Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces

[Xeogred]

Special Stage 5 was a BITCH. That thing can die. I had to farm it on Studiopolis Act 1... I think it's literally pure luck too. I looked up videos and no matter how many good runs I had, it didn't even make sense how I finally got it. Like the UFO just randomly decided to go slower and I had a chance.

And yeah the true final ending and boss is pretty underwhelming. Nowhere near as awesome as S&K's.

These special stages were really cool but the difficulty does seem to spike a bit too much about midway in. It only took a few tries on stage 6-7 for me, but 5 was trash.

Need 4 more silver medals for Blue Spheres.

[Reprise]

I just suck at the special stages and blue sphere stages, so I doubt I'll ever get all 7 chaos emeralds or all medals.

I'm on stage 5 of the special stages, by the way, and yeah, that shit is impossible.

[Reprise]

Woo, I finally beat Special Stage 5. Now just 2 more Chaos Emeralds to go.

[Xeogred]

I had an easier time with special stages 6-7, you should be able to get them knocked out. A tip I've noticed on starting new profiles, is that the ramps seem to really slow you down. Try not to hit them unless you really need the coins or need to jump over some bombs/spikes. Sticking to the ground, jumping tight corners like Leever said, and practice makes perfect. I just have one more emerald left on a Tails run I just started and it's been much easier beating these a second time through now that I have a hang of it.

This is what hell looks like though. This is the final blue sphere stage I need to beat for all the silver medals. This shit gives me anxiety because of the slow ass buildup and then it gets ridiculous at the end. It drives my patience bananas because it starts off so slow for awhile. I've literally gotten to the last blue sphere several times. Ugh!

Anyways, I never would have said this as a kid growing up since Knuckles was that cool edgy character... but really, I think playing Tails is way more fun. I'm still not sure how some of the levels are for Knuckles, but it seems like the levels had all the characters in mind with their design and there's some new places you can get around to for some different paths as Tails and Knuckles.

Going through it again I think Flying Battery Act 2 is one of my favorites that was remixed. Some of the later remixed levels are good too, but that one really stands out in the earlier batch of levels.

[marurun]

I just want to say that I love how much conversation this retro Sonic game has created on the site and I love you guys, too. Carry on!

[Xeogred]

I'm just getting warmed up... I still don't know where exactly the old Sonic games rank on my favorites list, but I replay them practically annually alongside old Mega Man stuff! I'm already having a blast starting up two new runs on Mania with Knuckles and then Tails. It's pure bliss to have a new instant classic Sonic that will be part of my replay rotation from now on!

[Reprise]

I had an easier time with special stages 6-7, you should be able to get them knocked out.

Yup, 6 and 7 were really easy compared to 5. I didn't have any issue with them at all! I wonder if all that practice I got retrying 5 a million times helped me beat those 2 stages, or if they really are just much easier.

So anyways, now I have all 7 emeralds, I take it I just select the last level from the stage select screen and then I'll get the hidden final boss and 'true' ending after beating it?

[Xeogred]

Yup.

I had a hard time fighting the final boss a second time around. I think the first time I got there I had a shield, so I was able to do it on my first try and take a few more hits. Didn't have that going in the second time for the true ending and it was definitely tougher haha... at least you get some rings. Kind of hate how Sonic 1-2 don't give you any for the final boss.

[Gunstar Green]

Woo, I finally beat Special Stage 5. Now just 2 more Chaos Emeralds to go.

5 and 6 are easily the toughest with 5 being the single hardest. They have mercy on you in 7.

This is what hell looks like though.

This fucking stage nearly triggered a heart attack several times.

I had a hard time fighting the final boss a second time around. I think the first time I got there I had a shield, so I was able to do it on my first try and take a few more hits. Didn't have that going in the second time for the true ending and it was definitely tougher haha... at least you get some rings. Kind of hate how Sonic 1-2 don't give you any for the final boss.

Always save the bottom left area of the final level for last. You get an electric shield at the end of it which makes the final boss a joke.

[Xeogred]

That was probably the shield I had, haha.

Gonna chip away at the Tails run again in a moment. Wish me luck on that Blue Sphere stage...

The trophies/achievements are pretty odd for this game, some really random ass stuff. But some of them might be fun, like the "Perfect Run" which is having to get through Titan Monarch Act 1 without getting hit (or losing a shield). Think you can use Super to cheese it, but I'm not sure.

Just a bunch of other weird misc ones, I might go for a few but yeah no way I'm getting the Gold on all these Blue Spheres. Not even gonna bother.