Tag: Sonic Mania
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...
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...
News Kickstarter Cancelled For Vertebreaker, The Retro Platformer From Sonic Mania Devs
Update: Campaign is Vertebroken
Update: In an update on the kickstarter page, Headcannon developer Stealth, (real name Simon Thomley) has confirmed that the crowd funding campaign for Vertebreaker has been cancelled after one week. Calling the campaign a "spectacular failure", he has outlined the problems in the video below. The developer states...
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...
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...
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...
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...
News The Sonic Mania Collector's Edition Statue Cuts Corners, But Can be Made Cooler
Here's how to get the LED working
Sonic Mania is a absolutely amazing game; this love letter to the classic 16-bit Sonic games hits all the right notes and is great value for £15.99 / $19.99. Of course many 16-bit fans are also collectors, and SEGA was only too happy to take advantage of this with the slightly ludicrously-priced Collector's...
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...
Review Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)
Sonic is back to his best
In certain circles of chatty online gamers, Sonic the Hedgehog is often a hot topic. SEGA and Sonic Team has taken its mascot on some wild rides over the past 20+ years, stepping into 3D 'modern' Sonic, attempting a return to 2D with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and dividing opinion, and blurring the lines (with some success) in...
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...
News Sonic Mania Dashes Straight To The Top Of The Switch Best Sellers Chart
Great news for the Blue Blur
It's fair to say that Sonic Mania has been really well received so far, attracting positive reviews all over the shop. Our own review will be with you shortly (spoilers: we like it too!). For many Sonic fans this is the game they've always wanted Sega to make -- a spiritual successor to the original Mega Drive trilogy...
News Sonic Mania Runs Brilliantly on Switch, With One Tiny Drawback
Christian Whitehead confirms they're working on bugs
Here's a spoiler ahead of our Sonic Mania review - it's a huge amount of fun. Prior to release this scribe published some personal thoughts based on the PS4 version to summarise why it's the Sonic game many have been waiting for. We are now dashing through on Switch, and our review will be with...
Feature Basking in Nostalgia and '16-Bit' Goodness in Sonic Mania
The 12-year-old me would get all the Chaos Emeralds
With Sonic Mania just a day away at the time of publication, the lid is being lifted on review embargoes. Our chums at Push Square have published a review, but there's one simple reason we're posting this feature instead - we've been playing it on PS4. SEGA America offered us PS4 / Xbox...
Video Check Out the Opening Cinematic for Sonic Mania
What a catchy tune
It’s been a long time coming, and in just a few short days, Sonic Mania will finally see a release. The 16-bit platformer seems to be the game that fans have been requesting for years; this is a game that’s being made to honor the past while still introducing new stuff for the future. To keep anticipation high, Sonic Team has...
News Sonic Mania's Competition Mode Brings Back Splitscreen Memories
Albeit without the shonky framerate
Not many likely bothered with it much, but in some of the classic 16-bit Sonic games (this old man's memory is letting him down and he can't remember which ones) you could play against a buddy in splitscreen. It was a fun idea, albeit the framerate would dive; granted, in those days not many of us minded shoddy...
News GameStop Listing Hints At Physical Release For Sonic Mania On Switch
Fingers crossed...
Sonic Mania is shaping up to be one of the finest outings for the Blue Blur in years, but there's a sticking point for really dedicated fans: the lack of a confirmed physical release for the 2D platformer. Sega has so far remained silent on the possibility of the game getting a boxed retail release, but if GameStop Italy is to be...
News Bask in Nostalgia With Sonic Mania Special and Bonus Stage Footage
Memories of Sonic 3 and Sonic CD
Sonic Mania is only a couple of weeks away, which is very exciting indeed for fans of the blue blur that are of a certain age, or are perhaps younger but with an appreciation for the 16-bit days. The latest video for the game adds more cause for excitement, as it unveils the special and bonus stages to be found -...
News Sonic Mania's Special Stages Take Inspiration From Sonic CD
Studying the classics
The special bonus stages in Sonic games have gone down in legend; if you're old enough to remember the impact of Sonic 2's "run into the screen" stage and Sonic 3's rotating sphere, you'll attest to this. It has now been revealed that the special stages in Sonic Mania will ape the look of those seen in the Sega CD release...
News Sonic Mania’s Reception Will Determine the Direction of the Series
"We don’t know whether it’ll be accepted positively in the market."
When Sonic Mania was announced last year, a great relaxed sigh was released by the general Sonic fanbase. For years now, fans have been begging SEGA to take the series back to its roots after a succession of 3D Sonic games ranging from lackluster to good. Even so, it seems that...
First Impressions Getting Into a Spin With Sonic Mania
With more than a dash of retro in the formula
When you remake something creative from the past, who is your audience, exactly? We ask because if you were to stray too far from the source material, you run the risk of alienating the impassioned people who most identify with the original. But on the other hand, if you stick too close to the old...
Video Chemical Plant Zone Looks Rather Fun in Sonic Mania
Tails seems to be getting by just fine
Sonic Mania is a release that, for some retro Sonic fans, is right at the top of a Switch eShop wishlist. Developed by talented Indies with backing from SEGA, it features Sonic, Tails and Knuckles dashing through a mix of old, new and remixed stages. The latest video showcasing the game focuses on Chemical...
News Sonic Mania Release Date and Pricing Confirmed With Awesome Trailer
Let the fan mania commence
Last week we reported that a Steam trailer outed the PC release date for Sonic Mania, and hoped that the console versions would match up. The good news for Nintendo Switch owners (and players with other systems) is that the game is sharing the same release date across all platforms - 15th August. The announcement has been...
News Steam Trailer Gives 15th August Release Date for Sonic Mania
Hype intensifies...
Sonic Mania is pretty high on a number of wishlists - published by SEGA in collaboration with some talented Indies and Sonic superfans, it promises a blend of retro action with new content and twists on familiar stages. It sticks to classic playable characters from the 16-bit era, too, with Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. Originally...
Video Take a Look At Knuckles Gliding Through Flying Battery Zone in Sonic Mania
Still climbing towards a Summer release
Slowly and surely SEGA is releasing more footage and screens of Sonic Mania, the supercharged retro-styled release due on Nintendo Switch and various platforms in the Summer. Next up is Flying Battery Zone, which is getting a rejig from its original appearance in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, that oddity of the...
News Nintendo Shows Off 2D Gameplay Footage From Sonic Forces
Talking 'bout our Generations
It could be a rather good year for Sonic fans that happen to own a Switch - Sonic Mania is due in the Summer, and then Sonic Forces will also come to the system in the Holiday season. Though the Wii and Wii U had exclusive Sonic games of varying quality, it's great to see the mainline multi-platform titles coming to...
News Sonic Mania Has Been Delayed Until Summer
Slips from original Spring release window
During the SXSW Sonic panel held by Aaron Webber, a myriad of Sonic Mania details has been revealed. The game, which was originally slated to be a title which would come out in spring of 2017, has unfortunately been delayed until the following summer of 2017. The development team stressed that they were...
News Sonic Mania Developer Clarifies Details About the Switch Port's Launch
Same day, same price
As many of you know, Sonic Mania—the 2D revival of Sonic's 16-bit days—is due out sometime this spring, with a launch on the Nintendo Switch also being on the cards. Due to the relatively late announcement of this Switch port, many were wondering whether or not it would be ready in time for the impending launch. Also, with...
News SEGA Unveils New Footage and Details on Sonic Mania
The wait is making us manic
Sonic Mania is certainly on our list of games to look forward to on Nintendo Switch, though SEGA is yet to budge from its 'Spring' release window. The publisher has taken the chance today to show off a new stage, however, which will have to be enough for now. The official Sonic channel has uploaded two videos of Green...
First Impressions Feeling Young Again With Sonic Mania
A delicious blend of the retro and modern
On occasions in the past we've bemoaned Nintendo's tendency to shut down work by talented independent developers remixing and re-imagining their games, when an alternative is to embrace them. Capcom did this with the quirky free PC release of Mega Man X Street Fighter, which was fun if a tad flawed, but SEGA...
News Renegade Kid Has Kindly Offered To Port Sonic Mania To Nintendo 3DS
Sega remains silent on the matter, however
Sega has two new Sonic the Hedgehog titles in development at the moment, both of which are expected to arrive next year. Project Sonic 2017 is coming to NX as well as other platforms, while Sonic Mania - a more traditional take on Sega's mascot - sadly isn't coming to a Nintendo system. Given the 2D nature...
News Sonic Mania Announced for Spring 2017, But No Nintendo Platforms Are Included
Sad times
SEGA has been running a somewhat chaotic live stream for its 25th Anniversary Sonic bash (at the time of writing), with delays and atrocious sound being issues early on. The disappointment continued for Nintendo fans when a new Sonic game was announced without any mention of Nintendo platforms. Sonic Mania is a remix title, in some...