Home Gaming Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game in decades

Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game in decades

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Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 7

It’s no debate: Sonic The hedgehog hasn’t had a good game in a long, long time. If you’re a purest you might even stretch that number to decades, which is a long, long time to hope for SEGA to reclaim the magic that once made their mascot relevant. Sonic Mania is just one Sonic game out this year, but it’s the one with the most excitement around it. perhaps surprising given that it’s not the flashy, 3D foray that modern systems would perhaps demand, but instead a nostalgic trip back to Sonic’s roots.

And you know what? It’s not just the best Sonic game in years, one one of this year’s best games period. At lest according to these critics.

Gamespot – 9/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 3

Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series’ best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series’ iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made.

IGN – 8.7/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 2

Still, even when Sonic Mania stumbles a bit, it’s only on little speedbumps in the road. For every issue I had, it didn’t take long before I was enjoying myself again, eagerly anticipating what sort of wacky wonders the game would throw at me next. It truly is the classic throwback longtime series fans have been clamoring for, but there’s plenty to love here even if you didn’t grow up with a Genesis. Sonic Mania is a stellar example of a retro revival done right.

Polygon – 7/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 5

Sonic Mania is forcing me to use one of the most forbidden clichés in a reviewer’s lexicon. The mileage you get out of it will depend significantly on what you want it to be. As a synthesis and expression of a specific era of Sonic, Sonic Mania is devout toward its inspiration, for devout fans of Sega’s beleaguered mascot. If more of what Sonic is what you want, then this is very much that, but more, and bigger, and faster. But for me, as someone with fond memories but key criticisms, Sonic Mania seems content to paint over some of the series’ problems rather than fix them, making for a game that falls a little short of what might have been.

The Jimquisition – 9.5/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 6

Sonic Mania is a brilliantly staged celebration of the past that acts as a true sequel to the Genesis line of games.

Game Informer – 8.5/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 8

A return to the series’ roots in every sense, Sonic Mania is a joyful reminder why the franchise became such a hit in the first place. Though it’s content with reliving past glories, it does so exceptionally well. Exciting level design, a stellar soundtrack, and cool expansions on the original formula work in one accord to deliver the Sonic game fans have been waiting for.

Destructoid – 8/10

Sonic Mania Review Round-Up 4

Sonic Mania is short but sweet. It even functions as a proper Sonic 4 if you don’t count the episodic Sonic 4 (remember that one?). As long as the same team is in charge I can easily deal with one of these every few years or so while Sega tries to strike Sonic Adventure gold again and again with their 3D iterations.

Sonic Mania launches tomorrow on Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. It’ll be out on PC in just two more weeks (boo).

Last Updated: August 14, 2017

6 Comments

  1. Ottokie

    August 15, 2017 at 08:05

  2. GooseZA

    August 15, 2017 at 08:51

    This pleases me

    Reply

  3. konfab

    August 15, 2017 at 09:03

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 15, 2017 at 09:50

    What you gonna do? WHAT YOU GONNA DO, BROTHER?! When Sonic Mania runs wild over you!

    Reply

  5. Happy Meal

    August 15, 2017 at 10:56

    I needs this in my Life cant wait for PC release

    Reply

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