I recently returned to this game. I first played it when Plus came out as Mighty, who is basically easy mode.
I double dipped on Switch, and now here I am again.
This time I chose Knuckles, who, in fact, chuckles in this game.
This game is the ultimate labor of love, and it shows. The indescribable soul of a game hard to capture unless you love it. Corporations and companies may be able to break down what people love into bullet points, like going fast or putting rings in your game, but only someone who knows Sonic can make a game like this.
The gorgeous spritework is the best Sonic has ever looked in 2D. All of the animations are lovingly crafted. Knuckles' idle animation is my favorite.
The recreation of classic zones is very well done. Let's take Lava Reef as an example. Act 1 is a re-arranged version of the zone we all know and love, but Act 2 surprises us by diving underground, into a crystal cavern. Lava Reef Act 2 is the ice zone of this game! The music slows down and changes vibes to give us a slow, sad guitar fitting for a glimmering crystal cavern.
The soundtrack is downright amazing. From classic re-arrangements to brand new tracks, everything - every single track - slaps. And you know what?
This track proves to me that the team understands what people love about Sonic. This is heard in a Knuckles-only stage. It has a slower, hip-hop feel than Sonic's stage, something that reminds me of Sonic Adventure 2, where Knuckles' stages have now famous rap and hip-hop beats. But we're playing as classic Knuckles, with a stage specifically designed for him, where the goal is not to find shards of the Master Emerald, but glide and go fast. This is what everyone wanted from Knuckles to begin with.
Boss design is very creative. It's never just jump on the guy and win. There's a small element of strategy to each boss, figuring out its patterns or weakness or trick before you can do the jumping thing. It even throws you into a Puyo-Puyo game with Robotnik at one point!
I'm not done yet. I'm on Metallic Madness Zone, Act 1. But this is the most fun I've had with a game all year. (NEW YEAR JOKE! HURRRR)
I really hope we see a Mania 2 someday. This game shines most when it has its own unique stages. If I were to name one major flaw, it's that it relies too heavily on past material. We all know Green Hill Zone and Hydrocity Zone. Press Garden, Mirage Saloon, and Studiopolis were my favorite zones of the game, and they were brand new. Give us more of that next time.
