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[Valkyri von Thanatos]

The shading on the characters is way, way overdone. Knuckles is practically pink and all the characters have a desaturated plastic-y look that's gross and not particularly Sonic-esque.

I don't have a big issue with it, but I do agree it looks a little strange. I would prefer Sonic's and Knuckles' sprites to be a little darker blue and red, but it's mostly fine. What matters most of course is the gameplay, and the team has definitely gotten me excited about that, it really looks like they've nailed it.

If this is a launch game for Switch, I would be tempted to get it at launch. I would probably still wait for a more portable version of the Switch with a presumably better battery in 1 and a half or 2 years, but Sonic Mania would tempt me more than BotW since I have a Wii U I can still get a bit of more use out of. Metroid Prime 4 is about the only game that I can think of that'd 100% make me skip the wait and get the first version of the Switch, but that's getting beside the point.

I just have to say, Sonic Mania looks so good, and I hope it has enough success to make an entirely original sequel appealing to SEGA. Let's title that one Sonic 4 though .

Edit:

Oh yeah, it's cool Taxman has gotten to make the Dust Hill tribute he wanted to put in Sonic CD. I think a couple people here were guessing that'd be one of the new zones, and it looks like they were right?

I hope the Fall 2017 Sonic game just has Sonic Team stick to its strengths with Sonic Generations and not try to over reach. I'd like them to make the gameplay more open again, but a repeat of Generations would be great as well, even if the levels are really repetitive after a while because of the lack of freedom and reactivity.

I'm torn between wanting them to expand the formula, and not wanting them to stretch past their limit and make a game that experiments and fails like so many others before. I wonder if the Switch version of that game is the base version, and they are up-porting the game to XB1 and PS4.

I was thinking that since the Switch seems to have a very standard control scheme and a modern architecture that unlike the Wii, it could potentially get some third parties develop for it first and up-port the games to the other consoles, which would work out better than down-porting games made first for the other two. Sonic seems like a good fit for that strategy, since it doesn't really seem to need to be a super impressive graphical showcase, it just needs to run snappy.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I'm very much digging the aesthetics of Mirage Saloon, there is indeed a Saloon.
Though I guess it would be hoping too much for Sonic to be washed down tubes of booze ala Hydrocity Zone.

He gets fired out of a giant revolver, I think that's enough really

 

[Nocturnowl]

He gets fired out of a giant revolver, I think that's enough really

I actually missed this as I'm trying to avoid seeing too much of the level design, neato.

 

[Shaneus]

"What are the big rings for again?"

Ugh.

 

[Zubz]

So who the hell are you? It looks like a big Egg Robo, but instead of a cape it has a big yellow beard with a crown on the front of it. The eyes follow you. The head looks like Metal Sonic: blue, spike on top, black eyes with red irises.

This portrait hangs above the end of the level. I'm guessing this Egg Robo is the main villain of the game ala Knuckle's story in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

I, uh... I guess we haven't actually seen Robotnik yet, have we? Just pictures of him Studiopolis, but you can just make a case that Robotnik prepared these stages despite not being the boss.

That said, I'm assuming that, based on the watching eyes, this robot is the Mirage Saloon boss, rather than a final boss.

 

[RagnarokX]

I, uh... I guess we haven't actually seen Robotnik yet, have we? Just pictures of him Studiopolis, but you can just make a case that Robotnik prepared these stages despite not being the boss.

That said, I'm assuming that, based on the watching eyes, this robot is the Mirage Saloon boss, rather than a final boss.

Well there are reasons I think it's more likely the game's boss. The big one is that it looks like Metal Sonic and Egg Robo merged together or something into something that has too strong a design to not be that important. It doesn't look themed to the stage, making it feel like it's not a stage-specific boss. And this is Act 2, so it shouldn't be a miniboss. As a return to the classic design I would hope they return to classic boss structure as well. I really miss the kinds of bosses we had in Sonic 1, 2, and 3. If this is the boss of the Zone that would might a more Game Gear/Modern Sonic approach. Though it could also be like the Metal Sonic race in CD or the Knuckles fight in S3K.

Also, is it just me or does Tails' flying sprite look weird?

His tails are at too much of an angle so it makes it look like he's flying sideways, and his pose looks like someone getting a wedgie.

 

[Monado Blade]

Oh god. The comments on that video are the worst. Sexual tension? Gimme a break.

Game looks fantastic though and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

 

[J@hranimo]

Also, is it just me or does Tails' flying sprite look weird?

His tails are at too much of an angle so it makes it look like he's flying sideways, and his pose looks like someone getting a wedgie.

I actually like it. It gives off a more cartoonish, stylish look to it. I guess it's just personal preferences.

Also after re-watching the video I think Tails might have the best animations of all 3. His tails flow so much midair now it's pretty incredible looking.

 

[konjak]

Some people in here seem to amount to this:

The sprites are original - they didn't simply reuse Sonic 3 sprites - so it looks wrong.

At least in the way the comparisons are made. I like love how this looks. More colorful and more animation frames.

 

[JackelZXA]

I actually like it. It gives off a more cartoonish, stylish look to it. I guess it's just personal preferences.

Also after re-watching the video I think Tails might have the best animations of all 3. His tails flow so much midair now it's pretty incredible looking.

I'm just glad we FINALLY have a new classic style Tails sprite.

Knuckles reminds me a lot of his chaotix version, but drawn better.

I wonder if this stage counts as "New" or "Reimagined"?

Sonic 2 Hidden Palace Zone should be in. That level would benefit SO MUCH from the sonic mania style lighting style they draw with. (It'd be a great fanservice and a good underground stage to pick)

I hope we get Fully Playable Classic Vector as DLC!!

 

[Dusk Golem]

So she confirmed there's 7 remixed Zones. There's 14 levels right there since assuming all have 2 acts. Assuming there's 7 new zones that's 24 levels. Let's throw in that there's probably two smaller hidden zones when you get all the chaos emeralds, that's 26.

Sega said there will be more remixed zones than new zones.

The level select screen makes it look like there's 12 zones total. That'd be 7 remixed zones and 5 new zones.

 

[Verder]

this is the real sonic 4 guys

thank you sega

 

[jasminlovesyoux]

Damn. This looks so perfect. I'm thrilled!!!!!!!!

 

[JackelZXA]

The level select screen makes it look like there's 12 zones total. That'd be 7 remixed zones and 5 new zones.

The level select zone could change. If you're familiar with fan mods, alot can fit into that level select menu. There's also the chance that some zones will have 1 or 3 acts instead of 2. Sonic CD's been the only one with a consistent 7 zones with 3 acts each.

 

[Jimnymebob]

I'm not really sure how many zones I want. Sonic 2 had the perfect amount out of the classic games in my opinion. Sonic 1 always felt too short, and Sonic 3&K drags on a bit, and there are quite a few of dull stages in that that I wouldn't have missed.

Obviously the more the better, but I'd prefer quality over quantity.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I, uh... I guess we haven't actually seen Robotnik yet, have we? Just pictures of him Studiopolis, but you can just make a case that Robotnik prepared these stages despite not being the boss.

That said, I'm assuming that, based on the watching eyes, this robot is the Mirage Saloon boss, rather than a final boss.

I'm reasonably confident this level's boss is going to be Fang the Sniper.

 

[Alpha_eX]

Yeah, this looks great. Would be cool if Mighty and Fang showed up as cameos (not posters) in the Desert level. A fang sniper boss would be cool.

Loving how Knuckles looks and just the feel of it all in general, I'm hyped for a Sonic game again.

 

[BrunOz]

goddamn, this is shaping up to be the best Sonic game ever, can't wait!

Spoiler

I wish CAPCOM did this same treatment with Megaman X

 

[Wireframe]

Came for the new footage, stayed for the sexual tension.

 

[Intel_89]

The level design still seems pretty all over the place, I'm a fan of everything else though.

 

[Klart]

This is Sonic.

 

[ScientificPizza]

what happens when the sonic cycle breaks

 

[Tizoc]

what happens when the sonic cycle breaks

Its been broken for quite some time now

 

[Peter Sjöstrand]

While the level design in Mania looks a bit closer to Sonic CD than I'd like, they really nailed the visuals. Gorgeous game.

 

[Yoshi]

Hold it, there's a CRT filter ? Fuck this shit, I'm soooo iiiiiiin.

I never understood this. These CRT modes never look like playing on a CRT and afterall, if you want it to look like playing on a CRT,w hy not just play it on one? Afterall, there are converters for the video signal from HDMI that allow that (because Sony and MS deny us any CRT compatible output).

 

[Yoshi]

Is it really that hard to just pay the price of admission, ride the ride, and move on with your day?

Do you not go to the movies, or to amusement parks, or any form of entertainment that involves that doesn't allow you take what you consume with you?

By buying it as a download you send the signal it's Ok to only release it as a download, which it of course is not. Also, you'll have to buy it a second time in case it does come out on disc (or cartridge, hopefully, should they make a Switch version) later on. If I don't happen to review it, I will definitely wait until I have some promotional balance or it is really cheap. However, had they done a retail release, I would gladly have payed 70€ or more to get this.

 

[nerdbot]

Mirage Saloon looks so good. I think what makes Sonic Mania work and have an identity and not feel like a weird Nostalgia Cash-In is that it's very much a love letter to Sega platformers in general, it's a big Sega Saturn tribute and Sonic's the front man. Mirage Saloon gives me big Ristar and Bug vibes. I love the tweening animation on the giant Eggrobo gun cannon--not very Sonic, but VERY Sega Saturn.

I'm pretty curious what the other throwback stages are gonna be besides Green Hill and I was really surprised to see them announce a brand new stage before showing off an old one. I think Stardust Speedway's gonna be a given, Sega's been teasing that one forever with Generations and Sonic 4 both sort-of-featuring it. Casino Night too, probably. Aside from those two I'm not sure what else they'll do though.

My crazy dream is that if Stardust Speedway is in, they do a Metal Sonic fight, but it changes to Tails Doll or Metal Knuckles as a character sensitive thing. I'm also the vocal weirdo who would love to see the Sonic Advance Amy gameplay style done right with her classic design as DLC or something.

There's also part of me hoping that even though they've said "Sonic 1-3&K and CD stages" that 2017 might be the year that the concept of "Robotnik Winter Zone" may finally be fully realized.

 

[R_thanatos]

Well as expected the animations are really good.

And i like that the levels are not small . it really adds replayability.

Very hyped

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

While the level design in Mania looks a bit closer to Sonic CD than I'd like, they really nailed the visuals. Gorgeous game.

The level design looks perfect to me

 

[Eblo]

New gameplay footage of Knuckles in Mirage Saloon from Polygon, in 60FPS

 

[Tizoc]

New gameplay footage of Knuckles in Mirage Saloon from Polygon, in 60FPS

Thanks, gonna make a new thread for this since it features Mirage Saloon's theme

 

[The Lamonster]

New gameplay footage of Knuckles in Mirage Saloon from Polygon, in 60FPS

CRT filter again Are you guys into it? I want to play in dat bright, crisp HD.

Also, I can't tell if there is a lot of screen tearing or that indoor square background just looks like screen tearing...

 

[Dead End Irony]

Loving it. I hope we get tons of zones. The music for the new stage is as good as Studiopolis. Great sign of things to come.

 

[theSlacker]

I actually like it. It gives off a more cartoonish, stylish look to it. I guess it's just personal preferences.

That seems to be the case with all the things that I think look "odd" or "off" in a way. That it's just more of a cartoonish style. Like you said, I don't think it's a better or worse thing, just personal preference which makes me think it looks off.

 

[Sciz]

I'm also the vocal weirdo who would love to see the Sonic Advance Amy gameplay style done right with her classic design as DLC or something.

Not as crazy as it sounds. There's a series of hacks that implements her into Sonic 1-3&K with a slightly brushed up moveset and they're fun as hell.

 

[UncleSporky]

Well to repost it again here:

I do like that it looks more like he is hanging from his tails. Like they are keeping him aloft and he's dangling limply from them like a kid holding onto a balloon.

Look at the old sprite, he's not hanging from them at all, he's just kind of bunched up, bending his leg and all.

However, I think the lines of the tail, arm and leg combine to form an uncomfortable tangent, visually. Like a ball with 3 sticks stickin' out of it.

 

[Solid SOAP]

This looks better than the classics, idgaf

 

[JackelZXA]

CRT filter again Are you guys into it? I want to play in dat bright, crisp HD.

Also, I can't tell if there is a lot of screen tearing or that indoor square background just looks like screen tearing...

I'm not really into CRT effects because it never actually feels like looking at a real CRT. I naturally dim my monitor a little bit so I'm already compensating for the effect the crt effects are going for, but even then it still never looks perfect.

 

[Mistle]

man this looks good. those sprites!

 

[Chaotix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMF38atYDOU

Funky