4/5 ★ – nathamilius's review of Sonic Mania.

the game that revitalized the sonic franchise, i was there for it and was there before when the sonic games and franchise at an awkward phase in its life. after the release of sonic lost world nobody was really buzzing about it as it was just sort of a rip off of mario and i feel like thats what every gamer felt like at the time, sonic was just ripping off marios steez. and even sonic colors, the game that felt as if sonic was in a very good and comfortable place, felt as if the sonic team was just stealing mario games ideas. but then that trailer came out for sonic mania with that hyper potions song in the background and then everybody then realized that sonic is not just a mario copy, it is a jacked ass speed platformer whose built off of mario. the game comes out and it really does feel like sonic is a legitamite character and game franchise again. even though i wish there was just more speed like in the sonic rush games, the platforming is there and really puts peoples skills to the test. the drop dash is the best mechanic in the sonic games because it still lets you keep up that momentum whenever you stop and jump. the pixel art is really vibrant and aside from a couple of stages (oil ocean ahem...) , each one is a joy to look at while zipping around. AND THE MUSIC! head bopping booty shaking music, nuff said. its a game that just shouldve had more with it and that is my main problem with the game. there isn't really that much depth with the mechanics and i feel like while the classic formula works, it just kind of runs by kind of basically. a combination of the modern formula mechanics with the polish of the classic style would be the ultra mega collaboration that i could dream of, but instead we get the game that made us remeber how sonic is soo goddamn cool. lets just wish that the sega team keeps this up and no other duds in the line up after this! (sonic forces and frontiers ahem...)