The debug mode is unlocked this time around instead of requiring a cheat code, and is otherwise true to the originals, allowing the player to abuse the game in all sorts of ways.This game marks the first time that Tails can turn into Super Tails just by using the Chaos Emeralds, as he doesn't need the Super Emeralds to utilize his super form anymore.Even better, the Compilation Rerelease Sonic Origins has included it by default alongside the original Blue Sphere mode. Mania finally gave him the chance to realize this.
These originate from an idea that Simon Thomley (aka "Stealth") originally concocted for a never-produced remastered version of Sonic 3 & Knuckles that, among other things, would feature an updated Blue Sphere minigame. One of the extras you can unlock is a new Blue Sphere mode that incorporates additional spheres in the form of green note double-hit spheres that require you to run over them once to turn them into blues, then again to claim them, which can't be turned into rings until they've been turned blue and pink note teleportation spheres that move you to another such sphere somewhere else on the grid spheres.Sonic Mania is the highest-rated Sonic game on Metacritic since the original Sonic Adventure 2's 89 score, with the PS4 version scoring an 86, Xbox One a 82, and the Switch version a 92.Powering it with the Phantom Ruby and tethering it to the four corners of the room for stability, he proceeds to provide the most intense fight in the game, using the Ruby's spacial distortion powers to create energy fists that teleport Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles to different rooms, where it's revealed he also allowed the Hard-Boiled Heavies one last shot with the ruby to turn them into the Phantom Heavies. Eggman, instead of using a massive machine or complex Eggmobile addon, created a personal power suit to fight you in the Phantom Egg. Don’t want to use debug? Then get all seven Chaos Emeralds and beat the Phantom Egg using the “& Knuckles” mode, and Knuckles will be able to still fight the true final boss.While playing as Knuckles results in a special ending of Knuckles reading "Sonic Mania and Knuckles" to a bunch of flickies (which can also be seen normally by unlocking & Knuckles mode and beating the game as Knuckles and Knuckles), it's still badass to see them fight the Heavy King and Eggman while in super form. Using debug, Knuckles and Tails can also fight Egg Reverie.This all happens while an absolutely badass track plays, which contains a riff from Fist Bump.Give props that Eggman, in spite of being double-crossed AGAIN, refuses to be usurped this time, and keeps up a fight against Heavy King AND Super Sonic to regain possession of the Ruby.Even as Eggman and Heavy King play hot potato with the Ruby, Sonic makes mincemeat out of them both! Turns out Heavy King has stolen the Ruby from Eggman and gotten himself an upgrade that can actually damage Super Sonic. The True Final Boss: after Sonic destroys the Phantom Egg, the Phantom Ruby activates and sends him and Eggman to a pocket dimension.To add to the awesomeness, Knuckles actually managed to protect the Master Emerald (without shattering it, of course).After remembering what happened to him the last time he tried to grab the Master Emerald away from the villain, he decides instead just to spindash directly at Heavy King, knocking the emerald away from his clutches and starting the boss fight. Knuckles gets a pretty cool moment in Lava Reef Act 2: upon reaching the end of the stage, he comes across Heavy King trying to steal the Master Emerald.Eggman shows that he means business in Mania by siccing that same robot immediately after Sonic, albeit with a few modernizing upgrades and a drop in difficulty, at the end of the first Zone in the game!