PixlBit

Games of the Decade #24/Blog a Day #07

Hello gamers™, how are you?

The 90's, who doesn't remember them? The 90's were a pretty interesting time and I feel it was a decade of experimentation. In the early 90's we had 16-bit video games and as technology got more advanced we also started seeing video games make the jump into 3D for the very first time. While some games went on to define the era like Super Mario 64 did, others failed to make that leap succesfully which resulted in mixed results. There is one franchise that started out in the 16-bit era that made the jump to 3D in the 90's but has lost its way later on. However this franchise went back to its roots in 2017 showing what's old is new again. The game in question is Sonic Mania.

 

                                                   Music in this game is so good ♥

Backstory time dudes: Sonic the Hedgehog, what started as a true rival and competitor to Mario and Nintendo ended up as nothing but a joke once the 90's were over with games like Sonic 06 and Sonic Boom and some other games of questionable quality. So instead of throwing things at the wall to see what sticks like they have been since 2006, they decided to take Sonic back to his roots, to what made him a household name. 

Sonic Mania is a game that takes the best of what the early Sonic games had to offer, but with some tweaks to already familiar zones and making them feel familiar yet fresh. Zones like Green Hill Zone is a really familiar level to everyone who has ever played a Sonic game, but they added things to it to make it feel fresh. But not a ton to make it a completely different level. The developers of Sonic Mania were really careful with what they added to familiar levels so they wouldn't mess too much with them. In other words, they are remixed.

They even added new stages as well along with an unreleased level from one of the early games, just remixed. It's always a treat to see unreleased stuff in playable form. Yes there are even some new bosses as well and there's this really cool one that I won't spoil.                                       

In this game you can play as either Sonic, Tails, & Knuckles and as you'd expect, each character plays differently and they all have their own abilities. Sonic can run fast, Tails can fly, and Knuckles can glide and climb up walls. The game really takes advantage of their abilities as each stage has secrets to find that only certain characters can access. The gameplay has been tweaked as well. The controls feel modern but without feeling too different. They feel just right.

                                             These stages make a return as well

The graphics are really vibrant and colorful, just what you would expect from a Sonic game. The graphics is something of a blend between Genesis and Saturn. The special stages look like something out of the Sega Saturn, since those are in 3D. Music is also really well done, it has familiar tunes and even the new music sounds amazing as well. They don't sound out of place at all and feel right at home.

"But Captain N, where can I play this game?" Sonic Mania is available on every current platform. PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and on PC. There's also Sonic Mania Plus, which is pretty much the same game but with extra content like 2 new playable characters to name some of the new stuff it has. If you already own Sonic Mania, you can upgrade to the Encore DLC version for $5. But if you haven't had a chance to play this game, definitely get the Plus version. Just a warning, I've heard it's a bit harder. Regardless of which one you play, I can guarantee that the game is well worth the price it costs.

Final Thoughts: After years and years of trial and error, with the odd gem here and there, they finally did it. Sonic Mania is pretty much the Sonic game everyone has been waiting for. A return to form if you will. It's essentially a compilation of the best of the early years of Sonic along with some new tweaks and extras. 

Sonic Mania was made possible thanks to the passion of diehard Sonic fans, showing that they can make a great game. It's a game from fans, by the fans, and for the fans. I just wish another big company would loosen up a bit on fan projects instead of shutting them down. But in any case, Sonic Mania is a wonderful blast from the past, taking you to a trip back to the 90's, just reimagined. If you're a fan of Sonic or a fan of 2D platformers in general, definitely try it out. If you've never played a Sonic game before, this is definitely an excellent entry point. The game is definitely way past cool.

                                                       Unlike Sonic I don't chuckle

So that's it for this one. I'll be seeing you on the other side of the rainbow.