In a move that's sure to confuse consumers, SEGA is releasing the standard Sonic Mania as a retail release on Nov. 5th, 2019 for $20. Just to be clear, this doesn't include the "Plus" DLC, so that will have to be downloaded separately. Hopefully people pay very close attention to the cover art when making their purchase.
They might as well do this from now on because Sonic Mania Plus sure as hell doesn't describe itself as such on the Switch home menu icon and playtime. It was just the same UI used by the base Sonic Mania. The cartridge was Sonic Mania with the DLC stapled on, not a special edition.
But why REMOVE the DLC? That doesn't make any sense at all. If this was the Plus edition but with the Plus removed from the packaging, that's one thing, but actually releasing an inferior version to what was already out, that's just... stupid.
It's because this one has a lower price than the physical version of Sonic Mania Plus. Releasing it this close to the holidays is a pretty cynical move from SEGA, really. I can imagine all the upset children on Christmas who wanted Sonic Mania Plus, but their parents/guardians bought then Sonic Mania Nonplussed because it's cheaper.
