There Are Cheat Codes in Sonic Mania
Sonic Mania has cheat codes built into it. As a result, for people who are looking for something to make the play-through experience better-suited for their particular preferences, it can be worthwhile to look into these options. With that said, interested individuals should know that they aren’t going to be able to make use of these options until they have been unlocked by playing through the Bonus Stages to earn medals.
What Are Some Examples of Cheat Codes in Sonic Mania?
Players can unlock content by just getting silver or gold medals on the Bonus Stages (silver medals are gained for collecting all blue spheres and completing the stage, gold are given out for completing the stage with a ‘Perfect’, by also picking up all rings). One medal can secure them the option to replace the Drop Dash with the Super Peel Out, while six medals can secure them the option to replace the Drop Dash with the Insta-Shield. Amusingly, eleven medals will provide the option to have Knuckles as a partner even when the player is playing Knuckles.
With that said, chances are good that most people are going to be interested in Debug Mode, which can be unlocked with sixteen medals. There are more unlockables, but to make use of these four options, interested individuals will have to highlight the No Save option (in Mania mode) on the save selection screen before pressing the Triangle button to unlock the “Secrets” menu.
Cheat mode
First, unlock Debug mode by collecting any 16 silver or gold medals from the Blue Sphere special stages. Select Mania mode, highlight “No Save”, choose the “Secrets” option, and enable Debug mode. Then, hold Square + X while “No Save” is highlighted in Mania mode to unlock the Level Select menu.
This menu allows you to select any level (including special stages), Sound Test, and fight the secret final Boss without getting all Chaos Emeralds. You can even play as Tails and Knuckles against the secret final Boss. To switch characters, press Square while “Sound Test” is highlighted. To add Tails to Sonic, press Triangle while Sonic is shown under “Sound Test”. Additionally, play the indicated music tracks in the listed order under “Sound Test” to enable the corresponding cheat function. If you entered the code correctly, you will hear a sound.
- Infinite continues: 01, 09, 09, 02, 01, 01, 02, 04
- Start with all Chaos Emeralds: 04, 01, 02, 06
- Start game in Encore mode (DLC required): 02, 00, 01, 08, 00, 06, 02, 03
- Enable all special moves for Sonic (Drop Dash, Insta-Shield, Peel-Out): 09, 00, 00, 01
- Enable flight when in Super form (press [Jump] twice): 02, 00, 01, 07, 00, 08, 01, 05
- Change all small animals to squirrels: 01, 09, 07, 09, 00, 08, 01, 01
- Disable Super Sonic theme when transformed: 06, 02, 01, 04
- Unknown: 01, 09, 08, 09, 00, 05, 00, 01
All Chaos Emerald special stage locations
Search the indicated locations to get access to the special stages. Successfully complete the seven special stages to get all seven Chaos Emeralds. This path allows you to get all seven Chaos Emeralds and unlock Super Sonic before the end of Chemical Plant Zone – Act 1.
Collect all seven Chaos Emerald in the special stages to unlock Super Sonic.
Secret final Boss and “True” ending
Collect all seven Chaos Emeralds with Sonic before completing Titanic Monarch – Act 2. After defeating the normal Boss of Titanic Monarch – Act 2, Sonic will be teleported to the true final Boss. Defeat that Boss to view the “True” ending.
Secret ending
Enter the “Cheat mode” code. At the level select screen, choose the final Boss option and play as Knuckles. Defeat the true final Boss as Knuckles to view a hidden ending. There will be a picture of Knuckles reading a book called “Sonic Mania & Knuckles” to the animals, with Sonic and Tails in the background. Alternatively, play &Knuckles mode with Knuckles.
Alternate sound effect in Hydro City
While hanging onto any of the hook switches in Hydro City Zone, press Left(3), Right(3), Up(3) to have the gear boost pads in Hydro City play a voice clip each time you use them. If you entered the code correctly, you will hear a chime. Note: This code is a reference to Sonic And Knuckles; it is the level select code from that game.
Alternate song in opening cutscene
Leave the game idle and let the intro cutscene play through once. The second time the cutscene plays, you will hear an alternate song.
Infinite lives
When you enter Press Garden – Act 1, look for the first ink container you see (it spawns the hopping Badniks), stand next to it, and perform a spindash to kill the Badnik. Stop the spindash, let another Badnik come out, then kill it with the spindash. Repeat this to keep having the points stack up to give you free lives. Note: You cannot hold the spindash down — you must release it in-between for another Badnik to spawn. Alternatively, you can use Super Sonic to stand there and do the same.
Easy “Crate Expectations” trophy
While playing as Sonic in Press Garden Zone – Act 1, find the secret room next to the fire shield and destroy all the crates inside using the fire dash to get the “Crate Expectations” trophy.
Easy “King Of Speed” trophy
Reach the Boss fight in Stardust Speedway Zone – Act 2 in less than one minute to get the “King Of Speed” trophy.
Easy “Professional Hedgehog” trophy
Successfully complete Titanic Monarch Zone – Act 1 without getting hit to get the “Professional Hedgehog” trophy. Losing a shield still counts as a hit. Super Sonic is allowed.
Find the hidden submarine towards the end of the stage, at the bottom, in Oil Ocean Zone – Act 2 to get the “Secret Sub” trophy.
Find two item boxes at the end of any Act 1 to get the “That’s A Two-fer” trophy. They are always in the same place. At the end of Green Hill Zone – Act 1, simply knock the Sonic/Dr. Eggman sign into the big sunflower on the right, and between the purple flowers on the left.
Easy “The Password Is Special Stage” trophy
Reach the special stage ring hidden underneath the barrel in Mirage Saloon – Act 2. Once you reach the large barrel in the stage, simply push it to fall below and reach the hidden ring and get “The Password Is Special Stage” trophy. This can also be done in Time Attack mode.
Easy “Window Shopping” trophy
Once you reach a new area towards the end of the Flying Battery Zone – Act 2 stage, there will be two windows with some coins behind them. It will be raining and thundering in this area. Jump through the second window to be blown into the first window to collect the coins and get the “Window Shopping” trophy.
