Am I the only one who absolutely loathes Oil Ocean zone?

[Haunted Aigis Plushie]

So far, I've really enjoyed the game so far, and overall I thought the design of Mania was a lot of fun, and it kept my interest for a lot longer than many similar games would have...however, I am starting to really dislike playing Mania after trying to play through Oil Ocean zone, as it seems like everything is specifically built to screw the player.

-Common squid enemies have an attack that seems to be specifically built for you to dodge into, rather than actually dodge. I'm also becoming increasingly sure that there is a hitbox error with the actual projectile, as in one of the submarines I was hit and was clearly below where the squid was.

-You can be insta-killed by oil valves, and in some cases theres spikes on the side of some of these valves even, so a mistimed jump can mean you are thrown back underneath the falling valve.

-The Act 1 boss can 1 hit you, whether it be from the oil valves or being thrown into spikes and "crushed", rather than just losing your rings

-Act 2 has all the problems of Act 1, along with the increasing difficulty of seeing what you are doing, the smoke causing your ring meter to drain, and multiple flame enemies that can be in really inconvenient spots unless RNG fairs well.

-The final boss of the zone has caused me to have more game overs than literally any other part of the game. I must have at least gotten 3x as many game overs against this specific boss than I have anwhere else in the game all combined. There's no real moment where you can safely attack the boss without subjecting yourself to a serious risk of losing all your rings with very little chance of recovery, whether it be due to mistiming trying to dodge when the boss appears from the oil, or having to dodge multiple projectiles while also trying to damage the boss. The only time you can actually hit the boss requires you to put yourself in the most dangerous position of all.


Maybe this is due to me not being the most experienced in the franchise, but im really starting to lose the will to continue the game, as this entire zone is just a countless series of 1-hit deaths and taking repeated damage from enemies that are a drag to deal with.

[Omega X]

No you're not the only one, there's dozens of you.

Oil Ocean Zone forces you to slow down and pay attention. The smoke in the second zone adds pressure as it will kill you if you don't keep it at bay.

The mini-boss has a dirt easy pattern. Dodge the one time wrench throw. Stay on the middle platforms as he turns on the boilers (You don't even have to move when they pop). And mind his propellers as they can hit you. That's it really.

The big boss has a specific pattern and won't let you stay still long. Deal with the dark gray turrets first if you want to be safe. The only real issue is that you can die underneath the platform poles if you move wrong in the oil. Its an old bug that shouldn't have been duplicated.

Slow and steady wins the race for this one.

[¤ βℓооđч ¤ Nico-Kun!]

Funny, I had read everywhere how OOZ was the toughest part of the game, and how the boss insta-killed you, but I found it relatively easy (not super easy, but it wasn't the toughest section for me).

For example, I killed the Act 1 boss before I even got a chance to see what it did (and no, I wasn't Super Sonic); when it came to Act 2 and the smoke, I guess I didn't feel as much pressure since the gameplay reminded me a bit of Sandopolis Zone Act 2, only that this time it actively "damaged" me until I found the switch. And as for the final boss of the zone, it did instakill me one time, but once I had its pattern down, it was rather easy.

Then again, OOZ is one of my favourite zones in Sonic 2, so I guess that helps.

Still, I can see why people would have trouble with it, it does have a high concentration of "dangerous" areas.

[Tanman Tanner]

Blame how easy the Sonic 2 version was for the new difficulty on the Sonic Mania version.

[Haunted Aigis Plushie]

I mean, I was able to clear it, but I didn't find it particularly fun. Really feels like a kick to the pants losing a life instantly from an oil valve. It's very easy to dodge, but sometimes you really want to just go fast.

[squirtkibble01]

minds alike wonder why the heck oil ocean got into this game. Why not mystic cave? people have clamoured for that level alot...

[Megabyte]

Originally posted by Xaionik:

Oil Ocean Zone forces you to slow down and pay attention. The smoke in the second zone adds pressure as it will kill you if you don't keep it at bay.

The smoke doesn't kill you. It just drains your rings.

[-|Nur|-]

I don't get it. The Oil Ocean final boss is the easiest boss the entire game, first-act bosses included. I didn't even get hit once by it.

[squirtkibble01]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

I don't get it. The Oil Ocean final boss is the easiest boss the entire game, first-act bosses included. I didn't even get hit once by it.

i disagree i got hit and died more than enough on it...

[Doktor Mandrake]

Dat soundtrack on oil ocean though <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZimQfhGRdno

[bocodamondo™]

i think the level is fun.
also the act 2 boss is really easy as long you deal with the tentacles first.
ALSO act 2 is not nearly as tedious as sandopolis act 2 was, so that automatically makes it easier IMO

[supersonic2233]

the only problem i have with it is the act 2 boss unfairness, its like they throw you into the oil while being shot by 2 gun tenticles, luck based to not get hit

[¤ βℓооđч ¤ Nico-Kun!]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

I don't get it. The Oil Ocean final boss is the easiest boss the entire game, first-act bosses included. I didn't even get hit once by it.

I wouldn't say it's the easiest boss (I still believe the miniboss from Act 1 is the easiest; during my first playthrough I didn't even get to see its attack), but once you learn its pattern, it surely is easy to beat.

[Megabyte]

Originally posted by ¤ βℓооđч ¤ Nico-Kun!:

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

I don't get it. The Oil Ocean final boss is the easiest boss the entire game, first-act bosses included. I didn't even get hit once by it.

I wouldn't say it's the easiest boss (I still believe the miniboss from Act 1 is the easiest; during my first playthrough I didn't even get to see its attack), but once you learn its pattern, it surely is easy to beat.

Nope, it's easier even than Green Hill Act 1 boss. You can kill it in 10-20 seconds, and if you get hit and make use of mercy invincibility, this boss doesn't stand a chance.

[Perfson]

Most of the zones are friendly for players that playing first time, but Oil Ocean is different. You need to play slow and carefully there. You should be happy that there is no Metropolis remix.

[Naisugai]

he gave me one game over but I repayed him by getting the last emerald from that stage and super bodied him.