Sonic Mania

game Out nOw | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One

sega’s speedy mascot has had a rough time of it in recent years. As such, Mania sensibly attempts to rejuvenate his fortunes by returning to his 16-bit prime in both look and design. Old zones are rejigged, while new ones slot in among them without looking out of place. It does, however, mean that moments of archaic design are left intact, and for a hero who’s always been defined by speed, it’s odd how often stages contrive to slow you down. Still, this is a promising first step on Sonic’s road to recovery. CS