The problem is just that these big rings are very well hidden in the massive levels, and several times we cleared an entire zone without even seeing this ring, and so we didn't finish the game with all seven emeralds. If you get all seven, you can become Super Sonic as in the old games. These then lead an original bonus level, where you need to catch up to a UFO that carries one of the seven chaos emeralds. In addition, you can also find huge rings hidden around the levels. There are approximately 40 of these, and if you win them, you get either silver or gold coins that unlock other game options in the main menu. There are as you'd expect lots of bonus stages, and if you touch one of the checkpoint posts with a solid number of rings, you'll go to bonus courses taken directly from Sonic 3 & Knuckles. There are 12 zones in total and the game time is about 8-12 hours if you want to clear all the acts and collect all the gems. Half of the levels are taken from other Sonic games, and the others are original ones completely unique to this game. You'll quickly learn that the returning acts (such as Green Hill Zone) have been further developed and expanded upon, though, and sometimes they even feel too big as you often run out of time for the time bonus. It really feels like playing the old games, and clearly this is what the developers have been gunning for, as these levels wouldn't feel out of place on Mega Drive. The first thing we noticed was the fantastic controls and it felt just as it should. Eggman is unearthing a gemstone, although suddenly the colours on screen turn negative and you start out in Green Hill Zone. The start reminds us of Sonic 3, where you stand on the wing of his plane and fly into the jungle where a robot that resembles Dr. Once the character is selected, the game begins. It was quite a surprise running into a boss that was similar to the last one in Sonic 2 very early on, for instance.
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Otherwise, the boss fights are clever versions of or further developments of those found in the games on Mega Drive and they work brilliantly. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine on Mega Drive (a Sonic-skinned version of Puyo Puyo). A boss fight in the second zone stands out as you'll play a round of Puyo Puyo against Eggman, no doubt referencing Dr. These, combined with very interesting and varied boss fights, make the game feel fresh all the way through.
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There are shields that you can get, for example, as well as those that attract rings, let you breathe underwater, or jump higher. In addition, there are various power ups that give the three characters the opportunity to combine different abilities. If you play Sonic and Tails, though, a friend can control Tails (younger siblings, rejoice), and fly around with Sonic so he can reach higher platforms. Sonic is Sonic as we know him and can run fast and jump high, Tails can fly, and Knuckles can climb and glide through the air.
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There's not much to say about this part, other than that it provides a bit of variation, and it's clearly the single player that's the main course here.īefore starting a new game, you can choose between Sonic and Tails, Sonic alone, Tails alone, and Knuckles alone, and the three characters have different abilities that change your play style.
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This multiplayer part mirrors that of the old games, as the screen is split in two, and so you compete to get through the courses first, setting up other parameters such as rings, etc. When Sonic Mania starts, you get a title screen just like in the old games and the ability to start a single-player game or play against a friend.