Since the Dreamcast and the Sonic Adventure license, SEGA has multiplied attempts with its mascot, which has become almost a shadow of itself if we take stock of its existence. For more than 15 years, our blue hedgehog has been yo-yoing between correct productions and failed episodes. A sort of curse that fans translate into a betrayal on the part of SEGA, which decided one fine morning in July 2015 that it was time to regain the trust of its most loyal players. This desire to reconquer, to do things well and to produce quality games can perfectly materialize in this Sonic Mania, which is based on a very simple formula: take what already exists and bring it up to date. The idea for Christian Whitehead was therefore to make use of the nostalgia that players may have for the Sonic license, which has never been better off than when it dresses up in its old pixels and its gameplay of yesteryear. . Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Hydrocity, Oil Ocean, emblematic courses that we certainly find with pleasure, but which still quite destabilized us at first.
OLD POTS, ALL THAT…
The resemblance to the original game is so striking that we almost had the feeling of replaying the 1991 episode. But Christian Whitehead does not hide it, Sonic Mania has been built to please the first fans of the series, and it was therefore important to find the same universe. For our man, it was essential that the sensations of the 16-bit era be present again, even if it means not attracting a new audience, since Sonic Forces will be there to take care of it. Why not. But all the same, we would have liked additional efforts on his part and the independent studios Headcannon and PagodaWest who supported him in this project. For example, why not bet on a total overhaul of the graphics by redrawing sprites and backgrounds, without distorting the gameplay of the time? When we see what DotEmu and Lizardcube managed to do with Wonder Boy last April, SEGA can hardly hide behind false excuses. However, there are a few additions that will please fans, such as new attitudes and other gestures from Sonic, Tails and Knuckles.
For example, why not bet on a total overhaul of the graphics by redrawing sprites and backgrounds, without distorting the gameplay of the time? When we see what DotEmu and Lizardcube managed to do with Wonder Boy last April, SEGA can hardly hide behind false excuses.
Pass this frustration and focus on the content of this Sonic Mania, which however has other arguments to seduce us. Because even if the game multiplies the references to the Megadrive episode, until resuming the same courses, it does not hesitate to bring its personal touch either. Very quickly, we detect the variations in the original layout, the unexpected obstacles, the new gameplay mechanisms, until the appearance of a boss from the first level, which was obviously not the case in 1991. developers have not skimped on these end-of-level enemies, even if it means putting them everywhere. Sonic Mania is indeed built of 2 acts including Big Boss and Mid-Boss and which follow one another without any transition, just to change the routine a little. In total, the game has 12 areas, 8 of which are from the Megadrive episode and Sonic CD, each offering its different layouts depending on the character (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles) that has been chosen. So there are only 4 completely new levels such as Studiopolis or Press Garden. Despite this, know that in terms of lifespan, there is plenty to do, especially if you want to discover all the hidden bonuses, which will not happen to you on the first run of course.
CERTIFIED CRAFT PRODUCT
Since the leitmotiv was above all not to distort the original product, we find in Sonic Mania all the ingredients of this gameplay well known to all, with its great qualities but also these boring defects. Sonic's hazardous jumps, questionable collisions, the inertia of some of his movements, the lack of legibility of the action when the speed is linked, everything we hated in the first Sonic resurfaced in 2017. This is the price to pay and the purists (ayatollah?) of the series will have nothing to do with his reproaches, probably preferring to learn their ranges by heart to achieve the best performance and other speedruns. Nevertheless, under its air of big mess, Sonic Mania remains a good example in terms of level design. Nothing has been left to chance and replay-value is truly at the heart of the game. Between the different branches in the route, the hidden passages, the emeralds to unearth and the bonus stages to investigate, Sonic Mania unrolls its score without a real hitch. In this regard, in terms of soundtrack, Christian Whitehead also respected the specifications by taking the original music, while integrating some more modern sounds. A kind of retro-modern remix that can be listened to on YouTube.
