#Sonic mania big ring locations upgrade#
#Sonic mania big ring locations full#
#Sonic mania big ring locations plus#

The new bonus stage can also be played in Mania Mode if all Blue Sphere stages have been completed. All of which are helpful for those trying to retain rings or get a shield back. Ring post checkpoint bonus stages have also changed from Blue Sphere ( Sonic Mania's bonus stages lifted and remixed from Sonic 3 & K) to a pinball mini-game where prizes can be won these can vary from any of the shields that can be obtained and rings. Chaos Emerald stages in Encore have ramped up the difficulty to 'highly challenging' and it will take a few attempts at each emerald before even seasoned gamers get them all. Being able to cycle through all five characters in one 'act' greatly helps the exploration that is needed to find the Giant Ring locations, which are fewer in number and generally harder to find. If all five playable characters are collected, then hot swapping out for alternate characters can be done by finding selected item boxes. Two characters are now on-screen at all times and can be switched by pressing 'X' - similar to the mechanics in Knuckles Chaotix and Sonic Advance 3. Encore Mode plays differently from the original 'Mania Mode' as instead of a life system players now collect characters. Another large addition is 'Encore Mode,' which has subtly remixed the original stages from a shift in tones on the colour palette to some enemies, obstacles, and giant ring locations for Chaos Emeralds being re-located. Both characters are a welcome addition to the current roster and add in a new variety of gameplay that encourages exploration and discoverability. Meanwhile, Ray has the ability to 'cape-glide' across the stage, which takes some getting used to and can be harder to execute in some of Sonic Mania's smaller levels. Mighty has a ground pound that can destroy enemies in a flash, destroy terrain, knock item boxes out of trees, and a hardened shell, which has added immunity against spikes and projectiles from enemies. Like the original trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, Mighty and Ray also have unique abilities that can be utilised within gameplay. The development team has done well to take some obscure cult-favourites and bring them to the forefront for another shot in the limelight.

#Sonic mania big ring locations upgrade#

The biggest upgrade is the inclusion of two returning characters, Ray the Flying Squirrel and Mighty the Armadillo, who both first featured in a relatively unknown arcade game, SegaSonic the Hedgehog.

#Sonic mania big ring locations plus#

With 12 zones, each divided up into two acts, this is a joy to play from start to end, but what puts the Plus in Sonic Mania Plus? The aim is to get to the end of the stage in a fast time, grabbing rings and bopping on enemies. The familiarity for retro gamers holding right and pressing 'A' is still there. Characters are in 2D and move and explore in a world painted with scaled up 16-bit style textures, all of which ensures it has an old-school retro charm. At first glance, Sonic Mania Plus is a sprite-based affair that looks like it would be at home sitting in a SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive. Those old enough to remember Sonic in his prime will be instantly thrown back a few decades, with audio and visual cues that transcend time.Д¬ubed3 reviewed Sonic Mania in 2017 and praised it for its fresh ideas and inclusion of new elements. Going into this experience, many would be forgiven for thinking that this is a run of the mill nostalgia trip for those trapped in time only remembering the 16-bit games that they were brought up playing. Instead, Sonic Mania Plus truly harkens back to the original Genesis / Mega Drive games spanning from the first Sonic, all the way to Sonic & Knuckles.

#Sonic mania big ring locations full#

Those looking for a review on the value as a standalone DLC package can check out Cubed3's review of the DLC alone, but for now, the focus is on the full shebang.Дў017 was not the first time SEGA has tried to resurrect the blue blur's 2D adventures, in fact Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Rush and Sonic Generations did their best to appease those who demanded side-scrolling bliss. This review considers those who have not yet purchased the digital version and are looking at Sonic Mania with fresh eyes. However, the cartridge is needed at all times to play with any of the additional DLC content. For those who are double-dipping from the original digital version and purchasing the game physically, then never fear, all save states are playable with the new physical copy.

Sonic Mania Plus can be purchased as additional DLC (ВЈ3.99/$4.99) or a physical package.