Sonic Mania
| Sonic Mania | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) |
|
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) | Lola Shiraishi[1] |
| Designer(s) | Jared Kasl |
| Programmer(s) |
|
| Artist(s) | Tom Fry |
| Composer(s) | Tee Lopes |
| Series | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) | Q2 2017 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Sonic Mania is an upcoming side-scrolling platform game developed by Headcannon and PagodaWest Games and published by Sega. The game returns to the gameplay and visual style of the original Sonic the Hedgehog series games on the Sega Genesis, and is scheduled for release for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in Q2 2017.[2][3]
Gameplay
Returning to the style of the two-dimensional (2D) side-scrolling Sonic the Hedgehog games on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD, Sonic Mania is a sprite-based side-scrolling platformer in which players control Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. It features original levels alongside "remixed" levels from past games, such as Green Hill Zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Along with Tails' flight and Knuckles' gliding and climbing abilities, Sonic can utilise a new move called the Drop Dash, which allows him to automatically launch into a rolling Spin Attack after landing from a jump.[2] The game also features elemental shields and giant rings leading to special stages, first featured in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as new items.[2]
Development and promotion
Sonic Mania was announced alongside Project Sonic 2017 during the 25th anniversary event held by Sega during San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016. The development team includes programmers Christian "Taxman" Whitehead, who previously worked on the enhanced 2011 port of Sonic the Hedgehog CD, and Simon "Stealth" Thomley, who assisted Whitehead with the iOS and Android ports of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.[3] The team also includes level designer Jared Kasl, artist Tom Fry, and composer Tee Lopes of PagodaWest Games, who had all met while working together on an unofficial high-definition remaster of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.[4] Sonic series producer Takashi Iizuka described Sonic Mania as a "passion project" born out of the fans' love for the retro Sonic games.[2]
In September 2016, Sega announced a Sega Genesis-themed collector's edition for pre-order, containing a 12-inch (30 cm) Sonic statue, a game cartridge cast with a golden ring, and a metallic collector's card with download code for the game.[5][6] To promote the collector's edition, Sega released a retro-styled infomercial featuring former Sonic the Hedgehog series art director Kazuyuki Hoshino and social media manager Aaron Webber, based on an American television commercial for Sonic 2.[7]
Reception
Sonic Mania's announcement was met with praise, with Andrew Goldfarb of IGN saying that the game had him excited for the series again, in a way that did not happen with Sonic the Hedgehog 4.[8] Alex Donaldson of VG24/7 agreed, saying that Sonic Mania was the sequel he had wanted for over 20 years.[9] Donaldson also appreciated Sega's choice of development team, calling them "the right guys for the job", and praised the game's visuals, music, and the inclusion of obscure Sonic and Sega lore.[9] Jack Hamnett of Twinfinite praised the game's attention to detail and how faithful it felt to the original games, saying that it had the potential to return the series to its "former glory".[10]
References
- ↑ Game Master. October 2016. p. 13. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Goldfarb, By Andrew. "Comic-Con 2016: Sonic Mania Announced". IGN. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- 1 2 Paget, Mat (July 23, 2016). "Two New Sonic Games Announced, Seek to Recapture the Glory Days". Retrieved July 23, 2016.
- ↑ PagodaWestGames (July 29, 2016). "Jared and Tom, formerly a part of S2HD are in charge of level design/art and @teelopesmusic is doing the music." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Macy, Seth. "Sonic Mania Collector's Edition Hits All the Nostalgia Notes". IGN. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley. "Sega's brilliant Sonic Mania Collector's Edition is coming to Europe after all". Eurogamer. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ↑ Pereira, Chris. "90s-Style Trailer for Sonic Mania Collector's Edition Is Perfect". GameSpot. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ↑ Goldfarb, Andrew. "PAX 2016: Sonic Mania Has Me Excited For Sonic Again". IGN. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- 1 2 Donaldson, Alex. "Sonic Mania hands-on: after 20 years, this is the sequel I've always wanted". VG24/7. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ↑ Hamnett, Jack. "Sonic Mania Brings the Blue Blur Back to His Former Glory". Twinfinite. Retrieved 30 September 2016.