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Stardust Speedway Zone (Sonic Mania)

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Stardust Speedway Zone
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  • Act 1
  • Act 2
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Stardust Speedway Zone
Sixth Zone, Sonic Mania
Number of Acts: 2
Location: Little Planet
Level themes: urban, jungle
Sub-boss: Hotaru Hi-Watt
Boss: Metal Sonic
Press Garden Zone | Hydrocity Zone

Stardust Speedway Zone is the sixth Zone of Sonic Mania, which is based on Stardust Speedway from Sonic the Hedgehog CD. The player is sent here from Press Garden Zone by the power of the Phantom Ruby at the hands of Dr. Eggman.

Overview

Act 1 is set in the Past version of the Zone, with elements of Marble Garden Zone present throughout much of the Zone such as pulleys, downward loops with pillars that the player spirals around, and wheels that open passageways when Spin Dashed into. Since Sonic CD, the flora around the stage has grown to cover more of the highways, and the Capsules containing the magic flowers of Little Planet are now littered across the Act. When destroyed, giant plants quickly grow to cover the surrounding area, spawning leaves that the player can use as platforms along with dangerous bio-mechanical heads that are harmful. The Zone is now more golden in appearance, decorated with things like pillars, ancient vases, stone griffins that carry Rings, and constellations in the sky depicting various things such as harps, Roman helmets and Sonic's head. There are also many fireflies swarming the Act, decorating the place with glowing orbs of light.

At the end of the first Act, the player automatically destroys one of Dr. Eggman's robot transporters and travels forward in time to Act 2, which is set in the Present version of the Zone, where everything is more urbanized and industrialized. Features include bungee cords that fling the player into the air, fireworks the player can ride on, and all kinds of neon lights and musical instruments, though the path-swapping system that was featured in the original version of the Zone is no longer present. The giant golden Eggman statue that was found midway through the Zone is now located at the end, serving as the setting for the battle with Metal Sonic.

As of v1.04, Stardust Speedway ends with a computer hologram that foreshadows a later Zone, with Eggman using the Phantom Ruby to send the heroes to Hydrocity Zone shortly afterwards.

Encore Mode

In Encore Mode, the green highways and flora of Act 1 have become a yellowish colour, and the sky has changed to a crimson hue. Likewise, Act 2 changes the colour of the highways to a dark green colour and the urban buildings in the background becoming crimson, giving the entire Act a similar colour scheme to the original stage's Bad Future.

Quotes

Relax to the mellow funks of the past as Sonic and friends return to Little Planet's firefly-lit marble cityscape. But things aren't so simple as fauna has grown rather lush.

— Theme trailer description[1]

Enemies

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Dango — A rolling pill bug Badnik. From the original Stardust Speedway Zone but also in pink.
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Hotaru — A firefly Badnik, which now pursues the player and shoots lasers. From the original Stardust Speedway Zone.
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Kabasira — Swarming mosquito Badnik. From the original Stardust Speedway Zone.
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Kanabun — Flying beetle Badnik with a propeller on its back. From the original Stardust Speedway Zone.
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Silver Sonic — A Badnik based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)'s Mecha Sonic boss. Appears only in the Metal Sonic boss fight.

References and Easter eggs

Reference Appears in Source Game Source Level
Diagonal vine catapults. Act 1 Sonic & Knuckles Sandopolis Zone
Curled up vine bridges. Act 1 Sonic & Knuckles Mushroom Hill Zone
Pulleys attached to wheels. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Marble Garden Zone
Swinging lines of spike balls. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog CD Collision Chaos
Wheel switches. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Marble Garden Zone
Flower capsules. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog CD Every zone
Downhill pillars. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Marble Garden Zone
Giant spike balls on chains, swinging horizontally. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Marble Garden Zone
The robot transporter, Future Signpost and time travel animation during the Act transition. Act 1 Sonic the Hedgehog CD Every zone
Hotaru's attack pattern. Act 1, Act 2 Sonic the Hedgehog CD Metallic Madness
Rideable fireworks. Act 2 Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS) Tropical Resort
Bungee cords. Act 2 Sonic Advance 3 Sunset Hill
Metal Sonic hologram projector. Act 2 Sonic the Hedgehog CD Every zone
Metal Sonic boss fight's second phase based on the Chaotix penultimate boss fight. Act 2 Chaotix Newtrogic High Zone
Mecha Sonic's appearance in the Metal Sonic boss fight along with accurate 8-bit sound effects. Act 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) Scrambled Egg Zone
Metal Sonic's final phase based on the Chaotix final boss fight (as of v1.04). Act 2 Chaotix Newtrogic High Zone
Metal Sonic's transformed state marching towards the player much like the Kyodai Eggman Robo (as of v1.04). Act 2 Sonic & Knuckles Death Egg Zone
The glass dome on Metal Sonic's chest becoming more cracked as it takes damage (as of v1.04). Act 2 Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island Every boss fight

Gallery

References


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