Editor’s Note – This review mainly focuses on the additional content which has been added into the original Sonic Mania, which we reviewed back in August 2017. Owners of the original game will need to purchase the Encore DLC to upgrade their copy, which is now available to purchase on PlayStation Network, Xbox Store, Steam and Nintendo eShop for £3.99 / $4.99.

After the critical and commercial success that Sonic Mania achieved following it’s release in Summer 2017, it was inevitable that we would be seeing more of the 16 bit platforming that made the blue hedgehog a household name. What we eventually received is Sonic Mania Plus, a director’s cut styled update that brings tweaks to the original game, as well as a host of new content and features to further extend your playtime.

For the most part, Mania Mode, which was the main story mode of Sonic Mania is the same as it was before. Various bug fixes and refinements have been implemented as you may expect, but there are two surprises in store for returning players. The first element is that Continues have been added, which allows you to immediately resume the game if you lose all your lives. This is particularly useful when fighting difficult bosses, such as the submarine machine piloted by Dr. Eggman in Oil Ocean Zone. The second change is that one of the game’s most tedious boss fights has now been replaced by a more bearable alternative. The appearance of this powerful enemy will have long time fans squealing with delight, as it harkens back to a Sonic game which never got the attention it definitely deserved. These changes to Mania Mode are provided to older Sonic Mania players for free, so if they are happy with the older version of the game, they do not have to upgrade their experience.