Yesterday at Comic-Con, SEGA announced Sonic Mania, a 25th Anniversary revisit and re-imagining of the classic 2D platformer titles, with all new “core classic gameplay”.
On a recent trip out west, I found myself dusting off my old Nintendo DS for something to do on the plane. One thing I was certain to pack was my Sonic Mega Collection. It’s something I’ve purchased on nearly every console I own that it’s available for in one way or another, but I digress. As I’m sure many other Sonic fans have come to feel, nothing has truly seemed to beat the classics for engagement, gameplay, and general fun. Fans over the years have gotten excited, and ultimately been left wanting, over the multitude of releases that have carried the Sonic the Hedgehog name. Sonic 4 had potential, but lacked the magic of the original titles. Something was… missing.
The debut trailer touts, “a new 2D adventure…new zones…all-new drop dash [mechanic]…the ultimate celebration of past and future.” Players can look forward to exploring the new worlds of Sonic Mania with all three classic characters: Sonic the Hedghog, Miles “Tails” Prower, and of course, Knuckles the Echidna. Elements from Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, as well as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles have been woven into Sonic Mania in hopes of capturing that lost element from other ventures in the franchise.
While it may be too early to tell from the proposed 2017 release, fans can raise their hopes once more, for a title that may finally deliver a title worthy of the Sonic legacy. Whether Sonic Mania pulls at nostalgia heartstrings, or dazzles the eyes of new players to the franchise, the 25th Anniversary title might be posed for gaming success.
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Images © SEGA
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