Sonic Mania is fine. After all the hype died down and I got to play the game (two weeks late because of some apparently unnecessary PC implimentations), it felt rather mediocre by the time I finished playing. The original content is fun (I’m very fond of the special stage), though some of that even is annoying to me. Then of course is the fact that 70% of the game is “remixed” classic levels, which ultimately is the only thing that really keeps this game from being able to sit alongside the originals. It isn’t a game of its own, and that makes it difficult to return to rather than just play Sonic 2 again.

Overall, I don’t like a lot of the stylistic descisions that were made, I don’t like the Hardboiled Heavies, and I don’t like that various things in it don’t feel like things that would be in a real Sonic sequel circa-1995.

On the other hand, I think this is a very well made game, made with lots of love from the developing teams involved, Tee Lopes’ music is great (I was a fan of him before he was announced for Mania), and I’m fond of the general Sonic CD-ish feel that was heavily prevelent.

No doubt Sega will commission the creation of more “classic” Sonic games in the future to make more money, and I’m hoping Christian Whitehead and co. will be able to bring out something that I can appreciate more sometime.