Sonic Mania Plus - PlayStation 4

This is how you bring a franchise back to its roots. Sonic Mania has classic gameplay similar to Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic 3, and Sonic 2 for the Genesis. Some memorable zones from those classics are brought back and "remixed" in Mania. The entire game is presented in classic sprite visuals along with modernized music and responsive controls. Levels can move fast, or the player can spend ample time exploring and looking for extra challenges. The game does little to break from classic Sonic, but there a few new ideas such as the scrolling plane section in one zone and jumping between the foreground and background in another. Encore mode, new with the Plus edition, has an interesting character switching and stock mechanic that significantly improves on the classic Sonic and Tails experience. Overall, a solid classic Sonic game. Hopefully Sega produces more games like this, and hopefully they give the developers more business in the future -- they clearly get the Sonic formula.

When Sonic Mania came out in 2017, I could not tell you my excitement for it. It ended up being one of my favorite Sonic games of all time & reminds me what I love of this franchise. Hearing that were not only adding DLC but also producing a Physical Release of this game made me excited once again. Its a fantastic Physical Release, too, especially for Day-1 buyers, who get not only the game+the Encore DLC on-disc in a complete package (For those worried about Digital Loss) but a snazzy Art Book for collectors & fans alike to look over & love. Not to mention, a fun reversible cover to fit right in with the Genesis collections! If you haven't bought this game due to various reasons that don't involve money or not liking Sonic, now is the best time to pick up the greatest 2-D Sonic Game ever made.

I was a teen in the 90's and a lot of my time was spent playing home consoles and arcades. I didn't care what it was on, only if I enjoyed the game. This 100% gives the original Sonic feel and offers even more. While this series hasn't had the best run with a lot of releases, this is definitely the best that's come out since Generations. I've not played Colors, but have heard that one was good as well. This is the same as the regular Sonic Mania with the $5 Encore DLC already prepackaged into one. I still prefer to buy physical, so this was also a huge influence. So yeah, if you love Sonic, want this game with the DLC already included, this one won't let you down. It was made by others that grew up with the series and you can tell they really pumped their heart into it.

I grew up playing the old Sonic games on the Sega Genesis. Sonic games after the Genesis/Sega CD have been lack luster. Then, Sonic Mania came around. I bought Sonic Mania when it came out on digital download. Even though I love the game I wish it had a physical release. Then, about a year later Sonic Mania Plus came out with bonus levels and new characters. Plus, there's a physical copy. And to make it even better, the Sonic Mania Plus slip cover is reversible with a Sega Genesis log on it. I would highly recommend this product for the PS4. I have the digital version for the Xbox One and it lags when the achievement notification pops up. This is great if you loved the original Sonic the Hedgehog games or just want to see what they were all about.

This is probably the best Sonic game on the market right now. If you love the classic Sonic games from the Sega Genesis days (or even the Sonic Advance series), you will not be disappointed with this one. The game is essentially a "remixed" Sonic game with classic levels including a new spin on new zones, bosses, special stages and some unlockables that pay homage to other classic Sonic games. Definitely a must buy if you grew up with the Sonic games, or just enjoy 2D platformers.

2nd best Sonic game ever created. 1st is Sonic 3&K. Ray is definitely now my favorite sonic character. He flies like cape Mario but he is way cooler. Mighty is also tons of fun he might be faster than Sonic gasp! Seriously if you enjoyed the genesis sonic games definitely buy this. The feel and mechanics are exactly the same. The only gripe is no online races in competitive mode. Local multiplayer is so fun, racing against your friends is a blast. Pick it up chao.

If you grew up on the Sonic games of the Genesis-era, this game is for you. The nostalgia will hit you big time, and it is incredibly welcoming. The gameplay is 2D Sonic at its best, and the soundtrack is stellar, and more than worthy of the Sonic brand. Sonic Mania is a passionate tribute to the Sonic games you loved growing up, and a modern achievement in remixing the old with new ideas. Mania proves that 2D Sonic can be fun and relevant in 2018.

If you are an original Sonic the Hedgehog fan, then you will love Sonic Mania. It is well done by a team of Sonic fans and purists. The game uses ideas from Sonic 2 & 3 and Sonic CD and fuses them all together into a new experience that feels very nostalgic for fans of the original releases. You will love this game if you are a retro Sonic fan.