Sonic Mania (August 15th 2017, Christian Whitehead, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) - The New Classic

[Spooky Mulder]

1 hour ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

I'm guessing 18 total zones

2 from each classic game is 10. ( 3 and knuckles are counted separately) and I'm going to just say 8 new zones. The game is longer then generations so probably bigger than 3&K

What other stage would you like to see revisited from Sonic 1 besides GHZ?

[Psychicmoose103]

1 hour ago, Spooky Mulder said:

What other stage would you like to see revisited from Sonic 1 besides GHZ?

I would love to see Springyard or Starlight. However, it would also be cool for them to try and make Marble or Labrynth better than their original counterparts.

[Spooky Mulder]

1 hour ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

I would love to see Springyard or Starlight. However, it would also be cool for them to try and make Marble or Labrynth better than their original counterparts.

I think of all the Sonic 1 zones I would take Starlight.

Marble Zone would be interesting to revisit but I think it would need a serious overhaul. I wouldn't like to see Labyrinth at all since we basically got that in Sonic 4.

To be honest, I'd also really love to see an original Sonic 4 stage make an appearance, specifically White Park, although I know that's incredibly unlikely.

[CleverSonicUsername]

6 hours ago, Spooky Mulder said:

What other stage would you like to see revisited from Sonic 1 besides GHZ?

My assumption is that any borrowed gimmick or element from another stage means the stage it's borrowed from won't be included. i.e. the Aquatic Ruin whistle in Mirage Saloon means Aquatic Ruin won't be in the game, Emerald Hill will not be because its trope is covered and mobius strips are in Green Hill, etc. So working off that, I'm assuming Spring Yard may be ruled out since it shares too many similarities with Studiopolis. The bat enemy from Marble appears in Green Hill, and Roller is in Mirage, which could mean those stages may not appear since they have representation elsewhere, but enemies could always repeat through levels. Labyrinth would be a strange choice since, if they're going to do a water level and I gotta assume they will, that seems to be the most hated.

I kind of think the one that has the best liklihood is Starlight, and that would be my personal preference too.

[Monkey Destruction Switch]

15 minutes ago, CleverSonicUsername said:

but enemies could always repeat through levels.

I know it may be a minor thing, but I actually really hope this happens in Sonic Mania. It's something I've always loved about Sonic 1 - it gives a sense of continuity and a greater sense of importance to the badniks than just being one-off stage hazards. I generally really like classic badnik designs and think they have a lot of character, so it's nice for them to be able to appear in more than one zone, IMO.

I actually like Marble Zone the way it is, and think the idea of lava-filled ruins is just really cool, so I would totally be up for giving it another shot. I'm sure they could do some rad things with it. But any zone from Sonic 1 would be cool with me since I like all of them (even Labyrinth...to an extent but as Spooky Mulder pointed out, we already got something like that in Sonic 4, plus it's not the most popular level in general).

[CleverSonicUsername]

4 minutes ago, Monkey Destruction Switch said:

I know it may be a minor thing, but I actually really hope this happens in Sonic Mania. It's something I've always loved about Sonic 1 - it gives a sense of continuity and a greater sense of importance to the badniks than just being one-off stage hazards. I generally really like classic badnik designs and think they have a lot of character, so it's nice for them to be able to appear in more than one zone, IMO.

I actually like Marble Zone the way it is, and think the idea of lava-filled ruins is just really cool, so I would totally be up for giving it another shot. I'm sure they could do some rad things with it. But any zone from Sonic 1 would be cool with me since I like all of them (even Labyrinth...to an extent but as Spooky Mulder pointed out, we already got something like that in Sonic 4, plus it's not the most popular level in general).

Yeah I wouldn't mind badniks repeating through levels either, but since Sonic 1 was the exception and not the norm, I think it may indicate that their home zones are not included. Of course all of this is pure speculation on my part, so who knows. Marble Zone is cool and I wouldn't mind it being included either, though between it and Lava Reef, I'd have to favor the latter. I actually really love Labyrinth, it's hands down my favorite level in Sonic 1, because I'm a sicko. That said, it would blow my mind if they include it. Personally hoping the water level they pull is Hydrocity.

We do know that the remaining original stages are going to be using tropes that haven't been done before, and I doubt they'll double up on any level tropes if they can avoid it. Going off that, Mirage Saloon would ensure Sandopolis isn't included. Studiopolis is kinda a bumper/casino stage, but it's different enough that I don't think stages of that trope are entirely off the table. Spring Yard itself though seems too similar.

[Monkey Destruction Switch]

Hydrocity is my hope too. A really cool level with great music and visuals that definitely deserves to be revisited. You don't hear people talk about it all the time, but it really is great on multiple levels.

[CleverSonicUsername]

Hydrocity is hands down my favorite level in any Sonic game, period. I'm really hoping beyond hope that it's included in Mania, I would love to see a fresh take on that stage. Since Green Hill seems to be adopting gimmicks and making call backs to other Green Hill-like stages, it'd be cool to see how they incorporate elements of Labyrinth and Aquatic Ruin into Hydrocity.

[molul]

I know I said I didn't want to know anything else about the game, but honestly, I'd like Taxman to unveil a new level before the end of the month, another one next month, and then release the game  

[Mark1]

Loving the Hydrocity support. Rightfully so. The zone did water levels correctly. It's my Sonic 3 pick alongside Ice Cap Zone. Sega know full well (I assume so) that these two are fan favourites. Let's see if they use them in this 

[Psychicmoose103]

Hydrocity Please.

 

The level is incredibly fast, great visuals, fun water geyser gimmicks, cool enemies and bosses, a godly soundtrack, and the theme is awesome too.

 

Also, what would you guys like from Sonic 2? I need mystic cave, and casino night is great too. Just imagine the remixed music

[CleverSonicUsername]

1 hour ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

Hydrocity Please.

 

The level is incredibly fast, great visuals, fun water geyser gimmicks, cool enemies and bosses, a godly soundtrack, and the theme is awesome too.

 

Also, what would you guys like from Sonic 2? I need mystic cave, and casino night is great too. Just imagine the remixed music

I think Mystic Cave, Hill Top, and Casino Night probably have the best odds. Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Sky Chase, and Wing Fortress got some representation in Sonic 4, Chemical Plant was included in Generations. The Aquatic Ruin whistle and Emerald Hill mobius strips in Mania I think rule out those two. This is all assuming that Taxman and the team are targeting levels that haven't had their due, for all we know we could get Chemical Plant again.

Personally I would like Mystic Cave, it's my favorite level in Sonic 2. Plus imagine what Taxman could do with incorporating elements of his Hidden Palace Zone into it. Hill Top is a real snoozer of a level, so I guess Casino would be my other pick. Those are probably my two favorite levels in that game anyway.

So short answer: Casino Night, Mystic Cave.

[Heckboy]

8 minutes ago, CleverSonicUsername said:

so I guess my other preference would be Casino Night. It DID get some representation in Generations, but only as a pinball table, and DLC at that.

Casino Night was also a full stage in Generations 3DS. Plus there was Casino Street in Sonic 4.

 

Anyway, yeah, Mystic Cave would be cool.

[CleverSonicUsername]

3 minutes ago, Mister X said:

Casino Night was also a stage in Generations 3DS. Plus there was Casino Street in Sonic 4.

 

Anyway, yeah, Mystic Cave would be cool.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Honestly I forget Generations on the 3DS was even a thing most of the time. I'm sure levels that have gotten their due in other games are still totally fair game (especially in Sonic 2's case where damn near every level has been redone in some form or another), reused tropes/gimmicks within the same game seems a lot less likely. Regardless, my picks would still be Casino Night and Mystic Cave.

[BlueFlare]

3 hours ago, Mark1 said:

Loving the Hydrocity support. Rightfully so. The zone did water levels correctly. It's my Sonic 3 pick alongside Ice Cap Zone. Sega know full well (I assume so) that these two are fan favourites. Let's see if they use them in this 

Sonic 3 alone has very good levels altogether, well balanced between exploration and speed sections, but I think Hydrocity shines the most, especially Act 2. The flow of energy, fun and joyfulness just feels so marvelous.

[JosepHenry]

Starlight, Aquatic Ruin, Oil Ocean, Quartz Quadrant, Wacky Workbench, Hydrocity, Flying Battery and Death Egg Ruins for final level.

For new levels a rain level (Like Lost Jungle), a haunted castle level ( Like Hang Castle), a city level (like Grand Metropolis) and a sky palace (Sky Santuary with Lost World ruins.

Sonic Before and After the Sequel has really good level themes in my opinion.

[Celestia]

I think it'd be neat to see Casino Night re-imagined as abandoned. Some of the gimmicks (i.e. pinball flippers) have stopped working completely, others are just a little faulty, etc. Maybe the stage starts out unlit but you can hit a switch to light it all up again as a nod to Carnival Night? (...In fact you could just apply this concept to Carnival Night instead, haha.)

This is the sort of thing I imagine when I consider the statement on how other returning stages would be more wildly different from their original forms than Green Hill. Still recognizable, but with a twist. A "Switch", if you will--

[TB100]

48 minutes ago, Celestia said:

I think it'd be neat to see Casino Night re-imagined as abandoned. Some of the gimmicks (i.e. pinball flippers) have stopped working completely, others are just a little faulty, etc. Maybe the stage starts out unlit but you can hit a switch to light it all up again as a nod to Carnival Night?

That's the sort of thing I imagine when I consider the statement on how other returning stages would be more wildly different from their original forms than Green Hill.

That would be neat, Maybe have it start out with the 2P Casino Night theme, and then once you hit the switch, the 1P Casino Night theme would play instead. Just a idea.

[BlueFlare]

Mania played on Nintendo Switch:

 

[Psychicmoose103]

7 minutes ago, BlueFlare said:

Mania played on Nintendo Switch:

 

Looks great!

 

It was comfirmed that there are two rings per act right? If so, we know the location of all the Green Hill rings in act one

(not gonna lie, the player not knowing how to spin dash through the wall hurt me  )

Edited January 16, 2017 by Psychicmoose103

[BlueFlare]

Yes, @Psychicmoose103! It seems to run perfectly smooth on Switch, too. This is just too damn delicious. 

[TheOcelot]

17 minutes ago, BlueFlare said:

Mania played on Nintendo Switch:

 

 

12 minutes ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

Looks great!

It was comfirmed that there are two rings per act right? If so, we know the location of all the Green Hill rings in act one

(not gonna lie, the player not knowing how to spin dash through the wall hurt me  )

Two special stage rings have been found in Green Hill, Mirage Saloon & Studiopolis. 

Yeah, spin-dashing against the wall should be obvious. This guy didn't discover the special stage ring by accident. He knew it was there, went straight for it, haha.

 

One of the guys on Retro did a pretty good rip of Mania's mid-zone boss music:

I like the track so far, it's catchy. Reminds a bit of Sonic CD JP boss music. 

[Zippo]

5 hours ago, Mark1 said:

Loving the Hydrocity support. Rightfully so. The zone did water levels correctly. It's my Sonic 3 pick alongside Ice Cap Zone. Sega know full well (I assume so) that these two are fan favourites. Let's see if they use them in this 

 

9 hours ago, Monkey Destruction Switch said:

Hydrocity is my hope too. A really cool level with great music and visuals that definitely deserves to be revisited. You don't hear people talk about it all the time, but it really is great on multiple levels.

Given how apparently only the first half of Sonic 3's stages can be used because of the legal issues regarding the music, I say it's very likely Hydro City will be the chosen stage.

[expansivelovestories]

Not just overall but completely the Mania team and SEGA overall have done really well timing when to announce the game.  The time has passed very naturally.  There is anticipation that is building but not the sense that it has been all that long to wait, and, yet, it has almost been half a year now!  Then additionally I think that/it seems as though choosing to allow full act playthroughs to be showcased rather than additional teaser trailers was the best possible option as well; this also includes all of the ways that it has been available to play in person too!  It allows the game to already exist in a relatively concrete and whole enough form prior to the full release!      

[SweeCrue]

3 hours ago, EllieBot said:

 

One of the guys on Retro did a pretty good rip of Mania's mid-zone boss music:

I like the track so far, it's catchy. Reminds a bit of Sonic CD JP boss music. 

Reminds me of the Powerhouse music.