You have to point out it's in a hidden area though.
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Sonic Mania |OT| Dreams Come True
- Thread starter Hot Coldman
- Start date
You have to point out it's in a hidden area though.
An attract screen wouldn't be much help. Who expects games to have those any more, and why would you put a tutorial there? It's a home console game, not an arcade machine.
The game should have a proper tutorial for players.
Making it through an act is progress. Making it to the boss is progress.
Someone might have no trouble beating the boss if they had two or three lives, but struggle to get there with more than one life left - and then they have to replay the whole zone from the very beginning again.
You can understand that for a game released in 1991, but people don't play games the same way they did back then. They don't get one game every few months and play it over and over again to master it.
They don't see being forced to play through the whole zone again as a challenge to be beaten, they get frustrated with it and play something else instead.
Not everyone grew up with Sonic, or is good at Sonic games. There are people that would probably like the game if they were given a proper tutorial and there weren't so many progress blockers like the time limit or being sent back to the beginning of a zone instead of the current act for running out of lives.
Again: I'm not saying this because I had trouble with it - this is what I'm seeing and hearing from friends that are playing the game.
For some of them it was the "last chance" they were going to give the series, and after hitting the same frustrations they had 20 years ago, they're done with it now and have written it off.
They could have kept the classic gameplay, but still modernized the game.
Sure, the intended way to play is not to slowly explore every bit of the level, but some people manage to get lost, stuck, or backtracking through the level unintentionally.
Finding better routes or ways to get through the levels faster when replaying the game is a personal goal that you can set for yourself. You aren't really rewarded for that in any meaningful way other than maybe a few extra lives or a higher score.
If you are the kind of person who replays these games for that reason, what difference does it make if the time limit is removed?
If someone's way to enjoy the game is to comb over the levels and find everything in them, why not let them enjoy that?
If that person is having fun with the game, instead of getting frustrated with the game, they're more likely to want to replay it and try to find better routes through the levels and get better times.
Oh I've already finished the game a couple of times now and didn't have too much difficulty with it really. The only thing that gave me any trouble was the
Oil Ocean Zone
I'm not amazing at the Sonic games by any means, but I did finish it my first time through without any continues.
But just because I didn't have any trouble with it doesn't mean that I can't see why people would have issues with the classic Sonic design in this day and age.
I don't entirely disagree with some of your points - I've mentioned before in this thread that I think a tutorial stage would've been a nice addition, and (especially with the length of some of the levels in the game) that saving should be per-act and not per zone. I wouldn't even be opposed to the idea of an option to disable the time limit (though I'd argue it should be just that - an option - and probably enabled by default).
But this game, at its basic premise, is not meant to be a "modernization" of classic Sonic. It is meant to be a new classic Sonic game, for fans of classic Sonic games (by the mania, for the mania). If someone just isn't into classic Sonic games, I don't think this game is somehow meant to change their minds - it's just that, but more of it with more polish.
I think it's also really weird that you state that somehow "finding better routes and getting better times" isn't actually part of the game design and is just a personal goal in the same breath as damning the time limit and admitting the game gives you better scores for going fast (not to mention the level design often propels you forward and forces you to progress, and completely blocks you from backtracking or going to other routes if you missed them).
PyroPaperPlanes
Member
To access the true final boss
Egg Reverie
& Knuckles
As far as I know, Tails is the only character not able to access
Egg Reverie
on rerun flying battery zone act 2 wasn't anywhere as bad as my first run after choosing a different route and more or less playing an entirely different level as a result. the boss is a lot easier this time round too, but i still stand by that there's some funky hitboxes going on there. i definitely noticed sonic passing through the boss on occasion.
also finished my first few bonus stages! managed to get lucky and ended up on some of the easier courses.
also finished my first few bonus stages! managed to get lucky and ended up on some of the easier courses.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
It's not that the hitbox itself is weird; it's that the hitbox vanishes while the boss is on recoil (e.g. whenever he bounces off the ground), but there's no visual indicator that this happens.
ah that'll be it then. kinda annoying when trying to follow up with a second attack on the same pole (which can be done) only to careen through the boss's body into the spikes on the other side.
also is anyone else getting a glitch on ps4 where the music'll just cut out? it's happened a few times and it's kind of annoying when the music in this game is so good.
StarCreator
Member
Yes I've had it happen rarely. Didn't happen last night when I was grinding blue spheres though...
Are you serious? And I thought I was done with this game.
What part are you having trouble with?
StarCreator
Member
Hit the body until it dies...?
Where exactly are you having trouble? There have been strategy suggestions across probably the last 10 pages of thread but it all depends on where exactly you're having issue, which character you are playing, etc.
The Xtortionist
Member
What?
Stand on the furthest platform when the boss comes out, and you should be able to dodge projectiles no problem.
hide under the platforms so that most of the attacks won't hit you (and keep jumping so that you don't sink in the oil). position yourself so when the two tentacles rise out that you can get in between and get some good hits. if you're lucky you'll be able to take it down really quickly.
here's a video guide. you don't have to follow this strictly - if you just stay in the oil you should do fine.
Prioritise the orby tentacles that shoot bullets over the boss. Only go for the body once both tentacles are down.
When it ducks below the surface, you should crouch. The jumpy tentacle cannot get you and the lasery tentacle can only get you when it aims low.
When it grabs the platforms, immediately jump for the remaining platform. The oil areas below the platforms it pulls down become death pits for a brief moment. It's weird.
I didn't find the boss hard as Sonic, but did as Knuckles.
Guaranteed! No one ever beat it!
Few options:
Fire shield will deflect the projectiles.
they are avoidable, don't rush in, stand back a bit and dodge, go in for a hit when you are sure there is an opening.
Hit the tentacles once when coming up, back off and dodge.
Celcius
°Temp. member
+1 for is this real? You're just kidding right?
quick, someone go try it
Azure Dream
Member
You can backtrack to the second sub and grab a shield each time you die, if you're having trouble with the Octopus boss. Plus, memorize where it pops up, and jump there at the start of the fight for several free hits.
I can 100% confirm.
balladofwindfishes
Member
I've been through Studiopolis probably 5 times by now and this last time was the first I had seen the lottery machine in Act 2...
I must take the same path over and over or something
I must take the same path over and over or something
Davey Cakes
Member
You have to make that leap of faith and smack it in the head. You'll find yourself in the oil, likely, but it's up to you to get yourself out.
The boss requires some balls. I have to say it was a bit of a thrill but it only took a couple of tries for me. Not overly difficult but one where I'd be surprised if anyone got it on the first go.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
I had to intentionally goof off against it on my 8th playthrough in order to figure out how other people were losing lives to it.
Granted, that's partly because I was already familiar with all of the attack patterns that it uses from the old games.
https://youtu.be/twibO6h2r5s?t=7157
Probably wouldn't have even gotten hit if I hadn't gotten cocky dicking around on the platforms lol
War Raichu
Member
Sonic Mania is the Cuphead of platformers
War Raichu
Member
The fire shield saved your ass good though. Without it you probably would have been hit by the laser balls more than once. Kind of strange how a shield can trivialize a boss like that.
Tyraniboah
Member
You can really trivialize it and cheese the whole thing under the platforms. Just continuously jump out of the oil while under a platform and attack when the opportunity presents itself. The oil is not instantly deadly.
Aaron Strife
Banned
What? I beat the game No Save as Knuckles
& Knuckles
...or maybe I didn't. I'm freaking out, man!
I've gotta say, this is a really fun game. I had high expectations going in, but somehow Sonic Mania has actually exceeded them. It's nostalgic, fresh, and fun.
If you were a Genesis kid in the 90s - this is a must play.
Edit: The music is incredibly good and adds a lot to the overall enjoyment of this game.
If you were a Genesis kid in the 90s - this is a must play.
Edit: The music is incredibly good and adds a lot to the overall enjoyment of this game.
Hey now! Getting to the boss with a fire shield on a blind run also takes skill
especially since I got that shield at the start of the stage and never got hit once ;(
A few bosses can be made way easier with shields - FBZ1 and TMZ2 can be cheesed with thunder shields, for instance, and HCZ2's boss is way easier with a bubble shield.
The Xtortionist
Member
It's a sticky game - really hard to put down. I always liked how classic Sonic games smoothly flow from zone to zone without booting the player out to a world map or anything. Makes it tougher to find a good stopping point.
Davey Cakes
Member
No doubt it's the "feel" of the game.
The physics have always been unique to Sonic. They're very natural and fun to experience. Sonic Mania is by definition a combination of old and new but overall it feels exactly how a Sonic game from the 90s would feel. And honestky, it's close to perfect. So I'm not surprised that gamers, especially those that grew up in the 90s, are so positive about the game. I, personally, could not have asked for a better callback.
Patrick Young
Member
I've finally had a chance to play it.
I love how it looks and runs. Rotating sprites never get old. It's really smooth too.
The only Sonic game I've liked is Sonic CD. I thought for sure I'd get into this, but it just isn't clicking with me. I fired up Sonic CD on Steam to refresh my memory and I think I know why I'm not getting into the new game. CD's levels are more spread out and less "busy"; They had to be for time travel to be possible. I think Sonic's sprite is the same size, but Mania's camera seems closer and makes it harder to go fast.
Speaking of going fast: I can't do it. There's always stuff in your way. You're running really fast and there's a bounce thing pointed the other way. It's so quick and you're still holding right so Sonic slows down. All the players from video reviews are much better than me because I can't run fast.
Sonic CD's music is much better.
Sonic still won't jump straight up on a slope, which doesn't make sense.
It's hard to figure out how to kill some enemies and bosses. Finding out how is more of a guessing game than a thinking game.
I don't think this game is for me.
I love how it looks and runs. Rotating sprites never get old. It's really smooth too.
The only Sonic game I've liked is Sonic CD. I thought for sure I'd get into this, but it just isn't clicking with me. I fired up Sonic CD on Steam to refresh my memory and I think I know why I'm not getting into the new game. CD's levels are more spread out and less "busy"; They had to be for time travel to be possible. I think Sonic's sprite is the same size, but Mania's camera seems closer and makes it harder to go fast.
Speaking of going fast: I can't do it. There's always stuff in your way. You're running really fast and there's a bounce thing pointed the other way. It's so quick and you're still holding right so Sonic slows down. All the players from video reviews are much better than me because I can't run fast.
Sonic CD's music is much better.
Sonic still won't jump straight up on a slope, which doesn't make sense.
It's hard to figure out how to kill some enemies and bosses. Finding out how is more of a guessing game than a thinking game.
I don't think this game is for me.
GodIsOnTheRadio
Member
If you explore the levels thoroughly, you should end up with far more extra lives than the average player. If you run out of time you lose one life and go to the last checkpoint with the clock reset at 0:00, I don't really see the issue with this.
If you never got game over once, I would have to speculate you are in the top 0.1% of players
whitemex88
Member
I wish there was a way to not go super with Knuckles/Tails. Once you get the 50 rings you're screwed and can't glide/fly without activating it first
Go to the game directory (default is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sonic Mania") and open up settings.ini
Change the options in the [Video] section to look like this, with width and height set to match your screen's resolution:
Code:
windowed=y
border=n
exclusiveFS=n
vsync=n
tripleBuffering=n
winWidth=3440
winHeight=1440I think that actually explaining the game mechanics and removing or relaxing the time limit along with continues starting you on the same act rather than restarting the zone would make things much better for new players or people giving Sonic one last chance.
These changes do absolutely nothing for an experienced Sonic player, because they would never encounter either of those problems anyway.
I know two people that have now given up on the game, who might have stuck with it if they didn't keep ending up at an act 2 boss with one one life, dying, and having to repeat the whole zone again. Especially when they die in the boss fight as a result of the timer.
I did not run into those problems, and it sounds like you probably didn't either, but I don't see why people are against making changes that helps those players. Neither of them are going to pick up Mania 2 or probably play another Sonic game again after this.
I mean, you can basically just run right and beat most of the levels in Sonic. That's not going to be the most rewarding or fastest route through the levels, but it's not like exploration is required.
I'm proposing that the game might be more appreciated by other players if they are able to explore the levels without the time limit, if that's how they want to play the game.
Again: it makes no difference to experienced Sonic players, it just makes things a bit more friendly towards new players or people that want to play the game that way.
And people that don't have unlimited time for games, and a backlog of other games they could be playing instead, won't put up with that these days.
A few small tweaks makes the game significantly more friendly towards newer players or people that see playing the same sections of a game over and over again as a waste of their time.
They're working on a patch that'll let you activate Super Sonic/Tails/Knuckles with a separate button, no word on when it comes out though.
The PC version moved Super activation to a separate button (Triangle/Y). Supposed to come in a patch to the console versions too.
Poltergust
Member
Um... stand on an incline in real life and try jumping like you would when you're on a flat surface. You'll basically be doing the exact same thing Sonic is doing.
Sonic's movement is all about momentum and angles. If you build up a lot of speed and jump while going up a slope, you get massive air. Jump when going down a slope and you go nearly horizontal.
If you are having trouble keeping up with the level, just press down and go into ball form when you get thrust into a high-speed area. The physics would take care itself almost all the time, plus you will automatically destroy any enemies you run into.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Jesus, I found it hard to NOT end up on that path. Only now during my Switch run did I make through without seeing a single lotto.
Damn the Sonic Mania soundtrack is insane i would rank it 2nd with Splatoon 2 first and Nier Automata 3rd.
Wonder how Mario Odyssey and Pokemon Ultra fare against em.
PS: (
)
Wonder how Mario Odyssey and Pokemon Ultra fare against em.
PS: (
got some better wireless earbuds today since i always used cheap wired ones i got with my mobile phones and noticed huge improvement to sound quality, headset aint a option cuz of my industrial and helix piercings they slowly destroy those headphone ear pillow things
you like splatoon 2's soundtrack more than mania and automata's?
