Sonic Mania

 Switch
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 877 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 755 out of 877
  2. Mixed: 61 out of 877
  3. Negative: 61 out of 877
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  1. FireBroFilms
    Aug 15, 2022
    10
    ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
  2. PatiKunTom
    Oct 21, 2022
    10
    Sonic Mania is just almost perfection. The levels are remixed and are just so much fun to play even after many playthrough, the pixel art looks beautiful, the soundtrack is phenomenal, the special stages are playable and at the same time, there's a Knuckles & Knuckles mode, it's just awesome. The only possible this game be topped if there's a sequel to this game with completely new zones.
  3. elilol15
    Nov 15, 2022
    10
    It's a pretty difficult game, but very fun and well managed after all. I loved it!
  4. Shamp058
    Nov 21, 2022
    10
    Easily the best 2D sonic game. The pixel art and animations are amazing, it has some of the best level design in the franchise, the music is stellar (of course), the special stages are the best in the series, and the drop dash has easily become my new favourite sonic move. My only "issue" that i have with the game, are that most of the levels are reused from past games (I hate oil ocean),Easily the best 2D sonic game. The pixel art and animations are amazing, it has some of the best level design in the franchise, the music is stellar (of course), the special stages are the best in the series, and the drop dash has easily become my new favourite sonic move. My only "issue" that i have with the game, are that most of the levels are reused from past games (I hate oil ocean), but it really doesn't bother me at all. This game is fantastic, and a must play for everyone. Period… Expand
  5. I-ReviewStuff
    Jan 31, 2023
    10
    Straight-up great, if not perfect. Introduces the Drop Dash, one of my favourite 2D Sonic mechanics. The game is so charming and great, the fact that this is a pixelated game probably amazed me when I first played it. Simple 10/10, nothing less.
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. SonicDude
    Oct 29, 2017
    9
    90’s goodness with top notch control, amazing tracks and some of the best level design in a sonic game. The amount of re used stages although don’t ruin but still effect the game. A must buy for fans of the blue blur as well for any one who likes platformers.
  12. 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
  13. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    9
    Didn't care much for one of the bonus games and the co-op, which is a shame. However, everything else about this game is awesome. From the music, level design, art-style, game-play, all of it is just amazing.
  14. Digibutter64
    Jun 2, 2018
    9
    I haven't played many Sonic games, but this is a great platformer! The different playable characters provide different ways to speed through the well-designed levels. Perhaps lacking a bit in originality, but Sonic Mania is fantastic. Recommended for platformer fans and those who particularly like the classic Sonic games.
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. MeTheNinja
    Nov 23, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only spoilers here are the levels, so if you don't want to know them then stop reading. This is an incredibly polished game, the soundtrack is amazing, Tee Lopes did an amazing job, highlights include Lava Reef Zone Act 2, Studioplis Zone Act 1, and the Hardboiled Heavies theme. The level design is great, and the game looks good.… Expand
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. SimonD00
    Sep 11, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is like the old games but better, the wide screen makes it so that there are less deaths or loss of speed because of spikes or enemies coming to fast from the right side of the screen. This means that Sonic now is able to run way faster than in the older games where you at times had to take it slow to not get hit. The controlls have also been revamped and it's no doubt for theSonic Mania is like the old games but better, the wide screen makes it so that there are less deaths or loss of speed because of spikes or enemies coming to fast from the right side of the screen. This means that Sonic now is able to run way faster than in the older games where you at times had to take it slow to not get hit. The controlls have also been revamped and it's no doubt for the better. Sonic is less momentum based than in his older games which makes tight platforming less of a tedium and to top all this of, the new art and grafics looks amazing. If you havn't played it yet, Please do it now it's well worth your time… Expand
  21. mefzeldernx
    Mar 3, 2018
    9
    Sonic y sus amigos vuelven a sus raíces para finalmente lograr que su lucha ante el Dr. Eggman tenga resultados positivos. "Sonic Mania" es un plataformas 2D que pisa fuerte y se vuelve uno de los mejores juegos del erizo azul.
    El diseño de niveles y la ambientación es una maravilla, se siente el amor de los desarrolladores por el personaje y su legado, hay guiños en cada detalle que un    Sonic y sus amigos vuelven a sus raíces para finalmente lograr que su lucha ante el Dr. Eggman tenga resultados positivos. "Sonic Mania" es un plataformas 2D que pisa fuerte y se vuelve uno de los mejores juegos del erizo azul.
    El diseño de niveles y la ambientación es una maravilla, se siente el amor de los desarrolladores por el personaje y su legado, hay guiños en cada detalle que un nostálgico seguro aprecia. La jugabilidad es la típica de Sonic, debes ir rápido, pero los múltiples caminos le dan una gran rejugabilidad al juego.
    No puedo no recomendar éste juego, ya seas nuevo o un veterano con Sonic, ésta es una entrega que enamora. Ideal para Switch, ya que se reproduce tan bien como en las otras plataformas pero tienes la ventaja de jugarlo de forma portatil.    … Expand
  22. 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
  23. FilipeGoncalves
    Dec 22, 2021
    9
    An updated blast from the past.

    A must to have and play even in 2021.

    Lacks the platinum trophy
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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.
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
  31. 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.
  32. 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
  33. chvolk
    Aug 21, 2017
    9
    This game is exactly what a Sonic game should be! It brings back all the old concepts players are familiar with, and enhances them with HD graphics and a steady 60 fps. The soundtrack is amazing, the controls are simple and intuitive, and the bosses and events are always fun to conquer. There are a few quirks to the movement and combat mechanics that are a bit frustrating (Like when youThis game is exactly what a Sonic game should be! It brings back all the old concepts players are familiar with, and enhances them with HD graphics and a steady 60 fps. The soundtrack is amazing, the controls are simple and intuitive, and the bosses and events are always fun to conquer. There are a few quirks to the movement and combat mechanics that are a bit frustrating (Like when you jump diagonally off of inclines instead of up or the direction that you're inputting on the controller), but nothing that isn't easy to get used to after a while.… Expand
  34. mr-yin
    Aug 28, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sonic Mania provides a colorful. fun, and fast-aced adventure with gorgeous 2D-sprites, amazing music, and brilliant stage design. For fans familiar with old Sonic the Hedgehog stages, there is much fun to take from Sonic Mania. There are many things to expect in this classic-Sonic themed homage, including multiple save files for your Sonic buddies, Tails & Knuckles, and Chaos Emeralds to collect. The boss designs in Sonic Mania are much better than those seen in Sonic CD, and Sonic's new drop dash ability provides a simple, yet surprisingly useful mechanic that brightens "Classic Sonic" gameplay entirely.

    Sonic Mania feature collectable medals - 32 locked behind special stages in which the player needs to collect blue spheres. While enticing for completionists to complete, the blue spheres are trial-and-error stages that rarely bring enjoyment when attempting them. Sonic's speed directly affects the ease of controlling him in these special stages, making tight corners and small jumps more difficult than they should be. You may think that retrying these special stages is the feasible option, but they only return after the special stage rotation has completed; that is, there is no way of practicing or preparing for an entirely new special stage in which you have one chance to collect all blue spheres without messing up. Nonetheless, the music of these special stages make playing them bearable, and nothing is more satisfying than completing them with perfection.

    If you are a Sonic the Hedgehog fan, owning this game is a must. The game offers new modes that unlock as you play, neat references to the history of SEGA and Sonic the Hedgehog, and a great amount of replayability. I applaud SEGA for allowing Christian Whitehead and his team to work on this game, because it was worth the wait and definitely worth it's value.    … Expand
  35. 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
  36. scealavery
    Sep 30, 2017
    9
    Sonic mania feels like a love letter to all the nostalgia hungry fans of gaming. The elements that make a sonic game so much fun have been separated from the failed humour, annoying side kicks and broken gameplay of the previous games and have been made the core elements of a game that plays just as great as it looks and sounds.
    There's something unique about watching sonic zoom down    Sonic mania feels like a love letter to all the nostalgia hungry fans of gaming. The elements that make a sonic game so much fun have been separated from the failed humour, annoying side kicks and broken gameplay of the previous games and have been made the core elements of a game that plays just as great as it looks and sounds.
    There's something unique about watching sonic zoom down steep hills, dash through loops and drill through enemies and they all have to do with the intoxicating sense of speed. Gone are the hand holding, linear levels that plagued the likes of Sonic 06 and Sonic boom. Sonic mania is full of branching paths and different locations to land from a fall that all lead somewhere new. The bonus stages encourage exploration and replaying old levels but its also really fun to race up and down every slope in sight. The gameplay perfectly compliments the many creative boss levels that test your jumping, reflexes and ability to tear up some asphalt. I wont spoil it but there is one boss fight in this game that brought a huge smile to my face, lets just say you will have to beat Robotnik at his own game.
    You would think that a game that celebrates the old Sonic craze would have the catchy up beat music to go with the classic gameplay and you would be right. Every track in this game puts a rhythm into my shoulders and a swish in my hips. The music is completely varied from robotic, techno to bombastic trumpet music that even go together in the same song.
    Sonic Mania looks great FACT. The old sixteen bit graphics have not aged a bit and that blast processing never looked so shiny. The TV screen shines like a bright neon rainbow and every stage puts forth their own respective colour palette. Green hill zone once again shows bright green vegetation and crystal clear, blue rivers while the iron and steel of flying battery zone is just as shiny as the blue hedgehog that zooms over it.
    Sonic mania is quirky, flashy, flamboyant and undeniably fun. The sense of speed and adrenaline in this came is unparalleled, each new level was clearly built from the heart of a passionate sonic fan who is one in a team of many that answered a simple prayer of millions of fans    … Expand
  37. Leesumd32
    Sep 30, 2017
    9
    What’s Hot
    + All the Sonic retro nostalgia
    + Plays just like the classic Sonic The Hedgehog games + Great Music and Remixed Tracks + New and classic remixed levels are awesome. + Price is Right What’s Not - Some Glitches and bugs - Frustratingly difficult UFO Chases What is it? Sonic Mania is Sonic’s true return to his roots in 2D. While it wasn’t Sega’s first attempt to do    What’s Hot
    + All the Sonic retro nostalgia
    + Plays just like the classic Sonic The Hedgehog games
    + Great Music and Remixed Tracks
    + New and classic remixed levels are awesome.
    + Price is Right

    What’s Not
    - Some Glitches and bugs
    - Frustratingly difficult UFO Chases

    What is it?
    Sonic Mania is Sonic’s true return to his roots in 2D. While it wasn’t Sega’s first attempt to do this (cough, cough, Sonic 4), but it is honestly the only attempt that feels like it was done right.

    Gameplay:
    It feels so good to play a 2D Sonic game with the mechanics from the early to mid 90’s. The game just feels right unlike more recent 2D iterations like Sonic The Hedgehog 4 and Sonic Generation’s 2D segments. They did and a new mechanic to the controls when you can now perform a jumping spin dash, similar to the attack that Sonic has in super smash bros. To Perform this all you have to do is double jump but hold the button the second time.

    Graphics:
    You won’t find a crisper looking 2D sonic the hedgehog game…

    Sound / Audio:
    2D Sonic the hedgehog games always had awesome music and Sonic Mania is no different. Sonic Mania remixes classic tracks as well as add new ones for the newly added levels.

    Replay:
    After the Complete that game there isn’t much to do afterwards. You can Replay stages to try to collect all the chaos emeralds, as well as complete all the blue spheres bonus stages. I can’t help but believe that Sonic Mania would have benefited from Online Multiplayer. There is a local retro split screen multiplayer but it is nothing like playing online or even better cross-platform. There is also a mini-game of Puyo-Puyo that you can play as well which adds some replay…
    Thoughts
    I could wait not until I could my pre-order of the collector's edition. I grew up a SEGA kid so this the blue blur was always my choice when it came to who was the best mascot. I’m so glad that this game didn’t fall flat like previous iterations of the franchise. If you were ever a fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog games this game is for you. Whether to get the Collector’s edition or not is totally up to you. Honestly speaking I don’t think it is worth the $70 price of admission. Sega should had made a physical copy of the game to package in with the Collector’s edition. I’m also not a big fan of the UFO chases to get the chaos Emeralds. The physics are just like Sonic R and if you played that game back-in the Saturn days you will know it like trying to drive a SEMI around curvy roads. I've hearing complaints that the game’s difficulty is up there, but honestly most sonic games from the 90’s didn't hold your hands so if you are from that era you will feel at home.    … Expand
  38. SuperGamerGuy88
    Nov 1, 2017
    9
    This is one of the funnest games I have ever played but the lack of transition in some level is weird so I can't give it a perfect score, But still it is a great game and you should check it out.
  39. MachTails
    Nov 3, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania is truly one of the best callbacks to the old days, bringing back old and new alike. Sega should praised at the highest degree, as this is pure masterpiece. No game is perfect, however, which is why it gets a 9 from me.
  40. JCrv
    Nov 5, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania delivers its promise incredibly well, its the love letter to every classic Sonic fan people have been begging for many years, and its quality is so outstanding even non-classic fans should find pleasure in playing it.

    What caught my attention the most is how well built the levels where, specially the brand new ones. Every level, even past ones, has a specific gimmick to make    Sonic Mania delivers its promise incredibly well, its the love letter to every classic Sonic fan people have been begging for many years, and its quality is so outstanding even non-classic fans should find pleasure in playing it.

    What caught my attention the most is how well built the levels where, specially the brand new ones. Every level, even past ones, has a specific gimmick to make it stand out from the rest, combine that with fair enemy & obstacles placements and you get levels you`ll hardly get tired off. Not to mention how well it manages to make the player have a sense of speed while still keeping the gameplay fun & engaging, this is something that SEGA has admitedly gotten worse at over the years, so seeing it done so well in this entry was great to see.

    One of Mania`s best aspects as well is its stellar soundtrack, I can`t help but listen to many of its songs very often beacuse of how great each one is in their own unique ways, each tune doesn`t just fit its level but also has a very catchy feel to it which will easily force a smile out of you, saying the game`s musician Tee Lopes is a god at his craft would be an understatement, easily one of my favorite soundtracks from 2017.

    The gameplay & artstyle are just as great as you`d expect from a sequel to the classic genesis games, the smooth phyisics from those old games have returned in their full glory and make the game that much more fun than most of SEGA`s other 2D Sonic titles since the Genesis games, and the new addition of the Drop Dash makes speedrunning levels incredibly more fun, what seems like a minor new addition is actually one of my favorite things about the game, as it allows players to traverse through levels faster, which is after all what Sonic games have always been about.

    Though as good as the design and presentation may be, the game still has quite a handful of annoying glitches that can even force you to restart your progress in a level, this is a major problem as the chances of you coming across at least 1 of these is considerably high. Not to mention how the Switch version has a problem the other versions seem to lack, and that`s the fact that getting to the Home Menu takes way longer than it should, which can be pretty annoying at times.

    But despite those flaws, they barely matter when you consider how incredible the game is otherwise with its great music, level design, gameplay etc. In fact I`d go as far as to say that Sonic Mania is, in my opinion, the best Sonic game ever created.    … Expand
  41. 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
  42. Aletheboss
    Feb 26, 2018
    9
    This is the perfect Sonic game. For any fan of Sonic, or platformers in general, this is a must buy! The game has beautiful graphics, great bosses, an enthralling sense of exploration, a wonderful soundtrack, and the best collection of levels in the series, with new and old levels while adding a new twist on them. This game is only $20, and it’s definitely worth buying!
  43. Sebascr12
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Sonic mania is a love cart for this franchise. The game have the magic of mega drive era and put new things in the fromula. The levels and the soundtrack are awesome.
    My problem is the special stages.
  44. 1234JacobW
    Mar 4, 2018
    9
    This was a great game for the 25th anniversary. The levels are awesome remixes of classic stages
  45. 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.
  46. SpookBones
    Apr 7, 2019
    9
    This is probably the best Sonic Game ever. For one, the gameplay itself is just fun. No crazy story- all it is is that Robotnik found a cool rock, and Sonic is like “Hey stop” and Robotnik says “Nah heck you” and then there’s a bunch of rainbow robots. Oh yeah, and Knuckles is there. That’s another positive of this game- the obvious variety in characters without any strange new ones beingThis is probably the best Sonic Game ever. For one, the gameplay itself is just fun. No crazy story- all it is is that Robotnik found a cool rock, and Sonic is like “Hey stop” and Robotnik says “Nah heck you” and then there’s a bunch of rainbow robots. Oh yeah, and Knuckles is there. That’s another positive of this game- the obvious variety in characters without any strange new ones being added. All of them go to the same levels, except for Knuckles who has a few differences in his campaign. You can play as the titular blue hedgehog, the flying fox Tails, and the superpowered enchillada Knuckles. You’re also able to play as both Sonic and Tails. They all have different abilities, mainly that their way of upwards mobility varies. Sonic can use the power up shields in different ways from the other two by pressing the “A” button in midair (for example if you use the bubble shield power up you can tap A twice to get an extra high bounce), Tails can just straight up fly, and knuckles can glide and climb up walls. I like this, because it can provide you with various levels of difficulty. Tails is the easiest to play as once you get the hang of his controls, Knuckles is slightly harder but still has some of his own areas designed around his abilities and can get up to high areas with ease, and Sonic is the most pure and simple way to play the game.

    Why did I not give this game a 10/10, then? If the characters and just playing the game itself is fun and exciting, what’s bad? Well, it’s the boss fights. Some are fun, but most are either way too easy or way too frustrating in comparison to the levels you fight them in. For example, you can defeat the Green Hill act 2 boss just by going under its body and by its legs and rapidly hitting it. But then there’s the fight in the first level lifted from Sonic CD, where most players were so confused by it that later on they changed it so you could defeat the 1st phase of it in under 2 minutes.

    All in all this game is wonderful. It is an absolute delight to play and is fun for fans of the series both new and old. It’s just that a few things are flawed. I entirely recommend this game to anyone who’s looking for a game that’s challenging yet still fun to complete in full.    … Expand
  47. fanmadeendings
    Jun 19, 2022
    9
    I only played the first advance game before this one. From my perspective, it's an extremely fun and nostalgic platformer. Going fast, even if it has been done a thousand times before, is really addicting.
  48. yehaa26488
    May 5, 2020
    9
    This game is easily the best 2d switch platformer (in my opinion). The only issue I have is that the game doesn't have the hyper sonic form if the game had that'd be so much better. One thing I like about the game is how much creativity and passion is put into the game it definitely shows that the fans were making the game.
  49. ItsDaDoc
    Nov 25, 2020
    9
    A fun game very reminicent of the fantastic classic games. The bosses are fun and interesting, and the stages are well-designed and challenging.
  50. GameDudeGuy
    Jan 21, 2021
    9
    i got this game when it came fresh out! and i made the best descion of my life this game is likely one of the best sonic games ever the last good sonic gamed i played was sonic 3 but this game has everything im looking for it feels fast and the special stages actually feel fun! this is likely the bust sonic game yet anybody should buy this game
  51. Luisguerreroa
    Nov 9, 2022
    9
    Sonic manía is really great, the best sonic on years, the sonic team is COOL, very good
  52. theprotagonist
    Jan 25, 2023
    9
    Very similar to the original Sonic games on the SEGA consoles except it's not painstakingly, unbelievably punishing. And it saves your progress after each level. I do think some of the newer ideas are a slight step down from stuff copied from the originals. But overall, a super fun game!
  53. Patedus
    Jun 3, 2021
    9
    An amazing tribute and innovation to the series and one of the best platformers of all time.
  54. victor_payan
    Aug 2, 2021
    9
    Uno de los mejores plataformas de los últimos tiempos. Si tiras de nostalgia, es un juego de 10, si no, sigue siendo súper recomendable. He disfrutado cada minuto con él y lo he rejugado sintiendo la misma emoción.
  55. aandrade81
    Nov 13, 2021
    9
    Moderno e retrô juntos em um mesmo jogo. Para quem curtiu Sonic um dia é imperdível.
  56. ImraanTest
    Dec 30, 2021
    9
    Sonic Mania is a rock, solid 2D return to form for the blue blur. SEGA did what Nintendon't by hiring talented developers from the Sonic community. And man did it pay off. This game is clearly a passion project by the fans, for the fans.

    The game has 12 zones in total. 8 zones are from prior 2D sonic games. Act 1 shares quite a bit of level design and the spectacle from the original    Sonic Mania is a rock, solid 2D return to form for the blue blur. SEGA did what Nintendon't by hiring talented developers from the Sonic community. And man did it pay off. This game is clearly a passion project by the fans, for the fans.

    The game has 12 zones in total. 8 zones are from prior 2D sonic games. Act 1 shares quite a bit of level design and the spectacle from the original stages. The level design is immaculate and is solely focused on speed, reflexes and platforming which is what 2D Sonic is all about. Act 2 of these 8 zones have new gimmicks and set pieces that makes these old locales feel fresh again. For example, Chemical Plant Act 2 has you manipulating the zone's iconic pink liquid to make it fling you up in the air or just making it easier to traverse. The game has brilliant call backs to previous pieces of Sonic The Hedgehog media.

    The game also have 4 new stages. Some of these stages stand toe to toe with the stages from the 2D Sonic games. Studiopolis, Mirage Salon and Press Garden in particular. It's simply incredible. It has sublime music that harkens back to old games. That goes for the game's entire soundtrack. Unlike Sonic 4, the musicians focus on capturing the essence of 16-bit music through modern lens rather than trying to blindly mimic 16-bit music.

    And man, this soundtrack's good! The game's graphics are great as well. The game carefully refines and enhances the graphics of the 16-bit games. This game clearly can not be pulled off on a Sega Mega Drive / Genesis. Feels like the lost Sega Saturn game that we never got.

    That describes the game as a whole. The lost sequel to Sonic 3 & Knuckles.    … Expand
  57. Sonic1234
    Apr 20, 2022
    9
    Cool game, good controls, soundtrack, leve design, everything here is really well done
    I will give 10 if the game just have only new themes, lets be honest
    Studiopolis and Press Garden are the best themes of the 2D Sonic history
  58. louiesifleet
    Jun 23, 2022
    9
    This is a perfect revival to the classic sonic games amazing and worth the play, at a very low price and is worth every penny in my eyes it is great and is one of the best sonic games ever seen in my eyes and believe me I have played a lot of sonic games so take my word.
  59. BajaBlaster15
    Jun 30, 2023
    9
    Sonic Mania is a blast from the past for all longtime Sonic Fans! This game contains retiring zones as well as new ones. Classic graphics, great music and is a treat for anyone playing!
  60. digimon-e-m
    Nov 17, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. super fun game! the boss fights are cool, the gameplay are fast and fun, and it has tiny sonic!!!… Expand
  61. psycheduck
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    I had the biggest, dumbest grin on my face from the start of the game to the end of it, with some minor roadbumps in there for some minorly annoying enemy placement and slightly confusing level design that is just common in 2D Sonic games. As someone who would put 2 of the 4 classic sonic games in his top 20 favorite games of all time, this was a complete treat.
  62. 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
  63. 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
  64. 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
  65. 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
  66. 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.
  67. 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
  68. 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.
  69. 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
  70. 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.
  71. 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
  72. Ancora
    Nov 3, 2017
    8
    hacía AÑOS que no tocaba Sonic y este juego me a echo volver. Me encanta, mezcla todo lo clásico con la actualidad. UN 10. Además en modo portátil.... una pasada la verdad recomendado 100%
  73. BenneyBob
    Nov 5, 2017
    8
    For My First Sonic Game this was Really Good. Time after Time i have heard horrible things about the Sonic franchise so when i heard this game was good i was surprised how much fun i was having. Going fast in a game is always cool to do. When a entire game is Centered around going fast your just asking for fun. This game Opened me up to Sonic and ill be sure to try other games in the sonicFor My First Sonic Game this was Really Good. Time after Time i have heard horrible things about the Sonic franchise so when i heard this game was good i was surprised how much fun i was having. Going fast in a game is always cool to do. When a entire game is Centered around going fast your just asking for fun. This game Opened me up to Sonic and ill be sure to try other games in the sonic franchise.… Expand
  74. VeFrog
    Sep 4, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania isn't just a game. Sonic Mania isn't just a tribute. Sonic Mania is a work of art. Everything from soundtrack and gameplay are completely flawless. The levels look fantastic and feel it too.
    Those who enjoyed the originals will absolutely adore the re-imaginings of classic levels and songs. Those who didn't like classic Sonic much may also love this title as its levels are    Sonic Mania isn't just a game. Sonic Mania isn't just a tribute. Sonic Mania is a work of art. Everything from soundtrack and gameplay are completely flawless. The levels look fantastic and feel it too.
    Those who enjoyed the originals will absolutely adore the re-imaginings of classic levels and songs. Those who didn't like classic Sonic much may also love this title as its levels are huge and reward you for exploring, unlike some of the classic games.
    Thanks to time trial and the chaos emeralds this game will give you hours and hours of entertainment. Those of all skill levels and ages will enjoy Sonic Mania as there is something here for everyone.
    Unfortunately the game comes with a large amount of bugs. I've had the game crash, characters faze through walls and random deaths after boss battle. This game probably has the most bugs out of any 2D sonic. I would love to give the game a 9/10 or 10/10 but unfortunately I cannot as it was released with so many bugs.    … Expand
  75. wodawg
    Aug 25, 2017
    8
    I really do like Sonic Mania and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone that grew up with the Sega Genesis or love 16 bit era games. It has some of the best looking sprite work I’ve ever seen and the music is outstanding. There are sometimes however, that Mania holds the originals too close to its chest and refuses to evolve. It is a work of love and I hope there are more like it soon.
  76. 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
  77. AbelAA7
    Oct 29, 2017
    8
    Sonic Mania is a very amazing throwback to Classic 2D sonic, But I wish there was more content to play and maybe even more co-op levels. The Gameplay is good and Story is Nice as well, and you get to finally play as Tails and Knuckles in there classic forms. Besides the bosses are fun and levels are great to play over and over. Sonic Mania is a amazing throwback to classic 2D Sonic!
  78. 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
  79. Neatqt
    Feb 25, 2019
    8
    Cast: Sonic & Crew
    Story: 6/10
    Fun: 10/10
    Gameplay: 9/10

    Recommended
    ----------------------
  80. flowqi
    May 17, 2018
    8
    As a long-time Sonic fan, i was really, really looking forward to this game.
    And i was not disappointed - finally a Sonic game that looks and feels as it should!
    Technically its perfectly executed, controls are spot-on. I only have some minor gripes with it: - i dont particularly some level sections where pacing is completely disrupted all the time - the transitions between levels    As a long-time Sonic fan, i was really, really looking forward to this game.
    And i was not disappointed - finally a Sonic game that looks and feels as it should!
    Technically its perfectly executed, controls are spot-on.

    I only have some minor gripes with it:
    - i dont particularly some level sections where pacing is completely disrupted all the time
    - the transitions between levels make less sense as in sonic 3
    - the robot boss battles are not particularly interesting

    Aside from that, its a game i find myself returning to from time to time for yet another playthrough.    … Expand
  81. Ryaweasel
    Sep 27, 2018
    8
    This game is essentially a throwback of all Classic Sonic games. From Green Hill Zone from the first Sonic game to Flying Battery Zone from Sonic & Knuckles. It has a bunch of new stages too, such as Studiopolis Zone. If you are an old-school Sonic fan, this game is for you.
  82. greninjaX
    Dec 1, 2018
    8
    i'll be honest, I don't like the genesis sonic games. they've aged poorly, and even back in the day, most of the time they punished you for going fast. this game, however, is sonic perfected. if you only play one sonic game in your life, make it this one.
  83. JoeQ_
    Mar 24, 2020
    8
    Most can agree that the Sonic series has been through its ups and downs. Sonic Mania goes back to the 2D Formula of games, specifically from Sonic 1, 2, CD, 3 & Knuckles. The platforming and speed of Sonic Mania is fantastic and is a love letter to the Sonic fans, but that should not shy away newcomers as this game is welcoming to all. The return of fan-favorite stages brings so much joyMost can agree that the Sonic series has been through its ups and downs. Sonic Mania goes back to the 2D Formula of games, specifically from Sonic 1, 2, CD, 3 & Knuckles. The platforming and speed of Sonic Mania is fantastic and is a love letter to the Sonic fans, but that should not shy away newcomers as this game is welcoming to all. The return of fan-favorite stages brings so much joy to me, but there are quite a couple of questionable stages chosen to return such as Lava Reef Zone & Oil Ocean. The game is also provided with amazing remixes and an overall memorable OST by Tee Lopes. The new stages in the game do not disappoint and are the highlight of the game, however, there's only four of them leaving much to be desired. Overall, Sonic Mania is a great game and a great return to what made Sonic great in the first place.… Expand
  84. Denvers
    Jul 6, 2020
    8
    Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game I have yet to play - it has many pitfalls and occassional poor level design, but is an overall solid experience. For the most part, the level design is great and running at top speeds as Sonic feels incredible. Although I didn't personally enjoy it, I understand why this is such a great game.

    Final Verdict: 8 (Great)
  85. PsychoJoona
    May 8, 2021
    8
    Awesome! Visuals, soundtrack and controls are amazing! I would give it a nine/ ten but this game's final boss is really bad which I was really disappointed on because every other Sonic final boss (like Adventure 1 and 2 and 2D Sonic games) were amazing! But beside from that I liked it!
  86. Otah
    Dec 18, 2020
    8
    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.
  87. Idk2006
    Jan 28, 2021
    8
    As a result of the fans’ fundamental understanding of level design, this is the only good sonic game in existence
  88. yertre
    Feb 3, 2021
    8
    Pretty good to be honest. Maybe not mind-blowing, but I can actually think of very little negative to say about this game. I think the game's appeal lies in not being more good, but in being less bad, which is fine. This is probably the most consistent Sonic game to date. Recommended.
  89. felip3fl
    Jun 20, 2021
    8
    I finished this game in 2021. It was an amazing adventure. I highly recommend it.
  90. Puro_Gaymer69HD
    Jun 29, 2023
    8
    The game is beautiful and is very polished! Although there is EXCESSIVE level recycle from other games and the levels sometimes connect in a weird way that can make the pase kinda weird but overall pretty fun!
  91. IamSquid
    Jan 2, 2023
    8
    Nostalgia done right!
    Sonic 2 might be the one game I've played more than any other throughout my life. While this game won't replace Sonic 2, I'm definitely going to keep coming back to it over and over again.
  92. woopyboi332
    Apr 12, 2022
    8
    The game is good the graphics too but the fact that you can cheese some of the game with tails just removes some of the challenge from it . I still recommend it though
  93. corujadiurna
    Jun 26, 2022
    8
    GREAT return to formula, this is easily a top 10 Sonic game, deserves all praise and respect it gets
  94. Dzusch
    Feb 3, 2023
    8
    This is a collection of classic levels from old Sonic. And they pass it off as a new game. The collection, so to speak, is normal. But the optimization is bad. When playing on an Intel Pentium, the game hangs. Although, for example, starting CSGO (who doesn't know it's a 3D game) and the game produces 40 fps. 40 fps in a 3D game. And 50 fps in a 2D game. Ideally
  95. Jimbok3rr178
    Apr 13, 2023
    8
    I think the game is great but could do with some more original levels but god do I love the drop dash
  96. turbo_dweeb
    Aug 24, 2023
    8
    ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
  97. 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
  98. 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
  99. 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
  100. 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.
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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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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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