<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2017	O
platform	O
game	O
published	O
by	O
Sega	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Produced	O
in	O
commemoration	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
series	I-Application
 '	O
25th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
pays	O
homage	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
featuring	O
speedy	O
side-scrolling	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
follows	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
as	O
they	O
venture	O
to	O
defeat	O
their	O
nemesis	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
and	O
his	O
robotic	O
henchmen	O
,	O
the	O
Hard-Boiled	O
Heavies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
was	O
composed	O
of	O
members	O
known	O
for	O
their	O
work	O
in	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
fangame	B-Application
and	O
ROM	O
hacking	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
after	O
lead	O
developer	O
,	O
director	O
and	O
programmer	O
Christian	O
"	O
Taxman	O
"	O
Whitehead	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
previously	O
contracted	O
by	O
Sega	O
to	O
develop	O
enhanced	O
mobile	O
ports	O
of	O
Genesis	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
presented	O
a	O
playable	O
prototype	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
producer	O
Takashi	O
Iizuka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Art	O
,	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
audio	O
,	O
and	O
additional	O
programming	O
were	O
provided	O
by	O
independent	O
studios	O
PagodaWest	B-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
Headcannon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
used	O
Whitehead	O
's	O
Retro	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
and	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
graphical	O
quality	O
between	O
Genesis	O
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
August	O
2017	O
and	O
became	O
the	O
highest-rated	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
in	O
fifteen	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
reviewers	O
saw	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
form	O
for	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
following	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
poorly	O
received	O
games	O
released	O
after	O
the	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
presentation	O
,	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
music	O
,	O
and	O
faithfulness	O
to	O
the	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
were	O
praised	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
lack	O
of	O
originality	O
was	O
criticized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
of	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
,	O
an	O
enhanced	O
version	O
with	O
additional	O
content	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
is	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
platformer	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
games	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
select	O
one	O
of	O
3	O
playable	O
characters	O
,	O
each	O
with	O
their	O
own	O
unique	O
abilities	O
:	O
Sonic	B-Application
can	O
perform	O
a	O
"	O
drop	O
dash	O
"	O
which	O
sends	O
him	O
rolling	O
in	O
a	O
dash	O
after	O
a	O
jump	O
,	O
Tails	O
can	O
fly	O
and	O
swim	O
,	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
can	O
glide	O
and	O
climb	O
walls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1992	O
)	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
play	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
simultaneously	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
second	O
player	O
can	O
control	O
Tails	O
independently	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlockable	O
options	O
include	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
abilities	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
the	O
drop	O
dash	O
and	O
"	O
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
"	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
simultaneous	O
control	O
of	O
any	O
character	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
including	O
himself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
over	O
13	O
levels	O
,	O
called	O
zones	O
;	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
eight	O
"	O
remixed	O
"	O
zones	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Green	O
Hill	O
Zone	O
from	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
,	O
alongside	O
five	O
original	O
ones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Remixed	O
stages	O
consist	O
of	O
both	O
new	O
elements	O
and	O
recycled	O
gimmicks	O
and	O
ideas	O
from	O
other	O
past	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
act	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
part	O
in	O
a	O
boss	O
battle	O
against	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
,	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
Dr.	O
Robotnik	O
,	O
or	O
one	O
of	O
his	O
robots	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Hard-Boiled	O
Heavies	O
,	O
elite	O
henchmen	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
EggRobo	O
enemies	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
the	O
story	O
is	O
told	O
via	O
short	O
in-game	O
cutscenes	O
between	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Giant	O
rings	O
hidden	O
in	O
each	O
act	O
,	O
a	O
feature	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
games	O
,	O
lead	O
to	O
pseudo-3D	O
special	O
stages	O
similar	O
to	O
those	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
,	O
where	O
players	O
can	O
attempt	O
to	O
collect	O
a	O
Chaos	O
Emerald	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
special	O
stages	O
,	O
players	O
dodge	O
obstacles	O
and	O
collect	O
colored	O
spheres	O
to	O
increase	O
their	O
speed	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
pursue	O
a	O
UFO	B-Application
carrying	O
a	O
Chaos	O
Emerald	O
;	O
collecting	O
all	O
seven	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
use	O
their	O
character	O
's	O
super	O
transformation	O
and	O
unlocks	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
true	O
ending	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
 '	O
ring	O
counters	O
slowly	O
decrease	O
during	O
special	O
stages	O
and	O
must	O
be	O
continually	O
replenished	O
;	O
if	O
the	O
player	O
runs	O
out	O
of	O
rings	O
before	O
they	O
catch	O
the	O
UFO	B-Application
,	O
the	O
special	O
stage	O
ends	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Blue	O
Sphere	O
"	O
special	O
stages	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
also	O
return	O
,	O
repurposed	O
as	O
bonus	O
stages	O
that	O
are	O
accessed	O
by	O
entering	O
a	O
portal	O
that	O
appears	O
when	O
the	O
player	O
passes	O
a	O
checkpoint	O
while	O
carrying	O
25	O
or	O
more	O
rings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
split-screen	O
competitive	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
allows	O
two	O
players	O
to	O
race	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
a	O
level	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
those	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
also	O
unlock	O
"	O
Mean	O
Bean	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
2-player	O
minigame	O
based	O
on	O
Dr.	B-Application
Robotnik	I-Application
's	I-Application
Mean	I-Application
Bean	I-Application
Machine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
detect	O
a	O
powerful	O
energy	O
reading	O
on	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
and	O
board	O
their	O
biplane	O
,	O
the	O
Tornado	B-Application
,	O
to	O
investigate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Dr.	O
Eggman	O
sends	O
an	O
elite	O
group	O
of	O
EggRobos	O
to	O
reach	O
the	O
signal	O
before	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
EggRobos	O
excavate	O
the	O
source	O
of	O
the	O
signal	O
,	O
a	O
magical	O
gemstone	O
called	O
the	O
Phantom	O
Ruby	O
,	O
just	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
arrive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
EggRobos	O
gain	O
new	O
powers	O
from	O
the	O
ruby	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
Hard-Boiled	O
Heavies	O
,	O
and	O
send	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
island	O
's	O
guardian	O
,	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
through	O
zones	O
the	O
trio	O
have	O
previously	O
visited	O
where	O
they	O
pursue	O
Eggman	O
to	O
prevent	O
him	O
from	O
using	O
the	O
ruby	O
's	O
power	O
for	O
evil	O
,	O
clashing	O
with	O
him	O
and	O
the	O
Heavies	O
along	O
the	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
allies	O
discover	O
that	O
Eggman	O
has	O
used	O
the	O
Phantom	O
Ruby	O
's	O
power	O
to	O
retake	O
control	O
of	O
Little	B-Application
Planet	I-Application
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
all	O
seven	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
are	O
collected	O
while	O
playing	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Phantom	O
Ruby	O
transports	O
him	O
and	O
Eggman	O
to	O
another	O
dimension	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
uses	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
become	O
Super	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
fights	O
Eggman	O
and	O
the	O
Heavy	O
King	O
separately	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
ruby	O
out	O
of	O
their	O
possession	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
battle	O
,	O
the	O
Phantom	O
Ruby	O
reacts	O
with	O
the	O
Emeralds	O
,	O
negating	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
super	O
state	O
and	O
creating	O
a	O
wormhole	O
that	O
engulfs	O
itself	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
Little	B-Application
Planet	I-Application
vanishes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
began	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
Australian	O
programmer	O
Christian	O
"	O
Taxman	O
"	O
Whitehead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whitehead	O
was	O
a	O
prominent	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
fangame	B-Application
community	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
previously	O
been	O
contracted	O
by	O
Sega	O
to	O
develop	O
remastered	O
ports	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
for	O
mobile	O
phones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
developing	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
,	O
Whitehead	O
presented	O
a	O
prototype	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
called	O
Sonic	B-Application
Discovery	O
,	O
to	O
series	O
producer	O
Takashi	O
Iizuka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
was	O
receptive	O
,	O
and	O
suggested	O
that	O
it	O
should	O
include	O
old	O
levels	O
from	O
the	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
it	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
,	O
"	O
remixed	O
"	O
in	O
a	O
way	O
that	O
felt	O
new	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
gave	O
it	O
the	O
working	O
title	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
,	O
which	O
stuck	O
after	O
no	O
one	O
suggested	O
a	O
better	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
title	O
referenced	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
's	O
"	O
maniacal	O
"	O
fandom	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
;	O
Iizuka	O
described	O
the	O
project	O
as	O
being	O
made	O
"	O
by	O
the	O
mania	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
mania	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
passion	O
product	O
"	O
driven	O
by	O
the	O
fans	O
 '	O
love	O
for	O
the	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
produced	O
in	O
commemoration	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
25th	O
anniversary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
developed	O
using	O
Whitehead	O
's	O
Retro	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
,	O
a	O
game	O
engine	O
tailored	O
for	O
creating	O
two-dimensional	O
games	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
also	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
enhanced	O
ports	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
included	O
programmer	O
Simon	O
"	O
Stealth	O
"	O
Thomley	O
of	O
the	O
independent	O
studio	O
Headcannon	B-Application
,	O
who	O
assisted	O
Whitehead	O
with	O
those	O
projects	O
and	O
on	O
various	O
Sonic	B-Application
fangames	B-Application
and	O
ROM	O
hacks	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
level	O
designer	O
Jared	O
Kasl	O
and	O
art	O
director	O
Tom	O
Fry	O
of	O
PagodaWest	B-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
independently	O
collaborated	O
on	O
an	O
unofficial	O
high-definition	O
remaster	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tantalus	O
Media	O
helped	O
develop	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
port	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
and	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
provided	O
guidance	O
and	O
made	O
sure	O
the	O
team	O
did	O
not	O
"	O
go	O
off	O
the	O
rails	O
into	O
something	O
that	O
does	O
n't	O
feel	O
like	O
Sonic	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
described	O
the	O
visuals	O
as	O
a	O
cross	O
between	O
the	O
graphical	O
capabilities	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
,	O
comprising	O
mostly	O
pixel	O
art	O
with	O
some	O
polygonal	B-General_Concept
graphics	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
modeled	O
the	O
gameplay	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
with	O
boss	O
fights	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
zone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
cited	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
major	O
influences	O
on	O
the	O
level	O
design	O
for	O
their	O
"	O
big	O
,	O
wide	O
open	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
streamlined	O
"	O
designs	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
original	O
level	O
designed	O
was	O
the	O
Hollywood-themed	O
Studiopolis	B-Application
Zone	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
desert-themed	O
Mirage	B-Application
Saloon	I-Application
Zone	I-Application
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
an	O
unfinished	O
level	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Monument	B-Application
Valley	I-Application
region	O
of	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
special	O
stages	O
were	O
inspired	O
by	O
more	O
recent	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
felt	O
proud	O
of	O
their	O
recreation	O
of	O
classic	O
Sonic	B-Application
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
animated	O
opening	O
and	O
ending	O
sequences	O
led	O
by	O
Tyson	O
Hesse	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
artists	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
comics	O
by	O
Archie	O
Comics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
features	O
an	O
optional	O
CRT	B-Device
graphical	O
filter	O
,	O
and	O
supports	O
the	O
enhanced	O
features	O
of	O
both	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
4	I-Device
Pro	I-Device
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
X	O
,	O
outputting	O
at	O
a	O
native	O
4K	B-Architecture
resolution	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Tee	B-Application
Lopes	I-Application
of	O
PagodaWest	B-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
consisting	O
of	O
rearranged	O
pieces	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
alongside	O
new	O
material	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lopes	O
was	O
chosen	O
due	O
to	O
his	O
popularity	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
for	O
producing	O
arrangements	O
of	O
various	O
Sonic	B-Application
tracks	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
HD	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lopes	O
initially	O
wanted	O
his	O
score	O
to	O
resemble	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
trying	O
to	O
imagine	O
what	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
it	O
might	O
have	O
sounded	O
like	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
development	O
progressed	O
,	O
he	O
took	O
inspiration	O
from	O
other	O
older	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Sega	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
The	B-Application
Revenge	I-Application
of	I-Application
Shinobi	I-Application
(	O
1989	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
Sega	B-Application
Rally	I-Application
games	O
,	O
and	O
from	O
1990s	O
popular	O
music	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
work	O
of	O
Michael	O
Jackson	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
alongside	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
at	O
the	O
25th	O
anniversary	O
Sonic	B-Application
event	O
at	O
the	O
San	O
Diego	O
Comic-Con	O
(	O
SDCC	O
)	O
convention	O
in	O
July	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
released	O
digitally	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
August	O
15	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
days	O
before	O
release	O
,	O
Sega	O
delayed	O
the	O
Windows	O
version	O
for	O
another	O
two	O
weeks	O
for	O
further	O
optimization	O
,	O
releasing	O
it	O
on	O
August	O
29	O
as	O
a	O
download	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
compensation	O
,	O
those	O
who	O
had	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
game	O
received	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
on	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
standard	O
release	O
,	O
a	O
Sega	O
Genesis-themed	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
,	O
containing	O
a	O
12-inch	O
(	O
30cm	O
)	O
Sonic	B-Application
statue	O
atop	O
a	O
model	O
Genesis	O
,	O
a	O
game	B-Protocol
cartridge	I-Protocol
cast	O
with	O
a	O
golden	O
ring	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
metallic	O
collector	O
's	O
card	O
with	O
a	O
download	O
code	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
promote	O
the	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
a	O
retro-styled	O
infomercial	O
featuring	O
former	O
series	O
art	O
director	O
Kazuyuki	O
Hoshino	O
and	O
social	O
media	O
manager	O
Aaron	O
Webber	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
an	O
American	O
television	O
commercial	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
The	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
five-part	O
animated	O
short	O
mini-series	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Adventures	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
YouTube	B-General_Concept
channel	I-General_Concept
between	O
March	O
and	O
July	O
2018	O
,	O
promoting	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
depicts	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
return	O
to	O
his	O
world	O
following	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
,	O
teaming	O
up	O
with	O
his	O
friends	O
to	O
prevent	O
Eggman	O
and	O
Metal	O
Sonic	B-Application
from	O
collecting	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
and	O
Master	O
Emerald	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
six	O
shorts	O
were	O
later	O
included	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Device
Origins	I-Device
compilation	O
in	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expanded	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
at	O
retail	O
and	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
original	O
version	O
on	O
July	O
17	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
July	O
19	O
,	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
for	O
Amazon	B-Operating_System
Luna	I-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
20	O
,	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
adds	O
playable	O
characters	O
Mighty	O
the	O
Armadillo	O
and	O
Ray	B-Application
the	I-Application
Flying	I-Application
Squirrel	I-Application
from	O
the	O
1993	O
arcade	O
game	O
SegaSonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
each	O
with	O
unique	O
abilities	O
:	O
Mighty	O
can	O
slam	O
the	O
ground	O
and	O
is	O
immune	O
to	O
spikes	O
when	O
in	O
ball	O
form	O
,	O
while	O
Ray	O
can	O
glide	O
without	O
losing	O
altitude	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
an	O
update	O
released	O
alongside	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
adds	O
more	O
cutscenes	O
and	O
a	O
reworked	O
Metal	O
Sonic	B-Application
battle	O
based	O
on	O
his	O
appearance	O
in	O
Knuckles	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Chaotix	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
physical	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
with	O
a	O
32-page	O
art	O
book	O
and	O
a	O
reversible	O
cover	O
in	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
Genesis	O
or	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
boxart	O
covers	O
,	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Famitsu	O
,	O
Iizuka	O
explained	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
not	O
intended	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
physical	O
release	O
;	O
Sega	O
staff	O
requested	O
one	O
,	O
but	O
a	O
retail	O
version	O
would	O
have	O
presented	O
a	O
challenge	O
for	O
the	O
production	O
schedule	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
following	O
years	O
of	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
for	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Business	O
Times	O
predicted	O
that	O
Sega	O
's	O
approach	O
of	O
releasing	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
in	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
catering	O
to	O
new	O
and	O
old	O
fans	O
,	O
could	O
repair	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
reputation	O
and	O
lead	O
to	O
a	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
renaissance	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
critics	O
expressed	O
excitement	O
for	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
the	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
and	O
wrote	O
that	O
Sega	O
's	O
previous	O
efforts	O
to	O
develop	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
classic	O
"	O
style	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
,	O
had	O
been	O
disappointing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
site	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
the	O
best-reviewed	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
in	O
fifteen	O
years	O
,	O
and	O
several	O
critics	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
2D	O
platform	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
launch	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Switch	O
game	O
,	O
outselling	O
Minecraft	B-Application
and	O
Overcooked	B-Application
:	I-Application
Special	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
World	O
Report	O
wrote	O
that	O
it	O
avoided	O
the	O
physics	O
problems	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
4	I-Application
and	O
recaptured	O
the	O
spirit	O
of	O
the	O
16-bit	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
new	O
stages	O
matched	O
the	O
quality	O
and	O
captured	O
the	O
spirit	O
of	O
early	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Polygon	B-General_Concept
commented	O
that	O
frustrations	O
with	O
controls	O
and	O
enemy	O
placement	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
were	O
present	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	O
version	O
was	O
subject	O
to	O
review	O
bombing	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
implementation	O
of	O
the	O
digital	O
rights	O
management	O
(	O
DRM	O
)	O
software	O
Denuvo	B-Application
,	O
which	O
some	O
thought	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
real	O
reason	O
behind	O
the	O
two-week	O
delay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
could	O
not	O
be	O
played	O
offline	O
on	O
launch	O
day	O
;	O
Sega	O
stated	O
this	O
was	O
a	O
bug	B-Error_Name
unrelated	O
to	O
Denuvo	B-Application
,	O
and	O
released	O
a	O
patch	O
the	O
following	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
reviewers	O
saw	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
form	O
for	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
after	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
poorly	O
reviewed	O
games	O
after	O
the	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EGMNow	O
commended	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
purest	O
and	O
most	O
enjoyable	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
expressing	O
excitement	O
for	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
World	O
Report	O
called	O
it	O
a	O
"	O
must-buy	O
"	O
for	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
older	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Waypoint	O
compared	O
it	O
favorably	O
to	O
Donkey	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Country	I-Application
Returns	I-Application
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
knew	O
"	O
what	O
was	O
fun	O
"	O
about	O
its	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
received	O
stronger	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
receiving	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Michael	O
Leri	O
of	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
found	O
the	O
new	O
partner	O
system	O
more	O
frustrating	O
than	O
the	O
traditional	O
lives	O
system	O
found	O
in	O
classic	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Family	O
Game	O
"	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2017	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Kids	O
Game	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
2018	O
New	O
York	O
Game	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
theme	O
song	O
"	O
Friends	O
"	O
was	O
reused	O
for	O
the	O
prologue	O
of	O
the	O
2020	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
film	O
.	O
</s>
