Christian Whitehead, who initially pitched Sonic Mania to Sega, knows what it takes to design a great Sonic level, so utilizing him and his team of developers in a sequel could help bring the franchise out of its current rut of recycled zones. Go head to-head with players in Competition Mode or play in Co-Op Mode with a friend. On the other end of the spectrum, Mirage Saloon has a wild west aesthetic complete with dusty mountains, train hijacking, barstool-filled saloons, and wanted posters. You can re-live the Sonic of the past with an exciting new twist on classic zones while fighting against new bosses and Dr. Studiopolis, for example, is loaded with bright neon colors, filling the screen with vibrant radio and television-themed obstacles and enemies. There are four brand-new zones added to Sonic Mania that stand out in their own ways and demonstrate the potential of the franchise when given the opportunity to explore creativity in level design past the traditional Green Hill, Chemical Plant, and Sky Sanctuary zones. Building off its momentum and critical acclaim as one of the best platform games of 2017, the nostalgic pixel-perfect visuals and fresh gameplay will deliver a classic experience to gamers across the. These aspects showcase the speed and feel of the classic 2D games while highlighting the potential of new and original level designs. Sonic Mania is the definitive retail enhanced version of the original Sonic Mania digital release, presented in pristine collectable packaging. Whereas the first Act of old zones mostly plays it safe, the second Act implements new mechanics with some twists. In Sonic Mania, critics and fans alike praise it for three major reasons: its modern take on the traditional momentum-based gameplay, updates to old Sonic stages that make them feel new again, and the all-new stages with unique environments and mechanics.