One of the ways the dev team captured the feeling of the old games was by simply… porting in old levels. Whoever was in charge of this game finally, for once in the collective lives of Sonic Team, knew what they were doing: making a game where speed and reaction time were the paramount components. Speaking of the gameplay, it plays like the old games, down to the reaction times of the smallest jerk of my finger (I’m playing on the Switch)! 10/10 would recommend for the sheer positive feelings alone (saying nothing of the gameplay or the music or anything else). Sonic the Hedgehog was my gateway drug of gaming, and going back to something that felt so reminiscent of my first gaming experiences was pure, disarming, and just… happiness-inducing. I haven’t felt nostalgia this strongly for something since… ever, probably. Don’t lie), I was flashed back to my childhood: sitting in my 90s garb-plaid tights and white keds-and sipping my Squeeze-it while running from zone to zone in the earlier Sonic games. I turned it on and even from the first, initial blaring of the “SEGA” jingle (I know you just heard it in your brain. If it was possible to choke and die because of nostalgia, this game would have done it.

You’re welcome to judge me after you play this game, you might be right there with me, sobbing into your controller. Words cannot describe how many “yes” buttons this game pressed for me (although I’m damn well going to try), and I will admit that I might have-possibly, maybe-cried. Not only is it chock full of nostalgia, it’s also just a damn good game that’s finally answered the wishes of Sonic fans the world over.) (Assuming you’re not a super-fan like me, and enticed by things like Collector’s Editions, you can pick up this newest great addition for $20. If you’ve ever played/enjoyed the older Sonic the Hedgehog games ( Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and Knuckles ) that were originally released in the early 90s, then drop whatever you’re doing and buy/download Sonic Mania from the e-shop on whichever system you have handy. Sonic Mania is the game Sonic fans have wanted, and that Sonic Team has finally – hallelujah! raise a freaking chorus of angels! – delivered. They’re exactly the same and it’s the best thing ever. Sonic and the gang are back, and they aren’t better than ever.

Sonic mania switch review