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Both characters have to be at a complete standstill to switch between them, which can mess with the pacing in some parts. While this system does function well for the most part, I do have a few little grievances with it. These characters can be switched by either hitting specific boxes or at the press of a button (for the two on the field), which helps give the player more freedom in choosing how they want to tackle any given level. Instead of having a set number of lives, players build up a party of the five playable characters, with two being on the field at any given time. Sonic Mania Plus’ Encore Mode is similar to the base game at its core but makes a few small tweaks to keep things feeling fresh.
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Mighty has a strong downward thrusting attack and can get an extra hit before losing rings, and Ray can glide across levels. As someone well-versed in the series’ history, I can’t help but have a smile on my face seeing Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel in action again for the first time since Knuckles’ Chaotix and SegaSonic the Hedgehog respectively. The brand new characters and Encore mode Sonic Mania Plus introduces allow the game to become even more of an addiction to SEGA/ Sonic junkies. The primary campaign should last players more than 5 to 6 hours and offers a ton of replayability with the hidden chaos emeralds, different paths in levels, and multiple playable characters. The labyrinthine (but always easy to navigate) levels are all designed well, and stage designers know when it’s best to speed things up or slow things down. Sonic Mania Plus still features all of the content of the original, which still holds up a year after release. “This package and its new features only bolster an already fantastic experience, and warrants players to finally pick the game up if they have not done so yet.”