Absolutely adoring Mirage Saloon, especially the overall theme. Really love how they combined Sonic 2's Dust Hill and CD's (scrapped) Desert Dazzle and then took it a step further by giving it a Wild Western / Native American decor flavor. The disappearing sand loop, the water spray with the temporary platforms, the pianos, with the the cocked rotating gun you use to aim and shoot...just great stuff. The wanted poster cameos of Fang, Bark, and Bean (although not exactly new, see Generations). The repurposed badniks are great too. That strange spying Eggrobo in the walls. The green Caterkiller hanging around the catcus, the more aggressive red Roller...this is how you take something old and make it feel entirely fresh. The only complaint is the structure of level design, which looks a bit too incoherent and unfocused, a la some of Sonic CD's levels. Though I wouldn't be surprised if that was the intent here, considering how Desert Dazzle was originally intended for the re-release and --given the flickers and decorated bumpers-- looks to be a homage to Collision Chaos. As for Tails and Knuckles, they both look great, visually and in-gameplay too. Animations in particular are very nice. Knuckles is a bit more pink than normal (looks closer to how he did in Chaotix than 3&K) but I'm not really fussed. Absolutely torn on doing an intentional media blackout and seeing even more of the game (maybe just another remixed old level, and then that's it). Really hoping it gets a retail release.
Dust Hill became Desert Dazzle which became Mirage Saloon. It's Mania's second original zone and again it's tackling a entirely new trope (and like Studiopolis it's also got some pinball elements). It's absolutely perfect. The gimmicks and the badniks are both incredibly creative. Simple and self-explanatory, but ingenious and fresh. I adore Tails and Knuckles sprites too, although honestly I was really hoping that Knuckles would be red. The style sheet doesn't present him as quite as pink as he is in Mania. But he still looks great. A lot of personality in the way he runs - fists forwards, unlike Sonic who leans his head forwards instead. Once again, good job! You can really tell that Lola is nervous on camera. She seems lovely and enthusiastic about the project, but words just seems allude her. I hope she gets to feel more comfortable in the future. It was a bit awkward to watch.
DUST HILL/DESERT DAZZLE!! That zone looks awesome! Tails and Knuckles look fantastic and Sonic + Tails Co-Op Confirmed! This games getting better and better!!
Yeah, some of the comments on the video probably aren't helping much either, I hope she doesn't read them or at least has thick skin. Really weird stuff.
Loving the level select being a carbon copy of Sonic 2's with "MILES" replaced with "MANIA". It's a sweet attention to detail. Knuckles' ledge animation is bugging me though. It just doesn't look right, but that could be me.
Knuckles' sprited look great! They really sell that he's stronger and weightier. Not wild about Tails' flying animation, though. His smaller eyes look kinda... derpy, I guess. But I couldn't care less. Mirage Saloon looks amazing and I love how it embraces and utilizes the western tropes for gimmicks! Mania definitely feels the most fleshed out in terms of level gimmicks of any classic game.
Really digging the Chaotix/Sonic 3 hybrid Knuckles, although: Yeah, his gloves seem to be pointing to all directions while walking. Some stuff I've noticed: -The characters now have a separate animation when "skywalking", with their feet flapping a little and no head bobbing. -I think that some of Sonic's animations have also been tweaked for this new build. -Oh my god, Tails' animations. :O
Hells yeah. I knew if I whined and complaned enough about Desert Dazzle not being in Sonic CD HD, my payers would be answered. No, all jokes aside, this is amazing. Even if 90% of the game ended up being unused ideas from the Megadrive Sonic games with an added pinch of spice, I'd be more than happy with that. Makes me wonder if we'll see something 'Wood Zone'-y in future reveals.
No Woody Zone sorry! Mirage Saloon was an obvious choice since Desert Dazzle didn't get its time to shine, and Dust Hill is legendary. But our other new Zones are focusing on new tropes entirely.
Desert Dazzle surfacing in Mania seemed logical anyway, since the level assets were already there, and just needed upgrading. Can't wait to see what else the Mania team has up its sleeve.
It would make sense why Wood Zone wouldn't appear, considering Green Hill probably fills the role it would have done. I also noticed this little bit. Seems Fang hasn't been forgotten :P
WHAT?! Now I'll never get to play Genocide CityMetropolis Act 3 In all seriousness, this game looks beyond fantastic and you're all beyond fantastic. I can't wait to sink my teeth into this, spring can't get here soon enough. That said, no more trailers or teasers for me. It's gonna be a long wait, hope I don't get spoiled too badly before the game's actually out.
This makes my knuckles chuckle. Also, I feel great that Classic Tails finally has some redone sprites/animations, instead of reusing everything from Sonic 2.
Considering the other side of the Sonic fanbase, a woody zone would be something worth avoiding indeed lol
