Like the original trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, Mighty and Ray also have unique abilities that can be utilised within gameplay. The development team has done well to take some obscure cult-favourites and bring them to the forefront for another shot in the limelight. The biggest upgrade is the inclusion of two returning characters, Ray the Flying Squirrel and Mighty the Armadillo, who both first featured in a relatively unknown arcade game, SegaSonic the Hedgehog. With 12 zones, each divided up into two acts, this is a joy to play from start to end, but what puts the Plus in Sonic Mania Plus? The aim is to get to the end of the stage in a fast time, grabbing rings and bopping on enemies. The familiarity for retro gamers holding right and pressing 'A' is still there. Characters are in 2D and move and explore in a world painted with scaled up 16-bit style textures, all of which ensures it has an old-school retro charm. At first glance, Sonic Mania Plus is a sprite-based affair that looks like it would be at home sitting in a SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive.

Those old enough to remember Sonic in his prime will be instantly thrown back a few decades, with audio and visual cues that transcend time.Ĭubed3 reviewed Sonic Mania in 2017 and praised it for its fresh ideas and inclusion of new elements. Going into this experience, many would be forgiven for thinking that this is a run of the mill nostalgia trip for those trapped in time only remembering the 16-bit games that they were brought up playing. Instead, Sonic Mania Plus truly harkens back to the original Genesis / Mega Drive games spanning from the first Sonic, all the way to Sonic & Knuckles. Those looking for a review on the value as a standalone DLC package can check out Cubed3's review of the DLC alone, but for now, the focus is on the full shebang.Ģ017 was not the first time SEGA has tried to resurrect the blue blur's 2D adventures, in fact Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Rush and Sonic Generations did their best to appease those who demanded side-scrolling bliss. This review considers those who have not yet purchased the digital version and are looking at Sonic Mania with fresh eyes. However, the cartridge is needed at all times to play with any of the additional DLC content. For those who are double-dipping from the original digital version and purchasing the game physically, then never fear, all save states are playable with the new physical copy. Sonic Mania Plus can be purchased as additional DLC (£3.99/$4.99) or a physical package.

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