Sonic Mania

This game is amazing. First off, the graphics are stunning but the animations take it from being gorgeous to looking like a straight up masterpiece. Every movement, every action, is so meticulously thought out. There are animations for things and interactions that you wouldn't even be looking at on your screen. Every time I play this game it's like a little game within the game to see if I can notice all the tiny details happening around me. The way the sun rises in mirage saloon zone, and it changes all the colors of the enemies. The way the enemies get more sad as you progressively knock off more of their defences in studiopolis zone and the boss has these cartoony eyes when you hit the rockets back at him.

Tails' fur will move with the wind, Sonic's shoes make a little "err" sound when you turn suddenly, the sign will wink at you at the end of a level. The clouds in the background of green hill zone scroll and move naturally like the waterfalls the way they did in Japanese Sonic 1. All these little interactions in aren't unique to this game at all but it's the culmination of them and their specifici intentional utility that makes the game SO effective at pulling you in. I beat this game four times now. Once on switch, once on Xbox, and then twice on the steam deck as of making this review. The game only got better the more I played it, and then one day I realized I'm actually an IDIOT and I was playing the game wrong my whole life. Maybe I was even playing games in general wrong.

I put my headphones in, booted up the game, and suddenly I was transported to the fourth dimension. The music in this game keeps one-upping itself. It's as if the musicians that made it were best friends having a contest with each other. First the menu music is awesome and you don't even want to go to the save select because you want to keep hearing it for the rest of your life. But whoops look who's feeling stupid now, the save screen has even better jams, then eventually after fifteen minutes you start playing the actual game and you're like "damn, it can't get better than this" until act 2 happens and then you're like "damn how could I be so wrong" and that just KEEPS happening, back to back to back to back. Every time I was playing I thought "well maybe I don't wanna do the special stage cause it interrupts the flow of the level and also the music in this level was great" and then I go into the special stage and when it's over I'm like "that's it? I wanted to live there!".

It's a game that acts like it INVENTED fun. The only thing that could possibly be more charming than this is if sonic himself came to real life and told me he was proud of me. Everything has a reason in this game, the way the little worm guy becomes a sand worm in mirage saloon zone, the way you see sonic run so fast he makes it onto the news at the end of garden print zone. Sonic does that little thing like in Super Mario Bros. when he looks at the screen with his arms up after he dies. This game is so good it almost tricks me into liking chemical plant zone.

You could tell the developers loved what they were making and more importantly you could tell they love video games as a whole. I haven't even told you about encore mode. Or the mode where you play as knuckles WITH knuckles. Or the debug menu just letting you spawn in wherever the heck you want. You can fly! This game is fun even when you're bad at it. Please play this game if you haven't already.

Amazing Classic Sonic game. Tee Lopes knocked it out of the park with the music. Sega should hire fans more often! Just really wish it was all new Zones instead of mostly just reusing old ones.

INCRÍVEL, é a palavra que define esse jogo, Gameplay incrível, história simples e fácil de entender, Art Style M A R A V I L H O S O, músicas excelentes, facilmente um dos melhores jogos da franquia.

Gameplay:10

Músicas:10

Level Design:9/10

História:9/10

Fator Replay:7/10

Polimento a Bugs:10/10

Literally the best sonic game. Not just the best 2D one, but all of them. I hate the blue sphere stages though.

sonic mania is one of the best 2d games i've played. but the special level medals wont save

A Triumphant Return to Form

Sonic Mania is a vibrant, nostalgic blast from the past that expertly blends classic 2D platforming with modern design sensibilities. The game is a true love letter to longtime fans, delivering polished pixel art, impeccably responsive controls, and an infectious soundtrack that makes every level pulse with energy. From its fast-paced, fluid gameplay to the cleverly designed secret routes and bonus stages, Sonic Mania is a masterclass in level design that manages to capture the spirit of the original Sonic titles while adding fresh challenges for new players.

Every zone is brimming with character—from the dazzling visuals to the dynamic environments that keep you constantly on your toes. The return of fan-favorite characters and the introduction of new ones only heighten the experience, proving that Sonic’s legacy is as powerful as ever. Sonic Mania isn’t just a game—it’s an exhilarating journey that revitalizes the magic of classic Sonic adventures, reminding us why this franchise has been beloved for decades.

Overall: Sonic Mania is an absolute must-play that expertly combines nostalgia with innovative gameplay, delivering a joyous and timeless experience for both veterans and newcomers alike.

How good is this game? I pirated it and came back to purchase it. I am also planning to get all the achievements.

It's very fun and moddable, plus I have wayyyy too many hours in this game on my ps4

A good game for classic Sonic enjoyers, amazing game and would recommend.

Objectively good if you enjoy classic 2D sonic

personally I would have liked some more modern QoL but I guess that wasn't really the intention

generally just a fun classic time

The best Classic Sonic experience hands-down, especially when it comes to the modding scene.

It's probably one of the best classic games, it adds the dropdash, and it's just downright incredible.

Sonic Mania is a platformer that I find absolutely bursting with personality and life (duh). The levels allow a sense of speed if you're able to keep up (except for Mirage Saloon), which really adds to the feel of "this is a Sonic game." Even for its age it still holds up nearly 9 years later. The Encore DLC adds a notable amount of twist onto the base game, with Mighty and Ray both adding a nice addition to the base movement. 9/10.

Its fun small game if you like classic sonic games, when you get bored of it, remember, there are good mods to play!

This game does much to feel like it would fit amidst Sonic's outings on the Mega Drive. The presentation is beautiful, the levels are vast, intricate, and fun to traverse. Good video game!

One of the times where I wish there was a third, middle option, because to say that the game is bad is objectively wrong and unfair, but I also can't in good faith to say that it's for everyone. So please consider the downvote less of a criticism and more of a, "why this game could not be for you," because it sure has proven that it's not for me.

If you are looking for pure gameplay, mechanically the game is impeccable, each level has unique flow and finding it is pretty fun and feels rewarding. On the other hand, if you are new to Sonic, you may find needing to replay levels to find that flow frustrating. I also would say that the game is a bit harder than the classic games, which makes sense since it was made for and by Sonic veterans who might be finding the classics too easy due to playing them for decades. On top of that, it has lives. A 2017 game that has lives and "game over" screen. If you struggle with a certain boss, the game might end up demanding you to replay two acts of a perfected zone just to proceed, and it genuinely can get tedious, especially if you are just trying to beat the game for the first time.

When it comes to style, the game purposely reprises a lot of classic zones, while including some entirely original ones. And in my opinion, the original ones are the highlight of the game. The classic zones largely consist of references to the past and use the familiar enemies and gimmicks, and if you haven't played classics for a while, it might hit the spot. But if you do so regularly, you might find it a bit annoying or boring. In addition, the game pretty seriously fails when it comes to environmental storytelling, while giving tons of flashy visuals that are barely related to the story.

That segues into talking about the story, and this is where my biggest disappointment lies. Before Sonic I wouldn't ever expect to get into platformers, but Sonic as a series captivated me with extensive cast of interesting characters and interesting stories, Mania does have a premise and it's linked to the main canon, but it's quite underwhelming, on the same level that, say, StH2 story... Well, I guess a bit better, with an extra cast of baddies. Still, a lot of reference to the past don't make any sense in the context of the story. Do they need to? Depends on what you're looking for in the game. I definitely prefer at least some degree of consistency.

There are thousands of reviews that will tell you that everything in the Mania is perfect for everyone. I'm writing one to show you things to be aware of. Hope it helps the reader to manage the expectations, and have less of the disappointment that I rather unexpectedly experienced.

Truly a great modern classic sonic game.

Actually playable, unlike Sonic Adventures 2. I downloaded both and had to return the other one, due to it not even being able to launch. I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed, but happy to see this one actually worked. It's really fun and brings back some old memories! Love it. <3

awesome sonic game but i feel there is missed potential. I wish there were more zones, and a new set of special stages for the super emeralds to be Hyper Sonic. stop gatekeeping the coolest sonic form from us, sega.

It does get quite repetitive after a few gameplays, but the first is much need if you're a Sonic fan. The music, levels (beside Titanic Monarch Act 2, fuck that maze) are near perfect. Final Boss has good music and the Emerald levels aren't to hard and aren't to easy!

Love how speed is a reward of good gameplay. The level design allows for a good mix of exploration and time-trialing.

Soft rec.

It's a mixed bag but its highs are pretty great. I gave up on the last level though. It's stupid difficult and not exhilarating difficult.

mania is a very good spin on the classics without BEING the classics

same artstyle
same old pixel look
fresh story with old zone returns

perfection
10/10

Amazing visuals, amazing soundtrack, and just amazing everything..ofcourse there are some bugs.. but a sonic game isnt a sonic game without its fair share of bugs. insanely cheap for how much content you get. recommended 100%

Just finished my first playthrough! I have nothing but good things to say about this game, the soundtrack is amazing, the art is great, the levels and bosses are all very fun, and you can truly feel that this game is a fanmade passion project throughout the whole thing. Strongly, strongly recommended.

Just replayed this gem for the first time since 2017 and it’s still the best Sonic game all these years later. Sad SEGA fumbled the bag so hard with Superstars.

Very fun game. Every level has something unique going on and new mechanics to handle. As my first game in the series it was unexpectedly hard in some moments which made it frustrating at times

ironic that the best 2d sonic game wasnt made by sega and the sonic team 8.5/10 controls on kbm are tricky till you go into the settings and change them but the animations feel really good

good old school style sonic game. May die a little bit but not too bad to replay through stages bc levels aren't too long overall.

its a sonic game fast paces and is really fun with also the DLC of sonic mania + overall an amazing game

Sonic Mania is 2D Sonic at its absolute best. This game takes everything that made the classic games great and cranks it up to eleven. It’s the definitive 2D Sonic experience, bringing back some of the best levels from past games while adding fresh twists, new zones, and some of the most creative level design the series has ever seen. The variety of playable characters, fun and challenging levels, and engaging boss fights keep things exciting from start to finish. Not to mention the soundtrack—every song is an absolute banger. If you have even the slightest love for classic Sonic, this game is a must-play. It’s pure, unfiltered fun, and I can’t recommend it enough. 9/10

Despite only recently getting this game on PC, I have like 100 hours on my PS4 and I still love this game. Glad I gave it a shot on PC, it's quite fun and I'm curious about modding it as well. The game itself is still just as good as it was on console and I believe it's one of the best sonic games of all time.

This game puts everything great about the classic sonic games and re-packages them into a smooth, beautiful, and complete adventure. While I do not think this is the BEST classic sonic game (I believe that title goes to S3&K), it definitely is the best at encapsulating them all into one near-perfect adventure. If someone asked me what the first Sonic game they should play, I would say Sonic Generations, however, if they asked me what first 2D sonic game they should play, I would say Sonic Mania any day of the week.

This game is near perfection any sonic fan should get this game the mechanics, the soundtrack, and the art is all amazing great game

the gameplay is extremely good and fast paced. I got pretty annoyed at some parts in the game, but besides that the game is very fluid and replayable.

honestly the best sonic game in this style of gameplay. the game is really fun, maps look amazing and the soundtrack is perfect i highly recommend playing it!

Super fun, Best game out of the (new) 2D sonic series, The expansion pack is also fun.
Compatible with controllers.

i love Mania, but needs more mods, i mean really, especially a Dubious Depths one, like wtf man, CD gets taken off Steam and yet they gatekeep that level mod knowing a majority of people can't buy that game anymore? assholes

9/10 :D

I would personaly recomend the consle version but if you like moding games this is the only platform

Really fun sonic game with an amazing 16 bit art style and rewarding platforming just wish there were more original levels because the original levels were the most fun and also im sick of green hill and chemical plant other than that i highly recommend this to both people who want to get into sonic games and people who are sonic fans but most sonic fans already have this game anyways

Not much to say about this game other than that it deserves its praise for being so amazing but also that it still has some flaws.

Level design here has the highest highs in the series. It's not just how they made big levels with multiple routes and many secrets, but also how they constantly and cleverly use the physics with the level design for many cool setups and set pieces. I'll just list my opinions on each zone: Green Hill is great. Chemical Plant is great. Studiopolis is amazing. Flying Battery is good though act 2 can go on for quite a bit. Press Garden is amazing and act 2 feels like it's designed nothing like any zone before. Stardust Speedway is great and not as chaotic as the CD original. Hydrocity act 1 is the only act I dislike because of how it keeps pushing you down into the water and making you interact with a bunch of gimmicks. Act 2 of Hydro City is fine though, as good as the original. The normal Mirage Saloon act 1 is like Sky Chase and it depends on one's taste whether or not it's good ( I think it's fine honestly ). The Knuckle's/Encore mode act 1 is amazing though and act 2 is also great but perhaps too short. Oil Ocean is a pretty good level. Lava Reef here is great though of course carries the gimmicks that halt you like in the original with the spindash elevators and buttons. Metallic Madness here is almost nothing like the original. It's been transformed from my least favorite Classic Sonic zone to one of my favorites. Titanic Monarch isn't one of the best levels of the game here but it's still good and is probably the best final Classic Sonic zone. I only dislike 1 act out of all of them, how great of a line-up!

Bosses in this game are mostly good. They tend to follow the rule that you can hit the bosses as many times as you want but have to deal with risking getting hit more. A few bosses here and there have mechanics that make you wait to hit them but they're not egregious. I will say though that the Metallic Madness act 1 boss isn't the best because it takes so long with you having to wait for the energy projectiles to charge and fire at you. I like the Metal Sonic bossfight though also think it goes on for too long and so usually skip it on repeat playthroughs. The Chemical Plant act 2 boss is based off of Puyo Puyo which is bad and tedious to some, but I think Puyo Puyo is really fun and it's easy to beat Eggman so I don't think it's a problem. The Studiopolis act 1 boss is definitely the worst boss or even part in general of this game. It's SOOO long and has no gameplay other than occasionally jumping at the same missile in the same type of pattern. It's such a pace breaker and I actually have went out of my way to mod it out of the game.

This game still looks beautiful 8 years later. The level art is really solid and backrounds like the sky of Studiopolis or the sky of Lava Reef are gorgeous to look at. The additions they made to fleshing out the character sprites and animations from the genesis games are so very appreciated and neat to look at. Obviously, everybody says that this game would've been better with all original zones, and well I do have to agree, I still appreciate the remixing and meshing of zone ideas and concepts with these classic level themes and I do think Mania still stands on its own feet. Because of the zone reuse though, I don't think Mania should be seen as the true Sonic 4 but rather a side game like how Sonic CD is.

The music also makes this one of the better osts in the series, though a hot take that I have is that I generally enjoy the original Genesis themes more compared to their Mania remixes ( Lava Reef here though is definitely much better than the original I'll say ). The CD zone music and original zone music is probably the best this game has to offer and it's honestly peak. I also have to commend the boss music not sounding generic but instead funky and catchy like the rest of the game.

I say you should mod out some small problems or nitpicks to be had with this game. First of all, just installing the mod manager for this game on Gamebanana allows you to do things like disable the Super Sonic theme, have an option to cancel your super form, enable debug mode or give you all of Sonic's abilities at once. Then of course you can actually install whatever mods you want using it. Once again, you should consider downloading the Heavy Gunner skip mod after you feel like you've had enough of the tedious Studiopolis act 1 boss. My biggest nitpick with this game is Ray. He has a big sprite despite being shown to be smaller like Tails in the Mania animations. Also, he has quite a long and big tail but it for some reason doesn't appear when he's in ball form like how Tails' tails do. I say you should also download the New Improved Ray mod to better portray his characteristics.

Pointless to share a review of this near decade old game but oh well, I just felt like writing about it. This game is definitely worth the price and if you're gonna buy it then you should just buy Mania Plus as well. This is just one of the best Sonic games.

Absolutely fantastic 2D platformer, really fun callbacks to the old genesis games, great spritework, amazing music, really fun levels both new and old, 3 playable characters (5 with DLC) that all feel unique to play with different routes and sometimes even levels for each, fun special and bonus stages, and a really cool encore bonus mode as DLC. Easily my favorite classic sonic game, and one that I have beaten many times, and return to frequently

A series call back to the Genesis Haydays! Stunning Graphics, immersive and mildly challenging levels, and a GREAT Soundtrack from the goat Tee Lopes. A MUST BUY for any Sonic fan out there!

best classic sonic game besides sonic cd. s3&k dick riders can fuck off because even sonic 2 is better then s3&k and you canNOT tell me that s3&k is better than mania bro. nothin bad to say about mania its literally perfect besides the super sonic end boss fight it kinda sucked

It's one of the best sonic games you can ever play if you liked other 2D sonic games. it has all of the pros of the older games and made a new package with new levels and characters that you probably didn't see before.
another thing is Sonic mania is challenging like older sonic games you may don't want to take that time an repeat levels over and over again. I suggest try the game to understand if you like the challenging parts or not.

I really loved this game at first. It was very much like the original Sonic games, but also keeping it fresh. It was challenging but not fun or unfair. However the last zone is IMO one long cheap shot at the player. It changes gears from all previous zones of the game and just hits you with cheap shot after cheap shot and game mechanics that are inconsistent. I'm not sure why they changed the formula for the last zone but after many many attempts it was no longer fun and I was unable to finish the game.

In addition the save feature is poorly thought out. It only saves after completion of each zone. It does not save after individual acts, nor save points. That is also no manual save. This makes if difficult to play for people who can only play a little her and a little there.

If you are a casual gamer who enjoyed the old Sonic Games avoid this game.

Sonic Mania is great. I am a fan of classic Sonic game play and this game really scratched that itch for me since Sega prefers modern Sonic, but this game proves to me that Sega needs to make more games with classic Sonic.

it's a good celebration of the old sonic games with amazing visuals, ost, animations and feel. but it's not this groundbreaking, genre defining masterpiece that many call it (i had extremely high expectations for better or worse, they were met mostly but it is a bit overhyped) all of the classic sonic bs is still present, like dying to a platform because you are 1 pixel too far away from the object hitbox and die and have to start over, stuff like that, so if you dont enjoy that kind of thing i dont think this game will win you over, otherwise it is a very very fun good game, but that's it
also, i feel like near the half way point of the game there is wayy too much going on, like seriously i couldn't catch my breath. i felt genuine sensory overload at times, you go from "oh yea remember this tetris bean machine whatever game we made here u go" to "ok so remember that cool rival robot guy from cd yea hes back oh and also here's that other robot guy from the crappy game gear game" don't get me wrong it was fkin awesome but all of it genuinely felt like a blur (maybe that was the point) anywho i recommend it if you like classic sonic gameplay. oh yeah and fk the chaos emerald minigame

This game is genuinely one of the greatest platformers of the past decade, and also is just such a fantastic value in general. It is worth it. Still better than Superstars and a much better price.

i'ts really good especially with the debug menu that you can only get from being in plus and doing the code up up down down up up up up then you will hear a ring sound but you have to do the code when you first see sonic and you have to do it really fast