Topic: Episode 989: Sonic Mania Is Tsundere Life

[NWR_Lindy]

I don't know what this title means either. Non compos mentis.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/76874/episode-989-sonic-mania-is-tsundere-life

We wanted to officially induct Switch into the retro-eligible systems for RetroActive inclusion and opted for a game from the system's first twelve months. That's how a Nintendo podcast ends up doing a RetroActive on a Sonic game.

As you are no doubt aware, we landed on Sonic Mania. We have a diverse set of opinions on the game, but we do all agree that growing up with Sonic makes it easier to love Sonic. We have a lot to say about the blue hedgehog's 2D revival, and we'll probably make some fans unhappy along the way, but we tried. I still think even Sonic fans will find some things here to agree with.

If you don't, you can yell at us here.

We really appreciate the high level of audience participation for this RetroActive. It makes the segment better.

• (00:04:36) Retroactive - Sonic Mania.

[Evan_B]

Hearing you guys dunk on Sonic Mania was… cathartic. At the same time, one of my first video game obsessions ever was an S3&K PC port, and while it definitely contributed to my determined Sonic fanboyism and I think it is the best of the early 2D Sonic games, it is sometimes obtuse, frustrating, and decidedly not-fast. I think Sonic instills such a dedicated fanbase from a game design perspective because of how “anti-video game language” it can be, where many platformers sort of follow this Mario-esque philosophy like Gui mentioned and Sonic is off saying “eh, no, we’re going to do something different.” I think the series’ shift to score-based runs is truly a testament to obsessive gamer ethos, as people play and replay these often poorly-designed stages so that their quirks and hardly predictable aspects become easy hurdles. I know this sounds more than a bit critical of the games and their fanbase: I was one of them. I understand their appeal, but I absolutely agree with the idea that they have some arcade spirit imbued within.

[Crimm]

And I really didn't want it to feel like I was dunking on Mania. I really did try, but it really felt like the game expected you to already have your undergraduate degree in 2D Sonic.