Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC (digital only)
Price for the physical edition: $29.99 / £24.99
Price for the expansion if you already own the base game: $4.99 / £3.99
The most notable addition to the game is Encore Mode. This is a 'hard mode' rework of the base game with altered layouts, visuals, seven new special stages, a new bonus pinball game and an entirely reworked lives system where you dynamically add all five characters to your roster and swap between them throughout your playthrough. Mighty and Ray will also be playable in Mania mode.
Another addition is that Competition Mode now is expanded to have four player splitscreen. This is still offline only though, sadly.
If you decide to not buy the expansion you will be happy to hear that several bugfixes and improvements to the game are rolling out for all versions too, including an entirely reworked Metal Sonic boss!
Here is what comes with the physical addition:
And yes, the European version's reversible cover is Mega Drive themed!
Still not sure what to expect from the game? Check out John Linneman's Digital Foundry rundown.
Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying-Squirrel were created with assistance from Naoto Ohshima by Manabu Kusunoki, best known for designing the look of the characters and dragons in the Panzer Dragoon series. They technically pre-date both Tails and Knuckles!
Sonic, Mighty and Ray all first showed up in the 1991 arcade game Rad Mobile (later ported to the SEGA Saturn as Gale Racer) as air fresheners, but were only ever playable together in the Japan-only arcade game SegaSonic the Hedgehog from 1992 and 1993. Mighty would go on to be part of the cast in Knuckles Chaotix for the ill-fated SEGA 32X, but beyond that him and Ray would only ever see a cameo on a missing poster in the HD version of Sonic Generations.
In Sonic Mania Plus they both have unique playstyles!
Mighty has the Hammer Drop, a move that launches him downwards through any obstacles and shakes item monitors from trees. He is also invulnerable to spikes and bullets when rolled up. Sadly his wallkick from Knuckles Chaotix has not returned.
Ray has a unique glide that allows him to gain altitude or dive to stay in the air for an extended period of time, but he needs to build up momentum for it to last long at all. He can be hurt while gliding, but if the player lets go of the jump button they will roll up back into a ball. This ability has oftentimes been compared to the cape power-up in Super Mario World.
Sonic Mania Adventures is a set of five short films released free on Twitter and YouTube to promote Sonic Mania Plus. It was directed and storyboarded by Tyson Hesse and has original music composed by Tee Lopes.
Episode 1: Sonic Returns
Episode 2: Sonic & Tails
Episode 3: & Knuckles
Episode 4: Mighty & Ray
Episode 5: Metal Mayhem
All episodes strung into one short film.
Reveal Trailer
Dev Diary 1 (Art and Design)
Dev Diary 2 (Game Design)https://youtu.be/7BUGPG4CrE0
Infomercial
Edit: Added more videos!
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