Sonic Mania

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 678 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 560 out of 678
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 678
  3. Negative: 82 out of 678
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  1. hoogafanter
    Aug 21, 2017
    9
    This is basically a super polished version of the genesis games, filled with remixed returning context and original ideas. Mechanics are largely the same with a few minor changes and one game changing move for sonic. If you are a fan of the genesis games, you will fall in love with this game quickly. If you are a first time Sonic player, this is the definitive way to jump in and get started.
  2. PyRo1005
    Aug 16, 2017
    9
    Sonic fans have a lot to be happy about with the Sonic Mania as it hits all of the right notes for retro and new gamers alike.

    Gameplay: Controls are incredibly tight, to the extent that missteps are pretty much your fault and you recognize it. Platforming is smooth and speed feels fast without chaotic which given the nature of Sonic is incredibly helpful. To further this, all of the    Sonic fans have a lot to be happy about with the Sonic Mania as it hits all of the right notes for retro and new gamers alike.

    Gameplay:
    Controls are incredibly tight, to the extent that missteps are pretty much your fault and you recognize it. Platforming is smooth and speed feels fast without chaotic which given the nature of Sonic is incredibly helpful.
    To further this, all of the original moves are back and the modern moves have been taken away. While this might feel like a step down for newer fans of Sonic, it will become natural as the game does not feel the need to overwhelm you with too many move sets.
    When playing the most difficult decision you will have to make is which character you use and less about what move to use.

    Difficulty:
    This is why the game does not get a perfect 10 and it is because Sonic Mania is a love letter to retro gamers and was developed by fans of original Sonic. This also means that the game can have a (sometimes literally) crushing learning curve as you get used to threading the needle for very specific jumps. New gamers might be inclined to give up especially when making it to more challenging levels from older games.

    Visuals and music:
    Love letter still is the perfect way to encompass what this game is from the level design to the music, everything has a specific purpose.
    Level textures pop extremely well and combine the old with the new so well that I was actually grateful when I died sometimes as it gave me a chance to look at the gorgeous backgrounds and enemies closer.
    The music is also phenomenal as everything has received a modern overhaul without stripping it of its soul. From hearing the extra life song play to having a panic attack as Sonic struggles to hold his breath, the game has done an excellent job bringing Sonic back to form.
    Added bonus, you have the option to change the TV resolution to old CRT televisions (fuzzyness and all) where all you need to really go retro is grab some soda-licious, your favourite pop and enjoy.

    Overall:

    Is Sonic Mania a perfect game? no
    But it is damn close and the developers should be extremely proud with bringing a game that was in a rut for almost 20 years back into shape and relevant.
    The game does not give you any quarter and does not feel like it is just punishing you for fun (I'm looking at you Dark Souls). Completing complex stage puzzles or finishing bonus mini-games to unlock either extras or Chaos Emeralds is great.
    While new players might be frustrated with the learning curve, retro gamers will find plenty to love and unlock with no-save mode, time attack mode, and leaderboards.    … Expand
  3. semigod
    Dec 4, 2017
    9
    (edit)Tiene una velocidad muy buena , unas fisicas de movimiento perfectas y los mapas decir que estan bien diseñados es poco, porque la nueva green hill tiene una variedad de posibilidades de jugar ,de lugares increiblemente diseñados ...cada rincon es muy diferente
    y otro como flying baterio me encanto , como combino elementos de flying battery original y de wing fortress de sonic 2.
  4. Ali_Moghimi
    Nov 7, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is a great Sonic game
    probably not better that most of the 3D games but pretty fun and awesome
    the redesigned stages are nothing like the past games and feel pretty new
    and the special stages are so fun and even better than the previous 2D sonic games
    ill give it a 10/10
  5. JIATNSA
    Aug 16, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is a brilliant display of the franchises best and provides great potential for the future of the series. Its visual style is brilliant and nails the Sega Saturn aesthetic, this can also be said about its soundtrack which I expect nothing less from Tee Lopes. The gameplay feels like a natural progression from Sonic 3K and levels are more open and detailed then ever.

    The only    Sonic Mania is a brilliant display of the franchises best and provides great potential for the future of the series. Its visual style is brilliant and nails the Sega Saturn aesthetic, this can also be said about its soundtrack which I expect nothing less from Tee Lopes. The gameplay feels like a natural progression from Sonic 3K and levels are more open and detailed then ever.

    The only issue i find with Mania is the reuse of zones that take up sixty percent of the zones in the game. However this issue is small as Mania adds twists to the level in the second act of the reused zones, this still leaves the first act though which I feel could have been rectified by making brand new zones altogether.

    Regardless I still find Mania a complete joy and cant wait for a possible sequel that solves this small issue. But until then go ahead and buy this game this is a 90's Platformers paradise that you just cant miss.    … Expand
  6. Jfksh
    Feb 13, 2018
    9
    Yes, It's a sorry moment that Sonic Forces is a bad game at any cost, but at that time Sonic Mania is different.
    Sonic Mania is a, well, it's the 4th 16-bit genesis Sonic game to say the ĺeast. With intense level designs and great gameplay
  7. Dedo
    Sep 8, 2017
    9
    Uall! Sonic game was nostaugic from start to finish. I remember when I was a kid and I was hours and hours in front of the mega drive. I think they should have done a checking in the graphs because the stages and the sound are very good, but the graphs leave to wish. Even so, it is not something that disrupts the experience! Go, Go Sonic !!
  8. TheoneTrueKing
    Nov 6, 2017
    9
    It is great to have a sonic game that is not insane plot and just simple platformer fun which is what originally made the series what it is. Happy to see it like it was
  9. Seta
    Nov 11, 2017
    9
    Good game but Sonic 3&Knuckles was better in my opinion. i am a bit bias though because Knuckles is my favorite character and he just isn't nearly as fun to play as in mania in my opinion.
  10. Xnoam12
    Dec 12, 2017
    9
    Amazing sonic game that we been waiting for years. best classic sonic game, amazing music, fun gameplay and bosses.
    It's one of the best sonic games ever.
  11. JPSantosS
    Feb 19, 2018
    9
    The game was beautiful, well done and memorable, I'm very happy that a 2D game was able to surpass and be even better than a 3D game full of Hype.
    I was hoping that Sonic Forces would please me more, though, only Sonic Mania pleased me in 2017.
    The game is inspired by its level design, the songs are stupendous and the creative Bosses. The only negative thing about the game was the    The game was beautiful, well done and memorable, I'm very happy that a 2D game was able to surpass and be even better than a 3D game full of Hype.
    I was hoping that Sonic Forces would please me more, though, only Sonic Mania pleased me in 2017.
    The game is inspired by its level design, the songs are stupendous and the creative Bosses.
    The only negative thing about the game was the little addition of new phases, but still the experience was how I first played Sonic again!    … Expand
  12. Normiereview
    Jun 13, 2018
    9
    The Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise has had a rocky road with successes and failures and this time it feels that SEGA have finally accomplished what they've been trying to do for so long and that is bring Sonic back to his former glory. This game offers an amazing blend of both old and new with classic zones such as Green Hill and Chemical Plant whilst also offering refreshing new experiencesThe Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise has had a rocky road with successes and failures and this time it feels that SEGA have finally accomplished what they've been trying to do for so long and that is bring Sonic back to his former glory. This game offers an amazing blend of both old and new with classic zones such as Green Hill and Chemical Plant whilst also offering refreshing new experiences with zones like Studiopolis and Press Garden.
    The game is packed with bosses ranging from fan favourites like Metal Sonic and the Death Egg Robot as well as a surprising appearance of the Mean Bean Machine. But with so many bosses, this brings up my only real complaint which is that some of the sub bosses feel forgettable.
    In the future I would love to see more of games like Sonic Mania and soon Sonic could be put back on track    … Expand
  13. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    This is really a great game, there is so much to love about it, must play for sure!
  14. Petepems7905
    May 30, 2019
    9
    Pretty damn awesome that's all I can say because no other words can do this game justice
  15. X_247
    Jul 8, 2020
    9
    this game is good and the music is perfect and the frameworks well in PS4 and in every final stage there are an boss to fight but the problem with the bosses it is they are very easy, so if you like platforming games so go and buy it.
  16. AlBal665
    Feb 20, 2023
    9
    I grew up playing the 2D Sonic games on the Sega Mega Drive so when I saw this on PS Plus I jumped at the chance to get it and I can happily say that Sonic Mania is an excellent modern 2D Sonic game. While it’s not quite as good as the original games (partially due to nostalgia but also Sonic 3 & Knuckles was an outstanding game) it’s nostalgic enough that it keeps people like me happy andI grew up playing the 2D Sonic games on the Sega Mega Drive so when I saw this on PS Plus I jumped at the chance to get it and I can happily say that Sonic Mania is an excellent modern 2D Sonic game. While it’s not quite as good as the original games (partially due to nostalgia but also Sonic 3 & Knuckles was an outstanding game) it’s nostalgic enough that it keeps people like me happy and it’s also a great game by itself. If you grew up with the Mega Drive Sonic games like me then definitely give this a go!… Expand
  17. JP_Wilde
    Jan 24, 2020
    9
    a tribute to old fans, with classic levels well updated and incredible new levels.
    Beautiful and detailed graphics in 16 bits and a good challenge, saved the Sonic franchise in this generation.
  18. Braequan_623
    Mar 3, 2020
    9
    Does what Generations does well: celebrates Sonic. This time, rather than the whole series, Mania celebrates the era of Classic 1990's Sonic the Hedgehog. While, I wish there were more new zones, the game is just filled with passion and heart, something that recent Sonic games have been severely lacking. Definite recommendation to any Sonic fan and to anyone who played the games on theDoes what Generations does well: celebrates Sonic. This time, rather than the whole series, Mania celebrates the era of Classic 1990's Sonic the Hedgehog. While, I wish there were more new zones, the game is just filled with passion and heart, something that recent Sonic games have been severely lacking. Definite recommendation to any Sonic fan and to anyone who played the games on the SEGA Genesis back in the day.… Expand
  19. Evo2404
    Jul 25, 2020
    9
    Just a fun game a great return to the classic games and is just a fun sonic game no over done story or anything just a pure and fun game and is a must own game if you like platformers or the classic games of back in the day
  20. estivee
    Sep 7, 2020
    9
    Sonic is back baby!
    This is the best Sonic game in a very, very long time. It’s probably the best Sonic game since Sonic 2. Every part of this game is crafted with love to the smallest detail, old levels return but are revamped in this new style where there’s more paths and larger worlds for you to explore as either Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Sonic and Tails together.
    Where this game    Sonic is back baby!
    This is the best Sonic game in a very, very long time. It’s probably the best Sonic game since Sonic 2. Every part of this game is crafted with love to the smallest detail, old levels return but are revamped in this new style where there’s more paths and larger worlds for you to explore as either Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Sonic and Tails together.
    Where this game really shines though is it’s new levels where modern game design and old school Sonic mesh for some new experiences really comes to life! This, more than anything gets me excited for a new Sonic game from this team where they get the freedom to craft a totally new Sonic experience!

    If you have played Sonic as a kid or never played a Sonic game before this game really stands the test of time as the great gameplay and fantastic levels carries this game more than anything else!
    Everyone that likes platformers HAS to play this game!    … Expand
  21. Aireki_pegasus
    Oct 3, 2020
    9
    Un juego lleno de nostalgia, excelente jugabilidad y buena inclusión de personajes y escenarios tanto nuevos como clásicos. Aunque me hubiera gustado que fuese un poco más largo, pero en si es uno de los mejores juegos de Sonic de todos los tiempos.
  22. Travistravel
    Apr 29, 2021
    9
    After many years of sonic games, this game finally captured the sonic experience i was looking for. It's just so fun and classic sonic fun. Definitely play it.
  23. STARMARTIN
    Jun 28, 2023
    9
    It's a overall great game and it really nails the classic era well. And improved on the physics great with the characters. It's a definitely must try game.
  24. IBANGMYWIFE
    Sep 28, 2021
    9
    Sonic Mania is one of the best Sonic games I've ever played, no doubt, but after a few repeated playthroughs, it gets kinda boring. I would recommend it to you either way. I still prefer Sonic 3 & Knuckles tho.
  25. Alex_Sangfroid
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    Ignorando el empaño que significó el posterior lanzamiento de Sonic Forces, Sonic Mania representa la esencia más primigenia del erizo azul, velocidad, sentir cómo puedes ser más rápido que antes ya sea por habilidad o porque descubriste nuevos atajos, en un todo ser competitivo contigo mismo respecto a tu rapidez. Algo que honestamente se perdió hace rato, siendo Generations el últimoIgnorando el empaño que significó el posterior lanzamiento de Sonic Forces, Sonic Mania representa la esencia más primigenia del erizo azul, velocidad, sentir cómo puedes ser más rápido que antes ya sea por habilidad o porque descubriste nuevos atajos, en un todo ser competitivo contigo mismo respecto a tu rapidez. Algo que honestamente se perdió hace rato, siendo Generations el último juego que en serio tuvo esto (y ya han pasado como 11 años desde entonces). Mania es como traer la fórmula de Megadrive a la décima potencia, Sonic 1, 2, 3 y CD pero mejor y además con mucho de su propia autoría. Los niveles reimaginados de los primeros 3 juegos realmente se sienten como jugar a una nueva zona, especialmente al mostrar algunos de los boss battle más carismáticos y originales de la saga, mientras que los niveles totalmente nuevos son de los mejores niveles de Sonic en los últimos años, la variedad de objetos, caminos alternativos al estilo de Sonic 3, y de escoger entre jugabilidades clásicas como la Sonic CD aparte de la que viene por defecto, hacen que cada jugador pueda ir a su total manera por los niveles. Un problema recurrente en los videojuegos actuales de nuestro querido erizo es que claramente, Sonic team no tiene idea de qué juego quiere hacer, parecían tener una idea clara con la jugabilidad de Boost que, aunque no era tan aprovechable a largo plazo sí entregó algunos momentos muy memorables desde Unleashed hasta Generations y pasando por Colors (y teniendo un bochornoso adiós en Forces), pero en cuanto se les acabó el boost no tenían idea de que hacer, Lost world es Mario con skins de Sonic, si a varios fans les pareció pésimo el tener un Sonic lento en Unleashed, imaginar cuando en Lost world la totalidad del juego es el Sonic más lento de la historia, incluso antes de esto con los storybooks se veía el problema, muchas ideas pero ninguna dirección fija. Y es aquí donde reside una de las virtudes de Mania, sus desarrolladores claramente entienden la esencia de Sonic de cara al gameplay que es velocidad, carisma y punto final, se puede notar el cariño, el verdadero interés y la seguridad con la que el juego avanza, en ningún momento hay duda de que supieran a dónde ir con Mania. Un juego que reviva la vibra clásica pero... añadiendo un toque nuevo a la franquicia. Solo espero que Sonic team pueda ver el ejemplo y sepa extrapolarlo al Sonic moderno. Basta de intentar imitar a Devil may cry (Shadow the hedgehog) o a Super Mario Galaxy (Lost world). El mejor Sonic en los últimos años, y ojalá sea el comienzo de cosas buenas para Sonic, como fan no espero nada que no sea eso.… Expand
  26. Xx_ammar10
    May 14, 2022
    9
    Perfect level design perfect gameplay good atmosphere a lot of content the only criticism i have is that some ideas are over used
  27. TheWinterWarman
    Oct 23, 2022
    9
    A great return to form. Although, I wish there were more original levels instead of reused ones...
  28. EpicLadySponge
    Aug 15, 2017
    8
    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.… Expand
  29. silversaihan
    Oct 6, 2017
    8
    Delighted with this title. Really pulls you back to the experience of being a kid and sitting down to Sonice for the first time. Some of the levels can feel samey from time to time, but otherwise this is an excellent release. Would gladly buy Sonic Mania II if we ever get it!
  30. Untitled94
    Aug 16, 2017
    8
    A great way to make a new Sonic game with the old Sonic gameplay. Let me go ahead and get the very few negatives out of the way. One thing is, while it has a save system and you do not have to start at the very beginning when you lose all your lives, it does still follow the Sonic 3 & Knuckles formula where you have to start over the whole zone, rather than just the act if you lose allA great way to make a new Sonic game with the old Sonic gameplay. Let me go ahead and get the very few negatives out of the way. One thing is, while it has a save system and you do not have to start at the very beginning when you lose all your lives, it does still follow the Sonic 3 & Knuckles formula where you have to start over the whole zone, rather than just the act if you lose all your lives. Which can feel a bit tedious. Another thing is...actually, that was it. The game otherwise is great. The gameplay, the music, the graphics, the drop dash Sonic has, all that stuff is great. And I can honestly say that this game has the best special stages in the history of Sonic games (the emerald challenges, I mean). This is definitely worth the $20 price tag!… Expand
  31. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Dec 6, 2017
    8
    Kick of nostalgia! This game brings me back 20 years to when i was 11 playing my genesis Sat mornings in my TMNT PJs. I loved Sonic 1-3, especially 3! SM does everything right and improves on the originals. Playing those first couple zones made me smile as I got to replay some of those levels i enjoyed so much as a kid. Not only did they bring back originals the devs added to them andKick of nostalgia! This game brings me back 20 years to when i was 11 playing my genesis Sat mornings in my TMNT PJs. I loved Sonic 1-3, especially 3! SM does everything right and improves on the originals. Playing those first couple zones made me smile as I got to replay some of those levels i enjoyed so much as a kid. Not only did they bring back originals the devs added to them and made their own. The music sets the mood and the game play is smoother then ever. Those new end level boss fights are epic and the mini boss fights are just a lot of fun! The mini games of collecting the blue orbs was just as hard as when I was a kid and they added some new ones that are innovative enough enjoy. Im looking forward to SM2, Sega is back! PS I bought the collectors edition that comes with the sonic statue, even though the plastic feels kind of cheap it looks pretty awesome!… Expand
  32. skybuilder
    Aug 16, 2017
    8
    great game, this being my first sonic game i had no expectations but i love it. the only issue is that its hard for a new player to get into because if you die you go to the begining of the area and can take up to 20 minutes to get back
  33. Simsmagic
    Aug 15, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania is a great game that is unfortunately hurt by some serious design issues.

    We'll start with what's good: the level design in this game is fantastic, and just playing through the levels is by far the strongest point of the game. Everything flows smoothly and it's just an absolute joy to play. But there are are some flaws that the developers need to take into account, as    Sonic Mania is a great game that is unfortunately hurt by some serious design issues.

    We'll start with what's good: the level design in this game is fantastic, and just playing through the levels is by far the strongest point of the game. Everything flows smoothly and it's just an absolute joy to play.

    But there are are some flaws that the developers need to take into account, as they can easily ruin the entire experience for someone. The first of these is that some of the boss fights in the game (roughly half of them) are just poorly designed and a chore to fight. The worst offenders are either completely unintuitive or feature instant-death mechanics that completely ruin any sort of goodwill that I had.

    The second biggest flaw is the fact that the game features an archaic and outdated lives system that unfairly punishes failure by having to redo sections of level that can take up to 10-15 minutes to complete. And while the levels themselves are still really good, it's not fun if you have to play them again due to cheap deaths, usually from the terrible bosses.

    These two flaws really put a damper on the game, but at the end of the day I do still really enjoy playing it. When you handle a section well, it feels super satisfying to complete and it's an absolute joy to play these levels when you get good at them. If it's possible for the Mania team to fix these issues, then I could easily see this as being my favorite Sonic game.    … Expand
  34. MannWithNoEyes
    Oct 7, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania is the only Sonic game to immediately grab my attention and nearly always keep it. Despite having a few flaws, the developers of Sonic Mania made one of the most consistent experiences of this year. The creativity and originality in the visuals is awe-inspiring, and I loved how animated and beautiful each of the levels were. Every single one had an original premise, with theSonic Mania is the only Sonic game to immediately grab my attention and nearly always keep it. Despite having a few flaws, the developers of Sonic Mania made one of the most consistent experiences of this year. The creativity and originality in the visuals is awe-inspiring, and I loved how animated and beautiful each of the levels were. Every single one had an original premise, with the only one I didn’t like being Hydrocity. No path took advantage of the great pacing mechanics, it was either fast or slow, with very few moments that crossed over. The rest of the game, however, worked extremely well. Every path demonstrated how well the levels were designed, and the branching paths gave the game a great sense of exploration with the rewards being completely worthwhile. Despite the speed sometimes launching Sonic into hazards that were unavoidable, the game is a remarkably controlled and thought out. Through pacing the speed, the developers show immense confidence in how their levels are designed, and rightfully so. Every level has unique mechanics and feels distinct and memorable. Akin to the classic Sonic games, they force Sonic to go slow and build up to speed. They make the player earn the speed they gain, which is infinitely more rewarding than being forced to go a certain speed like in the more modern games. Each level feels connected to the last, as certain levels use neglected mechanics from previous levels, and the end result is a game that feels cohesive and very smooth in terms of difficulty. On the other hand, a few bosses were frustrating and there were a few moments that I felt were unfair, often due to the speed throwing Sonic into unavoidable obstacles, which contradicted the otherwise extremely well-paced difficulty curve and brilliant level layout of the game, however as said previously they didn't ever frustrate me to the point of wanting to stop playing. This is the first Sonic game that still makes me want to replay it, and I cannot wait to do so. I’m going to give Sonic Mania an 8 out of 10.… Expand
  35. stabbykeith1985
    Nov 5, 2017
    8
    An excellent game, full of a good mix of nostalgia and new. However, multiple bugs and sudden difficulty spikes can make an already challenging game almost unplayable at some points.
  36. SortOfCritic
    Dec 30, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania sees a much needed return to form. Similar to what sonic 4 tried and failed to achieve, Sonic Mania is great fun and does take you back to the old days while adding more things as to give it its own spin. It's clear the fans made this sonic game, but there is nothing wrong with that. My only real problem being the lack of new levels, as we get to see green hill zone for theSonic Mania sees a much needed return to form. Similar to what sonic 4 tried and failed to achieve, Sonic Mania is great fun and does take you back to the old days while adding more things as to give it its own spin. It's clear the fans made this sonic game, but there is nothing wrong with that. My only real problem being the lack of new levels, as we get to see green hill zone for the 5oth time and more. But the game does make an effort to keep the levels fresh by adding new elements… Expand
  37. Bladefox
    Jul 13, 2018
    8
    A splendid throwback to the Classic era of Sonic with the uncanny look and psychics returning. It's obvious that so much passion went into this project. What I love the most about this game is the set of brand new stages. What holds it back is how most of this game is covered into repeated stages and boss fights. I'm under the impression that Sega ordered most of the levels being heavy onA splendid throwback to the Classic era of Sonic with the uncanny look and psychics returning. It's obvious that so much passion went into this project. What I love the most about this game is the set of brand new stages. What holds it back is how most of this game is covered into repeated stages and boss fights. I'm under the impression that Sega ordered most of the levels being heavy on nostalgia-pandering for good measure. With that, I can't call it a "true" successor to the Classic era and I certainly won't call it the best Sonic game ever.… Expand
  38. LikeaPisces
    Dec 22, 2019
    8
    Sonic Mania brings together everything I can enjoy in the Sonic series, and removes almost everything that pisses me off in it. Excellent level design. The best blue hedgehog game!
  39. Bloodnes
    Nov 13, 2021
    8
    Отдадим дань игры детства, в целом ничем не отличается от версии с сеги, только, как мне показалось, динамика тут еще более быстрая и управление похрамывает, а так топ. 8/10
  40. JimPickens
    Dec 17, 2021
    8
    I don't like Classic Sonic at all, I think it's a bunch of gacha trap BS, that tells you to go fast and then punishes you for going fast with off-screen hazards and spikes that hurt you from the side, so I consider it to be some feat when Sega and Christian Whitehead can make a Classic Sonic game I actually like, hell, one I love. Sonic Mania is a joy to play from the controls to the levelI don't like Classic Sonic at all, I think it's a bunch of gacha trap BS, that tells you to go fast and then punishes you for going fast with off-screen hazards and spikes that hurt you from the side, so I consider it to be some feat when Sega and Christian Whitehead can make a Classic Sonic game I actually like, hell, one I love. Sonic Mania is a joy to play from the controls to the level design to the music, it's all fantastic.

    Sonic Mania is about Dr. Eggma- Robotnik? is he Robotnik here? I'll just call him Eggman to be safe, anyway Dr. Eggman using the Phantom Ruby to screw with Sonic and... Do something, it's Sonic it doesn't matter. This is used as an excuse to have Sonic, Tails or Knuckles play through Sonic 1, 2, 3, CD and new levels, but mostly old levels, which is a shame because the new levels rock, Studiopolis comes to mind, god that song is so good, but old levels have been remixed and they feel great, hell this game made me like Chemical Plant Zone, I hate Chemical Plant Zone normally but here it's great especially Act 2. Gameplay wise it's great, Sonic doesn't feel to slippy nor too stiff, he feels perfect.

    Bonus Stages make a comeback here and THANK GOD IT'S NOT THE HALFPIPE, no instead it's the Ball collecting and Emerald Chasing bonus Stages and they're both good, I know the Balls make some people feel sick but I never got that so... ha. I know there's like a whole extra boss and ending if you get all the chaos emeralds but I don't feel like doing that and I like the normal ending better anyway, it doesn't lead into Forces so I can keep this Sonic pure and away from that garbage. Boss fights are pretty good, I didn't struggle with any except the final Eggman boss, it can be quite confusing knowing when to attack, if you're meant to hit him while the electric is on and avoid the tentacles or kill the bosses he throws at you with the hands, and even when you figure out it's just after the electric stops you have to get the timing down. It's not unbearable nor is it even really THAT difficult, but it stood out to me as being pretty irritating first time. Speaking of difficulty the game is fairly easy overall, not TOO easy, but easy enough that somebody who couldn't beat Sonic 2 (me) can beat it no problem, Oil Ocean can be... Oil Ocean, but it's the only one that gets kind of obnoxious.

    Now that music, goddamn Tee Lopes outdid himself, if like me you're a fan of SomeCallMeJohnny you'll be familiar with Lopes' work, and man does he bring his A-game here, I brought up Studiopolis earlier but it's far from the only one, the entire game is full of great tracks and it makes the game even more fun to play.

    Sonic Mania is a great game, a wonderful game, and I think Christian Whitehead should be in charge of any Classic style games going forward. Now if Frontiers can redeem Modern Sonic after Forces and Colours Ultimate we may be entering a new Sonic Golden Age, god I really hope Frontiers is good...    … Expand
  41. illuvatar_1st
    Jun 26, 2020
    8
    Sonic mania is a fantastic game that brought the classic 8 bit 2D game play back. This game is absolutely fantastic and brings back the classic feeling of Sonic games . It has a variety of levels and each level plays differently based on the character you re using..
  42. schimidtwas
    Oct 7, 2022
    8
    A Good Sonic game, nostalgic, solid, very fun! Is one of the best Sonic Games, but not the best.
  43. Mister04
    Jul 16, 2023
    8
    One of the best Sonic games
  44. LittleSticker
    Aug 26, 2022
    8
    how could you hate this game
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  45. 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
  46. 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
  47. PanosGX
    Apr 9, 2018
    7
    Sonic mania is a good game.
    The graphics are amazing, gameplay is tight and fair and the music is just ok. The 20€ price tag is amazing, even though there isn't anything to compell you after the end.
    It took me about a week to finish the game 100%, trophies and all. I finished the game on three separete save files with 3 separete characters, with all the chaos emeralds on each one with    Sonic mania is a good game.
    The graphics are amazing, gameplay is tight and fair and the music is just ok. The 20€ price tag is amazing, even though there isn't anything to compell you after the end.
    It took me about a week to finish the game 100%, trophies and all. I finished the game on three separete save files with 3 separete characters, with all the chaos emeralds on each one with all the gold medals. After that, I only popped the game up to mess around in debug. There was nothing else to keep me coming back. Sonic mania is a 3 time wonder.
    Also the callbacks and referances are epic for long time fans!    … Expand
  48. apanblod
    Apr 19, 2020
    7
    Sonic Mania is both an homage to and continuation of the classic Mega Drive games, and is crafted well enough to satisfy any long time fan of the series. The gameplay is nearly identical to the original games, (especially 3&K) adding only a few new ways of traversing the levels.

    The nostalgia pandering could be said to be the games biggest asset and it's biggest flaw, as the familiarity    Sonic Mania is both an homage to and continuation of the classic Mega Drive games, and is crafted well enough to satisfy any long time fan of the series. The gameplay is nearly identical to the original games, (especially 3&K) adding only a few new ways of traversing the levels.

    The nostalgia pandering could be said to be the games biggest asset and it's biggest flaw, as the familiarity makes it instantly recognisable as the "true" Sonic 4, while too many of the levels are just revisiting the ones we've already played in earlier games (some questionable choises of such levels were made in my opinion - such as Oil Ocean). The changes include a lot of new gimmicks, which are slightly too numerous at times and hurt the flow of the gameplay. The boss fights have been greatly overhauled to be more intricate and many of them are quite tricky the first time around, but once you learn their pattern most of them get ridiculously easy during later playthroughs.

    Definitely a great game and well worth its price, but you can tell it's basically a glorified fan game (which to be fair, it is) and I don't think it's quite on the same level as its Mega Drive counterparts, especially not the afforementioned S3&K.    … Expand
  49. Amocoru
    Aug 16, 2017
    6
    Doesn't do enough to differentiate from the original. It's a fun trip down memory lane but nothing more than that. If you want to play a remake of the original then this game is for you, but it's no masterpiece.
  50. Metayerju
    Aug 30, 2019
    6
    Worth a run. Good free game on psn plus. It is a bit dated. Slightly boring
  51. fujitanaoto00
    Mar 21, 2018
    5
    O jogo prometeu mais do que cumpriu, com um lançamento bugado, em que se poderia ate travar seu video-game, com poucas fases novas, e com chefes muitas feses lançado do nada, como o mega robo do eggman ja na green hill que era para ser um grande chefe, com muita pouca melhoria, jogo lançado problemático, level design confuso, aonde voce se perde muitas vezes sem saber aonde ir, como aO jogo prometeu mais do que cumpriu, com um lançamento bugado, em que se poderia ate travar seu video-game, com poucas fases novas, e com chefes muitas feses lançado do nada, como o mega robo do eggman ja na green hill que era para ser um grande chefe, com muita pouca melhoria, jogo lançado problemático, level design confuso, aonde voce se perde muitas vezes sem saber aonde ir, como a ultima fase que é muito mal feita, poucas fases para quem joga ate hoje os sonic do mega drive, sonic mania é uma decepção… Expand
  52. westkent
    Aug 17, 2017
    5
    Sonic Mania is a sonic game made for sonic fans. That means that if you never enjoyed sonic like me you are not likely to enjoy this game, this game has amazing music and sprites, every world feels new and different and the boss fight is pretty cool. But the problem I have always had with sonic remains, you are too fast to avoid anything when you are rolling and area that requires tightSonic Mania is a sonic game made for sonic fans. That means that if you never enjoyed sonic like me you are not likely to enjoy this game, this game has amazing music and sprites, every world feels new and different and the boss fight is pretty cool. But the problem I have always had with sonic remains, you are too fast to avoid anything when you are rolling and area that requires tight platforming is very frustrating due to sonic being super slippery. Overall, just because this is the best sonic game in a long time does not make it a good game to me, and if you didn't like sonic before this isn't going to change your mind, so dont buy into the hype unless you are a hardcore sonic fan.… Expand
  53. RK800
    Jun 16, 2019
    5
    I was blind after **** playing dis game, this is so sickeningly. Epilepsy **** warning
  54. spun4ik
    May 14, 2020
    5
    I think this game is not bad. But they added a lot of old levels. It spoils everything. You can make it a little better if you use mods. I put 5 of 10.
  55. SugarHBear
    Feb 17, 2018
    4
    I got this for the 2-player competitive mode that first appeared in Sonic 2. That mode remains pretty fun, with the drawback that you have to play each level in 1-player before you can play it 2-player competitively. This is dumb, particularly since this is tied to each player profile.

    The 1-player game is pretty meh. Gone are the digestible levels of Sonic 1&2 -- now the levels are    I got this for the 2-player competitive mode that first appeared in Sonic 2. That mode remains pretty fun, with the drawback that you have to play each level in 1-player before you can play it 2-player competitively. This is dumb, particularly since this is tied to each player profile.

    The 1-player game is pretty meh. Gone are the digestible levels of Sonic 1&2 -- now the levels are crazy long, and yet they kept the 10-minute timer. I don't have fun exploring these levels because they're so long, winding back and forth, so I just want to get to the end and be done with it.

    I was also hoping for the slot machines from Sonic 2 Casino Night Zone. I don't believe those have returned.    … Expand
  56. MetalReviewer
    Mar 7, 2022
    4
    Soulless, no substance, no passion, and no reason to exist. Sonic Mania is a disgrace to both the Classics, and the franchise as a whole. Play Sonic 1 or 3 instead, they won't waste your time or your patience.
  57. sharkman265
    Jun 4, 2019
    3
    Sluggish and unresponsive controls when it comes to bonus stages , it feels rigged
  58. OmegaJ17
    Dec 28, 2022
    3
    I was really hoping on liking this game, and I did, until the 4th world. Then I started liking it less and less. I’m gonna anger a lot of fans, but it’s my opinion…

    My first complaint is towards the hard-boiled heavies. They have no personality. They could’ve had cutscenes that reveal their traits, but NOPE! They just reuse the same sprite but resizing and recoloring it. And this is a    I was really hoping on liking this game, and I did, until the 4th world. Then I started liking it less and less. I’m gonna anger a lot of fans, but it’s my opinion…

    My first complaint is towards the hard-boiled heavies. They have no personality. They could’ve had cutscenes that reveal their traits, but NOPE! They just reuse the same sprite but resizing and recoloring it. And this is a really minor problem I have, the first one you encounter (heavy gunner) is a mini-boss, but the other 4 are end of zone bosses, just make up your mind!

    Speaking of bosses, They feel out of place in what’s supposed to be classic Sonic. Take the boss of Hydrocity (who wanted that zone back?), You’re supposed to touch the bombs he spits out to kill him, and it takes about a minute to do that. Let’s compare it to the boss of Marble from Sonic 1, he spits out fire, and you have to hit him 8 times, Do you get the boss over with for time points, or play it safe for more ring points? That was the charm of the classic bosses, you could approach them any gamer type could handle. But here, you have to wait for their attack cycle to finish then hit them. In short the (act 2, at least) bosses just take to long for classic Sonic standards.

    And for me, the absolute worst part about the game are the special stages. WHY do people consider them the best in the franchise? AM I MISSING SOMETHING!? You have to run after this UFO that’s carrying a chaos emerald, but everything moves so fast and you move all over the place. They decide to put obstacles in the way that decrease your timer, so when you hit them with 20 or so rings left, you pretty much just lost. They seem less like special stages and more like pure luck. I wouldn’t play them twice let alone 7 TIMES. The sad part is that the other special stages aren’t all that bad. WHY DIDN’T THEY JUST SWAP THESE SPECIAL STAGES WITH THOSE ONES!?

    In short, Sonic mania was disappointing for me. With it’s flat characters, bosses that overstay their welcome and ATROCIOUS special stages. Better luck next time, Sega.    … Expand
  59. Tekneiner
    Sep 27, 2017
    2
    Many blind Sonic fans wearing fanboy glasses haven't seen the atrocious level design that plagued the original Genesis games. Unfortunately, in an effort to recreate those games, the same bad level design is in this game. Levels like Stardust Speedway don't show you what you have to do to progress and you end up losing a life from taking too long.

    Speaking of taking too long, it's    Many blind Sonic fans wearing fanboy glasses haven't seen the atrocious level design that plagued the original Genesis games. Unfortunately, in an effort to recreate those games, the same bad level design is in this game. Levels like Stardust Speedway don't show you what you have to do to progress and you end up losing a life from taking too long.

    Speaking of taking too long, it's actually possible to die in a boss fight by not beating them fast enough. Like, seriously! How can you take them out in 8 hits? Add to that the control of the game is not the best, especially in Chemical Plant Zone's water.

    Finally I'll say, buy this game at your own risk. It may look appealing (especially Press Garden) however they messed up the most important parts to any game. Seriously, the game sucks alot.    … Expand
  60. DownUnda
    Sep 6, 2017
    0
    Well, with Sonic you either like it or hate it. Back in the day there was Mario or Sonic as your 16bit platforms. Every time I played Sonic I feel so frustratedy by the cluster-fuk of the maps. It feels that you shouldn't care on the environment of level and you just need to rush to the end. That is such a shame, with nice environments that tempt you to explore, the game punishes you forWell, with Sonic you either like it or hate it. Back in the day there was Mario or Sonic as your 16bit platforms. Every time I played Sonic I feel so frustratedy by the cluster-fuk of the maps. It feels that you shouldn't care on the environment of level and you just need to rush to the end. That is such a shame, with nice environments that tempt you to explore, the game punishes you for doing it. You loose the momentum and you are stuck. There is no manual or indication on what does any buttons do and you just find bashing your controller expecting to move forward somehow. I dont understand Sonic love but for me, this looks exactly as the first Sonic game, equally frustrating. Avoid.… Expand
  61. thesafetylemur
    Sep 23, 2017
    0
    15 minutes into this heap and it is completely clear that the team that actually made the original Sonic games had nothing to do with this. Don't waste your time or money on this garbage.
  62. stesproject
    Dec 5, 2022
    0
    This game is too difficult and boring, I really don't know how can be so acclaimed.
    Levels are not fun at all, the lives system is one of the worst thing someone can pick from the old games and levels are no sense of direction.
    I just had a frustrating time playing it.
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Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best PS4 Game of 2017
33
#33 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
46
#46 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 70 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 70
  3. Negative: 0 out of 70
  1. CD-Action
    Nov 16, 2017
    90
    With this brilliant game Sonic at last reminded us why he was once a worthy rival for Mario. [11/2017, p.56]
  2. GameOver.gr
    Sep 28, 2017
    90
    It is surprising how well the developers understood the underlining reasons Sonic was so loved in the 16bit era. Gone are the autorun, the messy 3D levels and the horrible clown characters, gone is the linear cheap thrill design of the modern 3D games. In their place, we got excellent level design with hundreds of different routes, elegant design choices and supremely balanced gameplay which bring us one of the best Sonic games since Sonic & Knuckles. Pity Sega was too afraid to budget for modern graphics because they would have had a full priced, instant classic on their hands.
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  3. DarkStation
    Sep 28, 2017
    80
    Sonic Mania is a wonderful celebration of what's made Sonic so great in the past while also striving to push it forward. This isn't to say it's perfect – it has some of the problems of the previous games as well – but it's such a perfect encapsulation of old Sonic games, it's impressive. If you've ever been curious about what makes these old games special, or if you're just interested in revisiting the series you loved as a kid, this is the best way to do it. It's the old and the new wrapped together in a way that makes both shine. I hope this team goes on to do more, and eventually break themselves away from needing to remix old levels and just make their own.
    Read full review
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