Sonic Mania 2 Could Have Happened, But Sega Went in a Much Worse Direction

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Upon its release in 2017, the game Sonic Mania stirred quite a buzz. This 2D platformer starring Sonic the Hedgehog showcased a pixel art design reminiscent of the Sega Genesis era. In the time between Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic Mania, numerous attempts were made to replicate the excellence of those early games, but none quite hit the mark. Developer Christian Whitehead and his team seemed to grasp the essence of what made these earlier titles successful, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also mechanics. In terms of satisfaction for fans, Sonic Mania was a home run, rapidly establishing itself as one of the finest Sonic games ever produced.

As a passionate Sonic gamer, it’s no secret that the success of Sonic Mania has always left us eager for more. For years now, we’ve been aware that Sega had plans for a Sonic Mania 2, with Whitehead and Evening Star Studio stepping up to lead the charge.

But here’s where things get interesting – it seems that Sega wasn’t content with sticking to the classic pixel art style from the original game and the Genesis era. Instead, Evening Star Studio decided to experiment with a more modern 2.5D approach.

Recently, Whitehead took to Bluesky to share some behind-the-scenes insight into this process. He revealed concept art from Evening Star, which included a Badnik that ended up finding a home in Sonic Superstars. This sneak peek offers us a glimpse into what could have been for Sonic Mania 2 – let’s hope we see more of these concepts in future Sonic games!

To celebrate the 8th anniversary of Mania, let’s dive into some fun Sonic facts. This year, it’s all about Kanga Clanga, also known as the Kangus! Originally found living in the Australian outback, this endearing robotic kangaroo now brings excitement to us all with its appearances in the Pinball Carnival Zone!

— Christian Whitehead (@cfwhitehead.bsky.social) 2025-08-15T16:30:08.454Z

Sonic Superstars Was a Bust

Ultimately, Sega opted not to have the next 2D Sonic game originate from Evening Star. For now, it appears that both companies maintain a positive relationship and could potentially collaborate in the future. Interestingly, some concepts from the team were incorporated into Sonic Superstars, for which Evening Star received recognition in the game’s credits. Instead of reassembling the Mania team, the development of the new game was entrusted to Sonic Team together with Arzest. Notably, the return of Sonic’s co-creator Naoto Ohshima to the franchise sparked enthusiasm among fans for Sonic Superstars prior to its release.

It’s unfortunate that Sonic Superstars wasn’t well-received by most. The reviews tended to be significantly lower than those for Sonic Mania, and it had trouble gaining a following. Sega chose to move away from the pixel art style used in Sonic Mania due to concerns about its longevity, but the new design didn’t resonate with anyone. Additionally, the levels were excessively long, and many of the novel gameplay elements didn’t strike a chord with players.

The game titled Sonic Superstars isn’t the poorest Sonic game out there; it does have its appealing aspects, like the introduction of Trip and the comeback of Fang the Hunter. However, after catching a glimpse of Evening Star’s proposal, it’s challenging not to feel a tinge of disillusionment about what we actually received as an end result.

The Future of Sonic

It appears that the future of 2D Sonic games is uncertain after the launch of Sonic Superstars, as Sega seems to be aiming for a balance between 2D and 3D versions, similar to Nintendo’s approach with Mario. However, the chances of a follow-up to Sonic Superstars seem limited due to its underperformance, leaving Sega with the task of coming up with something that appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers. Given that some fans might find the pixel art outdated, it’s understandable that Sega has concerns about the current style not resonating with everyone, especially those who don’t share the same fondness for the Genesis games. Unfortunately, the new style also doesn’t seem to be attracting new fans.

In the year 2026, Sega will mark the 35th anniversary of their iconic game, “Sonic the Hedgehog,” which debuted on the Genesis console in 1991. Details about their celebration are under wraps, but a sneak peek of a special logo for merchandise has already surfaced this year. Fans should anticipate at least one fresh Sonic game, though Sega is being secretive with its plans. There’s speculation that we might see a sequel to “Sonic Frontiers” instead of another classic 2D game. For now, all we can do is wait and hope for another magical experience similar to “Sonic Mania.

From a passionate gaming enthusiast’s perspective, the annals of gaming are brimming with intriguing “what if” tales. We frequently uncover games that were proposed but never materialized, or publishers who teetered on the edge of making certain decisions only to veer off in another direction. Sometimes these choices lead to great outcomes, but not always. There have been instances where publishers like Sega believed they were treading the correct path, yet the gaming community was left disappointed by the results. Sonic Mania is a striking illustration of this predicament, even for a game that achieved both critical and commercial success.

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2025-08-24 15:11