As you may have seen in my other thread, I played Sonic 1 in the past and thought it was OK; I also played Generations and enjoyed the 2D levels. But it wasn't until Sonic Mania that the formula truly clicked for me.
Now I'm curious about all of the apparent fan service and other neat lil' details in Mania that I might be overlooking or not understanding for lack of familiarity with the franchise.
For example:
- During the boss fight in Studiopolis Act 2, Eggman uses weather-based attacks. Is this a new boss fight for the series? And is there some significance to the chicken weatherman on the TV? That seems a bit random if it's not a reference. (Although I suppose it could be referencing a weathervane.)
- The concept behind Press Garden appears to be that it's a newspaper plant Eggman set up in an oriental garden to print out propaganda. You can see the newspapers whizzing by in the background. Can anyone tell what they say?
- It appears that Hydrocity is unique in that its Act 1 is actually all-new, while its Act 2 is a modified version of an existing level. So does this mean that stage elements like floating around in bubbles, running across water and moving in boats are new to this level? Also, my understanding is the boss is the inverse of a boss from a previous game; before, Eggman was in his machine trying to suck Sonic out of the water, but now it's the other way around. Is this the first time we've seen Eggman swimming around in a wetsuit?
- I hear the three bandits on the wanted posters in Mirage Saloon — one of which randomly appears to shoot down the plane in Act 1, and all three of which appear in Act 2's boss fight — are from Sonic Fighters. What was that game like, and what was the role of these characters in it?
- People have said the airplane sequence in Sonic/Tails' Mirage Saloon Act 1 is a reference to something. What's this about? I've heard there are also references to a "Sunset Park" in that level?
- The capsule machine boss in Metallic Madness Act 2 appears to drop miniaturized versions of bosses from Sonic 1. Is this correct? And it appears the kamikaze robots that hug you and self-destruct are Sonic's fangirl, Amy Rose?
- Speaking of Metallic Madness, I heard that the Sonic CD levels were substantially reworked. Was the background-to-foreground gimmick in Act 1 present in the Sonic CD original? Seems like an effect that really benefits from widescreen TVs increasing the field of view. And I'm guessing Act 2, like most other zones, is entirely new, and the shrinking gimmick is new to the series?
- I've seen people talking about a "Hidden Palace" toward the end of Fire Reef Act 2. What's this about? What is the story behind the Hidden Palace? And while I'm at it, I hear Metallic Madness is Eggman's base within "Little Planet" from Sonic CD. What is Little Planet about? And since Stardust Speedway is also from Sonic CD, does it have a connection Little Planet, as well?
- On the note of Stardust Speedway, I hear that the Silver Sonic that appears during Metal Sonic's boss fight in Act 2 is a reference of some sort. Also, is there any significance to the giant Eggman robot in the background during the final phase of the Metal Sonic boss fight? Is that a glimpse of Titanic Monarch from the last zone of the same name? Also, between Act 1 and Act 2 in Stardust Speedway, there's a transition, complete with a sound clip that sounds like it's saying "Future." Is Sonic time-traveling when moving from Act 1 to Act 2 in Stardust Speedway?
- Who or what are the Hardboiled Heavies? Their names appear to be Heavy Emperor (or Heavy King), Heavy Gunner, Heavy Shinobi, Heavy Magician and Heavy Rider. But who or what are they? Did they exist in previous games? How did they come about? What's their relation to Eggman?
- Finally, a question about Eggman: Is Eggman his nickname while his real name is Dr. Robotnik? I suspect the real reason for the two names is differences in localization back in the '90s. But has Sega since then reconciled the two names in any way?
I think these questions will suffice for now, lol.
Now I'm curious about all of the apparent fan service and other neat lil' details in Mania that I might be overlooking or not understanding for lack of familiarity with the franchise.
For example:
- During the boss fight in Studiopolis Act 2, Eggman uses weather-based attacks. Is this a new boss fight for the series? And is there some significance to the chicken weatherman on the TV? That seems a bit random if it's not a reference. (Although I suppose it could be referencing a weathervane.)
- The concept behind Press Garden appears to be that it's a newspaper plant Eggman set up in an oriental garden to print out propaganda. You can see the newspapers whizzing by in the background. Can anyone tell what they say?
- It appears that Hydrocity is unique in that its Act 1 is actually all-new, while its Act 2 is a modified version of an existing level. So does this mean that stage elements like floating around in bubbles, running across water and moving in boats are new to this level? Also, my understanding is the boss is the inverse of a boss from a previous game; before, Eggman was in his machine trying to suck Sonic out of the water, but now it's the other way around. Is this the first time we've seen Eggman swimming around in a wetsuit?
- I hear the three bandits on the wanted posters in Mirage Saloon — one of which randomly appears to shoot down the plane in Act 1, and all three of which appear in Act 2's boss fight — are from Sonic Fighters. What was that game like, and what was the role of these characters in it?
- People have said the airplane sequence in Sonic/Tails' Mirage Saloon Act 1 is a reference to something. What's this about? I've heard there are also references to a "Sunset Park" in that level?
- The capsule machine boss in Metallic Madness Act 2 appears to drop miniaturized versions of bosses from Sonic 1. Is this correct? And it appears the kamikaze robots that hug you and self-destruct are Sonic's fangirl, Amy Rose?
- Speaking of Metallic Madness, I heard that the Sonic CD levels were substantially reworked. Was the background-to-foreground gimmick in Act 1 present in the Sonic CD original? Seems like an effect that really benefits from widescreen TVs increasing the field of view. And I'm guessing Act 2, like most other zones, is entirely new, and the shrinking gimmick is new to the series?
- I've seen people talking about a "Hidden Palace" toward the end of Fire Reef Act 2. What's this about? What is the story behind the Hidden Palace? And while I'm at it, I hear Metallic Madness is Eggman's base within "Little Planet" from Sonic CD. What is Little Planet about? And since Stardust Speedway is also from Sonic CD, does it have a connection Little Planet, as well?
- On the note of Stardust Speedway, I hear that the Silver Sonic that appears during Metal Sonic's boss fight in Act 2 is a reference of some sort. Also, is there any significance to the giant Eggman robot in the background during the final phase of the Metal Sonic boss fight? Is that a glimpse of Titanic Monarch from the last zone of the same name? Also, between Act 1 and Act 2 in Stardust Speedway, there's a transition, complete with a sound clip that sounds like it's saying "Future." Is Sonic time-traveling when moving from Act 1 to Act 2 in Stardust Speedway?
- Who or what are the Hardboiled Heavies? Their names appear to be Heavy Emperor (or Heavy King), Heavy Gunner, Heavy Shinobi, Heavy Magician and Heavy Rider. But who or what are they? Did they exist in previous games? How did they come about? What's their relation to Eggman?
- Finally, a question about Eggman: Is Eggman his nickname while his real name is Dr. Robotnik? I suspect the real reason for the two names is differences in localization back in the '90s. But has Sega since then reconciled the two names in any way?
I think these questions will suffice for now, lol.