuckles required you to buy 2 $50 games and hook them together, so adjusted for inflation Sonic 3 and Knuckles was $161 dollars. Now you know why kids in the 90s didn't own an extensive library of video games. Renting them over a weekend for a couple dollars was a lot more common.

    In conclusion, Sonic Mania is practically flawless. I can't think of anything bad to say about this game. It's one of the best side-scrollers ever made. It's even better than any of the recent side-scrolling Nintendo games like Donkey Kong or New Super Mario Bros. It makes up for the short length with huge amounts of replay value. It deserves a perfect 10 out 10.    … Expand
  33. NessEB
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania is a fantastically well made game, not just because of the gameplay, but also because of the insane amount of detail and thought put into all aspects of the game. The gorgeous animation from Tyson Hesse taking inspiration from Sonic CD's introduction blows you away right from the start. The music from Tee Lopes is phenomenal, it fits the stages nearly perfectly. The beautifulSonic Mania is a fantastically well made game, not just because of the gameplay, but also because of the insane amount of detail and thought put into all aspects of the game. The gorgeous animation from Tyson Hesse taking inspiration from Sonic CD's introduction blows you away right from the start. The music from Tee Lopes is phenomenal, it fits the stages nearly perfectly. The beautiful sprite work is one of my favorite things about the game. For a $20 price tag, this game goes beyond and deserves more. Sonic Mania is a large recommendation from me and is a great introduction to the classic series. However, if you didn't like the original classics, don't bother. Overall a great title.… Expand
  34. joacoandresen
    Aug 22, 2017
    9
    I played the original Sonic when I was 6, now, 12 years later I gave Sonic one more chance and it didn't dissapointed me.

    First of all, the price: perfect. No complaints here. The graphics: DO NOT GET UPSET ABOUT THE 16 BIT GRAPHICS UNTIL YOU PLAY THE GAME. Gameplay: fast, so fast. There are not boring seccions like in past games. Length: it is what it is, a Sega Genesis game...so    I played the original Sonic when I was 6, now, 12 years later I gave Sonic one more chance and it didn't dissapointed me.

    First of all, the price: perfect. No complaints here.
    The graphics: DO NOT GET UPSET ABOUT THE 16 BIT GRAPHICS UNTIL YOU PLAY THE GAME.
    Gameplay: fast, so fast. There are not boring seccions like in past games.
    Length: it is what it is, a Sega Genesis game...so don't expect a 100 hour aventure.

    It's a love letter    … Expand
  35. SonicFan17
    Aug 19, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game in years. The game has beautiful sprites, a phenomenal soundtrack,
    And much content. The only things that disappoint me is that some acts are too similar to the previous classic sonic games and the final boss isnt that suprising. Overal Sonic Mania is a must have for Sonic fans and people who like 2d platform games.
  36. undergaming
    Aug 19, 2017
    9
    It´s pretty impossible to mention something that Sonic Mania have done wrong. It doesn´t try to be "modern", but still has a lot of charm, visual and playable quality, great soundtrack (long life Tee Lopes) and original boss fights. My only complain are the rehashed levels, which were a lot compared to the original ones. But even though, those old levels feel as good as new, because of theIt´s pretty impossible to mention something that Sonic Mania have done wrong. It doesn´t try to be "modern", but still has a lot of charm, visual and playable quality, great soundtrack (long life Tee Lopes) and original boss fights. My only complain are the rehashed levels, which were a lot compared to the original ones. But even though, those old levels feel as good as new, because of the new ideas that give a complete new perspective of the game. I would say it´s better than the 90´s games, but this has the hardware on his side. Maybe if they would made 50% original and rehash levels, it would be a pretty fair balance. The new stage "Studiopolis" is mind blowing, Press Garden isn´t far from that, Mirage Saloon is so unique, and Titanic Monarch is outstanding with the new platform paths. The old ones, as I said, are more fresh here, but I still think the inclusion of Sky Chase in Mirage Saloon and Metallic Madness were a little off. Bosses are incredibly unique, and all that stuff but what it really counts is the gameplay. A smooth, fast-paced side scroller with the ability of being simple, but fun. Play this game in any platform, if you wanna know what´s good… Expand
  37. kurodo123
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    It's EVERYTHING a Sonic game should be. I've been waiting years for this game. I sure hope this tell to Sega what we really want. A 2D classic sonic. HD sprites? yes. 3D "Yeah yeah"? NOPE. Amazing game!
  38. EpicLadySponge
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    The light of day for this franchise has finally came after all these years being treated by two failures, many mixed bags, and a few goods this far. With Sonic Mania, newcomers and veterans alike are now to experience the classic days where it was just Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters and those three plus Eggman/Robotnik as the only main characters after more than twentyThe light of day for this franchise has finally came after all these years being treated by two failures, many mixed bags, and a few goods this far. With Sonic Mania, newcomers and veterans alike are now to experience the classic days where it was just Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters and those three plus Eggman/Robotnik as the only main characters after more than twenty years of never receiving a classical 2D installment. This game combines elements seen in Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles to give us the ultimate surprise no one was expecting to see since the release of Sonic & Knuckles. It's always great to see a franchise go back to their roots rather than trying a new way to impress their fans. If you are a Nintendo Switch owner, it is very recommended to get Sonic Mania on the system that's best suited for it.… Expand
  39. JN81
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    I usually don't write reviews but if you were a 90's kid, this is like Sonic on the Genesis...In some ways it's better because of the portability of the Switch. I had a Game Gear and the Sonic games were not that good for it, so this is a pretty awesome tribute to the fans.
  40. Jtplaz3
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    I’m going to be honest, I had no plan in picking up this game for my Nintendo Switch, but when I saw gameplay of Sonic Mania on YouTube I couldn’t hold in my excitement for how beautiful this game looks. So I went out and bought it first thing!

    Sonic Mania is a beautiful game brought down to us from the heavens by VERY talented developers! The game sends us back to when sonic was a fast    I’m going to be honest, I had no plan in picking up this game for my Nintendo Switch, but when I saw gameplay of Sonic Mania on YouTube I couldn’t hold in my excitement for how beautiful this game looks. So I went out and bought it first thing!

    Sonic Mania is a beautiful game brought down to us from the heavens by VERY talented developers! The game sends us back to when sonic was a fast 2D side scrolling beast! Adding in crazy new levels, new intense and difficult bosses, new abilities, new mechanics such as the drop dash, and beautiful, astounding new sprites, models, and backgrounds for the game!

    I think the main thing that surprised me about Sonic Mania, is all the well hidden references within the game! Sonic Mania really makes me want to explore the game and discover all its hidden secrets, but at the same time, it makes me want to be a speed demon!

    The game runs beautifully on Nintendo Switch, staying at a smooth, constant frame rate for me, when docked and when in handheld mode. I however personally enjoy using handheld mode the most, due to how I can play Sonic Mania while making my daily commute to school, or for when I have a really long car ride!

    I see no major flaws with Sonic Mania so far, and I hope to see the game get more content in the feature!

    I definetly recommend that any old time Sonic fans pick up Sonic Mania and give it ago! Sonic Mania is currently available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PS4! And is making its way to PC very very soon! All for 20$!    … Expand
  41. TopHatTortoise
    Apr 5, 2018
    3
    Mania is praised for being "the best Sonic game" and that might well be true.

    However the sonic formula mixes high-speed, momentum-based movement, precision platforming, minimum speed gates, instakills, small vision (plus no map), and sprawling maze-like levels. Those contradictions are hard to enjoy. Those who can ignore the contradictions may have fun. Those who invest in the    Mania is praised for being "the best Sonic game" and that might well be true.

    However the sonic formula mixes high-speed, momentum-based movement, precision platforming, minimum speed gates, instakills, small vision (plus no map), and sprawling maze-like levels. Those contradictions are hard to enjoy.

    Those who can ignore the contradictions may have fun. Those who invest in the level memorisation that allows you to bypassing the momentum-killing blocks and instant kills can enjoy flow and mastery. But I don't know why you would.

    In short -- buyer beware. Some people love this game, but don't assume that you will. For my money, the high review scores mask a deeply unenjoyable game.    … Expand
  42. Youmustdienow
    Aug 19, 2017
    9
    I read that this was made to be as if it launched on Sega Saturn. If this exact game had launched on the system it would have been its saving grace. That's how good this game is. A shy from a 10. A more epic end boss would have made this perfect. I would also have liked the option to play as the Sonic 3 sprite. We play as the Sonic CD one with nicer animation.
  43. nicorz
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    This game is simply great. Sonic FINALLY is back. What SEGA has done hiring Christian Whitehead as a new developer has been great, hope they dont fire it, but join him to Sonic Team.
  44. InteligentAdvan
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    I like the Gameeeee, I love it. Sonic returns whit a very very very very very very gooooooooood gameeeeee. Buy noww. and better in nintendo switch. Buyyyyyyyyyy
  45. AldoNueve
    Sep 19, 2017
    10
    Bla bla bla, i wrote my review but got erased so i wont repeat it, trust my word. I dont remember what i wrote and i took such a long time that i dont remember.
  46. MzMazzaire
    Dec 15, 2017
    10
    Probably the best classic 2D Sonic game in recent memory since Sonic CD and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. I can honestly say that you won't regret it when you play this game.
  47. AGoodGame
    May 31, 2018
    10
    This is a Sonic game that follows exactly what makes the original games so good Sonic 1 was the debut, Sonic 2 defined what Sonic was about Speed, Sonic CD introduced the Time Travel Mechanic which still makes the game play fresh and of course Sonic 3 and Knuckles this was my first Sonic Game and holy **** this is a clear definition of a perfect Sonic game everything about it from theThis is a Sonic game that follows exactly what makes the original games so good Sonic 1 was the debut, Sonic 2 defined what Sonic was about Speed, Sonic CD introduced the Time Travel Mechanic which still makes the game play fresh and of course Sonic 3 and Knuckles this was my first Sonic Game and holy **** this is a clear definition of a perfect Sonic game everything about it from the Music to the story and the way you control the three characters. Sonic Mania combines everything and that's what makes it the definitive Sonic game everything is here if I to recommend a Sonic Game it would be this One.… Expand
  48. DarkerSonic06
    Jul 7, 2018
    4
    I dont pay 20$ to become all the levels again that were in Sonic1,2,3&K,CD.Cant they bring us new zones?
  49. nesag
    Jun 5, 2020
    4
    I think I have never played a platformer with such unresponsive and slippery controls. Your front vision covers only 2 meters of the level, making the planning and understanding of the levels impossible. I am not a huge fan of platformers, but when every single person recommends me to play some - I do. So far Sonic Mania - is the worst platformer I have ever had recommended to me.
  50. AVdE
    Aug 15, 2017
    7
    Sonic Mania checks off all the boxes you'd expect from a 2D platformer these days: great controls, good level design, gorgeous environments, awesome music, solid framerate etc. It's really a great game.

    HOWEVER. Sonic newbies beware. As someone who has never played a 2D Sonic game in his life, my first playthrough can only be described as a miserable experience. The game only gives    Sonic Mania checks off all the boxes you'd expect from a 2D platformer these days: great controls, good level design, gorgeous environments, awesome music, solid framerate etc. It's really a great game.

    HOWEVER. Sonic newbies beware.

    As someone who has never played a 2D Sonic game in his life, my first playthrough can only be described as a miserable experience. The game only gives you 3 lives after every game over, and expects you to make it through an entire zone - existing of 2 levels and 2 boss battles - with those. I've had a game over in almost every zone, and essentially had to play every level twice (one zone in particular even three times). It's not that this game is ridiculously difficult or unfair, but that can still get pretty frustrating.

    I'm honestly not sure why they thought giving you only 3 lives was a good idea; if I get a game over I'm clearly struggling already, so why give players this extra handicap?

    Fortunately it does get better after that rough first playthrough. As I said, the levels are really great, and there's a lot of fun to be had in all of them, with every character. Just make sure to grab every life monitor you come across.    … Expand
  51. SuperkenGaming
    Aug 19, 2017
    7
    Sonic Mania
    Even the best 2D sonic game is still a 2d Sonic game
    I’ve dipped my toe in all of the original 2d sonic games and none of them ever grabbed me, they felt like they were lacking any sense of direction After hearing the praise about Sonic Mania and people saying things like if you’re a platforming fan play this but if you’re a sonic fan definitely play this I thought this was    Sonic Mania
    Even the best 2D sonic game is still a 2d Sonic game
    I’ve dipped my toe in all of the original 2d sonic games and none of them ever grabbed me, they felt like they were lacking any sense of direction
    After hearing the praise about Sonic Mania and people saying things like if you’re a platforming fan play this but if you’re a sonic fan definitely play this
    I thought this was it.. This would be the one…
    I’m actually a fan of a few 3d sonic games so I was excited to finally become a 2d sonic fan... and well…
    It never Happened
    Sonic Mania is a platformer where you play as either sonic, tails, sonic and tails, or knuckles, all with their won perks and unique play styles…
    and you make it through all 13 zones that are split into 2 acts, almost doubling the levels as the 2nd act can look and feel completely different from the first..
    They all have their own unique feel and sound, and while at the end of the day I may not like the gameplay, the look and feel of these levels were my favorite part...
    sonic mania is all about gaining momentum and collecting rings…
    rings act as your life and if you lose them all you have to die and restart from a checkpoint…
    which if you’re a sonic noob like me, will happen a lot
    you know what it’s like to play ice levels in a platforming game, where you’re sliding all over the place?
    This is what playing sonic mania feels like…
    I know this is what sonic is. But just because something is the way it’s supposed to be doesn’t make it good...
    Platforming feels frustrating because this hedgehog slides off platforms extremely easy forcing you to restart an entire section and it happens way too frequently
    speaking of restarting some moments unless I missed something don’t have a fail save, for example I got a fire pick up which caught a platform on fire and I couldn’t figure out how to progress the level, I had to die and restart from a checkpoint losing one of my precious lives
    … if there was one somewhere, that’s on the game for me not being able to find it.. Not me...
    this was only the first level of the game I shouldn’t already be getting hit with things like this
    It shows a lack of direction in the level design which I feel this entire series of 2d games suffers from...
    I’m zipping through levels going in all kinds of directions...
    I never feel a sense of direction or have any sense how deep I am into a level aside from a few more linear feeling levels…
    These levels are short but feel endless because everything inside of its act looks the same and feels like a jumbled mess
    once you make It through act 1 you take on a miniboss and act 2 you take on the main boss
    these bosses being my 2nd favorite part of the game, but do require a little bit of trial and error... Thankfully are right next to checkpoints, but rarely have rings in them to save you...
    And this is where my ultimate frustration comes in with this game…
    There is a game over like it’s the 80s and 90s all over again...
    sure if you clear an entire zone and beat both bosses you have nothing to worry about…
    But no matter what... no matter how deep you get into a level... if you lose all of your lives… you have to play the entire level all over again…
    that means if you’re on the final boss and you’re on your last life.. which again these bosses are very trial and error with no rings to give you the opportunity to get your trialing on…
    and you die… you not only have to redo act 2 and get to the boss again,.. You also have to go back and beat act 1 and its mini boss again...
    an act that you’ve already proven yourself in…
    for what? Just to be annoying?
    Just to waste your time and drain your lives so it happens again?
    Acts themselves feel like full-fledged levels, it’s ridiculous to not give the player a campaign checkpoint at the end of a mini boss or at least a difficulty setting for this, especially to make the game more accessible to people that aren’t sonic vets
    it will never be fun for me to have to replay levels ive beat ever..
    I’ve already proved I can clear that section, let me move on
    there are some cool nods to the entire series here like sonic 3d and a few others that I don’t want to spoil that genuinely made me happy to run into…
    But still sonic mania just couldn’t turn me into a 2D sonic fan,
    This may without a doubt be a masterpiece for a sonic game…
    just don’t ignore that for a sonic game part…
    Overall this 2d sonic game is solid, buts it’s still a 2d sonic game
    slippery gameplay, frustratingly cheap moments, game overs with trial and error bosses, and levels that while beautiful - lack a sense of direction
    I give Sonic Mania
    A 7/10    … Expand
  52. Sakamoto_San
    Sep 11, 2017
    0
    Tiene problemas que aun no arreglan, no funciona bien con la función de foto, suspender y home aparte el juego se cierra solo después de jugar un par de horas
  53. HelpDeskMan
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania is the perfect throwback to the original Sonic games. It has that original play style and feel, but with new and exciting levels. This is the game that should have came after Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
  54. JasonThompson
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    In 1994, I played one of the greatest Sonic games of all time: Sonic & Knuckles. Then in 1996 Mario 64 came out and it looked amazing. Since then I had always wanted to play a 3D follow-up to Sonic & Knuckles.

    On 9/9/99 I got my wish. It was a fantastic game for the time. The amazing graphics helped me to overlook all of the problems in the game. With each successive Sonic game, I kept    In 1994, I played one of the greatest Sonic games of all time: Sonic & Knuckles. Then in 1996 Mario 64 came out and it looked amazing. Since then I had always wanted to play a 3D follow-up to Sonic & Knuckles.

    On 9/9/99 I got my wish. It was a fantastic game for the time. The amazing graphics helped me to overlook all of the problems in the game. With each successive Sonic game, I kept buying them, playing them, and becoming less and less excited. Finally in 2006, Sega released a Sonic game so awful that I finally realized what I really wanted the whole time. Sonic 4. And not just a game named Sonic 4, but a true successor to Sonic & Knuckles.

    Sonic Mania is that game. Sonic Mania is the true Sonic 4. Other than a few non-"game breaking" bugs it delivers. The physics are perfect. Every level is fun and creative. Every song is both familiar, but new. And the surprises kept a permanent smile on my face.

    If you enjoyed Sonic in the 90s, you must play this game.    … Expand
  55. Nezaniatoyimia
    Nov 8, 2019
    1
    It has no right to be called the Best sonic game and a masterpiece. This game is **** Sonic 2006 is a lot better. I've played Sonic 3 & knuckles so many times and when i tried to enjoy this "sonic mania" game i just wanted nothing more than close this piece of garbage. STOP PRAISING IT. IT'S BAD.
  56. Traslogan
    Aug 23, 2017
    6
    Game is great at first. Unfortunately you get midway in and it begins devolving into old 80s cheaptricks for difficulty like making you run into enemies and then it goes a step further by being unable to properly restart (Cannot restart with 3 lives, it just punishes you across restarts), and a checkpoint system with no autosaves at all. If you are at a boss of a zone with 200 rings and 1Game is great at first. Unfortunately you get midway in and it begins devolving into old 80s cheaptricks for difficulty like making you run into enemies and then it goes a step further by being unable to properly restart (Cannot restart with 3 lives, it just punishes you across restarts), and a checkpoint system with no autosaves at all. If you are at a boss of a zone with 200 rings and 1 life, resuming the save remove all rings and all progress in the zone but keeps your 1 life...

    By the mid game you reach places like Oil Zone and the boss stages become unreasonable, with the game glitching out where it should be harming Sonic or not, and using screen-effects that are so obstructive you can no longer see the game. It gets worse when it starts having enemies appear on-screen already 1-frame from attacking just so you have no time to react.

    There's a great game in there somewhere, but you get past the great game and end up with a surprising amount of issues faster than expected. This could easily be an 8 or 9 out of 10 in my books based on my first hour or two of it, but by hours 3 and 4 the few issues it has have bogged the game down into complete frustration. If they fix it, it would be so much better but for now...meh.

    And just for a unique up-yours to any of us who got it on the Switch, it has massive delays going to the operating system, and it's literally the only game on the entire system with this massive delay.    … Expand
  57. ff7master
    Sep 2, 2018
    0
    Simplemente perfecto, una obra maestra de las plataformas 2D cargada de nostalgia.
  58. blitzchamp
    Aug 29, 2017
    0
    I have to say it's pretty crappy to wait 2 weeks extra for this game to come out on Steam and then find out after I purchased it that it has DRM and also an always-online feature enabled. Whether this was intentional or not - it shows SEGA's contempt for the people who support it. I can understand an always-online feature in a FREE cell phone game, but not in a game I actually PAID YOUI have to say it's pretty crappy to wait 2 weeks extra for this game to come out on Steam and then find out after I purchased it that it has DRM and also an always-online feature enabled. Whether this was intentional or not - it shows SEGA's contempt for the people who support it. I can understand an always-online feature in a FREE cell phone game, but not in a game I actually PAID YOU FOR.

    Way to ruin a good thing - finally after years of making crappy games, a Sonic game worth playing finally came out and now this happens. Way to go SEGA.    … Expand
  59. Vitoner
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    Finally a classic Sonic game wich builds upon the classic trilogy and Sonic CD and results in something both fresh and nostalgic. Thank goodness for Christian Whitehead and kudos to SEGA for letting a passionate and talented fan create the best 2D Sonic game in ages! SEGA still does what Nintendon't.
    9 out of 10 because there are small issues that can be ironed out, mostly caused by    Finally a classic Sonic game wich builds upon the classic trilogy and Sonic CD and results in something both fresh and nostalgic. Thank goodness for Christian Whitehead and kudos to SEGA for letting a passionate and talented fan create the best 2D Sonic game in ages! SEGA still does what Nintendon't.
    9 out of 10 because there are small issues that can be ironed out, mostly caused by sticking to the classic Sonic design philosophy. I.e. sometimes you still crash into enemies because of the ridiculous speed or sometimes the backgroung and foreground elements are kinda confusing... nitpicky stuff.    … Expand
  60. Michael_Forman
    Aug 31, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania takes the 1980s classic to the next level. For those familiar with the franchise, this throwback will astound in its massive worlds, creative updates, and faithfulness to the original. I am in awe of the artistic and technical genius that brought forth a new gaming masterpiece. Truly, this labor of love is a gift to the gaming community.

    With that said, just like the    Sonic Mania takes the 1980s classic to the next level. For those familiar with the franchise, this throwback will astound in its massive worlds, creative updates, and faithfulness to the original. I am in awe of the artistic and technical genius that brought forth a new gaming masterpiece. Truly, this labor of love is a gift to the gaming community.

    With that said, just like the original Sonic it starts out easy and then you die a lot, as it should be.    … Expand
  61. Deanster101
    May 27, 2018
    9
    The original levels that have been reimagined are a lot of fun but the real treat here are the brand new stages, Studiopolis Zone sticks in my mind as being particularly excellent. Gameplay is bang on and the graphics are gorgeous, but the music....oh my god it’s incredible I want the soundtrack! This is the Sonic we have been waiting for, just sack Team Sonic and use Christian WhiteheadThe original levels that have been reimagined are a lot of fun but the real treat here are the brand new stages, Studiopolis Zone sticks in my mind as being particularly excellent. Gameplay is bang on and the graphics are gorgeous, but the music....oh my god it’s incredible I want the soundtrack! This is the Sonic we have been waiting for, just sack Team Sonic and use Christian Whitehead from now on, SEGA :)… Expand
  62. splinted
    Aug 17, 2017
    9
    At 30 years old and being a gamer all my life, it takes a lot to impress me and the sole reason why I bought this game is because I wanted to get the same feeling of being 3 years old playing my first sonic game in the 90's with my brother. The moment when I got to the stage of Sonic being on the flying battery and hearing the same music with a bit a hint of remix, all the nostalgicAt 30 years old and being a gamer all my life, it takes a lot to impress me and the sole reason why I bought this game is because I wanted to get the same feeling of being 3 years old playing my first sonic game in the 90's with my brother. The moment when I got to the stage of Sonic being on the flying battery and hearing the same music with a bit a hint of remix, all the nostalgic feelings came at once and I felt 3 again.

    Sonic Mania delivers the most authentic modern 90's game i have ever played. Almost every stage starts off like the original classics but completely the more you progress. The sonic characters have the exact animations with new welcoming ones. The boss battles feel just as exciting and innovative. And if there is anyone who has played all the original Sonics countlessly as a kid and remember all the secret locations--- well guess what? You will be rewarded. To wrap things up, Sonic Mania is a fantastic buy for 19.99 and anyone who grew up in my generation would absolutely love this game.

    9/10    … Expand
  63. Shadow1
    Nov 18, 2017
    7
    Sega takes the example from Capcom, because it also parasitizes on past merits, but unlike Capcom, Sega isn't make stupid collection of old games, they makes collection of levels from old games, but add new and upgrade old levels with bosses and make them more unusual. In general this new game is well forgotten (or vice versa unforgettable, causing nostalgia) and altered old.
  64. TicTacToad
    Aug 18, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania does a fantastic job at recapturing the magic the original Genesis Sonic games have, and all future predecessors have failed to capture.

    While Sonic has gone through a rough identity crisis for most of his life now, Sonic Mania brings him back to his roots, resulting in a game filled with charm and love. Everything is at its best here. The graphics are wonderfully animated    Sonic Mania does a fantastic job at recapturing the magic the original Genesis Sonic games have, and all future predecessors have failed to capture.

    While Sonic has gone through a rough identity crisis for most of his life now, Sonic Mania brings him back to his roots, resulting in a game filled with charm and love. Everything is at its best here. The graphics are wonderfully animated and vibrant, resulting in easily one of the best looking Sonic games. The level design is top notch, with a perfect mixture of speed and platforming. The best part of the game however, has to be the music. It is comprised of both renditions of older songs and brand new songs, which all sound fantastic, resulting in easily one of the best soundtracks ever seen in a Sonic game.

    However, the game is not without its flaws, even though there are very few. Right off the bat, the game can be somewhat glitchy. Throughout my two playthroughs (one as Sonic + Tails, and one as Knuckles), I've ran into issues such as getting stuck inside of walls, having UFO bonus stages think I've fallen outside of the stage when I have not, and having the music cut out after getting an invincibility power up or a 1 up.

    Another flaw the game has is how some of the recreated levels feel very similar to their original counterparts by relying on nostalgia too much, most notably, the Act 1 segments. While nearly every Act 2 manages to feel like a new experience and filled with surprises (Chemical Plant Zone's Act 2 boss easily being the best surprise of the bunch), a lot of the re-imagined Act 1 stages don't feel all that reimagined, and instead feel more like something you may find in an elaborate ROM hack. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, for games like Sonic Generations do similar things and the levels themselves still feel fantastic, but having some of that Act 2 charm in the Act 1 stages would've made the experience feel a bit more new. However, I'm just nitpicking, as anyone looking for nostalgia or a mix of nostalgia and new will be extremely satisfied in what they're getting. The game feels like it has so much potential to do all sorts of new and crazy stuff, but had to be held back in order for Act 1 stages.

    Overall, Sonic Mania is a return of glory for the blue hedgehog and friends, and I am incredibly hopeful for a future Sonic Mania 2 or something of the like.    … Expand
  65. Fostero1993
    Aug 18, 2017
    8
    Grając w Sonic manie przypominają się stare, nostalgiczne czasy, kiedy ogrywało się starsze części niebieskiego jeża. Godna polecenia wszystkim fanom Sonica.
  66. JavierUzumaki
    Nov 11, 2017
    10
    El mejor plataformas 2d que he jugado, ¡Sonic ha vuelto!. Encima jugar esto en nintendo switch es una verdadera gosada, Sega se la marco con este juego.
    Tiene mi 10.
  67. Stlouzilla
    Sep 6, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania is about as good as Sonic gets. As a longtime fan (like...since the very first game), Mania is everything I have wanted out of a Sonic game for the last twenty years. The art, level design, move set, and "feel" are all exactly as they should be in accordance with the original games. So why not a higher score, you may ask? As much as I love this game (and i do), it has forced meSonic Mania is about as good as Sonic gets. As a longtime fan (like...since the very first game), Mania is everything I have wanted out of a Sonic game for the last twenty years. The art, level design, move set, and "feel" are all exactly as they should be in accordance with the original games. So why not a higher score, you may ask? As much as I love this game (and i do), it has forced me to confront a simple reality - Sonic isn't, and never has been, a perfectly refined and polished experience. It's still a lot of fun to zip through levels as the blue blur and marvel at the gorgeous retro pixel art but cheap deaths, confounding slow downs, and unnecessary repetition are just part of Sonic's DNA. Sonic Mania is a well-deserved masterpiece for fans of the character but it isn't a perfect game - and probably never could be.… Expand
  68. Untitled94
    Aug 16, 2017
    8
    I already talk about how great this game is on my PS4 review of this. But in addition to all all that, the fact that you can play this great game on the go is...well great. This was a good game to start out Sonic with in the Switch's library.
  69. Creeper3455
    Aug 28, 2017
    9
    Once upon a time,at the SEGA Headquarters,there was this one guy who thought "Well,people don't like these new 3D Sonic games (especially Sonic Boom,for Ch****'s sake!),so...What about a throwback to the good old days?". And that's where we now have Sonic Mania,AKA the first TRULY good Sonic game we had in years. Let's start with the story:It's your typical 'stop the bad guy' thing,butOnce upon a time,at the SEGA Headquarters,there was this one guy who thought "Well,people don't like these new 3D Sonic games (especially Sonic Boom,for Ch****'s sake!),so...What about a throwback to the good old days?". And that's where we now have Sonic Mania,AKA the first TRULY good Sonic game we had in years. Let's start with the story:It's your typical 'stop the bad guy' thing,but with a "Remix" vibe to it. And that's where you'll explore different worlds of different games,such as Sonic The Hedgehog,Sonic CD... (the list goes on). What Sonic Mania lacks for storytelling,it makes up for colorful levels and incredible music. Unlike those 3D abominations that tend to go in a dark way (*cough-cough* 2006 *coff-coff*),this one goes all the way kid-friendly,with impressive level design,fun boss fights,and also a smooth frame rate. It's all-in 60fps in both docked and undocked. Even the animated cutscenes are awesome to look at. Now during the levels,you also have these Bonus Levels,such as 'Get the Chaos Emerald!' and 'Get Blue Spheres!',which are fun to play,and also intriguingly hard at some point. I could talk for hours about this game,but in the end,Sonic Mania might be the best Sonic game we had in years (until Sonic Forces...),if not also a "Sorry" letter from SEGA,with creative levels,a remixed-up soundtrack,and,of course,the fun that'll make you go to max speed. (bad puns.)… Expand
  70. llyrowenjones
    Aug 22, 2017
    10
    This is what Sonic should have been over the years. Ever since 3, Sonic has been lagging behind and failing game after game. This game corrects that, and it can show Sonic Team a thing or 2 about it's own heritage and how to build a Sonic game. This is perfect, nostalgic and new.
  71. AshEntropy
    Aug 18, 2017
    10
    Fantastic game! The best Sonic game I have played since Sonic 3 & Knuckles, infact, I think Sonic Mania is better than the original trilogy + Sonic CD.
  72. Jack5switch
    Dec 18, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is undeniably Sonic the Hedgehog's best modern-day game, so long as we don't bring up the plot threads that tie into Sonic Forces. It's true nostalgia fuel, delivering in every aspect what the original Genesis games set in stone for the blue mascot. It also ends up feeling fresh and inspired, due to the stylised but still pixelated art style, and the exploratory nature of theSonic Mania is undeniably Sonic the Hedgehog's best modern-day game, so long as we don't bring up the plot threads that tie into Sonic Forces. It's true nostalgia fuel, delivering in every aspect what the original Genesis games set in stone for the blue mascot. It also ends up feeling fresh and inspired, due to the stylised but still pixelated art style, and the exploratory nature of the stages, making playing as any character feel like a new experience. However, the Genesis legacy left some fundamental flaws, and Sonic Mania is similarly a victim to them. Some of the level design is hit and miss, momentum can be randomly compromised by the placement of springs or enemies, and the Oil Ocean octopus boss is just the absolute worst. If Mania was built to resolve these embedded problems from start to finish, it would be higher on this list, but currently it sits directly in the middle.… Expand
  73. TheBananaBoi
    Aug 18, 2017
    10
    This is a amazing sonic game the zones are fun, soundtrack is amazing, sometimes I go to a different act in the same zone i hear a different soundtrack, the dash is cool, and boss battles are fun well some of them. The special stages are fun well some of them the ones I hate are 4 and 5 ones they are frustrating to play but ones you beat em you feel good I use to hate em really much tbh.This is a amazing sonic game the zones are fun, soundtrack is amazing, sometimes I go to a different act in the same zone i hear a different soundtrack, the dash is cool, and boss battles are fun well some of them. The special stages are fun well some of them the ones I hate are 4 and 5 ones they are frustrating to play but ones you beat em you feel good I use to hate em really much tbh. But if go to debug mode you could access the special stages without looking for them and then you could practice and then ones you find them in your play through you could beat them easily.… Expand
  74. Namenloser2712
    Aug 18, 2017
    10
    Aufgrund meiner geilen Englisch-Skills kommt meine Bewertung auf Deutsch:

    Sonic Mania ist ein neuer Versuch von Sega, wieder ein geiles Sonic, nach Generations, auf den Markt zu bringen. Diesmal haben sie das Spiel aber von Fans entwickeln lassen. Das Spiel besitzt einen Nostalgischen 16bit Stil und sieht wunderschön aus. Die Leveldesigns sind einfach nur schön und die Level machen auch    Aufgrund meiner geilen Englisch-Skills kommt meine Bewertung auf Deutsch:

    Sonic Mania ist ein neuer Versuch von Sega, wieder ein geiles Sonic, nach Generations, auf den Markt zu bringen. Diesmal haben sie das Spiel aber von Fans entwickeln lassen. Das Spiel besitzt einen Nostalgischen 16bit Stil und sieht wunderschön aus. Die Leveldesigns sind einfach nur schön und die Level machen auch Spaß. Die Bosse sind zum Teil leicht, aber auch zum Teil schwer. Kommt drauf an welcher Boss. Die einzigen zwei Kritikpunkte wären, dass wenn ich den HOME-Button drücke, es knapp drei Sekunden braucht bis ich im Menü bin. Der zweite Kritikpunkt ist, dass man den "Mania-Modus" nicht zusammen zocken kann. Aber trotz den zwei Kritikpunkten ändert das nicht meine Bewertung. Kauft es euch!    … Expand
  75. pwnanobrien
    Aug 18, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is truly the sequel to Sonic & Knuckles old sonic fans have been waiting for. It is the perfect blend of new and old with the old pixel art style graphics, stages from sonic 1, 2, 3, &Knuckles as well as brand new stages and great music to boot. The later special stages are challenging but not impossible. Every 1st act has a mini boss and every 2nd act has a main boss.

    I    Sonic Mania is truly the sequel to Sonic & Knuckles old sonic fans have been waiting for. It is the perfect blend of new and old with the old pixel art style graphics, stages from sonic 1, 2, 3, &Knuckles as well as brand new stages and great music to boot. The later special stages are challenging but not impossible. Every 1st act has a mini boss and every 2nd act has a main boss.

    I found the later stages to have a lot more gameplay with a lot more platforming sequences than running sequences. And therefore, old terrible game players like me likely found themselves running out of time before the bosses in the final zone, haha.

    Overall, very good game. If you liked the old sonics, you'll love this. Let's just hope Sonic Forces can live up to Mania.    … Expand
  76. Snowertx64
    Aug 18, 2017
    9
    Before starting I have no idea how to rate an idea as great as this

    We start with the predecessors like the hated sonic boom and sonic lost world, sega attempts to make great games but unfortunately fail loudly Now talking about sonic mania I have nothing more to say that it is a simple project of love of fans for fans of the blue hedgehog All levels ARE amazing and it's really    Before starting I have no idea how to rate an idea as great as this

    We start with the predecessors like the hated sonic boom and sonic lost world, sega attempts to make great games but unfortunately fail loudly

    Now talking about sonic mania I have nothing more to say that it is a simple project of love of fans for fans of the blue hedgehog

    All levels ARE amazing and it's really cool to go back to green hill zone again but old people do not live and sonic knows it so they added new levels

    The gameplay is fresh and intuitive right from the start

    The graphics are incredible drawn directly from sega genesis and polished by christian whithead

    The music is perfect and I even say this to the level of other legendary sonar bands like zelda

    Summary: Finally, this is the best sonic I've ever had the luck to play and possibly one of the best platforms I've ever played in my life.

    Money does not do what the fun does    … Expand
  77. Errin3
    Aug 19, 2017
    10
    Havent played a sonic game this good in years, amazing nostalgia, enjoyed every bit of it (bosses were a little weak in some cases) but overall a fantastic game. Level design would have to be in my honest opinion better than the classic sonic games, love the smooth 60fps and hope that we see a Sonic Mania 2 in the near future. 2 thumbs all the way up
  78. luigicap
    Aug 28, 2017
    8
    i played the games on the genesis and this game truly feels like a sequel to those games. The controls feel great, the graphics are great (even on a 720p TV) and the modes in the game are fun. My only compliant is that there should've been a 4 player race, it felt necessary and it dosen't make sense why they wouldn't make it happen. This game is great and deserves an 8/10, good job Sega!i played the games on the genesis and this game truly feels like a sequel to those games. The controls feel great, the graphics are great (even on a 720p TV) and the modes in the game are fun. My only compliant is that there should've been a 4 player race, it felt necessary and it dosen't make sense why they wouldn't make it happen. This game is great and deserves an 8/10, good job Sega! This is the best Sonic game since Sonic 2.… Expand
  79. SamFairc
    Nov 12, 2017
    8
    I wasn’t born when this came out , as I am still a teen , yet somehow I can feel the power of the nostalgia at my fingertips . Stop pumping out trash and let Christian and co . Make the rest of your games SEGA
  80. BradyWarren
    Jan 10, 2018
    10
    This has to be the best Sonic game i have played since Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Everything about this game from the music to the level design to the new zones is perfectly rolled into one tight package. I can't think of a single thing wrong with this game... Other than it put classic sonic in forces. Other than that the game is a well crafted masterpiece.
  81. Kyooshi4000
    May 24, 2018
    5
    I really don't like Classic Sonic.
    When I heard SEGA was cooking up something new... I could hear Roger Craig Smith's god like voice ready to wrap me in hype.
    guess what happened. I am so mad at SEGA right now for making some third-party developers handle the franchise for a while. TWO YEARS IS ENOUGH. The only reason this isn't a 4 or below is because Hortinus made a Modern Sonic    I really don't like Classic Sonic.
    When I heard SEGA was cooking up something new... I could hear Roger Craig Smith's god like voice ready to wrap me in hype.

    guess what happened.

    I am so mad at SEGA right now for making some third-party developers handle the franchise for a while. TWO YEARS IS ENOUGH.
    The only reason this isn't a 4 or below is because Hortinus made a Modern Sonic mod. Sadly,
    1. The mod loader don't work.
    2. It has Jason Griffith's voice anyways...
    I think that if SEGA makes another gosh darn Classic game I will cut their heads off.    … Expand
  82. Phuz
    May 30, 2021
    7
    I don't get what people are moaning at in these 3, or 4/10 reviews. Read the tin, this is classic Sonic rehashed for the wide screen and that is what you get. To be honest, it is bloody fantastic. These levels aren't exact copies of originals, not even close. You get about 15 seconds of classic Sonic and you're like **** this is just the old Sonic in widescreen, then that familiarityI don't get what people are moaning at in these 3, or 4/10 reviews. Read the tin, this is classic Sonic rehashed for the wide screen and that is what you get. To be honest, it is bloody fantastic. These levels aren't exact copies of originals, not even close. You get about 15 seconds of classic Sonic and you're like **** this is just the old Sonic in widescreen, then that familiarity disappears and the fun and new twists and turns start to appear.

    This is an amazing Sonic game. I downgrade this score only because it is not up there with the likes of Fire Emblem, not because I am faulting the game. It just isn't a 10/10 game and I think the price reflects that it is not a top notch premium game, so at this price point of around £17, or £22 physical, you are getting value for money.

    I did die numerous times due to glitches, it looked like it was killing me for being trapped and I wasn't trapped. It was like hit boxes were slightly off. If you are someone who cries over little things like this then do yourself a favour, stop reading reviews and forget about this game.

    I don't really like platformers, I don't really like Sonic. I bought my Master System with Alex Kid and never owned a Sonic game personally from this era. This game though, it just has it. It has that Sonic feel through and through but with that modern, fun vibe to it. If you like Sonic, or platformers, then this is a no brainer. I just fancied a quick blast on Sonic again and this hit the spot and then some.

    Quality game. Ignore the cry babies.    … Expand
  83. Hyperior4200
    Jul 21, 2018
    1
    Terribly hard difficulty. It is not fun, not entertaining, Only the thing is Story Mode and 2P mode, the 2P mode is so horrible, what I need to do is just run at 2P mode. and the Story Mode, the gameplay is so hard, I can't get further. I am stuck at Oil Ocean Zone. Plus, I don't know what to do at Story Mode. so, THERE IS NOTHING TO DO AT SONIC MANIA, I really regret that I bought SonicTerribly hard difficulty. It is not fun, not entertaining, Only the thing is Story Mode and 2P mode, the 2P mode is so horrible, what I need to do is just run at 2P mode. and the Story Mode, the gameplay is so hard, I can't get further. I am stuck at Oil Ocean Zone. Plus, I don't know what to do at Story Mode. so, THERE IS NOTHING TO DO AT SONIC MANIA, I really regret that I bought Sonic Mania, I just cried before that I regret so much on buying Sonic Mania. I just got scammed, help me.… Expand
  84. cool_dork
    Feb 3, 2019
    7
    It is a fun game, but can be really frustrating when you need to start an entire zone over again.
  85. luis2667
    Dec 7, 2019
    0
    buen juego clásico de sonic, lastima que sega mata cada vez mas la saga de sonic
  86. Brath
    Jul 1, 2020
    0
    Эта игра полное наебалово, что бы развести нас на деньги. Ведь тут очередная ставка на настольгию. Sega и Sonic Team, YOU CAN'T MAKE GOOD GAMES!!!!!
  87. doodlerman
    Nov 25, 2017
    8
    This is the first "Classic" styled Sonic game I've actually played. Having started with Sonic Adventure, I was surprised by the simplicity of the controls. Also, rather than immediately running fast as you do in the 3D games, you have to build momentum. I kept thinking I was missing something in the gameplay - for example, the homing attack is absent (which I've since learned is almostThis is the first "Classic" styled Sonic game I've actually played. Having started with Sonic Adventure, I was surprised by the simplicity of the controls. Also, rather than immediately running fast as you do in the 3D games, you have to build momentum. I kept thinking I was missing something in the gameplay - for example, the homing attack is absent (which I've since learned is almost exclusively a 3D Sonic mechanic).

    All in all, I like Sonic Mania quite a bit. There was a bit of a learning curb from what I was used to, but beyond that I had a good time. My only real complaint is that in some of the environments it's hard to differentiate platforms from certain background elements (which you can't stand on). This never resulted in an unfair death, but there were plenty of unintentional diversions in the path I thought I was on into new areas that would send me zooming all over the place. Somewhat disorienting to say the least, though - weirdly - this was never as annoying as it may sound.    … Expand
  88. Gloone
    Jul 12, 2018
    6
    If you genuinely love playing the original Sonic games then you'll love this, but for me almost everything about it is a mixed bag.

    Visually it's good, and the film-themed Studiopolis zone is a standout which rivals the classic levels -- but the rest can be a little rough around the edges aesthetically, and on a fair few occasions, poor visual design caused confusion and negatively    If you genuinely love playing the original Sonic games then you'll love this, but for me almost everything about it is a mixed bag.

    Visually it's good, and the film-themed Studiopolis zone is a standout which rivals the classic levels -- but the rest can be a little rough around the edges aesthetically, and on a fair few occasions, poor visual design caused confusion and negatively affected the gameplay.

    The music is good -- again, Studiopolis is the standout newcomer. The remixes of classic levels mostly left me cold, though. They generally play it safe and end up as an unhappy compromise between the 8-bit style and more naturalised instrumentation.

    The gameplay... at times there is a great flow to it and it can be really good, but often it really isn't. I was hoping they would take what actually worked in the original Sonic games and refine it, but it's pretty much the same -- which means the good and the bad. There are the same basic contradictions at the heart of the gameplay -- the cramped screen, the frustrating damage and deaths, the inconsistent controls, the long stretches that require no skilled interaction -- you can beat most of this game pretty easily by holding a directional key and jumping, not needing to worry about taking damage because you can just pick up your rings again. Bosses are the same kind of story, with the exception of a handful of clever and entertaining ones.

    I've played some outstandingly focused and well-designed platformers recently (most recently Celeste), and it really shines a light on the design deficiencies of Sonic and Sonic Mania. I believe that somewhere in the Sonic formula is the potential for an excellent game, but I don't think this is it.    … Expand
  89. Kenmei
    Aug 18, 2017
    10
    An amazing nostalgia trip clearly made by a group of people who truly loved the subject matter. This game is similar in look and feel to Sonic and Kunuckles from the Genesis era, but adds quite a few more things to the table to make it a fully fledged game. While there are remixes of past famous levels like Green Hill zone and the Chemical Plant, each Act 2 of those levels includes a brandAn amazing nostalgia trip clearly made by a group of people who truly loved the subject matter. This game is similar in look and feel to Sonic and Kunuckles from the Genesis era, but adds quite a few more things to the table to make it a fully fledged game. While there are remixes of past famous levels like Green Hill zone and the Chemical Plant, each Act 2 of those levels includes a brand new way to get through it as well as an amazing new soundtrack for each Act of each Zone. And truly the music in this game is top notch and some of the best I've heard in a long time. Each level is so well done that it makes the pretty hard difficulty level passable. Plus the new added secret levels that harken back to Sonic CD are fun and challenging ways to get the Chaos Emeralds in the game. The game is also just 20 bucks! I'd prob recommend playing it on the Switch to take it on the go but the trophies/achievements for the other systems can add alot of replay to the game. While it will really only take 3-4 hours per story mode once you figure out the levels, there are 4 different ways to play it. I can't recommend this enough to old school Sonic fans. With how bad some Sonic games have been recently, this is truly a breath of fresh air.… Expand
  90. ganoncrotch
    Oct 1, 2017
    10
    What more can be said about this than what others have already chimed on here... it just plays like a love letter to the Megadrive Sonic that we all wish his newer 3d games have been for the last decade or two.

    Only tiny issue here... there is an achievement to be earned apparently for getting Gold in all 32 of the bonus stages, however since the Switch doesn't have any form of    What more can be said about this than what others have already chimed on here... it just plays like a love letter to the Megadrive Sonic that we all wish his newer 3d games have been for the last decade or two.

    Only tiny issue here... there is an achievement to be earned apparently for getting Gold in all 32 of the bonus stages, however since the Switch doesn't have any form of achievement system then for us users on Switch all you gain from completing the game 100% is.... nothing, Silver medals are enough to unlock everything in the game, Gold only exist for the achievement like I said... which doesn't exist on the platform only on PC/PS4/X1 bit of a shame.

    Otherwise this is just glorious from start to finish.    … Expand
  91. AwesomeCakester
    Nov 10, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania is a big nostalgia trip for fans the grew up with the blue blur in the Genesis era, and it's done with a lot of care and a lot of love. To cut to the chase, Sonic Mania reminded me why I love Sonic the Hedgehog. Levels have a great sense of speed to them with lots to explore and find loads of cool extras. Special stages are interestingly designed and are one of the betterSonic Mania is a big nostalgia trip for fans the grew up with the blue blur in the Genesis era, and it's done with a lot of care and a lot of love. To cut to the chase, Sonic Mania reminded me why I love Sonic the Hedgehog. Levels have a great sense of speed to them with lots to explore and find loads of cool extras. Special stages are interestingly designed and are one of the better designed in the series. Having a long awaited return of Tails and Knuckles as playable characters is very welcomed and adds some great replay-ability to the levels, and which so much inside jokes and references to everything and any thing Sonic. If you're looking for a great return to form for the hedgehog, Sonic Mania is on the same level of quality as Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations and deserves your attention and support.… Expand
  92. averumsson
    Aug 19, 2017
    10
    Fresh level design, even in old zones. While there are only 4 new zones in the game, the old zones are reinterpreted to add vastly different content and new stage design. Mania is a blast through and through.
  93. bulger_paul
    Aug 21, 2017
    8
    Most of the time, Sonic Mania is bloody near perfect, and all complaints are relatively minor. I genuinely hope Sega keeps hiring fans to develop games for them, because this is a product that understands its audience, and it understands what made the franchise successful to begin with.

    Pros: -great art direction and use of color -great soundtrack -great level design -tight controls    Most of the time, Sonic Mania is bloody near perfect, and all complaints are relatively minor. I genuinely hope Sega keeps hiring fans to develop games for them, because this is a product that understands its audience, and it understands what made the franchise successful to begin with.

    Pros:
    -great art direction and use of color
    -great soundtrack
    -great level design
    -tight controls (with one exception)
    -loads of secrets
    -loads of replayability
    -loads of bonus stages
    -character sprites are very expressive
    -only $20 means a lot of bang for your buck factor

    Cons:
    -new bonus stages for collecting chaos emeralds are shaky. The hit detection is wonky and controls aren't very tight
    -half the game is upgraded retreads of older games, when I was more interested in the new ideas they introduced than the classic stuff (though that isn't a big deal since most people are buying this knowing it's essentially an improved retread)
    -the extras are a little lackluster
    -the new/remixed jingles and sound effects for completing/collecting things (collecting emeralds, completing bonus stages, getting an invincibility monitor, getting an extra life) don't sound very "satisfying," if that makes any sense. The sound effects/jingles in the older games sound evoke a satisfied feeling when you hear them, much like the discovery jingle in the Zelda games, but these new jingles don't evoke that same feeling, I'm not sure why.

    Overall, it's a great game I highly recommend, unless you really just hate the older Sonic games back when they were good, in which case this won't convert you.    … Expand
  94. Simobros17
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    This... is GODLY
    I can't believe this game really exists
    All the hype... it was WORTH IT
    I don't know if it's better than S3&K but it's at least on the same level
  95. DReview
    Aug 29, 2017
    8
    Cool game, very nostalgic, but the glitch with the home menu, and also the lag in control input, makes me not even want to turn the game on anymore. It feels like my Switch is going to break when ever I want to go back to the home menu.... Hope they fix it soon, so I can play it.
  96. NeoTheFox
    Sep 3, 2017
    9
    This game recreates Sonic 3 & Knuckles experience very, very faithfully. Graphics, controls, everything feels the same, yet very improved - new useful jump dash ability makes Sonic's gameplay a lot more fluent, and the sprites are just gorgeous - everything runs butter smoothes without hiccups or slowdowns, which for such a fast gameplay is impressive. The only downside is not having levelThis game recreates Sonic 3 & Knuckles experience very, very faithfully. Graphics, controls, everything feels the same, yet very improved - new useful jump dash ability makes Sonic's gameplay a lot more fluent, and the sprites are just gorgeous - everything runs butter smoothes without hiccups or slowdowns, which for such a fast gameplay is impressive. The only downside is not having level transitions - it's a shame, since it's the only thing that original did a better job with.… Expand
  97. MultiThomas777
    Sep 6, 2017
    10
    Simply the best 2D Sonic game to date, that in my opinion of course.
    Aside from excellent, and I mean super excellent level design, extremely catchy music, and adorable graphics, the gameplay is just like the older 2D Sonic games, but feels smoother. It's seriously great, try it out!
  98. BugF1x3r
    Aug 20, 2017
    10
    I'm a big Sonic fan ever since the day that the original Sonic the Hedgehog came out on the Genesis and this game is even better. I only wish that there would be a physical release!
  99. Dukemang
    Aug 31, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is an amazing flashback game to the 1990's back when Sonic the Hedgehog was it's prime. Sega hiring Christian Whitehead and his team was the best thing that could've be done to this game and he delivered. The level design is fantastic with massive world views; making you want to re-play previous levels to find secrets or alternative paths. The music (composed by Tee Lopes) isSonic Mania is an amazing flashback game to the 1990's back when Sonic the Hedgehog was it's prime. Sega hiring Christian Whitehead and his team was the best thing that could've be done to this game and he delivered. The level design is fantastic with massive world views; making you want to re-play previous levels to find secrets or alternative paths. The music (composed by Tee Lopes) is also a great feature to the game as well mixing classic sonic music with newer tones to create upbeat and catchy themes. This game is a must have for anyone who likes platformers or casual games that was made by sonic fans, for sonic fans.… Expand
  100. tomcrew10
    Dec 26, 2017
    8
    Not only one of the best Sonic games available but also one of the most enjoyable 2d platformers. The reason for this is due to the great level design (for the most part) which allows the player to move fast but has platforming that feels fair. The bosses are mixed bag though as some were annoying to face(OIL ocean boss) where as others are a joy to fight due to their unique design andNot only one of the best Sonic games available but also one of the most enjoyable 2d platformers. The reason for this is due to the great level design (for the most part) which allows the player to move fast but has platforming that feels fair. The bosses are mixed bag though as some were annoying to face(OIL ocean boss) where as others are a joy to fight due to their unique design and throwbacks to earlier games (metal Sonic). Another issue I personally have with the game is how it handles lives as if you run out of lives at a boss you need to redo act 1 and 2 to get to the boss making it take longer to learn the boss patterns. Despite the flaws mentioned this game is great and made even better when compared to recent Sonic games.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best Switch Game of 2017
8
#8 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
10
#10 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Gamers' Temple
    Oct 6, 2017
    93
    After nearly 20 years of almost universally horrible games, the 16-bit icon has returned to his former glory and redeemed himself in the eyes of this long-suffering fan. Sonic Mania does a great job of reminding us what made Sonic great in the first place, while also FINALLY bringing the mascot into the modern era. Everything comes together - the music, the stages, the boss fights and the secrets - to form a package that is both appealing to the retro gamer and irresistible to anyone who enjoys a good game of run and jump. Whether on the Nintendo Switch or any other system, Sonic Mania needs to be in your collection yesterday.
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  2. Switch Player
    Sep 18, 2017
    74
    Sonic Mania is like a greatest hits album that your favourite artist may release, with a few new tracks as a bonus. It has a high level of nostalgia, gloss and polish and will really challenge your skill, reflexes and patience. There's quite a bit to get stuck into, but you may find yourself being frustrated. If you love the little blue chap and relish a challenge, speed along to the e-shop and pick this up.
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  3. Edge Magazine
    Sep 14, 2017
    70
    This convincing comeback has been designed for the die-hards - and they haven't been this well served by a Sonic game for ages. [Issue#311, p.118]
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