Wikipedia

Sonic Mania

"Headcannon" redirects here. Not to be confused withHeadcanon.

Sonic Maniais a 2017platform gamepublished bySegaforNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,Xbox One,andWindows.Produced in commemoration of theSonic the Hedgehogseries' 25th anniversary,Sonic Maniapays homage to the originalSega GenesisSonicgames, featuring speedyside-scrollinggameplay. It takes place over 13levels,including several redesigned from past games. The story followsSonic,TailsandKnucklesas they venture to defeatDoctor Eggmanand his robotic henchmen, the Hard-Boiled Heavies.

Sonic Mania
The official art of Sonic Mania. It shows Sonic, a cartoonish blue hedgehog with red shoes; Tails, a cartoonish, yellow, two-tailed fox; and Knuckles, a cartoonish red echidna with big fists against a yellow background. The words "Sonic Mania" are seen above the characters.
Promotional artwork, featuringSonic,TailsandKnuckles
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Christian Whitehead
Producer(s)
  • Lola Shiraishi
  • Miki Takahashi
  • Terri Watanabe
Designer(s)Jared Kasl
Programmer(s)
  • Christian Whitehead
  • Simon Thomley
Artist(s)Tom Fry
Composer(s)Tee Lopes
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
EngineRetro Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseNS,PS4,Xbox One
  • WW:August 15, 2017
  • JP/AS:August 16, 2017
Windows
  • WW:August 29, 2017
Sonic Mania Plus
NS,PS4,Windows,Xbox One
  • WW:July 17, 2018
  • JP:July 19, 2018
Android,iOS,iPadOS
  • WW:May 7, 2024
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

The development team was composed of members known for their work in theSonicfangameandROM hackingcommunity. Development began after lead developer, director and programmerChristian "Taxman" Whitehead,who was previously contracted by Sega to develop enhanced mobile ports of GenesisSonicgames, presented a playable prototype toSonic TeamproducerTakashi Iizuka.Art, level design, audio, and additional programming were provided by independent studios PagodaWest Games and Headcannon. The team used Whitehead'sRetro Engineand aimed for a graphical quality between Genesis andSega Saturngames.

Sonic Maniawas released in August 2017 and became the highest-ratedSonicgame in fifteen years. Many reviewers saw it as a return to form for theSonicseries following a number of poorly received games released after the 1990s. Its presentation, level design, music, and faithfulness to the earlySonicgames were praised, but its lack of originality was criticized. Several described it as one of the bestSonicgames and one of the best games of 2017. Within a year, it had sold over one million copies worldwide.Sonic Mania Plus,an enhanced version with additional content, was released in July 2018.

Gameplay

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Gameplay screenshot showing Sonic in Studiopolis Zone, the first of five original levels inSonic Mania

Sonic Maniais aside-scrollingplatformersimilar to the earlySonic the Hedgehoggames released for theSega GenesisandSega CD.Players select one of 3 playable characters, each with their own unique abilities:Soniccan perform a "drop dash" which sends him rolling in a dash after a jump,[1]Tailscan fly and swim,[2]andKnucklescan glide and climb walls.[3]As withSonic 2(1992), players can play as Sonic and Tails simultaneously, or a second player can control Tails independently.[4][5]Unlockable options include Sonic's abilities fromSonic CD(1993) andSonic 3& Knuckles(1994) in place of the drop dash and "& Knuckles" mode, which allows simultaneous control of any character and Knuckles, including himself.[6]

Sonic Maniatakes place over 13levels,called zones; the game features eight "remixed" zones, such asGreen Hill Zonefrom the firstSonicgame (1991), alongside five original ones.[7][8][9]Remixed stages consist of both new elements and recycled gimmicks and ideas from other pastSonicgames. Each zone is divided into 2 acts, in which the player must guide their character past various enemies and obstacles to reach the end. At the end of each act, the player takes part in aboss battleagainstDoctor Eggman,also known as Dr. Robotnik, or one of his robots, including the Hard-Boiled Heavies, elite henchmen based on theEggRoboenemies fromSonic 3 & Knuckles.[10][11]The player collects golden rings, which serve as a form ofhealth;players survive hits as long as they have at least one ring, but, if hit, their rings scatter and disappear after a short time. Television monitors containing rings, elemental shields, orpower-upssuch asinvincibilityand faster running speed are scattered throughout each level.[12]LikeSonic 3 & Knuckles,the story is told via short in-game cutscenes between levels.[13]

Giant rings hidden in each act, a feature of the original games, lead to pseudo-3Dspecial stagessimilar to those inSonic CD,[8][13][14]where players can attempt to collect aChaos Emerald.In special stages, players dodge obstacles and collect colored spheres to increase their speed, allowing them to pursue aUFOcarrying aChaos Emerald;collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds allows players to use their character'ssuper transformationand unlocks the game's true ending.[7]Players' ring counters slowly decrease during special stages and must be continually replenished; if the player runs out of rings before they catch the UFO, the special stage ends. The "Blue Sphere" special stages fromSonic the Hedgehog 3also return, repurposed as bonus stages that are accessed by entering a portal that appears when the player passes a checkpoint while carrying 25 or more rings. Completing bonus stages earns the player a silver or gold medal depending on their performance; collecting medals unlocks features such as adebug modeandsound test.[7][6]

In atime attackmode, players must complete levels as quickly as possible, with the best times included on an onlineleaderboard;players can instantly reload a level to try again at any time.[15]A split-screen competitive multiplayer mode allows two players to race to the end of a level, similar to those ofSonic 2.[16]Players can also unlock "Mean Bean", a 2-playerminigamebased onDr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.[6]

Plot

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After the events ofSonic 3 & Knuckles,Sonic and Tails detect a powerful energy reading on Angel Island and board theirbiplane,the Tornado, to investigate. However, Dr. Eggman sends an elite group of EggRobos to reach the signal before Sonic and Tails. The EggRobos excavate the source of the signal, a magical gemstone called the Phantom Ruby, just as Sonic and Tails arrive. The EggRobos gain new powers from the ruby, becoming the Hard-Boiled Heavies, and send Sonic, Tails, and the island's guardian, Knuckles, through zones the trio have previously visited where they pursue Eggman to prevent him from using the ruby's power for evil, clashing with him and the Heavies along the way.

Sonic and his allies discover that Eggman has used the Phantom Ruby's power to retake control of Little Planet fromSonic CD.They board Eggman's robotic fortress, defeat him and the Heavies, and escape just as it explodes. If all seven Chaos Emeralds are collected while playing as Sonic, the Phantom Ruby transports him and Eggman to another dimension. There, the Heavies' leader, Heavy King, betrays Eggman and takes the ruby, imbuing himself with power; Eggman attacks the Heavy to try to reclaim it. Sonic uses the Chaos Emeralds to become Super Sonic and fights Eggman and the Heavy King separately to keep the ruby out of their possession. After the battle, the Phantom Ruby reacts with the Emeralds, negating Sonic's super state and creating a wormhole that engulfs itself and Sonic as Little Planet vanishes.

Sonic Mania Plus

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After the incident, Sonic is transported to Angel Island, where he comes across Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. He then encounters the Hard-Boiled Heavies, who are damaged from their fights against Sonic and his friends. The Heavy King grabbed the Phantom Ruby and uses its power to take Sonic and his four friends back to the beginning of their adventure in the game. Sonic and his friends travel through the areas again, but differently this time.

After defeating Eggman and the Heavies again, if all seven Chaos Emeralds are collected again, the Phantom Ruby makes Eggman's robotic fortress explode again. However, this time, Sonic and his allies use the Chaos Emeralds to activate their super forms to escape while Eggman is sent into a portal created by the Phantom Ruby. Sonic and his friends celebrate their victory in a bar in a desert, but the Heavy King surprises them.

Development

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An unfinished desert level fromSonic 2(top) served as inspiration forSonic Mania's Mirage Saloon Zone (bottom).

Development ofSonic Maniabegan in 2015, led by Australian programmerChristian "Taxman" Whitehead.Whitehead was a prominent member of theSonicfangame community,and had previously been contracted bySegato develop remastered ports ofSonic the Hedgehog,Sonic 2,andSonic CDfor mobile phones.[13][17]After developing the game for a few months, Whitehead presented a prototype, which he calledSonic Discovery,to series producerTakashi Iizuka.[13]Iizuka was receptive, and suggested that it should include old levels from the earlySonicgames it was inspired by, "remixed" in a way that felt new.[17]He also gave it theworking titleofSonic Mania,which stuck after no one suggested a better one.[17]The title referenced the development team's "maniacal" fandom for the series; Iizuka described the project as being made "by the mania, for the mania", and as a "passion product" driven by the fans' love for the earlySonicgames.[8][13][17][18]

Sonic Maniawas produced in commemoration of the series' 25th anniversary.[19]It was developed using Whitehead'sRetro Engine,agame enginetailored for creating two-dimensional games, which he also used for the enhanced ports ofSonic the Hedgehog,Sonic 2,andSonic CD.[20][21]The team also included programmer Simon "Stealth" Thomley of the independent studio Headcannon, who assisted Whitehead with those projects and on variousSonicfangamesandROM hacks,[22][23]as well as level designer Jared Kasl and art director Tom Fry of PagodaWest Games, who had previously independently collaborated on an unofficial high-definition remaster ofSonic 2.[24]Tantalus Mediahelped develop the Nintendo Switch port.[25]Iizuka and the rest ofSonic Teamprovided guidance and made sure the team didn't "go off the rails into something that doesn't feel likeSonic".[26]Iizuka described the visuals as a cross between the graphical capabilities of the Genesis andSega Saturn,comprising mostlypixel artwith somepolygonal graphics.[17]

The developers modeled the gameplay onSonic 3,with boss fights at the end of each zone. For returning stages, the designers made the first act feel familiar, and introduced new elements in the second act.[27]The team citedSonic CDandSonic 3as major influences on the level design for their "big, wide open" and "streamlined" designs, respectively.[26]According to Thomley, the team typically decided what elements to include in the returning stages prior to designing them, but sometimes came up with new ideas or changed them based on how the development progressed.[26]The first original level designed was the Hollywood-themed Studiopolis Zone.[28]The desert-themed Mirage Saloon Zone was inspired by an unfinished level fromSonic 2and theMonument Valleyregion of the United States.[23][27]The special stages were inspired by more recent games such asSonic Rush(2005) andSonic Colors(2010).[29]The team felt proud of their recreation of classicSonicgameplay.[26]

The game features animated opening and ending sequences led byTyson Hesse,one of the artists of theSoniccomicsbyArchie Comics.[13][30]It also features an optionalCRTgraphical filter,[31]and supports the enhanced features of both thePlayStation 4 ProandXbox One X,outputting at a native4K resolution.[32][33]The soundtrack was composed by Tee Lopes of PagodaWest Games, consisting of rearranged pieces from previousSonicgames alongside new material.[24][34]Lopes was chosen due to his popularity onYouTubefor producing arrangements of variousSonictracks, and for his work on theSonic 2 HDproject.[35]Lopes initially wanted his score to resemble theSonic CDsoundtrack, trying to imagine what a sequel to it might have sounded like.[34]As development progressed, he took inspiration from other olderSonicand Sega games, such asThe Revenge of Shinobi(1989) and theSega Rallygames,[34][35]and from 1990s popular music, such as the work ofMichael Jackson.[34][35]The reveal trailer theme, "Checkpoint", was composed by the electronic music groups Hyper Potions and Nitro Fun and the opening theme, "Friends", was composed by Hyper Potions.[13][30]

Release

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Sonic Maniawas announced alongsideSonic Forcesat the 25th anniversarySonicevent atSan Diego Comic-Conin July 2016.[36]The game was also featured atSouth by Southwest(SXSW),[37]theElectronic Entertainment Expo(E3),[38]and SDCC in 2017; at SDCC 2017, attendees received a promotionalinstruction manualfor the game.[13]The game was announced for the second quarter of 2017, but Sega announced at SXSW that it had been delayed to allow for more development.[39]

Sonic Maniawas released digitally for theNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,andXbox Oneon August 15, 2017.[40][41]Four days before release, Sega delayed theWindowsversion for another two weeks for further optimization, releasing it on August 29 as a download onSteam.[42]As compensation, those who had pre-ordered the game received a copy of the originalSonic the Hedgehogon Steam.[42]

In addition to the standard release, a Sega Genesis-themed collector's edition was also released, containing a 12-inch (30 cm) Sonic statue atop a model Genesis, agame cartridgecast with a golden ring, and a metallic collector's card with a download code for the game.[43][44]To promote the collector's edition, Sega released a retro-styledinfomercialfeaturing former series art directorKazuyuki Hoshinoand social media manager Aaron Webber, based on an American television commercial forSonic The Hedgehog 2.[45]The music label Data Discs published avinyl LPfeaturing the game's original music in late 2017.[46]An expanded soundtrack was released on digital music distribution platforms on January 17, 2018.[47]

A five-part animated short mini-series,Sonic Mania Adventures,was released on theSonic the HedgehogYouTubechannel between March and July 2018, promoting the release ofSonic Mania Plus.[48]The series depicts Sonic's return to his world following the events ofSonic Forces,teaming up with his friends to prevent Eggman and Metal Sonic from collecting the Chaos Emeralds and Master Emerald.[49]A holiday-themed bonus episode was released in December 2018.[50]The shorts were written and directed by Hesse, with animation production by Neko Productions, and music written by Lopes.[51]All six shorts were later included as part of theSonic Originscompilation in 2022.

Sonic Mania Plus

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An expanded version of the game,Sonic Mania Plus,was released in North America and Europe at retail and asdownloadable contentfor the original version on July 17, 2018, and in Japan on July 19, 2018.[52][53]A version forAmazon Lunawas released on October 20, 2020.[54]It adds playable charactersMighty the ArmadilloandRay the Flying Squirrelfrom the 1993arcade gameSegaSonic the Hedgehog,each with unique abilities: Mighty can slam the ground and is immune to spikes when in ball form, while Ray can glide without losing altitude.[55]Plusalso adds an "Encore Mode" with remixed levels and a reworked lives mechanic, a pinball bonus stage, and a four-player competition mode. Additionally, an update released alongsideSonic Mania Plusadds more cutscenes and a reworked Metal Sonic battle based on his appearance inKnuckles' Chaotix(1995).[56]The physical version was released with a 32-page art book and a reversible cover in the style of Genesis or Mega Drive boxart covers, depending on the region.[57][58]A soundtrack CD was included with the Japanese physical release.[59]

In an interview withFamitsu,Iizuka explained thatSonic Maniawas not intended to have a physical release; Sega staff requested one, but a retail version would have presented a challenge for the production schedule. After the game launched, fans also expressed interest in a physical version. As a retail release would cost more than the downloadable version, the team added value with new content. Mighty and Ray were included because they were rarely featured in games; to accommodate them, level designs had to be altered. Additionally, the multiplayer mode was updated because of the increased number of selectable characters.[60]

In 2023,Netflixannounced thatSonic Mania Pluswould be available foriOSandAndroiddevices via theNetflix Gamesservice in 2024.[61]The game was released via Netflix Games on May 7, 2024.[62]

Reception

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Sonic Maniawas announced following years of mixed reviews for theSonicfranchise.[81][82]According to theInternational Business Times,the series had been "tarnished by years of sub-par games with only the occasional gem". TheBusiness Timespredicted that Sega's approach of releasingSonic ForcesandSonic Maniain the same year, catering to new and old fans, could repair the series' reputation and lead to a "Sonicrenaissance ".[81]Several critics expressed excitement for a return to the style of the earlySonicgames,[18][83]and wrote that Sega's previous efforts to develop games in the "classic" style, such asSonic the Hedgehog 4in 2010, had been disappointing.[83][84]

According to thereview aggregatorsiteMetacritic,Sonic Maniareceived "generally favorable" reviews.[64][63][66][65]It became the best-reviewedSonicgame in fifteen years,[85]and several critics described it as one of the best 2D platform games.[75][86]At launch,Sonic Maniawas the bestselling Switch game, outsellingMinecraftandOvercooked: Special Edition.[87]It greatly increased Sega's third-quarter profits, and helped Sega almost double sales of packaged games compared to the same period in 2016.[88]By April 2018, it had sold over one million copies worldwide across all platforms.[89]

The presentation attracted acclaim.USGamerdescribed it as the "pinnacle" of the series' pixel graphics.[90]GameSpotcalled the animations and detail superior to the original games, writing that they added an extra layer of personality.[75]Cubed3described the levels as stylish and vibrant.[91]Critics also praised the attention to detail in recreating the early games.Game Informerwrote that its gameplay was "nearly indistinguishable" from its Genesis predecessors, but with "extra polish".[73]Easy Allieswrote thatManiaemulated the original games "exceptionally", and that "running, jumping, and spin dashing all work exactly as well as you would hope".[92]Nintendo World Reportwrote that it avoided the physics problems fromSonic the Hedgehog 4and recaptured the spirit of the 16-bit games.[77]

The level design and music also received praise.[77]Hardcore Gamerwrote that the remixed versions of older stages felt fresh while staying true to the originals.[93]Game Informerwrote that the new stages matched the quality and captured the spirit of earlySonicgames.[73]The A.V. Clubpraised the detail and content in each level;[94]Metropraised thefan service,and likened it to a school project "gone wild, something enthusiastic kids have made while the teacher was away and which far surpasses anything they were actually supposed to be doing".[95]LikeIGN,[7]Venture Beatappreciated thereplay value,with branching paths that made multipleplaythroughs"fresh".[4]EGMwrote that the soundtrack was "completely fantastic" and felt nostalgic and new at the same time.[71]Nintendo Lifecalled the soundtrack "one of the best of recent times".[76]

The game received some criticism.Polygoncommented that frustrations with controls and enemy placement in the originalSonicgames were present inSonic Mania.[79]VideoGamer.comwrote that the game relied too much on nostalgia, with minimal innovation and too few original stages, but was a good proof of concept that the development team could expand upon.[80]Nintendo World Reportcomplained about the boss fights, which they felt were poorly executed and too easy.[77]The Windows version was subject toreview bombingdue to its implementation of thedigital rights management(DRM) softwareDenuvo,which some thought to be the real reason behind the two-week delay.[96][97]The game could not be played offline on launch day; Sega stated this was abugunrelated to Denuvo, and released a patch the following day.[98][99]

Multiple reviewers saw it as a return to form for theSonicseries after a number of poorly reviewed games after the 1990s.EGMNowcommendedSonic Maniaas one of the "purest and most enjoyable"Sonicgames, expressing excitement for the future of the series.[71]IGNwrote that it was the "classic" throwback that fans had clamored for since the 1990s, but also recommended it for people new to the franchise.[7]Nintendo World Reportcalled it a "must-buy" for fans of the olderSonicgames.[77]Waypointcompared it favorably toDonkey Kong Country Returns,describing it as a game that knew "what was fun" about its predecessors.[100]Nintendo Lifefelt thatManiarepresented "a true return to form" and was a contender for the best game in the series.[76]

Sonic Mania Plusreceived stronger reviews, with the Nintendo Switch version receiving "universal acclaim", according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[68][67][69]Multiple reviewers called it the definitive version thanks to its extra game mode and characters. DualShockers' Tomas Franzese praised the "Encore" mode for feeling fresh, as well as the movement options introduced with Mighty and Ray.[101]Michael Leri ofGame Revolution,however, found the new partner system more frustrating than the traditionallives systemfound in classicSonicgames.[102]IGN Spaindid not recommend the update for those that own the original game, but commended the physical release and the added value for new players and hardcore fans.[103]

Legacy

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Sonic Maniawas nominated for the "Best Family Game" atThe Game Awards 2017and the "Best Kids Game" at the 2018 New York Game Awards.[104][105]The theme song "Friends" was reused for the prologue of the2020Sonic the Hedgehogfilm.[106]

Notes

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  1. ^Ported to Nintendo Switch byTantalus Media

References

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