Sonic the Hedgehog’s been going through another rough patch as of late. Since 2012, Sonic games have received mixed to negative reviews from critics and fans alike. The underwhelming Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II and the frustrating-to-control Sonic Lost World made people question the direction of the series once again. The much-maligned Sonic Boom video games didn’t help matters at all. Though it looked like Sonic was headed towards a good path after the trainwreck that was Sonic ’06, it seems the hedgehog has fallen into another period of darkness.

But maybe not for long. Sega recently announced two new Sonic titles for 2017. One is a semi-sequel to Sonic Generations that will see Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic team up again, though it looks to be a completely new title instead of a celebration of Sonic’s history. Instead, the other title, Sonic Mania, takes the spot as the nostalgic love letter to fans of the Blue Blur.

The game is a 2D platformer that goes back to Sonic’s days on the Sega Genesis, the time that the majority of people agree was the hedgehog’s heyday. And based off the game’s showcase at PAX West earlier this month, it looks like Mania might be the shot in the arm needed the beloved hedgehog desperately needs.

Happy Anniversary

First, it’s important to note that Mania was announced as part of the celebration of 25th anniversary of the Sonic series. Anniversary titles for Sonic have had a large range of responses throughout the years. For Sonic’s 10th anniversary, we got Sonic Adventure 2, which many gamers remember fondly to this day. For the 15th anniversary, Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 and Sonic Genesis for the Game Boy Advance – I don’t think I need to say anything else about those. And five years ago, Sonic Generations came along celebrating twenty years of Sonic the Hedgehog and delivering a nostalgia-fueled adventure that pleased gamers and critics alike.

Looking at these titles, there’s a pattern that’s developed over the last fifteen years of the franchise. It seems like Sega feels the need to make Sonic games more familiar and more nostalgic as time goes on. Adventure 2 was an entirely new game barring an unlockable 3D version of Green Hill Zone, Genesis was a (terrible) port of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, and Generations brought levels from throughout Sonic’s history and remixed them into a fresh experience. It seems that Mania’s goal is to do what Generations did, but rather than be based specifically on Sonic’s entire history, it focuses on games from the Genesis days.

What can we gather from analyzing this pattern? Well, it’s well-known by the gaming community that Sega has had an incredibly hard time keeping the Sonic series afloat for the past decade or so. Fans have been begging for Sega to deliver a game that would bring their beloved hedgehog back into the spotlight for years. And what better way to do that than by making a game banked on nostalgia for the glory days of the fastest thing alive?

By Fans, For Fans

What’s more, the project is being headed by people who are responsible for keeping the spirit of classic Sonic games alive by producing games outside of Sega’s main series of Sonic titles. Not only does this include PagodaWest Games, a company formed from former developers of the fanmade HD remake of Sonic 2, but also Headcannon and Christian Whitehead, who produced acclaimed and updated ports of Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic CD. These developers have cemented themselves as legends in the realms of the Sonic fan remake community, and have inspired hope in many that Sonic may return to his classic roots one day.

So it seems that Sega has gathered a team that knows what they’re doing when it comes to developing a classic-style Sonic experience. This is not simply a game being designed by fans who want to make something akin to Sonic’s games on the Genesis – this is a project spearheaded by people who understand why the original games worked and what made them so fun to play. They don’t want just another game to be pushed out to market. They want to create a game based off of their love for the franchise that defined high speed platforming in the early 90’s.

Looking Beyond Mania

Despite the promising credentials Mania has, the future of Sonic the Hedgehog is still up in the air. While it looks like Mania will satisfy even the stingiest of Sonic fans, it isn’t necessarily a sign that Sonic will emerge from his new grave triumphantly. There are a few things that need to happen in order for the franchise to revitalize itself again. For one thing, Mania can’t simply be a nostalgic throwback – it needs to stand out as a Sonic game. Generations wasn’t just a collection of old levels remade into one package. It was a damn fine game in its own right, standing tall with gameplay refined from Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors.

It’s up to Sega and the developers of Mania to make sure that this upcoming game does the same. Mania can’t simply retread familiar water – it has to innovate as well as update the classic 2D Sonic experience. Retro-style graphics and music are only one part of the equation. If the game handles just as tight and as smooth as Sonic 3 & Knuckles whilst managing to bring its own unique spin on the formula – as well as level design that compliments the classic style of gameplay- it might just make for the best Sonic game we’ve had for a long, long time.

It’s too early to tell if Mania will be the start of a new era of prosperity for Sonic or simply another reminder of the golden days of the series. Sonic’s had a rough ride since he left the Sega Genesis, but he remains one of the most recognized video game mascots – for better or worse. We know that it’s possible for Sonic to be resurrected from his current stagnation; it’s just a matter of Sega pulling through for their beloved mascot. Given Mania’s classic style and knowledgeable designers, we can remain hopeful that the Blue Blur will eventually rise again. Only time will tell.