Sonic Mania Reviews

The best Classic Sonic experience hands-down, especially when it comes to the modding scene.

Objectively good if you enjoy classic 2D sonic personally I would have liked some more modern QoL but I guess that wasn't really the intention generally just a fun classic time

A good game for classic Sonic enjoyers, amazing game and would recommend.

It's very fun and moddable, plus I have wayyyy too many hours in this game on my ps4

How good is this game? I pirated it and came back to purchase it. I am also planning to get all the achievements.

This game says it is shared/split screen but is not, avoid if you want to play two player!

Love how speed is a reward of good gameplay. The level design allows for a good mix of exploration and time-trialing.

One of the times where I wish there was a third, middle option, because to say that the game is bad is objectively wrong and unfair, but I also can't in good faith to say that it's for everyone. So please consider the downvote less of a criticism and more of a, "why this game could not be for you," because it sure has proven that it's not for me. If you are looking for pure gameplay, mechanically the game is impeccable, each level has unique flow and finding it is pretty fun and feels rewarding. On the other hand, if you are new to Sonic, you may find needing to replay levels to find that flow frustrating. I also would say that the game is a bit harder than the classic games, which makes sense since it was made for and by Sonic veterans who might be finding the classics too easy due to playing them for decades. On top of that, it has lives. A 2017 game that has lives and "game over" screen. If you struggle with a certain boss, the game might end up demanding you to replay two acts of a perfected zone just to proceed, and it genuinely can get tedious, especially if you are just trying to beat the game for the first time. When it comes to style, the game purposely reprises a lot of classic zones, while including some entirely original ones. And in my opinion, the original ones are the highlight of the game. The classic zones largely consist of references to the past and use the familiar enemies and gimmicks, and if you haven't played classics for a while, it might hit the spot. But if you do so regularly, you might find it a bit annoying or boring. In addition, the game pretty seriously fails when it comes to environmental storytelling, while giving tons of flashy visuals that are barely related to the story. That segues into talking about the story, and this is where my biggest disappointment lies. Before Sonic I wouldn't ever expect to get into platformers, but Sonic as a series captivated me with extensive cast of interesting characters and interesting stories, Mania does have a premise and it's linked to the main canon, but it's quite underwhelming, on the same level that, say, StH2 story... Well, I guess a bit better, with an extra cast of baddies. Still, a lot of reference to the past don't make any sense in the context of the story. Do they need to? Depends on what you're looking for in the game. I definitely prefer at least some degree of consistency. There are thousands of reviews that will tell you that everything in the Mania is perfect for everyone. I'm writing one to show you things to be aware of. Hope it helps the reader to manage the expectations, and have less of the disappointment that I rather unexpectedly experienced.

Very fun game. Every level has something unique going on and new mechanics to handle. As my first game in the series it was unexpectedly hard in some moments which made it frustrating at times

Sonic Mania is 2D Sonic at its absolute best. This game takes everything that made the classic games great and cranks it up to eleven. It’s the definitive 2D Sonic experience, bringing back some of the best levels from past games while adding fresh twists, new zones, and some of the most creative level design the series has ever seen. The variety of playable characters, fun and challenging levels, and engaging boss fights keep things exciting from start to finish. Not to mention the soundtrack—every song is an absolute banger. If you have even the slightest love for classic Sonic, this game is a must-play. It’s pure, unfiltered fun, and I can’t recommend it enough. 9/10