Sonic Mania, while horribly titled, is probably my most anticipated game of 2017. Rather than continuing the 2.5D look of Sonic 4, this game imagines what a Sonic the Hedgehog game on the Sega Saturn would have been like, and I'm completely on board. A lack of a "real" Sonic game on the Saturn was one of the biggest nails in SEGA's hardware business coffin. Even the marketing for the game is spot-on. Promotional graphics feature the bold background colors and '90s patterns that accompanied the original 16-bit games. The bad part? As is often the case these days, publishers don't feel that 2D games are worthy of a physical releases, relegating them to download-only status. Sonic Mania is no exception, but that won't stop SEGA from releasing a limited edition package for the game. And I've got to say, it's pretty tempting. The flagship piece of the box is a statue of Sonic standing on a Model 1 Genesis (AKA Mega Drive). At the flick of the switch, the "SEGA!" chant plays. Also included are a metallic card that has a download key printed on it and a cartridge that has a golden ring hidden inside. Pretty sweet, but $70 is a bit steep for a game that doesn't come with a game, especially when I could put that money towards the upcoming Sonic x Kidrobot collab. However, if you're extra confident that SEGA can make a good Sonic game in the 21st century, you can pre-order in for PS4, Xbone, and PC here.

Check out more Sonic here | See more gaming news here