They’re ridiculously fun to play through, and the biggest shame is that there aren’t more of them. I still can’t get enough of Studiopolis Zone’s glass-shattering silhouette rooms, satellite wave travel, and giant popcorn machines. Consequently, the new areas are amazing and introduce impressive set pieces and elegant design. As a result, every stage feels fresh, while satiating your nostalgic taste buds at the same time. Some levels even mix and match implements of different zones together. For instance, Chemical Plant Zone introduces gelatinous bouncy platforms in addition to the characteristic warp tubes. The eight returning zones are heavily remixed, implementing both old and new stage gimmicks. However, eight of the zones are taken from older games including the first Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic CD, leaving only four completely new areas. Speaking of stages, they’re another reason why Sonic Mania will feel familiar to fans. Make too many mistakes, and you will find yourself in the stage’s bottom portion, which is typically slower-paced but also rife with deadly hazards and bottomless pits. Make death-defying jumps at top speed, and you are rewarded with the blazing top path. And despite racing at supersonic speed, I never felt overwhelmed, thanks in part to the multiple paths in each stage, a series mainstay. Unlike other 2D modern Sonic titles where Sonic stops moving once you let go, Mania has that exhilarating sense of momentum that constantly propels you forward, forcing you to react quickly if you want to achieve maximum speed. Sonic Mania should feel familiar to anyone who has played the original trilogy and that’s no understatement, as Whitehead’s engine replicates the classic Genesis-era games’ physics. In addition to the standard run and jump gameplay, Sonic and friends can also perform a spin dash to build up momentum. If you don’t have any rings and get hit, you lose a life. Get hit once, and you lose all your rings. Along the way, you can collect rings, which act as both collectibles and your life bar. Regardless of your character, you blaze across stages rushing down ramps, going though loops, and bouncing off springs. You can also play as Tails by himself, or as the air-gliding, wall-climbing Knuckles. Like in the old 16-bit games, you play as none other than Sonic the Hedgehog (by himself or alongside his high-flying fox buddy Tails). Here’s the Video Version for your viewing pleasure! With some added fun callbacks!
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