Sonic Mania/Gameplay

Sonic Mania is a side-scrolling platformer developed with the intention of mimicking the first games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series on the Sega Genesis. As such, the aesthetic remains nearly identical, albeit up-scaled in a higher resolution in order to accommodate the new technology. Special Stages, which is where Chaos Emeralds can be collected, are borrowed from Sonic CD (and are similarly accessed through giant rings), while Bonus Stages, in which all blue spheres must be either converted to red spheres or rings, are borrowed from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (and are similarly accessed by jumping into the sparkles that fly above checkpoints when at least 25 rings are carried). Zones are also borrowed from older Sonic games (though they are reworked), with the exception of four original zones.

Characters

There are three playable characters in the original game (Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles) and an additional two in Sonic Mania Plus (Mighty and Ray). The choice of character can drastically change how a zone is played due to their unique abilities. For more information on the characters, click on their image to be redirected to their page. Keep in mind that the secret final zone can only be accessed by Sonic if he has collected all seven Chaos Emeralds.

Items

Image	Name	Purpose
	Ring	Collect rings in order to stay alive when taking damage. If 25 rings are collected when passing by a Star Post, Bonus Stages can be accessed. If all rings are lost and damage is taken, a life will be lost. If a Hyper Ring Item Box is hit, the rings will be combined into larger rings so that if damage is taken, the rings can be recollected with less difficulty.
	Item Box	Hit these monitors for a special effect defending on the image. These include the Super Ring (which gives ten rings automatically), Power Sneakers (which temporarily increase speed), temporary Invincibility, the aforementioned Hyper Ring, an extra life, or a Shield. Aside from the regular blue shield, there are also Fire, Lightning, and Water variants that have different effects depending on the environment.
	Star Post	Checkpoints that can be found throughout zones. Pass by one with at least 25 rings for the opportunity to enter a Bonus Stage.
	Spring	Jump onto or run into these to be launched in whichever direction they're facing.
	Signpost	Run past one of these to clear the stage. Keep it in the air after running past it by jumping and, depending on where it lands, it may bounce and reveal a hidden Item Box that you can take with you into the next Act.
	Chaos Emerald	Look for giant rings hidden in secret rooms throughout each zone for the opportunity to attempt a Special Stage. Clear the Special Stage to obtain a Chaos Emerald. Obtain all seven Chaos Emeralds to unlock a secret zone at the end of the game, playable only by Sonic. Sonic can also become Super Sonic at any time while holding at least 50 rings.

Enemies

Image	Name	Location	Description
	Moto Bug	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. They simply roll around without any form of attack, so they can easily be destroyed with a jump or roll.
	Chopper	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. They jump up from the waterfalls under bridges, surprising unsuspecting passersby.
	Buzz Bomber	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. These bee-like enemies fly across the screen, dropping fireballs on the heroes.
	Crabmeat	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. These crab-like enemies slowly waddle across the screen, occasionally pausing to shoot fireballs.
	Newtron	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. These enemies are skilled at camouflaging themselves, revealing themselves on walls once they sense your presence and dropping in an attempt to crash into you.
	Batbrain	Green Hill	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. When underground, these bats drop from the ceiling and attempt to fly into you.
	Grabber	Chemical Plant	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Spider-like enemies that hang from the ceiling, attempting to grab the heroes. If the player is accompanied by another character (whether it be the computer or a co-op partner), they will be able to free the captured party by destroying the Grabber before any damage is dealt.
	Spiny	Chemical Plant	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These enemies move along the walls, floors, and ceilings, occasionally pausing to shoot out fireballs that fall on either side of it. This enemy covers a wide range, and is best dealt with by being rolled into after shooting.
	Catakiller Jr.	Chemical Plant	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. A shield surrounds its body that does damage upon contact, so make sure to aim for the head.
	Mic Drop	Studiopolis	An enemy with the appearance of a microphone. It drops itself from the ceiling and electrifies itself. It can only be attacked before or after it surrounds itself in harmful electricity.
	Shutterbug	Studiopolis	This enemy is harmless when it snaps pictures of the heroes it tails, but don't let it get too close, as it will attempt to collide with the player character after a few shots in order to hurt them.
	Tubinaut	Studiopolis	An enemy that shields itself using three balls smaller in size than itself. Get through its shield in order to destroy it, but be cautious with your timing; its shield becomes dangerous when it revolves around it with great speed.
	Wall Crawl	Studiopolis	A snail-like enemy that moves along the walls, occasionally pausing to shoot film in your direction. Destroy it by jumping under or from above it.
	Blaster	Flying Battery	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. This enemy moves around slowly and shoots projectiles from the cannon on its front.
	Technosqueek	Flying Battery	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. These small mouse-like enemies can zoom around floors, walls, and ceilings, but otherwise have no method of attack.
	Clucker	Flying Battery	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These chicken-like enemies are prevalent in the second act, popping out of flying platforms to shoot projectiles. They can be difficult to destroy due to their convenient positions.
	Madmole	Flying Battery	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. These mole-like enemies can be found outdoors, generating electricity along conduits that the heroes can crash into if not careful. Destroying these enemies stops the electricity from generating completely.
	Dragonfly	Press Garden	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. These dragonfly-like enemies ascend and descend in a vertical pattern; make sure to aim for the head, as this is the only vulnerable part of its body.
	Juggle Saw	Press Garden	As is implied in the name, these crab-like enemies juggle saws between each other. Destroy one of a pair to halt the tossing of the saw, and roll into the remaining crab to remove the danger altogether.
	Splats	Press Garden	Based off of an unused enemy from Sonic the Hedgehog. These rabbit-like enemies bounce out of ink bottles endlessly. They're dealt with easily enough after emerging.
	Carry	Press Garden	Originally from Knuckles' Chaotix, in which they would drop the cargo they were carrying onto unsuspecting heroes. In Mania, they drop ice onto the player, freezing them or obstructing their path.
	Woodrow	Press Garden	These enemies mimic woodpeckers in appearance and actions, digging their beaks into the trees they're perched upon. This action will cause bombs to fall from the trees; the only way to avoid this is to destroy them before they can start pecking.
	Asteron	Press Garden	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These star-shaped enemies are employed by the boss of the second act, though unlike in Sonic 2 where they couldn't be destroyed, these stars can be rolled into before they explode and send spikes in all directions.
	Kanabun	Stardust Speedway	Originally from Sonic CD. These small beetle-like enemies simply fly around in an attempt to collide with the heroes.
	Kabasira	Stardust Speedway	Originally from Sonic CD. These mosquito-like enemies simply fly around, leaving a trail behind them.
	Hotaru	Stardust Speedway	Originally from Sonic CD. An enemy resembling a firefly that drops lasers on the path.
	Dango	Stardust Speedway	Originally from Sonic CD. An enemy resembling a pill bug, it rolls around under its shell; rolling into its shell will cause you to be bounced back. Attack it when it isn't rolling around to destroy it.
	Silver Sonic	Stardust Speedway	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit), where it served as a boss. This enemy only makes an appearance during a phase of the Metal Sonic boss fight. It attacks much like Sonic does, jumping and rolling; if Silver Sonic is jumped or rolled into while in a rolling position, the hero and Silver Sonic will bounce off each other.
	Pointdexter	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. This pufferfish-like enemy is harmless in its deflated form, but when it inflates, spikes protrude out of its body that harm anyone that jumps or rolls into it.
	Jawz	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. This shark-like enemy flies quickly across the screen, intent on ramming with any heroes it comes across.
	Mega Chopper	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. These small piranha-like enemies latch onto the heroes underwater, rendering them unable to jump and stealing their rings. These are best destroyed before they can get too close.
	Blastoid	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. These cannons fire projectiles successively; jump or roll into them after they've fired to destroy them.
	Turbo Spiker	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. These enemies roll across the ground and fire a large spike off their back when the heroes get close. After firing the spike, it is completely vulnerable and can easily be destroyed.
	Buggernaut	Hydrocity	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. These small mosquito-like enemies fly into the player's path in groups; destroy the largest to rid yourself of the entire group.
	Jellygnite	Hydrocity	A jellyfish-like enemy that attempts to grab the heroes while underwater and subsequently self-destruct. It clutches can be escaped by moving from side to side rapidly.
	Armadiloid	Mirage Saloon	Enemies that resemble Turtloids from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They can be found in the sky and in pairs; the smaller armadillo atop the other's back can be destroyed, while the other shoots fireballs from its mouth.
	Cactula	Mirage Saloon	Enemies that resemble Nebulas from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They can be found in the sky, camouflaging with the environment and popping out to attack when the heroes come near.
	Roller	Mirage Saloon	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. These enemies roll down hills in ball form before revealing themselves; it is then that they can be destroyed.
	Bumpalo	Mirage Saloon	These buffalo-like enemies have bumpers on their backs that protect them from damage. Roll into them in order to defeat them.
	Vultron	Mirage Saloon	These bird-like enemies can be found in the sky, speedily soaring toward the heroes whenever they come near.
	Rattlekiller	Mirage Saloon	A green variation of the Caterkiller from Sonic the Hedgehog. These caterpillar-like enemies have spiked bodies, and thus can only be destroyed when their heads are hit.
	Octus	Oil Ocean	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This octopus-like enemy jumps up and fires a projectile when the player character comes near.
	Aquis	Oil Ocean	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This seahorse-like enemy hovers around and fires projectiles when the player character comes near.
	Sol	Oil Ocean	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These enemies are surrounded by two fireballs, which it will throw toward the player character when they come near. Destroy it after it throws its fireballs, as this is the only circumstance in which it is unprotected.
	Fireworm	Lava Reef	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. This worm floats through the air, shooting fire from its back. Its body is covered in spikes, leaving only the head vulnerable.
	Iwamodoki	Lava Reef	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. This rock acts as a time bomb, setting itself to explode a few seconds after the player character comes near. The best thing to do when you spot one is run away.
	Toxomister	Lava Reef	Originally from Sonic & Knuckles. This enemy emits a poisonous gas that surrounds the player character if they happen to pass by it; the only way to rid yourself of the gas is to destroy it.
	Rexon	Lava Reef	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. This enemy pops out of the lava to shoot fireballs at approaching heroes; destroy it to use its body as a platform.
	Mecha-Bu	Metallic Madness	Originally from Sonic CD. This beetle-like enemy's front is protected by a saw; attack it from behind to get around this hazard.
	Poh-Bee	Metallic Madness	Originally from Sonic CD. These bee-like enemies float high in the air, swinging maces in the direction of the heroes.
	Scarab	Metallic Madness	Originally from Sonic CD. These enemies crawl along the walls and floors, holding spikes and item boxes which it swaps between at will in an attempt to trick the player character. Destroy it while it holds spikes and the spikes remain.
	Matryoshka Bom	Metallic Madness	A new enemy resembling the Bigbom from Sonic CD. A smaller bomb will pop out of the larger (like a Russian matryoshka doll), and the bomb will then self-destruct, sending projectiles in all directions. There is no way of destroying it, so when you come across one, simply run in the other direction.
	Turbo Turtle	Titanic Monarch	An enemy resembling a turtle that holds a powerful fan on its shell. Running against the fan followed by a well-timed jump should be enough to get around it. It may also turn its fan in another direction, so make sure to be cautious when approaching this enemy.
	Sentry Bug	Titanic Monarch	These enemies target the player character with large orbs that surround them and and slowly close in on them, dealing damage; escape the orb or destroy the enemy to escape it unharmed.
	Flasher Mk. II	Titanic Monarch	These enemies move along walls, floors, and ceilings, emitting a beeping sound before creating a flash that harms the player character if they get too close; it is vulnerable to attacks otherwise.
	Ball Hog	Titanic Monarch	Originally from Sonic the Hedgehog. These pig-like enemies toss harmful balls from their bellies when the player character comes near.