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

[Psychicmoose103]

So, assuming gimmicks disprove certain levels, angel island, quartz quadrant, and metallic madness aren't coming if there is a second sonic cd stage. I think collision chaos and palm tree panic aren't likely either, so that leaves 2 choices 

Wacky Workbench and Tidal Tempest

 

Im gonna guess for a redeemed Wacky Workbench

[Gemster312]

3 minutes ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

So, assuming gimmicks disprove certain levels, angel island, quartz quadrant, and metallic madness aren't coming if there is a second sonic cd stage. I think collision chaos and palm tree panic aren't likely either, so that leaves 2 choices 

Wacky Workbench and Tidal Tempest

 

Im gonna guess for a redeemed Wacky Workbench

The new Chemical Plant footage shows that hitting the green liquid bounces you hella high and makes that Wacky Workbench BOOP noise... so I think that's not coming back either.

[FaRiS_aLjASmI]

I was hoping for Amy to be in this Game because she has a classic form and some abilities wich are shown in sonic the fighters

so yeah

But as long as my favorite tails and chemical plant are in that cool

really really looking for it although IM a modern fan i still like it

 

[Chris Knopps]

I will say, that Act 2 music definitely makes up for that Forces track revealed the other day.

It's legitimately shocking how different the quality is between these two projects as a whole, from style, to music, especially when you take into count the budget comparisons and the direction of the two games overall and the fact both are coming from the same company but are so far apart.

[expansivelovestories]

Yes; it seems they have been able to figure out exactly which zones would fit Mania as well as possible.  

Flying Battery and Chemical Plant were I think very surprising decisions, at first, but it becomes clear even in just brief clips, at how amazing they are for allowing the current engine to be providing its most rewarding, multifaceted and unique synergies of momentum and puzzle driven exploration!!  

[Milo]

I actually was disappointed at first when I read the headline--as others have said, we already saw Chemical Plant remade in Generations, I was hoping for a different Sonic 2 stage that hasn't been remade recently.

But that Act 2 footage floored me, honestly. The multi-path tubes, the rubber liquid, the rotating sphere elevator...thing, the sticky platforms on the ceiling and walls. The zone also looks like a giant maze too, it looks hideously massive. And the Act 2 remix with the sirens....so good. The Act 1 footage is OK, its largely the original. But that Act 2 footage is on another level.

[StaticMania]

Chemical Plant has a positive remix...and a bunch of goo. Various forms of mega mack that act as more than water. That's really nice.

[Salamander]

I feel really conflicted about Chemical Plant Zone.  I have no intention of denying that it looks absolutely amazing... but there is more to Sonic 2 than Chemical Plant, and I would have liked to see a different zone after that one already got a revisit back in Generations.  So, while previously I was being conservative in my expectations, I am now formally crossing my fingers for at least a second Sonic 2 zone.  So long as we get both Chemical Plant Zone and something else, I'll be able to appreciate Mania's choices with no reservations.

As for that Green Hill Zone boss: Wow, I can definitely see why that was being kept under wraps; somebody just broke embargo big-time.  We heard way back that it was a "walker" with sloped terrain, so everything fits, too.  It's kind of funny; based on those same hints, I'd actually been tentatively expecting a Palmtree Panic boss callback.  I'd never have guessed that (a version of) the Sonic 2 final boss would be the game's first boss.  A real shame that surprise was leaked.

...I wonder if this means that other classic zones will have callback bosses to other zones and games.  Classic zone minibosses appear to allude to that zone's original boss, so classic zone bosses have room to be either completely original or to riff on something else entirely.

[Ajavalo]

27 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

I will say, that Act 2 music definitely makes up for that Forces track revealed the other day.

There is nothing to make up for, that Sonic Forces track is also amazing and is getting near universal praise.

I'm really liking that Chemical Plant Act 2! The bouncy substances reminded me of a level in DKC:Tropical Freeze with bouncy jellies! This is so far the least tame re-imagined act we've seen, and it looks RAD.

Now, about the GHZ boss... It certainly looks like we weren't supposed to see it... Let's wait for today's stream to see whether Aaron and Gene make weird faces. It fits with the "walking contraption" description we got a few month ago. Eggman seems to be chasing after our heroes with his PINGAS ready!!!

[Sega DogTagz]

Even though the footage looks good, I'm still big time disappointed that they chose to re-tread another level from Generations. GHZ is understandable, but to redesign yet another from that list? There really isn't much excuse to diversify a bit more with the stage selection. I want to see them work their magic on a nostalgia trip that feeds back more than a handful of years. Sonic 2 is full of great stage tropes with epic BGMs and Chemical Plant is just eating a roster spot that could have been given to something else.

What they delivered looks to be fresh and entertaining, but I'll be forever gutted knowing what could have been. A small stain on what has been otherwise a brilliant campaign for Mania.

[TheOcelot]

I for one am very happy Chemical Plant is in Mania. Yeah, I know it was in Gens but it's one of Sonic 2's best levels. I always felt CP would be an interesting choice for Team Mania to remake and it looks bloody impressive.

The DNA transporter thing looks so rad. 

Reminds me of the Asterite in the Ecco the Dolphin games

 

Act1 of CP Mania features level design from both acts of the mega-drive version (just like Mania's Green Hill act1), so I'm expecting all of the level design in CP Mania's act2 to be new, certainly looks like it. Surely this will be same design premise for all other re-imagined levels.

Act1 has clearly been heavily reworked and I'm really digging act1's music remix which feels more interesting than GH act1 remix. Act2's ass-kicking sirens-blaring remake sounds fucking funky-fantastic.

There's so much going on in act2 <3. It's got the tubes where you can choose which direction to move towards-from Metallic Madness act2 and the badnik which moves horizontally snake-like from Angel Island act2. Tails moving down the tubes in a circular movement (at 0:20 in video) is from a sequence in Quartz Quadrant. The bouncy different colored chemical floors reminds me so much of Wacky Workbench's bouncy floor gimmick!!!

Changing the color of the chemical floor appears to alter how high Tails bounces. I'm getting a lot of Sonic CD vibes from this new version of CH. The science/chemical-esque background feels right and I like how they've changed the color of the badniks from the original version to compliment the new theme of this act.

It's so good to see Sonic & Tails really fast animations in motion, they look so damn beautiful. Tails looks so cute when he's stuck on the moving purple objects, haha.

Any doubts I had about how different the act2's design will be in the remade levels are long gone.

 

I want Chemical Plant & Mystic Cave from Sonic 2. Come on Team Mania make it happen!

 

 

[Chris Knopps]

3 minutes ago, OcelotBot said:

I want Chemical Plant & Mystic Cave from Sonic 2. Come on Team Mania make it happen!

 

 

With act 2 a mandatory ride in a mine cart from start to finish!

[expansivelovestories]

48 minutes ago, FFWF said:

I feel really conflicted about Chemical Plant Zone.  I have no intention of denying that it looks absolutely amazing... but there is more to Sonic 2 than Chemical Plant, and I would have liked to see a different zone after that one already got a revisit back in Generations.  So, while previously I was being conservative in my expectations, I am now formally crossing my fingers for at least a second Sonic 2 zone. 

Yes; it seems as though this particular reveal soft-confirms that there is more than one zone included from each earlier game!!

There have been many hints and close to direct statements that it will include quite a few zones, but I think there is a part of many of us that gently is keeping us from feeling certain about it, as though it is too good to be true, and yet it isn't!!! !  ^__^

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pawn]

Aaron Webber's just stated on the YouTube stream that they're choosing to show Classic levels rather than new ones because they want us to be surprised. So I guess we don't have to worry about them being spoiled, leaks notwithstanding.

[TheOcelot]

3 minutes ago, Pawn said:

Aaron Webber's just stated on the YouTube stream that they're choosing to show Classic levels rather than new ones because they want us to be surprised. So I guess we don't have to worry about them being spoiled, leaks notwithstanding.

Yeah, with FB, SP & now CP it certainly feels like they're focusing on revealing the re-imagined stages instead of new ones, which I think is the right choice. Hopefully they won't reveal all reimagined levels prior to release!

 

[Chris Knopps]

1 minute ago, OcelotBot said:

Yeah, with FB, SP & now CP it certainly feels like they're focusing on revealing the re-imagined stages instead of new ones, which I think is the right choice. Hopefully they won't reveal all reimagined levels prior to release!

 

TeeLopes, Mozart is DEFINITELY your father!

[TheOcelot]

Also, I've noted that they've revealed a stage from Sonic 1, 2, CD and S&K but not from Sonic 3......yet  

We know we're getting re-imagined content from Sonic 3 (as well as Sonic & Knuckles) because Taxman confirmed it, so there's no need to be confirmed. Still...when it comes to Sonic 3, SEGA/Sonic Team really know how to torture us! If they reveal Ice Cap (or any level from Sonic 3 for that matter) I'll be so happy.

[Chris Knopps]

Just now, OcelotBot said:

Also, I've noted that they've revealed a stage from Sonic 1, 2, CD and S&K but not from Sonic 3......yet  

We know we're getting re-imagined content from Sonic 3 (as well as Sonic & Knuckles) because Taxman confirmed it, so there's no need to be confirmed. Still...when it comes to Sonic 3, SEGA/Sonic Team really know how to torture us! If they reveal Ice Cap (or any level from Sonic 3 for that matter) I'll be so happy.

As long as the re-imagined stage is Lava Reef Zone they can put any others they want in the game.

But I must, I MUST have Lava Reef in Mania.

[Detective Kaito]

I was disappointed that they were bringing Chemical Plant Zone again, but then I watched the video. The level gimmicks are great and music is amazing.

[Multikaris]

With CPZ and the Death Egg Robo confirmed, I hazard the following guesses:

 

* The other classic zones represented in Generations also make returns; Sky Sanctuary, Casino Night, and Mushroom Hill.

* Each game gets at least two zones. This leaves CD and 1's second zones and 3's zones.

* For CD, I'm thinking Tidal Tempest, and for 1, Scrap Brain. For 3, I think Ice Cap and Launch Base BECAUSE of the MJ and Jetzons issues, as opposed to in spite of them. After all, we do have the Nakamura music in the game, unlike Lego Dimensions.

* It is possible 2 and & Knuckles will get a third zone each, for the sake of getting in a zone not in Generations. For & Knuckes, this is Flying Battery.

* 3D Blast and R may also each get a Zone. 

* Not all of the new levels have a unique HBH, some may share or end with Metal or Mecha Sonic instead. 

* Big Arm will also re-appear as a level boss. Maybe also the Final Zone boss, Metallic Madness boss, and Kyodai Eggman Robo will show up as well? 

* For the 3 and & Knuckles levels, the mini-bosses will appear as regular enemy versions of themselves.

* Cameos will mainly be in the new zones. 

* The differences from the original will get more radical as they are each revealed and/or as we progress. 

* One of the remixed zones will have a tribute to Wood Zone. Betting it's Mushroom Hill.

* Two of the other new zones are based on Egg Gauntlet and Final Fever, given that Mirage Saloon is based on Desert Dazzle. 

* At least one reference in the level design to an 8-bit game OR Chaotix OR Spinball.

[Osmium]

Anyone else notice you can control the amount of green goop injected into the water? This must mean there's mutiple levels you can reach depending on how long you stand there. If you only put a little in you can get the extra life up there (you can't see it in this gif) and maybe if you put in all possible you can reach an even higher level. 

[Chris Knopps]

1 minute ago, ShroomZed said:

Anyone else notice you can control the amount of green goop injected into the water? This must mean there's mutiple levels you can reach depending on how long you stand there. If you only put a little in you can get the extra life up there (you can't see it in this gif) and maybe if you put in all possible you can reach an even higher level. 

it's the little things that matter most.

A mindset Mania quite literally lives off of, and it's good.

[Meta77]

2 hours ago, Chris Knopps said:

I will say, that Act 2 music definitely makes up for that Forces track revealed the other day.

It's legitimately shocking how different the quality is between these two projects as a whole, from style, to music, especially when you take into count the budget comparisons and the direction of the two games overall and the fact both are coming from the same company but are so far apart.

What are you talking about park avenue was amazing you must mean that green crap mix.

[ZinogreVolt]

3 minutes ago, Meta77 said:

What are you talking about park avenue was amazing you must mean that green crap mix.

I'm in agreement with you that the Park Avenue theme was freakin amazing, but music is probably the most subjective component of a game, so I wouldn't really question it if someone else said they didn't care for it.

[Celestia]

Something I'm curious about is whatever's on top of this--is it a spring (definitely looks like one), or a button? And if it's the latter what does it do?