Let me quickly answer the inevitable: when watching that 25th Anniversary event for "Sonic the Hedgehog" at Comic-Con in 2016, did I, a gamer born in the 3D era merely watching (or, half-watching while playing "Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time") to get a look at the next 3D "Sonic" title, really expect that the best thing to come from that event would be a game that was essentially an amalgamation of 2D-era "Sonic" stages re-done for a new generation? No way, man, I was all about that totally not abhorrent Totino's Stuffed Nachos product placement (which, I...admittedly fell for because I tried the Stuffed Nachos and...I honestly liked them). But in all seriousness, I was so intrigued (and, to some degree, confused) by "Project Sonic 2017" (which later became "Sonic Forces," of course) to the point that "Sonic Mania" kind of faded into the background for me. I'd honestly forgotten about it until it was confirmed for a Nintendo Switch release sometime later at the Nintendo Switch Presentation in 2017. Little did I know at the time that I'd not only have more fun with "Sonic Mania" than "Sonic Forces," but that I'd come to see "Sonic Mania" as one of the most rip-roaring, off-the-wall, and best Sonic games I've played.
"Sonic Mania," through and through, is a love letter to the "Classic Era" of "Sonic the Hedgehog," and even the tiniest details scream out "passion." The visuals are absolutely breathtaking, the game is just bursting with vibrant colors and great attention to detail, and the overall art design is just a marvel to observe. The music, as is the case with many "Sonic" games, remains catchy, immediate, and all-around fantastic, and it's great to see that the music feels fresh, while retaining the spirit of what made these original songs so iconic. And the gameplay is equally fantastic: the physics are refined, the speed and platforming are mostly great, and while the game does spend a good bit of its time kicking you in uncomfortable areas with its difficulty, it's still so easy to become hypnotized by the clever and inventive level design that serves to remind us why the 2D "Sonic" games were such compelling competitors to "Super Mario Bros." back in the fourth generation of gaming.
I will say there are a few things holding this game the smallest bit back: while it's a loving re-creation of 2D "Sonic," it brings about several frustrations and annoyances from that era. This means the game still suffers from some occasionally bothersome trial-and-error gameplay, as well as the overly frustrating bosses that almost seem to have "fake difficulty" written somewhere on them. Also, maybe this is me making a mountain out of a molehill, but I can't be the only one frustrated that, if you get a "game over" in Act 2 of a Zone, you'll HAVE to play and beat Act 1 again, right? Sega, if you plan to make another game in this style, please remove that feature. I appreciate the commitment to faithfulness, but refinement is a nice thing, too.
All things told, though, "Sonic Mania" is easily one of the best "Sonic" games that I've played in a while, and perhaps one of the best games in the series. It may be odd saying that about a game like this, but this is nearly everything a "Sonic" game should be, and while I'm not sure if Sega is going to continue to try their hand at new 2D "Sonic" experiences, I can definitely say "Sonic Mania" lays a great foundation for them if they plan to keep going with it.
Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"