US Gamer

USgamer's Sonic Mania review called the lives system obnoxious and infuriating. Game Maker's Toolkit cites the review as evidence that sending players far back after a Game Over frustrates them. Sonic Mania only has permanent checkpoints at the start of each zone, so a Game Over means redoing finished sections.

The video likens the reaction to an Alt-F4 rage quit and says newer players find these penalties especially rough, and that wide gaps between permanent saves can drive players away. The cited line: "it's simply frustrating to have to re-do bits that you've already finished."