Nintendo and SEGA are set to continue their successful partnership in 2017 with Sonic Mania, which has been confirmed to be getting a release on Nintendo Switch. As is the case with the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC versions, the retro-inspired Sonic title is slated for a spring release on Switch and is a collaborative effort between SEGA, Headcannon and Christian Whitehead, the latter of which previously worked on porting the original Genesis games to iOS.
Announced as part of the Blue Blur’s 25th anniversary at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Sonic Mania returns to the high-octane 2D platforming of Sonic’s early years and is set to feature a collection of brand new stages alongside series classics like Green Hill Zone. Along with the iconic hedgehog, both Tails and Knuckles will be playable characters, both of which retain their unique abilities of flight and wall-climbing from Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles. Interestingly, Nintendo’s product page for the platformer notes that Zones from Sonic CD will also make an appearance in Sonic Mania, perhaps hinting that Sonic’s metallic doppelgänger will be making a return for the digital title.
Considering the series’ most recent history, we can’t help but approach Sonic Mania with cautious optimism, but judging from the footage that’s been shown so far, this could well be a return to form for a character that’s often struggled to make the transition from 2D to 3D. If you’re not interested in going back in time, SEGA’s got a second title – Project Sonic 2017 – in the works, although details are slim to non-existent as of writing.
Expect more info for both titles to emerge in the near future.