Lava Reef Zone (Sonic Mania)

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Lava Reef Zone (Sonic Mania)

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Lava Reef Zone (Sonic Mania)
Tenth Zone, Sonic Mania
Number of Acts: 2
Level themes: lava/volcano, underground/cave, industrial
Sub-boss: Lava Reef Zone Mini-Boss (Sonic Mania)
Boss: Heavy Rider

Lava Reef Zone is the tenth zone in Sonic Mania, which is based on Lava Reef Zone from Sonic & Knuckles.

Act 1 is once again a magma-filled mine-type level with the addition of loops, slopes and extra details to suggest a mining environment such as metal fences and warning signs. By climbing to the top of the stage, you can now see that the cavern has an open sky, revealing volcanoes and mountains. There is also a section where one of the upgraded Tunnelbots causes an earthquake that makes the magma slowly rise and forcing the player to climb up to higher ground reminiscent of Hill Top Zone.

Act 2 is once again set in a crystal wonderland with flamethrowers and spiky things, along with several elements adapted from Quartz Quadrant such as switchable conveyor belts and the background being reminiscent of that zone's Good Future. High up in the zone, you can see holes in the ceiling that give you a glimpse of the night sky as well as the Little Planet, serving as a clue to the next zone.

Like the original Lava Reef, the second Act segues into a "third" Act that's considered part of Act 2, only this time it's set in Hidden Palace Zone. Sonic and Tails take a top entrance (which was originally Knuckles' entrance) that immediately takes them to a boss fight against the Heavy Rider, while Knuckles takes a different entrance that leads him through some of Sonic's original level design, eventually reaching the Emerald Shrine where he fights the Heavy King instead. The Emerald Shrine houses not only the Master Emerald, but also the Super Emeralds which are now cracked and completely drained of their power.

Enemies

• Fireworm - Caterpillar that shoots fire from his back and has spikes on his belly. From the original Lava Reef Zone.
• Iwamodoki - Badniks posing as rocks. From the original Lava Reef Zone.
• Toxomister - Smokestack that releases poisonous clouds. From the original Lava Reef Zone.
• Rexon - Plesiosaur enemy, sits in lava and throws fireballs at you. Once destroyed, its body can be used as a platform to stand on, and this time the body can be destroyed by the walking platform mechs. From Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Hill Top Zone.

References

Reference	Appears in	Source Game	Source Level
Walking platform mech.	Act 1, Act 2	Sonic the Hedgehog CD	Metallic Madness
Rexon's appearance.	Act 1, Act 2	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)	Hill Top Zone
Tunnelbot returns both as an obstacle in Act 1, as in the original Lava Reef Zone, as well as a boss in Act 2.	Act 1, Act 2	Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic & Knuckles	Marble Garden Zone/Lava Reef Zone
Controllable conveyor belts.	Act 2	Sonic the Hedgehog CD	Quartz Quadrant
Internal earthquakes that cause lava to boil and increase its volume thus chasing the player.	Act 2	Sonic the Hedgehog 2	Hill Top Zone
Emerald Shrine with the Super Emeralds and the Master Emerald.	Act 2 (Knuckles)	Sonic & Knuckles	Hidden Palace Zone (S&K)
The Motobug used by the Heavy Rider called Jimmy.	Act 2 (Sonic/Tails)	Polygon Jim/Motobug the Badnik in Sonic the Hedgehog