This may just be the Sonic game you've been waiting for.
Even though he's never really left the gaming scene, it feels like it's been 20 years since we got a truly notable Sonic game. That time period hasn't been devoid of good Sonic games, but there hasn't been a Sonic title that's come close to matching the brilliance of the blue hedgehog's first few outings.
Defeated by the ravages of time and technological progress, Sega and developer Sonic Team recently decided to simply get back where they once belonged and create Sonic Mania, a collection of the first three Sonic games that features enhanced and brand-new content.
IGNrecently got their hands on the game at PAX and were kind enough to post a seven-minute video filled to the brim with sweet Sonic gameplay.
This video is a rather compelling argument for the merits of revisiting the classic style of Sonic game design. While it's easy to appreciate all of the new things displayed in this video (the new levels look incredible, the new moves feel like they fit right into the original game, that new music is instantly classic, etc.), what really sets Sonic Mania apart from previous dips back into the characters golden age are the little things.
For instance, the sound design feels like it's trying to replicate what Sega CD technology was capable of achieving at its highest performance level rather than what modern technology can produce. The animations are certainly better across the board, but not so much better that they detract from your ability to believe that this is old-school Sonic. Every little thing in the game feels like it was designed with real purpose. It's becoming increasingly clear that the purpose of Sonic Mania may just be to help Sega determine if there is a viable market for new Sonic games in the old-school style, similar to what Capcom did with Mega Man 9.
Sonic Mania is set to release in 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
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