Spoiler-free Sonic Mania discussion thread

Glad I ain't the only one. It'll be interesting to see what the system says tomorrow if there's still no delivery (surely something would flag up internally at that point? Unless Amazon know some bad news they aren't sharing..)
Of course if Amazon don't send any update emails I'll have to start giving them a prod myself. Bit of a shame really, because they were on it like wild-fire when I pre-ordered the Generations CE - Emails and updates every step of the way!

 

Well, in the last hour, my order status has changed slightly:



It's now being prepared for dispatch. So, maybe things are going to plan? I don't know.

 

Even if the delay happened, I still can't wait for the game to arrive. Thanks for making this place to talk in spoiler free area.

Yesterday I saw quite interesting dream about Mania and it's special stage. Im afraid to say more as I dunno does it go under spoiler or not, but the special stage was quite unique.

Later there was some dark green hill-casino-construction area mixture too.
I hope Super Tails comes back with Mania <3.

 

Just checked, same thing's happened on mine! I'd say that's 90% good news as that means someone has to physically check and update the information.

Although a bit of a shame it's probably coming later than planned now (Unless we're getting some seriously speedy Prime Delivery ) but nice to know something is happening with the stock at least.

 

I created a little celebration video mashup AMV of the three main videos Sega have released (announcement trailer, pre-order trailer & intro video). It's very cool and gives me chills when I watch it.

WARNING: If you haven't already seen the intro video maybe give this a miss as the intro video contains subtle zone spoilers in the background!

Almost there now!!!

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZFG2DUJxhc&feature=youtu.be

EDIT: I've disabled comments for the video so if you have already seen the Intro Video this will be completely spoiler free.

 

Personally, I see the speed in Sonic games as occasional fun, not the main attraction, despite the main character's concept. It's physics and real control over the character what I like, and i don't mind in going slower or halt if it serves to add more to the level than just, running or letting Sonic go. About this, I hated booster pads even in Chemical Plant, I didn't need them and I could have had the rollercoaster experience of the loops without them. Sonic 1 is my totem game, it's not the best but it comforts me when I play it despite being the hardest one; only Spring Yard is really disappointing.

 

I've always been of the opinion that Sonic is more about flow than actual speed (though you can usually get both things if you're good, and I believe that's a major incentive to replay the classics). I think Sonic 1 SMS got that right for the most part.

I love slow platforming myself, but not the kind that requires you to stop often or wait for too long. 16-bit Sonic 1 is full of that stuff, and it's one of the reasons I don't replay it often unless I want to mess with Green Hill or Star Light. Its 8-bit counterpart, however, has very few instances where you need to stop and wait for something to happen, despite its heavier emphasis on slow platforming. You can usually keep running and jumping at your own pace, and that, for me, has always made it a more enjoyable game as a whole (besides that dumb auto-scrolling act anyway). I have no problem with 'slow' just as long as I'm actually doing something that requires a minimum amount of effort.

Staring at the screen and waiting for something to happen isn't exclusive to Sonic 1, mind. Sonic 3 & Knuckles, despite being my all-time favorite game in the series, has far too many instances where the same thing happens, and this often goes on for longer than anything in Sonic 1. Being chased by the airship in Angel Island looks cool the first time, but it's just a monotonous cutscene in every subsequent visit that forces you to hold right. Ice Cap has the snowboarding segment (though at least that one doesn't take too long). Flying Battery makes you endure a minute or so of that awful BURRBURRBURRBURR screen-shaking until that slow-as-molasses platform catches up with you. Sandopolis has those boring rappel sections where all you do is tap the same button repeatedly, and Death Egg puts you in those circular beam things that take forever (luckily, these last two can be skipped if you know what you're doing). These are just off the top of my head.

I'm sure this is why I've been enjoying Time Attack mode on Taxman's Sonic CD and Sonic 2 recently, despite not bothering with Sonic 1. Sonic CD may have some really cluttered level design (though I do still love how open the levels are), but you can keep moving at your own pace with some experience. I can say the same for Sonic 2, even though the nuts in Metropolis drive me, erm, nuts.

Here's hoping Mania has good pacing. I've been reading this topic out of excitement for the game and due to my own self-imposed challenge to not get anything spoiled for me. It's been going well so far, but along with Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy, this is the most excited I've been about a game in years. 2017 has felt like an era of renaissance for some of my favorite franchises (I still have Samus Returns to look forward to next), and I'm cool with that.

 

Amazon UK seems to have restocked all 3 special edition versions (Switch PS4, XB1) for anyone that's interested, although at this stage you're unlikely to get it on launch day now.

 

Crap, I ordered it for the Xbox One which I don't even have lol. Borrowing my mate's console due to the PC delay. My Amazon order says it will be dispatched today ready for delivery tomorrow, but no confirmation yet...

 

Interesting. Sonic Mania will be the 100th Nintendo Switch E-shop title

Also the Review Embargo is officially lifted as of 11 AM EST. So close to the finish line!

 

(screams internally)

 

Reviews will be coming in a couple of hours or so according to OpenCritic.

 

I'm probably going to be checking the switch shop every couple minutes tomorrow afternoon. Or evening. Or the next morning. No idea for my location.

 

Quick question for y'all. Are there any sites where I could buy a Switch download code that would get emailed to me at midnight tonight? Or am I just gonna have to wait for the Switch eShop to get updated at like, noon or something, like a schmuck?

 

eShop has had midnight launches in the US before, but if Mania doesn't have one then it should update at noon EST in the US at least. Not entirely sure precisely when it updates in Europe but it has updated at like 2 AM before. Normally it seems to update sometime in the afternoon.

 

Pretty sure only first-/second-party games get midnight launches on the eShop. Typically with lots of fanfare, too.

 

Hey so I am Australian and I am buying Sonic Mania right now yeah it midnight launched on Switch.

I aint gonna sleep.

 

Interestingly, on Steam, the controller support for Mania was just changed from "partial" to "full". I wonder if this is a part of the "optimisation" work.

 

Oh shit, seriously? Hopefully all regions follow suit, that's awesome.

Too bad the eShop doesn't let you use a credit card from, say, the US, on another region's eShop, or I'd totally just make an AUS eShop account and grab the game now.

 

I'm not all that clued up on Switch matters, but what if you bought an eShop credit code from an AUS retailer, then applied it to the AUS eShop? Surely that'd work?