I have played through quite a few Sonic games in my day (mostly of the 2D variety) and although I was hopeful that Sonic Mania was going to be a good one I did not expect it to be as good as it is. The game is not perfect (as no game is) but it still stands head and shoulders above not only other recent 2D Sonic Games but above other recent non-Sonic 2D games as well.
Positives
First and foremost I have to say that this games just feels right. The running, Jumping, dashing, flying, and bouncing all feel the same way that they did ( or at least what my memory says they did) back in the 90's. This does not seem at first glance to be a big deal but after playing Sonic 4 and Sonic Generations, games that did not get the feel of Sonic right, this is huge.
Sonic Mania also gets the look of classic Sonic games right with its use of enhanced 16 bit style graphics that very much look like what a 2D sonic game would have looked like on the Sega Saturn. The Colors are bright, the sprites are crisp and the animation is a step above what one would have gotten from Sega's 16 bit console. The Sound and Music are Classic 90's as well with plenty of catchy tunes both old and new (Studiopolis is awesome).
Finally the stages in Sonic Mania are top notch. The remade levels feel like they did back in the day. It does not take long into the old levels before you notice that they are not just straight up remakes but remixed versions with added elements. The second act in a stage typically features even more changes, sometimes even a different pallet entirely. The new stages are just as good and very creative in their own right.
Negatives
Sonic Mania is not perfect. There are a few things about it that should have been removed, even if it meant not being completely faithful to the classic Sonic feel. The cheap deaths (Falling on spikes near the green pop up tops with fire underneath in Oil Ocean should not be an instant death) and Some overly difficult bosses (looking at you Metal Sonic) make the games difficulty feel uneven at times.
The biggest criticism I have to offer is the 10 Minute Time limit. The levels in this game are much bigger that they were back in the 16 bit era and the reward for seeking out the hidden areas in the nooks and crannies of each level make exploration a more vital part of the game than ever. This makes the 10 minute limit fell arbitrary and at odds with the rest of the game design.
In summery I feel like this is the Game that Sonic fans have been waiting for years (if not decades) to play. Sonic Mania does pretty much everything right and it does it with style. It makes me hope that the developers behind this make even more games 2D Sonic Games (a follow up with all new levels?) or even try their hand at making a good 3D Sonic Game (anything is possible). Perhaps even a Sonic Mania 2 that feature remixes of different old levels ( Mushroom Hill, Death Egg, ect.) as well as a few new ones. In any case I look forward to seeing what comes next.
