Sonic Mania is a solid Sonic the Hedgehog 2D platformer. Run, Jump and Spin your way through different zones to defeat Dr. Eggman and his cronies. You can also fly, glide or climb walls if you play as Tails or Knuckles.
Pros
The music sounds great.
There are only a handful of graphics options, but the game still looks good despite the low resolution. Those that like the look of the classic Sonic games will feel right at home.
As expected from a Sonic game, it plays crazily fast. The keyboard controls are very responsive though, so all stuff ups are my own doing. All the characters’ behaviours and animations look and feel right, like the original Sonic the Hedgehog 1991 game.
The levels have got a lot of hidden areas. Those with keen eyes and extra quick reflexes can find some extra goodies in these areas.
The bonus stages are played in chase view and are good fun in their own right. The controls are just as responsive and each successive bonus stage is harder than the previous. Completing enough bonus stages earns some neat unlockables for the game.
There are a lot of levels to get through. This combined with the choice of three different characters, makes for a wide variety of 2D platforming goodness.
Cons
I have no cons for Sonic Mania.
Other Points
Mania mode is the main story mode where you take Kunckles or Sonic and/or Tails through different levels. Completed levels can then be played in time attack mode or split screen competition mode.
Two players can play locally in competition mode and in mania mode when both Sonic and Tails are selected. The game allows both players to use the same keyboard and keys can be remapped, but key jamming could be a problem.
In mania mode, Tails as a second character is quite expendable. The screen always follows Sonic, so Tails can just go off screen, get damaged and nothing will happen as far as lives go.
The game only saves your progress when you complete the whole level. That is, you have to complete both acts before the game saves your progress.
Biases
My views have definitely been clouded by the lens of nostalgia.
I mainly played single-player mania mode, but I tried competition mode and controlling Tails at the same time using the keyboard for both characters.
Before Sonic Mania, I have only played and completed Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game). I enjoyed it a lot.
I have played a lot of 2D platformers including Mario games and Jazz Jackrabbit. They were all good fun.
