There's even a stage where you drive a racecar in an attempt to catch the President's limo - completing this stage opens the hidden racing game, which can be accessed at the title screen.Īdditionally, it should be noted that there were upgrades of a sort in the game: shoes to make you run faster, boosters for hovering, pick nails for digging into the ground. I liked this type of play as it constantly made things new each time it rolled around. Again, like I said, the game is more linear and the stage rotation is played by doing one stage as Shadow then Eggman then Rouge (assuming you selected the bad guys). Knuckles the Echidna and Rouge the Bat are both after the shards of the master emerald, so their stages involve climbing, digging and hunting up the pieces. Robotnik each drive a type of mech that shoots, so their stages are more geared to destroying enemies and navigating mazes. Both Sonic and Shadow are speedsters, so their play is on the action stages involving fast paced blistering speed. It's essentially different sides of the same coin with each character being matched up against their doppelganger. But also unlike the other Sonic games, if you play the one player story mode you can select whether or not you want to be good or evil. Unlike SA1, the sequel's storyline is much more linear. And with the controls geared to the more simple end of the spectrum, no one should have a problem picking up a controller and jumping into the game. SA2 is viewed from the third person perspective with the action typically coming straight at you. Those of you (about 1.5 million) who played the first Sonic Adventure (SA1) will instantly feel right at home with the setup. Spanning 10 years and three systems (Yes, Sonic made it to the ill-fated Saturn) each game has marched forward in terms of graphics and gameplay. In the timeline of videogames, few have experienced the success or staying power of_ Sonic_. Play as the good guys or play as the bad guys - either way, get ready to reacquaint yourself with an old friend. He must not fail this time.Īnd so the die is cast. Shadow can match Sonic, move for move, freeing Robotnik up to complete his weapon of mass destruction. Recruiting the sinister Shadow was not only a stroke of genius, but also an excellent way to frame that accursed prairie dog. of 270, the world should realize it's better off under Robotnik's rule. How dare that rodent stop you, Eggman! With an I.Q. Levels are packed with visual effects and beautiful scenery, thanks to the power of modern consoles and gaming computers.Of course, this being a Sonic game and moving progressively forward, you can play as the bad guys and defeat Sonic and his cohorts.
Sonic Mania is easily one of the most vibrant and joyous games around, accurately recreating the 16-bit era visual style. However, the colorful visuals and beautiful pixel art are what truly seals the deal. The controls are super tight, the game flows incredibly well, and there's a great amount of gameplay variety. Generally speaking, Sonic Mania plays like a dream. There are both classic zones and “remixed” zones to play through, offering a mixture of nostalgia and more modern mechanics. As is tradition, you can also discover a hidden mini-game in each stage by locating a giant golden ring. Like in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a second player can join in and control Tails in cooperative play. Each character has a handful of special abilities, allowing you to reach different areas and unlock new content. There are three playable characters: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. In order to retrieve the Phantom Ruby and defeat Doctor Robotnik, you must travel through 12 different zones with wicked speed, collecting rings and defeating enemies.
Sonic Mania strips away the more modern mechanics and features that have dominated the Sonic franchise and opts for a retro gameplay formula instead. As the robots attempt to bring the ruby back to Doctor Robotnik, Sonic, Tails, and their pal Knuckles give chase. By the time the pair reach Angel Island, the robots have already discovered the source of the energy, a crystal of immense power known as the Phantom Ruby. On the way, their trip is delayed by Doctor Robotnik's evil horde of robots, who attempt to stop their arrival. One day, Sonic and Tails hop on their plane to investigate a curious energy reading from the nearby Angel Island. Like in the early Genesis games, the story in Sonic Mania is straightforward and appropriately retro in nature.