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

[HywelAtTheMoon]

Seeing as every other level was a rehash, it boils down to White Park or Oil Desert. I'd give it to White Park, but keep it in the wooden roller coaster of Act 2. Maybe put another couple of rides in. 

[TheOcelot]

16 minutes ago, Spooky Mulder said:

In the unlikely scenario that a zone from Sonic 4 was reimagined for Sonic Mania, what zone would you like to see?

Nah, there's zero chance of a Sonic 4 level being re-imagined.

Even if there was a chance, it would be difficult to choose because most of the zones in Sonic 4 are re-imagined versions of Sonic 1&2 stages anwyay. So Mania would have to do a "re-imagining of a re-imagining"  

Guess I'd go for Sky Fortress (basically Wing Fortress & Sky Chase) which was a good stage.

I'd like to see the playing-cards gimmick from Casino Street act2 brought back.

A re-imagining of the Metal Sonic boss fight from White Park could be interesting.

[Spooky Mulder]

Personally I'd like to see White Park since it's a legitimately unique take on an ice zone, but it also got stuck in a game that otherwise totally sucks.

[Sonictrainer]

2 hours ago, Spooky Mulder said:

In the unlikely scenario that a zone from Sonic 4 was reimagined for Sonic Mania, what zone would you like to see?

Death Egg Mk II Zone

I'd want to see how they would create a better Death Egg.

[CleverSonicUsername]

2 hours ago, HywelAtTheMoon said:

Seeing as every other level was a rehash, it boils down to White Park or Oil Desert. I'd give it to White Park, but keep it in the wooden roller coaster of Act 2. Maybe put another couple of rides in. 

Even Oil Desert is a rehash (of Oil Ocean) so really it boils down to White Park.

[Spooky Mulder]

5 hours ago, CleverSonicUsername said:

Even Oil Desert is a rehash (of Oil Ocean) so really it boils down to White Park.

Aside from both being oil refineries, Oil Ocean and Oil Desert don't really share much in common.

[CleverSonicUsername]

11 minutes ago, Spooky Mulder said:

Aside from both being oil refineries, Oil Ocean and Oil Desert don't really share much in common.

Oil sliiiiiiides

They're about as similar as the rest of Episode 4's levels to other Sonic 2 stages. Which is to say, different enough that they're not practically straight up remakes like Episode 1, but similar enough that you know.

Edit: to answer the hypothetical though, none of them. All the levels between both episodes of Sonic 4 were trash. If I had a gun to my head and I had to chose one, then whatever act of White Park took place on a roller coaster would be my choice.

[PaulyBFromDa303]

I see all these awesome ideas . . .

How come none of us are working in the SEGA studios? 

[Maxtiis]

9 hours ago, PaulyBFromDa303 said:

I see all these awesome ideas . . .

How come none of us are working in the SEGA studios? 

Probably because we haven't proven we can actually make a game outside of conceptual ideas. Even if we had the talent it's not like we could wholly agree on what to put in a game.

[Zippo]

I'm really excited to see Studiopolis Act 2. Gimmicks like this sound incredibly cool.

[PaulyBFromDa303]

20 hours ago, Maxtiis said:

Probably because we haven't proven we can actually make a game outside of conceptual ideas. Even if we had the talent it's not like we could wholly agree on what to put in a game.

LOL That's true I suppose. Pretty soon it would start to look like the tables at the UN meetings

[JezMM]

There really is no sensible choice outside of White Park, but honestly it'd rub so many people the wrong way lol.  Also it'd imply that Sonic 4 takes place before Mania,  those who are still adamant that Classic Sonic grew up into Modern Sonic and they aren't just art styles would have their heads blown wide open trying to figure that one out.

Though Sky Fortress would be okay too if only because it's music is so way better than Wing Fortress, which like, I get what they were going for, it's intimidating and all, but it's just not as enjoyable as the pop music slant all the other songs have.

[Meta77]

On 03/24/2017 at 4:17 PM, Maxtiis said:

So what are you guys doing to cope with the wait for Sonic Mania? I went out and got this in the meantime:

I know you can get the rom free over at Sonic Retro but it feels so good being able to play this on an actual Genesis. Speaking of which I still need to get a usb adapter for a Genesis controller for when Mania comes out.

Playing mass effect. Breath of the wild. And trying to platinum nioh before Mario kart and splatoon.

[Chris Knopps]

Here's an idea...

What if, after the credits, you can get a "Perfect End" for the game after beating the true final boss.

A little clip showing Classic Sonic, Classic Tails and Classic Knuckles posing together on top of the defeated Classic Eggman, only to have a new sprite for Modern Eggman in his Egg Mobile drop down and snatch his Classic self out from under their feet and rocket off.

Followed by a new sprite for Modern Sonic running past from the left side of the screen, waving for the Classic Trio to follow off the right side of the screen.

Ending with a "See You Next Game!" logo to tie Mania into Forces.

[Monkey Destruction Switch]

1 minute ago, Chris Knopps said:

Here's an idea...

What if, after the credits, you can get a "Perfect End" for the game after beating the true final boss.

A little clip showing Classic Sonic, Classic Tails and Classic Knuckles posing together on top of the defeated Classic Eggman, only to have a new sprite for Modern Eggman in his Egg Mobile drop down and snatch his Classic self out from under their feet and rocket off.

Followed by a new sprite for Modern Sonic running past from the left side of the screen, waving for the Classic Trio to follow off the right side of the screen.

Ending with a "See You Next Game!" logo to tie Mania into Forces.

Nah, that would feel too much like a kick in the teeth to people who aren't big fans of the modern series. Sonic Mania is meant to appeal to all fans of the classic Sonic games, including people who like modern too, but most definitely also including people who are disappointed with or never got on board with later games. Even as someone who likes modern Sonic too, I would be more interested in a "See You Next Game!" that teased an upcoming "new classic" game. Trying to tie it into Forces when there's little connection between the two games other than the release date, and they certainly aren't likely to be close to each other chronologically, seems strange and pointless. The meaning will be completely lost to anyone who plays the game years down the road. Without the explicit connection to Forces, it could just be seen as introducing modern Sonic in general, but again, I don't think that would be enjoyable for everyone.

[Chris Knopps]

Just now, Monkey Destruction Switch said:

Nah, that would feel too much like a kick in the teeth to people who aren't big fans of the modern series. Sonic Mania is meant to appeal to all fans of the classic Sonic games, including people who like modern too, but most definitely also including people who are disappointed with or never got on board with later games. Even as someone who likes modern Sonic too, I would be more interested in a "See You Next Game!" that teased an upcoming "new classic" game. Trying to tie it into Forces when there's little connection between the two games other than the release date, and they certainly aren't likely to be close to each other chronologically, seems strange and pointless. The meaning will be completely lost to anyone who plays the game years down the road. Without the explicit connection to Forces, it could just be seen as introducing modern Sonic in general, but again, I don't think that would be enjoyable for everyone.

Well...

Remember... Generations began when Classic Sonic was apparently first beginning his Green Hill trek...

Yet Classic Tails appeared and he and Classic Sonic knew one another completely...

So...

Know what? I don't even know where I'm going with this or why I said it. Maybe somewhere deep down I always wanted to point this out and somehow found your statement a means of doing so.

[TheOcelot]

36 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

Here's an idea...

What if, after the credits, you can get a "Perfect End" for the game after beating the true final boss.

A little clip showing Classic Sonic, Classic Tails and Classic Knuckles posing together on top of the defeated Classic Eggman, only to have a new sprite for Modern Eggman in his Egg Mobile drop down and snatch his Classic self out from under their feet and rocket off.

Followed by a new sprite for Modern Sonic running past from the left side of the screen, waving for the Classic Trio to follow off the right side of the screen.

Ending with a "See You Next Game!" logo to tie Mania into Forces.

Well now, this would be a good way to piss-off classic fans who don't want Modern characters associated what-so-ever with the original 2d classic titles which Mania is the successor to. Modern characters have no relevance to classic Sonic games (forget Gens, which was just a one-off anniversary celebration).

I'm all for the idea of Mania's ending teasing a future 2d game which would only be likely if Sonic Team have already commissioned a "Mania 2" which I seriously doubt at this early stage.

Quote

Know what? I don't even know where I'm going with this or why I said it. Maybe somewhere deep down I always wanted to point this out and somehow found your statement a means of doing so.

So yeah, not a good idea.

[Marcello]

If I were to take a Zone from Sonic 4, it'd probably be Oil Desert. Design-wise, it's my favorite. I don't think it really looks like Oil Ocean at all.

[Chris Knopps]

4 minutes ago, TailsBot said:

Well now, this would be a good way to piss-off classic fans who don't want Modern characters associated what-so-ever with the original 2d classic titles which Mania is the success to. Modern characters have no relevance to classic Sonic games (forget get Gens, which was just a one-off anniversary celebration).

I'm all for the idea of Mania's ending teasing a future 2d game (whilst very unlikely unless Sonic Team have already commissioned a "Mania 2" which also unlikely, at least at this early stage.

So yeah, not a good idea.

Well then, pardon me I suppose.

(coughgettingasequelthisyearcough)

I highly doubt Sonic Team has that power. SEGA of Japan and/or SEGA of America are the ones with the power for that call, and after the end results of both games, it's pretty much a no-brainer Mania and its pretty-much-certain-but-still-not-100% sequels is going to be the thing that carries the franchise for a good LONG while.

[TheOcelot]

3 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

it's pretty much a no-brainer Mania and its pretty-much-certain-but-still-not-100% sequels is going to be the thing that carries the franchise for a good LONG while.

There's no guarantee what-so-ever Mania will lead to more 2d classic games. Mania is a one-off celebration of 90's classic Sonic, nothing more. This is how Sonic Team/SEGA will see it. Yes, in a dream world getting sequels; Mania 2 & 3 would be lovely, but realistically Mania could well be our last-ever true 2d classic game. Lets hope it's a damn good one!

[Chris Knopps]

Just now, TailsBot said:

There's no guarantee what-so-ever Mania will lead to more 2d classic games. Mania is a one-off celebration of 90's classic Sonic, nothing more. This is how Sonic Team/SEGA will see it. Yes, in a dream world getting sequels; Mania 2 & 3 would be lovely, but realistically Mania could well be our last-ever true 2d classic game. Lets hope it's a damn good one!

Hasn't it been pushed that Mania is just the first in a series to come? Look at the initial reveal trailer.

Trust me, it's pretty certain more will come. Not 100% as I said, but pretty certain.

[TheOcelot]

14 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

Hasn't it been pushed that Mania is just the first in a series to come? Look at the initial reveal trailer.

Trust me, it's pretty certain more will come. Not 100% as I said, but pretty certain.

I've watched the reveal trailer many many times. It reveals a "brand new 2d adventure". At no stage does it imply the start of a new series of 2d titles.

Sorry Chris, I can't trust you because - enthusiasm aside - you're completely wrong. 

[Gemster312]

When someone asked about Fang appearing in Sonic Mania (at SXSW), they responded by saying something along the lines of Sonic Mania only being able to encompass so much as a "return to the classics" title, but "it's always possible in a future title". I can't pull the exact quote right now (on my phone), but it definately sounded like they were planning for more than just Sonic Mania being a lone title.

Imagine if Sonic Mania wasn't just an "anniversary game". It was an "anniversary REBOOT".

 

EDIT: Looked back at a previous post i made where i quoted the stream:

"they might appear in FUTURE CLASSIC SONIC GAMES"

-Referring to Fang's appearance. Sounds to me like they probably have plans.

[Ayliffe]

16 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

Trust me, it's pretty certain more will come. Not 100% as I said, but pretty certain.

Rule of thumb: nothing's guaranteed 'til the sales figures roll in

[Chris Knopps]

12 minutes ago, TailsBot said:

I've watched the reveal trailer many many times. It reveals a "brand new 2d adventure". At no stage does it imply the start of a new series of 2d titles.

Sorry Chris, I can't trust you because - enthusiasm aside - you're completely wrong. 

"As we move forward"

"We're going back"

"THIS IS WHERE IT BEGINS"

I'm gonna laugh when we get more...