Sonic Mania

Sonic Mania - the classic hedgehog returns in a two-dimensional platformer with a side view: physics, speed and controls repeat the old consoles, and the levels delight with familiar, but redesigned locations. Dr. Eggman hunts for the Ruby of Illusions found on Angel Island and puts his robots back together. The chase goes through factories, casinos, flying bases, underwater cities and volcanic islands, and at the end of the road a serious car awaits. You can play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and each one goes through the zones in their own way: some fly, some climb walls, some accelerate on the spot. Completion times are calculated in a separate mode, and there is also a race for two and bonus balls for medallions. The music is remade in the spirit of the past: the themes sound familiar, but the arrangements are new. The levels are densely packed with rings, loops and secrets, and due to the different roles of the characters, the same zone can be passed in a dozen ways. Bonus stages with balls refer to the separate mechanics of the old parts: medallions from them go to the general collection and open up additional opportunities. Sonic can accelerate on the spot and go into super form with a full set of emeralds, Tails flies after the hero, and Knuckles breaks through walls and glides through the air. The speed here is fair: it’s easy to speed up on an obstacle and lose all the rings, after which you have to run back for bonuses. The zones are designed in such a way that the upper route is traversed quickly, while the lower route hides the most secrets and exits to a new tier. For those players who grew up with the speed of the blue hedgehog and want to feel it again.