Sonic Mania News
August2022
News Sega Launches 'Ultimate Sonic Bundle' On Switch eShop, But Something's Missing
Actually, several things are missing
When something is described as 'ultimate', you'd be forgiven for thinking that this essentially means "the best of the best', or "the most complete package". Heck, just look at the cast of Danganronpa; they're the "ultimate" in their respective fields, showcasing talents that no one else could possibly match,...
Anniversary Impossibly, Sonic Mania Is Now Five Years Old
Well, that's gone FAST
It's pretty hard to believe that Sonic Mania is already five years old. It feels like only yesterday that we were getting excited about a return to the classic Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Sonic games of old, and Sega, Christian Whitehead, and everyone involved knocked it out of the park. Sonic Mania was a huge hit, and it...
July2022
News Sega Reflects On Sonic Mania, Says It Was A Defining Moment For The Blue Blur
Can we have a sequel now?
Sonic Origins saw the return of Sonic 1,2, 3 and CD last month, but the modern generation 2D standout is still admittedly Sonic Mania. It was a revival of the classic side-scrolling Sonic series and ended up being an absolute hit thanks to Christian "The Taxman" Whitehead, Headcannon and a number of other talented parties...
June2022
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of Sonic Origins
Sonic boom or Sonic bust?
After what felt like years of having to make do with just a single image to promote the launch of Sonic Origins, the game is finally in the hands of Switch owners. Pooling together the classic 2D Sonic titles, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the game is...
Talking Point Should Sonic Frontiers Be Delayed? We Discuss Its Bizarre Debut And Fan Reaction
Sonic's latest 3D entry stumbles out the gate
After what feels like a lifetime of waiting, we've finally been treated to a glimpse at what the gameplay for Sonic Frontiers will look like — two glimpses, in fact! Thanks to IGN's month-long coverage deal with SEGA, we now have a better idea of how exploration and combat will work in the game, with...
May2022
Rumour Sonic Team Is Working On A Brand New 2D Sonic Game
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles said to be playable
Stick your tin-foil hats on for this one, folks. A new 2D entry to the long-running Sonic the Hedgehog series is reportedly in development at SEGA. Specifically, Sonic Team is said to be working on the game with "no outside involvement". News of the new entry comes from an insider by the name of Zippo...
April2022
News Sonic Mania Dev Confirms Involvement With Sonic Origins
Headcannon returns for fourth outing
Headcannon, known for its work on Sonic Mania alongside the mobile versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, has confirmed its involvement with the upcoming Sonic Origins. The compilation, due for release on June 23rd, will include the classic mainline games with various a
December2021
Feature Tee Lopes Talks Sonic, Streets Of Rage, And Making Music On A PS1
"Video games were a portal that allowed me to discover music"
Fans of certain beloved Sega franchises should be very familiar with this composer's name by now. Tee Lopes started out on the VGM scene releasing remixed and reimagined versions of some of gaming's most beloved music, with a special focus on one blue hedgehog in particular, and his...
August2021
News Sonic Mania Is Now 4 Years Old
A game that brought Sonic back to his best
Sonic Mania is now four years old, which may not be a huge landmark but, well, this Sonic-nerd wants to celebrate it anyway. It is the game, after all, that reminds players old and new that, actually, there's more to Sonic than 'alright' 3D platformers. Created by a group of small developers and super-fans...
July2021
News Yep, Tantalus Was Also The Developer Of The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
You might remember its work on Twilight Princess HD
It's becoming increasingly common for Nintendo to lend out its IP and call on the services of external studios to help remake and remaster its classic library of games - so it's no surprise to discover that the company's latest release, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, was also handled by...
May2021
News Sonic Is Alive And Well, According To Sega Sammy's Sales Data For Fiscal Year 2021
Sonic Generations is still helping out
If anyone has ever told you Sonic is dead, it couldn't be further from the truth. Sega Sammy has posted its latest unit sales data for fiscal year 2021 and it appears the company's longtime mascot is right out in front. Yes, even after 30 years the blue blur is still leading the charge for the Japanese...
February2021
Random Researchers Visualise How Mario, Luigi, And Dr Eggman Would Look If They'd Actually Aged
Mario and Luigi look ready to claim their plumber pensions
Last year was Mario's 35th birthday, and this year is Link's 35th, yet they still look as young and vibrant as ever. Well, sure, Mario still looks like a plumber who enjoys spaghetti a little too much, but Link's most recent reincarnation in Breath of the Wild emerged from a 100-year sleep...
January2021
Random A Real-Life Diamond Pickaxe Would Cost £5 Billion, Apparently
Damn! We JUST threw ours into lava
If you're looking for a bit of post-Christmas dosh, perhaps you need to look no further than the video games you've been playing the whole time. According to H&T Pawnbrokers, just one of Sonic the Hedgehog's golden rings would net you £5.8 billion ($7.7 billion) on the market, weighing approximately 256...
October2020
News Sega's Sonic Double Packs Are Out Now On Nintendo Switch
It's official!
Back in August, two Sega double packs for Nintendo Switch were spotted online. One included Team Sonic Racing and Sonic Mania, and the other featured Sonic Forces and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. Today, Sega of America made it official, and both packs are out now! Readers locate
August2020
News Another Sonic The Hedgehog Double Pack Appears To Be Coming To Switch
Two games in one
If you need more blue blur in your life, perhaps a Sonic the Hedgehog double game pack for Switch might be of interest. According to a new listing over on Amazon, Sega is releasing a package collection containing Sonic Mania and
July2020
News Sega Wants To Take "Good Care" Of 2D And 3D Sonic In The Future
Takashi Iizuka reassures fans
Can you believe it? Sonic the Hedgehog is almost 30 years old. With this in mind, Sega wants to start looking after the blue blur a little more. This was mentioned by Sega's Aaron Webber earlier this year in May - when he said the company wanted to put "more time" into each of its Sonic video games, rather than rush...
May2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 2nd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
So, yet another week has been and gone, bringing with it a new Switch system update, new fish and bugs to catch in Animal Crossing, and even the wonderful fact that Tom Nook somehow made it on to the front page of the Financial Times
February2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 22nd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Hello one and all, and welcome to yet another weekend. This week has seen more info on the future of the Super Smash Bros. series, Animal Crossing in-game purchase shenanigans, and the surprise launch of a new Switch FPS
December2019
News Sega's Director Of Animation Thinks The World Is Ready For Another Sonic TV Show
"There are several discussions"
If you're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, you probably already know the official YouTube channel has released multiple animated shorts based on Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing. Since the conclusion of Sonic Boom television series though, this has been the only way to watch Sonic on screen. So what else
November2019
News A Sonic Mania-Style 'Drop Dash' Almost Made It Into Sonic 3
New Sonic 3 prototype surfaces
One of Sonic Mania's most unique gameplay features was the addition of a 'drop dash' move which allows characters to roll into a wrecking ball the moment they hit the ground – but it turns out we almost had this move in Sonic 3, which was released decades earlier. A prototype version of the third Sonic game has...
News Yes, The Sonic Movie Redesign Was Led By Sonic Mania Animator Tyson Hesse
The fans were right
The revised design of Sonic the Hedgehog in Paramount's upcoming movie has been revealed, and it's been widely praised as a huge, massive, incalculable improvement on the character seen in the original trailer. Following the debacle surrounding the initial reveal (Sonicgate? Hedgehogate? It's always a -gate), it was rumoured that...
October2019
"In the end we all just make games"
Once upon a time, the term 'indie' meant you were making games on your own with little outside help or support, and the results were often basic or crude when compared to 'AAA' titles. These days, the distinction has become harder to make, as games that are considered to be 'indie' titles are often as polished and...
June2019
News The Sonic Anniversary Nintendo eShop Sale Is Now Live (North America)
Discounts on Switch, 3DS and Wii U eShop games
Sega is running a Sonic anniversary sale in North America from now until June 24th. For owners of Nintendo platforms, this sale includes discounted Sonic games on the Switch, 3DS and Wii U eShops. Take a look at the 12 games on sale in the list below which includes Sonic's latest racing game:...
May2019
News The Director Of Sonic Mania Adventures Might Be Working On The Blue Blur's Movie Redesign
Too good to be true?
After ongoing backlash from fans, last week it was revealed the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie had been delayed. The director Jeff Fowler made this announcement over on Twitter with the above image, showing Sonic's gloved hand holding up a sign, with the movie's new release date and a classic logo below it. Compared to what...
Better than before
Sonic the Hedgehog has struggled to live up to expectations for a long time now. Unlike Nintendo's mascot, Mario, Sonic's adventures haven't always worked out, mostly because of his "gotta go fast" attitude and take on life. Fortunately, this all changed in 2017, when Christian Whitehead was given free run by Sega and...
April2019
Talking Point Not Appealing To Gamers First Is A Dangerous Strategy For The Sonic Movie
Gotta go fast (away from this dumpster fire)
“Every hero has a Genesis,” the trailer tells us. Unfortunately, we’re not convinced anybody at Paramount has ever even seen one. Whether you’re a fan of the blue hedgehog’s original Sega Genesis/Mega Drive oeuvre, partial to his brave strides into the third dimension on Dreamcast or have been...
March2019
News Cadence Of Hyrule Features The Work Of Two Sonic Mania Artists
It's a small (and wonderful) world
One of the 'wow' moments from yesterday's Nindies Showcase presentation was the reveal of Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer - a new game from the team behind Crypt of the NecroDancer which is set to feature none other th
News Takashi Iizuka Confirms The Next Sonic Title Is Already In Development
Gotta go fast
If the video clips for Team Sonic Racing weren't already satisfying enough, the head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, has confirmed the next big entry in the mainline Sonic series is officially underway. The announcement was made during a panel at SXSW Gaming 2019. Other than this, no other information is currently known about the new...
February2019
News Sonic Mania Devs Form New Development Studio, Evening Star
And they're hiring!
Several members of the development team behind Sonic Mania have banded together to form their very own game development studio, Evening Star. The studio has its headquarters based in Los Angeles, with others working across Melbourne and London. It describes itself as a "boutique" studio, with each team member pursuing "a goal to...
December2018
Video Sonic Mania Adventures Animation Returns For A Holiday Special
Warm the coldest of hearts
One of the DLC highlights this year was the add-on content for the 2017 release Sonic Mania. The Plus version of the game added new characters, an encore mode and four-player split-screen. As we begin to reflect on all the wonderful games released over the past year, the official Sonic The Hedgehog YouTube Channel
July2018
News Multiple Cheat Codes For Sonic Mania Have Been Discovered
Just like old times
Back in the '90s when micro-transactions were nowhere to be seen, cheat codes reigned supreme. All you had to do was input a code and you became unstoppable - no monetary transactions required, just a series of button presses. When you think of all the cool games during this era, one of them might be Sonic the Hedgehog. It turns...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 21st)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Yet another weekend is upon us, which naturally means that it's time for another Talking Point feature! If you're lucky enough to have some free time over the next few days, you may well be planning to sink some of it into your favourite Nintendo games - which is exactly what Team NL is going to do! We've got...
News Sonic Mania Lead Talks About The Fan Service Magic That Makes The Game Tick
How do you make a Sonic game for the fans?
With Sonic Mania Plus' recent release on Switch, it feels fitting to allow ourselves another chance to bask in the nostalgia-filled glory the original game presented. Sonic games can be a touchy subject to talk about, with fans of the series liking and disliking different elements of each - and a...
Gallery Sonic Mania Plus Is The Version Of Sonic Mania You've Always Wanted
Keeping it physical
When Sonic Mania launched last year it received critical acclaim and restored the faith of many a lapsed Sonic fan. However, as a digital-only affair (no, the collector's edition with a download code doesn't count) it felt very much like a 'bonus' release alongside 2017's full-fat Sonic outing: the much-maligned Sonic...
April2018
News Sonic Mania Has Sold One Million Units Worldwide, Plus Version Release Date Confirmed
Sonic Mania Plus Will cost $4.99 / £3.99 if you own the original
Sega's Sonic Mania has now sold over a million units globally, according to Famitsu. The 2D platformer launched last year on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC, and made up for the fact that the mainline 2017 Sonic title - Sonic Forces - wasn't very good. Sega's...
Music Gotta Go Fast With This Sega Fest Sonic DJ Set
One hour of upbeat Sonic themes
Sega has never been one to shy away from delivering great entertainment at fan experiences, so if you want to start your week right we suggest you give this DJ set a spin. For nearly one hour, DJ Tomoya Ohtani spins some iconic music themes from decades of Sonic The Hedgehog video game history and is eventually...
News Sonic Mania Plus Patch Accidentally Leaked To Some UK Players
Whoops
A few weeks ago, it was announced that Sonic Mania would be receiving a fairly substantial update later on this year in the form of Sonic Mania Plus, which will be adding new characters, remixed levels, and various other enhancements to make this fantastic throwback even better. The update is due to release in the summer, yet SEGA...
March2018
News Sonic Mania Plus Arrives On Switch This Summer
Physical version coming, but existing owners don't miss out
Announced during the SXSW Gaming live broadcast, one of the most requested physical editions of last year will finally become a reality during Summer 2018: Sonic Mania Plus will be available on the Nintendo Switch featuring extra content. Two new playable characters join in the existing...
Feature Nintendo Life's Top Ten eShop Games From Switch's First Year
Three cheers for the underdogs
It's hard to believe the Switch is already a year old. Many of us here at Nintendo Life fondly remember queuing up for our first look at the console that would capture the hearts of millions worldwide and garner both critical acclaim and massive support from developers large and small. It's no secret that games like...
February2018
News Sega Is Getting Ready To Show Us What's Next For Sonic The Hedgehog
"Sonic is back, and ready to take 2018 by storm"
Sonic had a mixed 2017. Sonic Mania was amazing, but his "big" game - Sonic Forces - was met with less enthusiastic reviews. The character remains a cash-cow for Sega however, and we're going to hear very soon what it has planned for Sonic in 2018. A SXSW panel will deliver a...
January2018
News Which Is Better - Sonic Mania Or Sonic CD? Iretrogamer's Power Team Debates It Out
Old vs new
We love Sonic Mania here at Nintendo Life - so much so former editor Thomas Whitehead gave the triumphant retro revival a glowing 9/10 back in 2017 - but did you much of its innovation follows in the footsteps of the equally ingenious Sonic CD? The Power Team over on the iretrogamer channel have had that very thought on the brain,...
December2017
News Sega Lowers Full Year Forecast Amid Pachinko Performance Problems
Sales and profit predictions both take a dive
Sega has reduced its full year sales and profit forecasts for the current financial year amid struggles in the pachinko industry. Full-year net sales of $3.38bn and profits of $98.1m were originally predicted by the Japanese veteran, but it has now revised these totals to $2.94bn and $44.6m...
September2017
News A Sonic Mania Patch is Rolling Out, Includes Switch HOME Button Fix
Keep an eye out
Sonic Mania is pretty darn good but it can be a tad buggy at times, from minor issues to problems that have frustrated some players. It's taken a short while, but the first update to tackle fixes seems to be rolling out. The official social channels for the mascot announced the news. At the time of publication the update hasn't...
August2017
Soapbox Seriously Nintendo, It's Time For A Switch Joy-Con With A Proper D-Pad
Buttons just aren't as good
After months of speculation prior to the Nintendo Switch being officially revealed in October 2016, it's fair to say that the initial reaction was largely very positive. This early enthusiasm from the gaming community has been backed up by decent software support from Nintendo and a ever-growing install base; the Switch...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Races Up The UK Charts, But Digital-Only Sonic Mania Is Absent
Zelda and 1-2-Switch climb slightly
With the Summer lull in the games retail market continuing, there are few new releases meaning that evergreen titles lead the way. As has been the case for some time now, Nintendo feature quite heavily in the UK sales charts. In a week with no big-hitting newcomers Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy on PS4...
Nintendo Download 17th August (Europe)
Sonic Mania! Chicken Wiggle! SmileBASIC! Much more!
The European Nintendo Download Update is now live, and it's a relatively busy line-up. For reasons only it knows Nintendo of Europe is listing a big release from earlier in the week in this update, but beyond that we have some interesting options on Switch and a couple of enticing releases on 3DS...
Guide How To Unlock Mean Bean Mode In Sonic Mania
This might take a while
If you're too tight to shell out for Puyo Puyo Tetris, then you might be interested to know that you can get your Puyo Puyo fix within Sonic Mania, any time you want. Yes it's possible to unlock your own little version of Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine in Sonic Mania. You'll just need to collect 20 silver medals in...
Random This Sonic Mania Easter Egg Brings Back Memories of the 25th Anniversary 'Party'
The horror...
Occasionally we do live blogs of events and streams that turn out to be disasters on an epic scale. Examples that spring to mind include the first 'VGX' awards, and basically any live show by SEGA. Famously, SEGA did at least two 'announcements for an announcement' that culminated in the Sonic 25th Anniversary Party in July last year...
Video Digital Foundry Shares Its Full Technical Breakdown of Sonic Mania
For you framerate fans
Sonic Mania is causing, well, mania, and we'll be typing out our final review today (following some more personal thoughts earlier in the week). The good news is that it runs beautifully on all platforms, with just one odd example on Switch (the first 3D 'chase the UFO' Special Stage) of frame drops; asides from that it's...
Guide Unlocking Sonic Mania's Debug Mode and Stage Select
There's no such thing as too many goalposts
Sonic Mania is a treat for classic Sonic fans of all ages, but those that fiddled around with the original games & Knuckles will remember the debug modes that allowed you to mess around with any stage and completely ruin its subtle layout. Thankfully Sonic Mania delivers once again, as the classic...
