Hey, G.P. the GamerPuppet here!  Recently, Cary got the Sonic Mania Collector’s Edition, so I’m here to unbox it and show you what’s all inside!  Sonic Mania is a return to classic 2-D Sonic games like what you remember on the Genesis.  For the most part, it’s Sonic done right.  Anyway, let’s take a look and see what all you get!

Here’s the box it all comes in.  It’s actually pretty big.  In fact, it’s so big that if Cary knew how big it was when he got it, he might have reconsidered getting it in the first place!

On the side of the box is this cryptic code:

WELCO

METOT

HENEX

TLEVEL

Hmmm, I wonder what that means?  Just joking!  I think they were trying to make the box look like a SEGA Genesis box.  Was that on the side of a Genesis box back then?  Cary doesn’t know as he never had a Genesis as a kid.  He was a SNES man.

And here’s the other side of the box:

So when you open the box, you actually get another box inside that looks just like it.  But this box has an opening on the side where you can look at what’s in it.

Here’s me and my good buddy Sonic!  Actually it’s just the Sonic statue that comes in the Collector’s Edition.  It’s pretty big at around 12 inches tall.  The SEGA Genesis he stands on is life-size I think. It doesn’t really work, but you can press a button on it to hear the classic “SE-GA” song sound at the beginning of most Sonic games.  Unfortunately, it takes batteries and the collector’s edition doesn’t come with any.

The game also comes with a replica of a Sonic Mania cartridge, a sheet of paper with the game code on it to download, and a metal collector’s card.  But the code for the game just doesn’t have only the game on it.  You also get a selection of classic Sonic themed avatars and backgrounds for the PS4, which is cool.

You can pull out the circuit board on the cartridge replica to reveal an actual gold ring like in the games!  And also here is the back side of the metal card.  Sorry the last two pictures were so dark.

And that’s all for now!  I’m going to give the floor back to Cary so he can give some final opinions on the Collector’s Edition and the actual Sonic Mania game!  –G.P.

Thanks G.P.  For the most part, the Sonic Mania Collector’s Edition is pretty cool.  I didn’t realize it would be so big, though!  Didn’t look that big in the picture when I ordered it last year.  Really the only main complaint is that it doesn’t include batteries for the Sonic stand.  Also, if it were me, I would’ve ditched the metal card and included something else instead, like a CD soundtrack of the game’s music, since the tunes in it are pretty darn good.  Or maybe a physical CD copy of the game in an actual box with a real life instruction booklet, since you don’t see those anymore.

I was surprised how reasonably priced this collector’s edition was, too.  It only cost me between 40 and 50 bucks.  Which is pretty good since it comes with such a big Sonic statue.  But that also gets me because First 4 Figures can charge 200 bucks for Pac-Man and Kirby figures.  Kind of ridiculous.  Speaking of ridiculous, I’m surprised I was able to get the collector’s edition of Sonic Mania, and yet I can’t get the NES Classic Edition and things aren’t looking good for the SNES Classic Edition, especially since stores like Wal-Mart and Best Buy keep cancelling preorders. 

Anyway, the Sonic Mania game is pretty good.  I do like how the old levels use new ideas.  The last boss in the Chemical Plant Zone just blew my mind!  And the new levels are pretty neat, too.  I kind of wish they had more new levels, since they are so cool.  My only other problem with the game is how it saves your progress.  I know some of you want to say, “But Cary, in the original Sonic games, you couldn’t save your game at all.”  That’s true, but as much as I like returning to classic game sensibilities, not being able to save your game is something that needs to stay in the past.  In Sonic Mania, if you die or quit playing, you have to start back at the first act of the world you were on, even if you were on the second boss in Act 2.  Which is ridiculous.  I’m not a kid with a whole summer to play one game anymore.  I’m an adult and if I have to stop playing in the middle of Act 2 of a world to do something important, like say, go to work, I should be able to come back and start playing again on that Act 2.  This may actually slow down my progress of playing the game significantly, and I might not get to play the game as much as I wanted because of it. 

Anyway, in the comments section, let me know what you think of the Sonic Mania Collector’s Edition, and what you think of the game itself.  Later!  –Cary

Tags: Misc