Newniverse
Member
It's been awhile since I looked into the rumors of the game. What all stages are rumored in the community to be returning? I've heard rumors of Marble Garden Zone due to some of the objects from that stage being in the game.
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Sonic Mania - Special Stages, Bonus Stages, & Time Attack Shown Off
- Thread starter Dusk Golem
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ChamplooJones
Formerly Momotaro
And bring back Richard Jacques for the music.
It's the opposite - most people are assuming that, if a zone's level-specific gimmick is in another stage in Mania, that stage probably won't also be in Mania. So, for instance, Marble Garden is probably out because the vertical pillars from Act 2 that Sonic can run around can be found in Stardust Speedway in Mania.
You can process-of-elimination out a bunch of stages this way, but the only stage I know of that people believe is likely in but unannounced is Hydrocity due to a piece of fan art posted (then deleted immediately) by a Mania artist.
MiamiWesker
Member
This is a dream come true.
Yeah, I think it's still a bit harder to sell it's usefulness to the casual audience than something like Tails' and Knuckle's abilities, but at least the benefit is more directly obvious than the insta-shield.
Newniverse
Member
Thanks! I'm honestly hoping for Marble Garden Zone. It's my favorite stage. But if I cant have that, Hydrocity Zone or Mushroom Hill Zone will do!
I think Hydrocity is the safest bet. It's the most popular zone in Sonic 3 and we haven't seen a dedicated water level in the game yet
Hot Coldman
Banned
The special stages having the spheres from 3&K, the UFO and general feel of CD, the ring gathering of 2 and the weird background details of 1 (yo they made a polygonal model of the green bird!!!!!) is just perfect.
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
HOLY SHIT BLUE SPHERES GAME OF THE FOREVER I'M CRYING I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW
Haha, I remember posting on GAF a year ago, right after the first Mania trailer debuted, how the Drop Dash was going to be way more useful and easily understood than the insta-shield. People were skeptical! I've been waiting for high-level gameplay footage of Mania to come out to illustrate just how useful it is, because most of the press footage so far never even really touches the Drop Dash.
Aaron Strife
Banned
I always thought Sonic R was a really cool concept (exploratory racing game, this is kind of what Diddy Kong Racing was too but in vehicles), but like you said the controls are terrible and the game is ludicrously short.
I also wouldn't mind at some point a Taxman-style remastering of Chaotix, 3D Blast and Spinball, it could help to fix some of the problems with those games. S3&K first, obviously.
Newniverse
Member
Yeah I definitely wouldnt be surprised if it came back. I notice theres also a little bit of dislike for Marble Garden. lol
Waddle Dee
Member
The Special Stages look fantastic! Like a combination of Sonic CD, Chaotix, and Saturn 3D Blast. Really impressive how they've managed to make it look like a genuine 3D experience you'd find on the Saturn!
The Bonus Stages are really good, too. I'm happy Blue Spheres are finally returning in some form, even if I rarely go into the Bonus Stages whenever I play S3&K.
Yep, it's probably either Hydrocity or Ice Cap. I'd really be surprised (and not in a good way, unless it's Marble Garden Zone, which it won't be) if it wasn't either of those two.
The Bonus Stages are really good, too. I'm happy Blue Spheres are finally returning in some form, even if I rarely go into the Bonus Stages whenever I play S3&K.
Yep, it's probably either Hydrocity or Ice Cap. I'd really be surprised (and not in a good way, unless it's Marble Garden Zone, which it won't be) if it wasn't either of those two.
Waddle Dee
Member
Oops
Sonic Mania |OT| As You TRULY Imagine It
OrbitalBeard
Member
Omegasquash
Member
All that's needed are Sonic and ring emojis and we're good.
Brizzo24
Member
Thanks! I had gone to multiple sites, even nintendo.com, to try and figure it out. And yeah, I'm not in for $69.99 special/collector's edition but the $19.99 is a day one!
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
For stages, we know two things, there are 2/3rds returning stages, the game has more stages than Sonic Generations (so that means at least 10), and it was said recently the length and content of the game is comparable to Sonic 3 & Knuckles (so that means it's likely 12-14 stages long with 2 acts each). Right now we know then either about half or less than half of the stages right now (Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Flying Battery, Stardust Speedway, Studiopolis, Mirage Saloon). I fully think each returning game will have two stages each, and they mostly revealed the obvious ones for each game. IE Green Hill Zone is back but I think there will be one other returning stage from Sonic 1, and likewise for Sonic 2, Sonic 3&K (potentially there could be two total, or maybe 3-4 so both get two stages), and "Other" (there could be another Sonic CD stage but Sonic CD isn't listed in the same way 1-3&k are, so it could be there's a 'Other' category which is why we have a CD stage, and maybe we might see something else like a stage from one of the GameGear games).
For Sonic 3, Hydrocity or Ice Cap is what I would place my bets on, but we shall see. It also depends how many stages we're actually getting, though it seems right now like 12 is the minimal promised.
For Sonic 3, Hydrocity or Ice Cap is what I would place my bets on, but we shall see. It also depends how many stages we're actually getting, though it seems right now like 12 is the minimal promised.
The Xtortionist
Member
Prolly won't happen, but I'm hoping for some classic curveballs like Sunset Park.
evilromero
Member
I'd be so into that. Cheese my face with that 90s vibe.
evilromero
Member
Agreed on the merits of Sonic R. There's potential there. And my wish would be a Chaotix fix-up/sequel next then maybe another Mania. Fuck yes.
Dead End Irony
Member
Sonic Mania |OT| Way Past Due
TheDinoman
Member
Sonic Mania |OT| By the Mania, For the Mania
Hot Coldman
Banned
I have a thread title chosen.
The Xtortionist
Member
Sonic Mania |OT| Dodge, duck, dip, drop, dash
i'll see myself out
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Hey Sonic Team. Good luck following this game.
Hot Coldman
Banned
IF YOU CAN DODGE BADNIKS YOU CAN DODGE A BALL
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
Totally got this.
I actually think Forces will be a decent albeit very cheesy game and there will be some fans who certainly prefer it, but Mania will be the much better game.
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
If you can dodge an 06, you can dodge a Forces.
evilromero
Member
Make this team the Classic Sonic Team and put them to work on Sonic R2!
stan423321
Member
The Blue Sphere getting its revenge in bonus levels after years of most special stages being closer to or even copying S2 design is a really joyful news to hear. Though I can't help but wonder about details here.
The Xtortionist
Member
The song is great. It's a flawlessly executed edgelord anthem. The question is if they went over the top on purpose to take the piss out of it later, or if they actually think it's cool when played straight.
At least with Mania I don't feel the need to question its intentions.
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Where's my gumball machine though?
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
I'm actually willing to give them the benefit of the doubt it's intentional due to their recent weird adult swim commercials, social media shenanigans, the fact the game actually has a character creator system and stages, the game has some other cheesy (but catchy) B-songs,and outside of Infinite they literally have every main villain of the series returning as the league of evil under Dr. Eggman's rule. The individual parts might be harder to judge, but I'm pretty sure they decided to go for some stuff the series is memorable for (the Sonic Adventure 2 songs have stayed relevant to this day for a reason).
Shil Pencer
Member
I am one of the monsters who loved Sonic 3's bonus stages over all of them so iam glad to see they have both styles in the game.
The Xtortionist
Member
Blue sphere is alright, but it's pretty stiff and doesn't give as much control as I'd like. I'm fine with it as an extra thing. Wonder if the medals are important.
There's a potential version of Sonic Forces that uses Infinite and the character creator to make some grand meta commentary on the Sonic fandom, but I'm not getting my hopes up that this is it.
Dammit, I want to believe though.
Dangerkids is pretty straight-forward edge. The composer, Ohtani, stated his intentions for it to be heavy, "overwhelming," and edgy too, but in kind of "\m/" (his own emoji) way rather than a "lol" kind of way.
I don't know why anyone is giving Sonic Team the benefit of the doubt anyway, given their record. The Social Media account got everyone praying, I guess.
It's not intentional. The Sonic social media account and western advertising are self aware but I really don't think Sonic Team is. Pretty sure Forces is playing its edginess completely straight.
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