Sonic Fan-Made Game Has Serious Sonic Mania Vibes

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Summary

  • Sonic Galactic is a fan game reminiscent of Sonic Mania, appealing to fans of pixel art and classic Sonic gameplay.
  • The game features new playable characters Fang the Sniper and Tunnel the Mole, with unique paths for each.
  • Sonic Galactic’s second demo offers roughly an hour of Sonic’s stages and a couple of hours of total gameplay.

Starteam’s creation, titled “Galactic Sonic,” is a tribute game inspired by the beloved character, Sonic the Hedgehog. It echoes the spirit and excitement of the 2017 hit, “Sonic Mania.” The vibrant world of Sonic the Hedgehog fan creations is constantly buzzing with activity, producing numerous sequels and spin-offs across the series. Among these, “Sonic Mania” stands out as one of the most cherished games in the collection, marking a monumental celebration for the franchise’s 25th anniversary. This game was developed by Headcannon, Christian Whitehead, and PagodaWest Games, an enthusiastic team of Sonic fans who had previously contributed to fan favorites like “Sonic: Before the Sequel.

The anticipated sequel to Sonic Mania failed to surface, primarily because Sonic Team opted to transition away from pixel art in their games, and Evening Star Studio decided to pursue other projects. Instead, Sonic Superstars, launched in 2023, served as a follow-up to the 2D series, preserving Genesis-inspired gameplay while incorporating 3D graphics and multiplayer functionality. Yet, enthusiasts maintain that the pixel art style of Sonic Mania remains relevant today. Consequently, numerous fan games such as Sonic and the Fallen Star have adopted this aesthetic. Similarly, Sonic Galactic by Starteam aims to replicate this approach.

Back in 2020 at Sonic Amateur Games Expo, I got wind of a fan-made masterpiece that’s been brewing for at least four years – Sonic Galactic. This isn’t just any ordinary fan game; it imagines the Sonic series as if it were a 32-bit gem, designed for the 5th Generation of video game hardware. Essentially, it explores what Sonic might have looked like if it had been produced on the Sega Saturn console. As a result, this fan spin-off of Sonic the Hedgehog is brimming with nostalgia, pulling inspiration from the classics while still injecting its unique flavor into the 2D platformer genre, reminiscent of the Genesis games.

What is Sonic Galactic?

In early 2025, the second demonstration of “Sonic Galactic” was unveiled, allowing players to take control of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in fresh environments. Additionally, Fang the Sniper from “Sonic Triple Trouble,” who has now been made a playable character, joins forces with Sonic and his crew to seek revenge against Dr. Eggman. A new character named Tunnel the Mole is also introduced in “Sonic Galactic,” hailing from Illusion Island and available for players to control.

In essence, Sonic Galactic seems reminiscent of a follow-up to Sonic Mania, as each playable character has unique paths through each zone. The special stages bear a striking resemblance to those in Mania, challenging players to gather a specific number of rings within a 3D environment before the time runs out. Since it’s the second demo, playing through all of Sonic’s stages in Sonic Galactic might take around an hour. The other characters each have approximately one stage, which adds up to roughly a couple of hours of gameplay in total.

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2025-01-05 23:33