Sonic Mania SPOILERS/Impressions Thread

[Tenko]

Is it a Spider Mobile tho...or even an Egg Spider...it only has 6 legs!! *shock*

[superman43]

8 minutes ago, Tenko said:

Is it a Spider Mobile tho...or even an Egg Spider...it only has 6 legs!! *shock*

Spider + Bumpalo  Eggman has a lot of imagination

[superman43]

Few moments of playing Sonic Mania with Tails as lead character and Sonic as supportive.(Cheat Table)

 

Edit: you can see on the 3rd picture how animation meant for Tails as 2nd player is used on Sonic. (Not to mention that he is waving his hand like crazy.)

I wanted to make a photo of "moonwalk" glitch in the transition from Press Garden Act 1 to Act 2. It applies on the first player character only.

[superman43]

And this confirms that Eggman is a dumb He could have killed Tails immediately. (Setting the "Speed", "Acceleration" bytes high enough in Cheat Table will mess up with this animation.)

It can also mess up Metal Sonic fight quite much. Well, the final phase is the most affected (instant kill when going over the top barrier).

Third thing, with those assets set much higher than normal you can do same things as with Hyper Sonic in S3&K (clip through thin walls etc., but collision is active everywhere, so you might get hit when offscreen).

If you want the cheat table, go to YouTube and find nick "codenamegamma".

[TheOcelot]

One of the new additions I like is the "Cool bonus" you can be awarded at the end of each act (along with time and ring bonus).

To achieve the maximum "Cool" Bonus of 100 points you need to beat each act without getting hit once! Even just losing your shield/elemental shield causes the bonus to drop by a minimum of at least 10. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the classics (I like to finish the levels without being hit once), so naturally I like the inclusion of the Cool bonus-it's a good incentive, but it's hard to achieve thanks to Mania's often complex/chaotic level design.

I've just uploaded a playthrough of the first six zones where I managed to achieve the max 100 Cool bonus in six of the twelve acts and 90 in the other six. Never lost any rings and I only used Super Sonic one time, which was against Metal Sonic (using Super Sonic does not cause the Cool bonus to drop).

 

[CleverSonicUsername]

As someone who gets more out of seeing if they can beat a level without getting hit, and seeing how many rings they can collect, rather than speedrun, I also really like the cool bonus. It validates that sort of playthrough in the way the classics didn't.

[Cyalume]

Ran through all the levels using the cheat table. Here's a list of level ID's that I've gathered together.
 

 

0- SEGA/Gamestart
1- Title Screen
2- Main Menu
3- Thanks for Playing
4- Level Select
5- Credits
6- Continue Screen
7- Beta Green Hill
8- Beta Studiopolis
9- Green Hill Zone, Act 1
10- Green Hill Zone, Act 2
11- Chemical Plant Zone, Act 1
12- Chemical Plant Zone, Act 2
13- Studiopolis Zone, Act 1
14- Studiopolis Zone, Act 2
15- Flying Battery Zone, Act 1
16- Flying Battery Zone, Act 2
17- Press Garden Zone, Act 1
18- Press Garden Zone, Act 2
19- Stardust Speedway Zone, Act 1
20- Stardust Speedway Zone, Act 2
21- Stardust Speedway Act 2 Boss
22- Hydrocity Zone Act 1
23- Hydrocity Zone Act 2
24- Mirage Saloon Zone (Sonic/Tails), Act 1
25- Mirage Saloon Zone (Knuckles), Act 1
26- Mirage Saloon Zone, Act 2
27- Oil Ocean Zone, Act 1
28- Oil Ocean Zone, Act 2
29- Lava Reef Zone, Act 1
30- Lava Reef Zone, Act 2
31- Lava Reef Zone Act 2 Boss
32- Metallic Madness Zone, Act 1
33- Metallic Madness Zone, Act 2
34- Titanic Monarch Zone, Act 1
35- Titanic Monarch Zone, Act 2
36- Titanic Monarch Zone Act 2 Boss
37- Egg Reverie
38- Special Stage 1
39- Special Stage 2
40- Special Stage 3
41- Special Stage 4
42- Special Stage 5
43- Special Stage 6
44- Special Stage 7
45- Blue Sphere 1
46- Blue Sphere 2
47- Blue Sphere 3
48- Blue Sphere 4
49- Blue Sphere 5
50- Blue Sphere 6
51- Blue Sphere 7
52- Blue Sphere 8
53- Blue Sphere 9
54- Blue Sphere 10
55- Blue Sphere 11
56- Blue Sphere 12
57- Blue Sphere 13
58- Blue Sphere 14
59- Blue Sphere 15
60- Blue Sphere 16
61- Blue Sphere 17
62- Blue Sphere 18
63- Blue Sphere 19
64- Blue Sphere 20
65- Blue Sphere 21
66- Blue Sphere 22
67- Blue Sphere 23
68- Blue Sphere 24
69- Blue Sphere 25
70- Blue Sphere 26
71- Blue Sphere 27
72- Blue Sphere 28
73- Blue Sphere 29
74- Blue Sphere 30
75- Blue Sphere 31
76- Blue Sphere 32
77- Blue Sphere 33?
78- Blue Sphere 34?
79- Mean Bean Machine
80- D.A. Garden
81- Cutscene: Angel Island
82- Cutscene: Green Hill Warp In
83- Cutscene: HBH + Eggman, following Green Hill Zone Act 2 Boss
84- Cutscene: Mirage Saloon, Act 1 [Knuckles]
85- Cutscene: Stardust Speedway Time Warp to Good Future
86- Try Again (not enough emeralds)
87- Ending Cutscene (not enough emeralds): Sonic
88- Ending Cutscene: Tails
89- Ending Cutscene: Knuckles
90- Good Ending: Sonic
91- Knuckles & Knuckles

[Multikaris]

13 minutes ago, Cyalume said:

Ran through all the levels using the cheat table. Here's a list of level ID's that I've gathered together.
 

  Hide contents

0- SEGA/Gamestart
1- Title Screen
2- Main Menu
3- Thanks for Playing
4- Level Select
5- Credits
6- Continue Screen
7- Beta Green Hill
8- Beta Studiopolis
9- Green Hill Zone, Act 1
10- Green Hill Zone, Act 2
11- Chemical Plant Zone, Act 1
12- Chemical Plant Zone, Act 2
13- Studiopolis Zone, Act 1
14- Studiopolis Zone, Act 2
15- Flying Battery Zone, Act 1
16- Flying Battery Zone, Act 2
17- Press Garden Zone, Act 1
18- Press Garden Zone, Act 2
19- Stardust Speedway Zone, Act 1
20- Stardust Speedway Zone, Act 2
21- Stardust Speedway Act 2 Boss
22- Hydrocity Zone Act 1
23- Hydrocity Zone Act 2
24- Mirage Saloon Zone (Sonic/Tails), Act 1
25- Mirage Saloon Zone (Knuckles), Act 1
26- Mirage Saloon Zone, Act 2
27- Oil Ocean Zone, Act 1
28- Oil Ocean Zone, Act 2
29- Lava Reef Zone, Act 1
30- Lava Reef Zone, Act 2
31- Lava Reef Zone Act 2 Boss
32- Metallic Madness Zone, Act 1
33- Metallic Madness Zone, Act 2
34- Titanic Monarch Zone, Act 1
35- Titanic Monarch Zone, Act 2
36- Titanic Monarch Zone Act 2 Boss
37- Egg Reverie
38- Special Stage 1
39- Special Stage 2
40- Special Stage 3
41- Special Stage 4
42- Special Stage 5
43- Special Stage 6
44- Special Stage 7
45- Blue Sphere 1
46- Blue Sphere 2
47- Blue Sphere 3
48- Blue Sphere 4
49- Blue Sphere 5
50- Blue Sphere 6
51- Blue Sphere 7
52- Blue Sphere 8
53- Blue Sphere 9
54- Blue Sphere 10
55- Blue Sphere 11
56- Blue Sphere 12
57- Blue Sphere 13
58- Blue Sphere 14
59- Blue Sphere 15
60- Blue Sphere 16
61- Blue Sphere 17
62- Blue Sphere 18
63- Blue Sphere 19
64- Blue Sphere 20
65- Blue Sphere 21
66- Blue Sphere 22
67- Blue Sphere 23
68- Blue Sphere 24
69- Blue Sphere 25
70- Blue Sphere 26
71- Blue Sphere 27
72- Blue Sphere 28
73- Blue Sphere 29
74- Blue Sphere 30
75- Blue Sphere 31
76- Blue Sphere 32
77- Blue Sphere 33?
78- Blue Sphere 34?
79- Mean Bean Machine
80- D.A. Garden
81- Cutscene: Angel Island
82- Cutscene: Green Hill Warp In
83- Cutscene: HBH + Eggman, following Green Hill Zone Act 2 Boss
84- Cutscene: Mirage Saloon, Act 1 [Knuckles]
85- Cutscene: Stardust Speedway Time Warp to Good Future
86- Try Again (not enough emeralds)
87- Ending Cutscene (not enough emeralds): Sonic
88- Ending Cutscene: Tails
89- Ending Cutscene: Knuckles
90- Good Ending: Sonic
91- Knuckles & Knuckles

The "& Knuckles" ending being labeled 91, is that another Easter Egg?

[Cyalume]

Just now, Miragnarok said:

The "& Knuckles" ending being labeled 91, is that another Easter Egg?

The ending itself is an easter egg; Not sure if its level ID being 91 has any significance.

[Zippo]

Something I only just found out. The Heavy King boss in the Hidden Palace is counted as its own level in the game. There's even data in the game that shows an "Act 3" sprite. I wonder "Lava Reef Act 3" and "Egg Reverie Zone" titles will be patched in.

Also, that brings our final level count to 27, as Knuckles gets two exclusive stages to himself.

[Sean]

I think I may have a problem.

[molul]

Awesome O_o

I only finished the game with Sonic and Tails. I have started with the rest but I'm taking it easy. This weekend I might finish the game with Knuckles.

[Pawn]

This has to be the funniest use of Debug Mode yet (16:29):

 

[JezMM]

5 hours ago, Zippo said:

Something I only just found out. The Heavy King boss in the Hidden Palace is counted as its own level in the game. There's even data in the game that shows an "Act 3" sprite. I wonder "Lava Reef Act 3" and "Egg Reverie Zone" titles will be patched in.

Also, that brings our final level count to 27, as Knuckles gets two exclusive stages to himself.

Lava Reef Act 3 is just a technicality since it's a seperate map, technically Stardust Speedway does the same thing so it's odd that it doesn't show up here in the same way.

I'd love Egg Reverie's title to get patched in (and for it to be selectable from file select - alongside individual acts), but I guess it would kind of get in the way of the action if you put the title in when the player gains control of Super Sonic (and if you did it beforehand it'd be kind of oddly paced compared to other zones that begin with cut-scenes).

[BlueFlare]

Wow, @Sean!

I beat the Steam version with Sonic, Tails and Knux with all emeralds. I've been thinking of playing Sonic & Tails as well, but just haven't had much time to sit down and play in the last week or so. But damn, is this game good! I feel like there's so much to explore still.

[superman43]

23 hours ago, Zippo said:

Something I only just found out. The Heavy King boss in the Hidden Palace is counted as its own level in the game. There's even data in the game that shows an "Act 3" sprite. I wonder "Lava Reef Act 3" and "Egg Reverie Zone" titles will be patched in.

Also, that brings our final level count to 27, as Knuckles gets two exclusive stages to himself.

Well, if you wanted to be technically right, you should add Stardust Speedway 2M (Metal fight), Titanic Monarch 3 (final boss) as they are in Level Select in Dev Menu. And at least the metal fight has more complex structure than Hidden Palace.

By the way, Heavy Rider fight is almost right above the Heavy King fight in the Emerald Shrine. So, Knuckles has only one exclusive stage.

[superman43]

So, after a lot of time I managed to get King of Speed achievement. With Tails, taking the super ring, getting Super Tails and following the lowest possible route I managed to get just above 53 seconds.

[Cornelius Fudge]

Just now, superman43 said:

So, after a lot of time I managed to get King of Speed achievement. With Tails, taking the super ring, getting Super Tails and following the lowest possible route I managed to get just above 53 seconds.

I have the Switch version, so what does the achievement entail?

[superman43]

1 minute ago, Cornelius Fudge said:

I have the Switch version, so what does the achievement entail?

You have to complete the Stardust Speedway Act 2 (up to when it fades to take you to Metal Sonic arena) under 1 minute.

[TheOcelot]

I really like Titanic Monarch's act2 boss. I know it's an unused Sonic CD boss concept and I like it's design. It's a good challenge and unlike some of the other act2 bosses it's fair. If you have a lightning shield (or Super Sonic obviously) then it's a breeze. Even if you don't, as long as you are careful and patient it's straightforward to beat without taking damage (especially once you learn how to avoid the HBH attacks). 

I think it's a shame they decided to re-use S&K Death Egg boss (the first sequence of it) for TM's act1 boss. TM being the final zone in Mania should at least have had an original boss fight for the first act. 

Whilst I like the many secret areas of act1's design and how the level vertically rises, I wish the main path wasn't so linear. I appreciate act2 is also linear, but it's feels slightly shorter and less boring than the first act.

When it comes to final zones, Death Egg from S&K is still way more enjoyable than Titanic Monarch. The build up to Death Egg-transition cutscene with TM not having a cutscene prior to the zone starting also makes a big difference.  

I don't like the dark red foreground color of TM in act1. Doesn't work well-clashes with the other colors.

[Mark1]

Loving the nod to Sonic Colours in Studiopolis Act 1! Cannot believe I didn't see it until now. 

Spoiler

Good! Great! Awesome! Outstanding! Amazing!

 

[A super No.1 washedupgamer]

So I came up with a zone transition from the penultimate level in mania to the final level.

  Hide contents

Sonic chases eggman down a corridor in metallic madness zone only for him to jump in an elevator up to titanic monarch. In the background, the heavies can be seen approaching the monarch as well. Tails then flies in to lift sonic up the elevator shaft and up to the titanic monarch.

 

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Lava reef zone too. After beating heavy rider, sonic and tails spin dash down a tall slope and hits a ramp that launches them into the sky and they land on the chain to little planet, mimicking the end of the sonic cd intro.

 

 

  Hi

[superman43]

7 hours ago, A Hyper KING heavy engine said:

So I came up with a zone transition from the penultimate level in mania to the final level.

  Hide contents

  Hide contents

Sonic chases eggman down a corridor in metallic madness zone only for him to jump in an elevator up to titanic monarch. In the background, the heavies can be seen approaching the monarch as well. Tails then flies in to lift sonic up the elevator shaft and up to the titanic monarch.

 

  Hide contents

  Hide contents

Lava reef zone too. After beating heavy rider, sonic and tails spin dash down a tall slope and hits a ramp that launches them into the sky and they land on the chain to little planet, mimicking the end of the sonic cd intro.

  Hi

My transitions:

Flying Battery -> Press Garden: Jumping off the FB to land on the chimney of Press Garden

Stardust Speedway -> Hydrocity: 1) They find Past Time Plate and there is Eggman waiting on the circuit around the main cathedral (Eggman statue doesn't exist yet). Eggman drops Sonic/Tails/Knuckles in a similar manner to how Knuckles takes down the bridge in Sonic 3, whilst holding Phantom Ruby. In mid-air heroes would be warped to Hydrocity.

2) Heroes find a giant rocket similar to the one found in the zone itself and it takes them halfway to Angel Island. When the rocket burns out, Sonic/Tails/Knuckles falls down straight into Hydrocity.

Hydrocity -> Mirage Saloon: First part similar to Sonic 3's Hydrocity -> Marble Garden transition, with heroes ending in Angel Island and taking off the Tornado.

Oil Ocean -> Lava Reef: There might be possibly some tube that goes from Oil Ocean to Lava Reef (this may be true due to Lava Pool behind the start that can be visible with Debug Mode, spawning Goal Posts).

Lava Reef -> Metallic Madness: As Knuckles

Metallic Madness -> Titanic Monarch: Heroes find an exit from the crazy Eggman base to find Eggman and HBH going to a giant robot encompassed by few buildings. 

[Tenko]

I don't think they would need to find a past sign at the end of Stardust Speedway, as they are already in the present, the Phantom Ruby warped them to the past version of Stardust Speedway for Act 1 and they returned to the present by using the future sign during the warping cutscene after Act 1's boss. Act 2 and the Metal Sonic boss take place in the present so no need to do any more warping to move to Hydrocity.

[superman43]

2 minutes ago, Tenko said:

I don't think they would need to find a past sign at the end of Stardust Speedway, as they are already in the present, the Phantom Ruby warped them to the past version of Stardust Speedway for Act 1 and they returned to the present by using the future sign during the warping cutscene after Act 1's boss. Act 2 and the Metal Sonic boss take place in the present so no need to do any more warping to move to Hydrocity.

So in that case I would do the rocket launch. As there are many rockets that can be used throughout the Act 2, there might be a larger one in boss area