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This thread has been linked to the game 'Sonic 4'.
Remember when a new Sonic game was something to get excited about? That was a long time ago and since then it seems the hedgehog’s impact has long been diminished as time goes by. But not all is lost as SEGA have gone back to what they know best. 2D.
SEGA are taking a big gamble here calling this game a true sequel to Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles. After all the original Sonic titles on the Mega Drive are still considered as some of the best games ever made delivering the right balance of speed and precision platforming while also providing a stellar soundtrack with unique, beautiful environments. Can it live up to the ridiculously high expectations or is it simply another adventure to fall into the infamous Sonic Cycle?
On paper it seems like SEGA have nailed what you want from a 2D Sonic title. It certainly looks the part and lacks the overused gimmicks so sorely included in more recent adventures of the blue hedgehog, even going as far as to try and fully recapture the atmosphere of the older games. However those looking for a true successor to the original foursome (Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles) may find themselves disappointed. What you have here doesn’t have the quality of those titles but instead feels more like a decent enough stand-alone game which shouldn’t have really been labelled as a true return to the glory days. But more on that later.
Blast From The Past
Looking at Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 as a lone title, it is definitely the best outing the blue blur has seen in years. It’s fast, it’s fun and it doesn’t try to be anything it shouldn’t other than a simple, fun platformer. The four zones available may feel like copy and paste jobs from previous instalments in the series, but the new features thrown in make them feel somewhat fresher and new. Swinging vines, darkened labyrinths and zip lines are just some of the obstacles that lie ahead, keeping things from ever growing stale and repetitive. Even the familiar special stages make a return where Sonic becomes a ball with you rotating the environments, rolling him past obstacles and grabbing coins. This is perhaps the best level layout the series has seen in a long time.
Visually the game looks very nice mixing old themes and styles with up to date graphics. The colours feel lush and vibrant, enemies animate and look great and even the background feels like it’s been well thought out and designed. Even Sonic animates well with his legs blurring at full speed.
The arrangement and look of the game is classic Sonic which is definitely a good thing. No expansive cities and weird awkward humans to interact with but rather your much loved chequered green paradises and pinball littered casinos. Even the progression follows the same pattern with no story whatsoever and three acts and a boss battle with Dr. Robotnik himself in each zone. It all worked back then and it works now. Which is perhaps the game’s biggest selling point, it’s ability to latch onto nostalgia. This is evident right down to its sounds which include the shield, spring and checkpoint noise used in the very first game!
The music too deserves a special mention, since they perfectly match the style and tone of the previous games. Using MIDI tracks was a bold move and one that paid off since they have provided some of the catchiest beats in a Sonic game of recent memory. Fans will especially appreciate the way the same music track is slightly altered between acts of the same zone (much like Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles)
Something Doesn’t Feel Right
Sadly though while the sounds and looks are true Sonic the controls of the game feel too far astray from the Mega Drive classics. The movements are the same, with Sonic’s abilities including running, jumping, using his spin dash and the newly added homing attack (which actually fits into the game surprisingly well) but how the game handles isn’t right. Going from standing to running takes far too long, the physics feel plain weird at times (running up a wall can often make you move faster!?) and rolling in a ball oddly slows you down. Even the jumping feels off as letting go of the forward button stops you dead on the spot. It doesn’t control terribly, but after playing Sonic The Hedgehog recently and comparing the two it lacks the momentum and rewarding nature found in that game. On the bright side though, the game has very few moments where you feel like you’re watching rather than playing and the speed is also at just the right tempo.
While I appreciate the zones take inspiration from past Sonic titles, the lack of any truly new stages is a real shame. Temples, forests, mechanical plants and casinos are fun to play through again, but adding something entirely new would have set this apart from the past titles. Like New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii it sometimes feels like the developer has played it too safe in terms of new ideas.
At 1500 points the game isn’t cheap so you’d expect the amount of content to match the hefty price. Sadly that isn’t the case. At only four zones long (with leaderboards on each act if you want to test yourself against others worldwide) you can likely finish the game in one sitting. There are Chaos emeralds to find and a final boss encounter to beat, but it just isn’t enough. Some may argue that this is what the Sonic games have always been like, but even so a lower price point would have been more justifiable.
Bottom Line
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was always going to get compared with the originals and unfortunately it falls well short of them. That isn’t to say it’s a bad game though, because it’s not. This isn’t the continuation of the classic series we were all looking for which is a shame. The new controls and physics, lack of brand new ideas and the low amount of content hurt this otherwise decent product. Here’s hoping lessons are learnt for the next episode.
7/10
SEGA are taking a big gamble here calling this game a true sequel to Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles. After all the original Sonic titles on the Mega Drive are still considered as some of the best games ever made delivering the right balance of speed and precision platforming while also providing a stellar soundtrack with unique, beautiful environments. Can it live up to the ridiculously high expectations or is it simply another adventure to fall into the infamous Sonic Cycle?
On paper it seems like SEGA have nailed what you want from a 2D Sonic title. It certainly looks the part and lacks the overused gimmicks so sorely included in more recent adventures of the blue hedgehog, even going as far as to try and fully recapture the atmosphere of the older games. However those looking for a true successor to the original foursome (Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles) may find themselves disappointed. What you have here doesn’t have the quality of those titles but instead feels more like a decent enough stand-alone game which shouldn’t have really been labelled as a true return to the glory days. But more on that later.
Blast From The Past
Looking at Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 as a lone title, it is definitely the best outing the blue blur has seen in years. It’s fast, it’s fun and it doesn’t try to be anything it shouldn’t other than a simple, fun platformer. The four zones available may feel like copy and paste jobs from previous instalments in the series, but the new features thrown in make them feel somewhat fresher and new. Swinging vines, darkened labyrinths and zip lines are just some of the obstacles that lie ahead, keeping things from ever growing stale and repetitive. Even the familiar special stages make a return where Sonic becomes a ball with you rotating the environments, rolling him past obstacles and grabbing coins. This is perhaps the best level layout the series has seen in a long time.
Visually the game looks very nice mixing old themes and styles with up to date graphics. The colours feel lush and vibrant, enemies animate and look great and even the background feels like it’s been well thought out and designed. Even Sonic animates well with his legs blurring at full speed.
The arrangement and look of the game is classic Sonic which is definitely a good thing. No expansive cities and weird awkward humans to interact with but rather your much loved chequered green paradises and pinball littered casinos. Even the progression follows the same pattern with no story whatsoever and three acts and a boss battle with Dr. Robotnik himself in each zone. It all worked back then and it works now. Which is perhaps the game’s biggest selling point, it’s ability to latch onto nostalgia. This is evident right down to its sounds which include the shield, spring and checkpoint noise used in the very first game!
The music too deserves a special mention, since they perfectly match the style and tone of the previous games. Using MIDI tracks was a bold move and one that paid off since they have provided some of the catchiest beats in a Sonic game of recent memory. Fans will especially appreciate the way the same music track is slightly altered between acts of the same zone (much like Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles)
Something Doesn’t Feel Right
Sadly though while the sounds and looks are true Sonic the controls of the game feel too far astray from the Mega Drive classics. The movements are the same, with Sonic’s abilities including running, jumping, using his spin dash and the newly added homing attack (which actually fits into the game surprisingly well) but how the game handles isn’t right. Going from standing to running takes far too long, the physics feel plain weird at times (running up a wall can often make you move faster!?) and rolling in a ball oddly slows you down. Even the jumping feels off as letting go of the forward button stops you dead on the spot. It doesn’t control terribly, but after playing Sonic The Hedgehog recently and comparing the two it lacks the momentum and rewarding nature found in that game. On the bright side though, the game has very few moments where you feel like you’re watching rather than playing and the speed is also at just the right tempo.
While I appreciate the zones take inspiration from past Sonic titles, the lack of any truly new stages is a real shame. Temples, forests, mechanical plants and casinos are fun to play through again, but adding something entirely new would have set this apart from the past titles. Like New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii it sometimes feels like the developer has played it too safe in terms of new ideas.
At 1500 points the game isn’t cheap so you’d expect the amount of content to match the hefty price. Sadly that isn’t the case. At only four zones long (with leaderboards on each act if you want to test yourself against others worldwide) you can likely finish the game in one sitting. There are Chaos emeralds to find and a final boss encounter to beat, but it just isn’t enough. Some may argue that this is what the Sonic games have always been like, but even so a lower price point would have been more justifiable.
Bottom Line
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was always going to get compared with the originals and unfortunately it falls well short of them. That isn’t to say it’s a bad game though, because it’s not. This isn’t the continuation of the classic series we were all looking for which is a shame. The new controls and physics, lack of brand new ideas and the low amount of content hurt this otherwise decent product. Here’s hoping lessons are learnt for the next episode.
7/10
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Remember when a new Sonic game was something to get excited about? That was a long time ago and since then it seems the hedgehog’s impact has long been diminished as time goes by. But not all is lost as SEGA have gone back to what they know best. 2D.
SEGA are taking a big gamble here calling this game a true sequel to Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles. After all the original Sonic titles on the Mega Drive are still considered as some of the best games ever made delivering the right balance of speed and precision platforming while also providing a stellar soundtrack with unique, beautiful environments. Can it live up to the ridiculously high expectations or is it simply another adventure to fall into the infamous Sonic Cycle?
On paper it seems like SEGA have nailed what you want from a 2D Sonic title. It certainly looks the part and lacks the overused gimmicks so sorely included in more recent adventures of the blue hedgehog, even going as far as to try and fully recapture the atmosphere of the older games. However those looking for a true successor to the original foursome (Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles) may find themselves disappointed. What you have here doesn’t have the quality of those titles but instead feels more like a decent enough stand-alone game which shouldn’t have really been labelled as a true return to the glory days. But more on that later.
Blast From The Past
Looking at Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 as a lone title, it is definitely the best outing the blue blur has seen in years. It’s fast, it’s fun and it doesn’t try to be anything it shouldn’t other than a simple, fun platformer. The four zones available may feel like copy and paste jobs from previous instalments in the series, but the new features thrown in make them feel somewhat fresher and new. Swinging vines, darkened labyrinths and zip lines are just some of the obstacles that lie ahead, keeping things from ever growing stale and repetitive. Even the familiar special stages make a return where Sonic becomes a ball with you rotating the environments, rolling him past obstacles and grabbing coins. This is perhaps the best level layout the series has seen in a long time.
Visually the game looks very nice mixing old themes and styles with up to date graphics. The colours feel lush and vibrant, enemies animate and look great and even the background feels like it’s been well thought out and designed. Even Sonic animates well with his legs blurring at full speed.
The arrangement and look of the game is classic Sonic which is definitely a good thing. No expansive cities and weird awkward humans to interact with but rather your much loved chequered green paradises and pinball littered casinos. Even the progression follows the same pattern with no story whatsoever and three acts and a boss battle with Dr. Robotnik himself in each zone. It all worked back then and it works now. Which is perhaps the game’s biggest selling point, it’s ability to latch onto nostalgia. This is evident right down to its sounds which include the shield, spring and checkpoint noise used in the very first game!
The music too deserves a special mention, since they perfectly match the style and tone of the previous games. Using MIDI tracks was a bold move and one that paid off since they have provided some of the catchiest beats in a Sonic game of recent memory. Fans will especially appreciate the way the same music track is slightly altered between acts of the same zone (much like Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles)
Something Doesn’t Feel Right
Sadly though while the sounds and looks are true Sonic the controls of the game feel too far astray from the Mega Drive classics. The movements are the same, with Sonic’s abilities including running, jumping, using his spin dash and the newly added homing attack (which actually fits into the game surprisingly well) but how the game handles isn’t right. Going from standing to running takes far too long, the physics feel plain weird at times (running up a wall can often make you move faster!?) and rolling in a ball oddly slows you down. Even the jumping feels off as letting go of the forward button stops you dead on the spot. It doesn’t control terribly, but after playing Sonic The Hedgehog recently and comparing the two it lacks the momentum and rewarding nature found in that game. On the bright side though, the game has very few moments where you feel like you’re watching rather than playing and the speed is also at just the right tempo.
While I appreciate the zones take inspiration from past Sonic titles, the lack of any truly new stages is a real shame. Temples, forests, mechanical plants and casinos are fun to play through again, but adding something entirely new would have set this apart from the past titles. Like New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii it sometimes feels like the developer has played it too safe in terms of new ideas.
At 1500 points the game isn’t cheap so you’d expect the amount of content to match the hefty price. Sadly that isn’t the case. At only four zones long (with leaderboards on each act if you want to test yourself against others worldwide) you can likely finish the game in one sitting. There are Chaos emeralds to find and a final boss encounter to beat, but it just isn’t enough. Some may argue that this is what the Sonic games have always been like, but even so a lower price point would have been more justifiable.
Bottom Line
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was always going to get compared with the originals and unfortunately it falls well short of them. That isn’t to say it’s a bad game though, because it’s not. This isn’t the continuation of the classic series we were all looking for which is a shame. The new controls and physics, lack of brand new ideas and the low amount of content hurt this otherwise decent product. Here’s hoping lessons are learnt for the next episode.
7/10
SEGA are taking a big gamble here calling this game a true sequel to Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles. After all the original Sonic titles on the Mega Drive are still considered as some of the best games ever made delivering the right balance of speed and precision platforming while also providing a stellar soundtrack with unique, beautiful environments. Can it live up to the ridiculously high expectations or is it simply another adventure to fall into the infamous Sonic Cycle?
On paper it seems like SEGA have nailed what you want from a 2D Sonic title. It certainly looks the part and lacks the overused gimmicks so sorely included in more recent adventures of the blue hedgehog, even going as far as to try and fully recapture the atmosphere of the older games. However those looking for a true successor to the original foursome (Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles) may find themselves disappointed. What you have here doesn’t have the quality of those titles but instead feels more like a decent enough stand-alone game which shouldn’t have really been labelled as a true return to the glory days. But more on that later.
Blast From The Past
Looking at Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 as a lone title, it is definitely the best outing the blue blur has seen in years. It’s fast, it’s fun and it doesn’t try to be anything it shouldn’t other than a simple, fun platformer. The four zones available may feel like copy and paste jobs from previous instalments in the series, but the new features thrown in make them feel somewhat fresher and new. Swinging vines, darkened labyrinths and zip lines are just some of the obstacles that lie ahead, keeping things from ever growing stale and repetitive. Even the familiar special stages make a return where Sonic becomes a ball with you rotating the environments, rolling him past obstacles and grabbing coins. This is perhaps the best level layout the series has seen in a long time.
Visually the game looks very nice mixing old themes and styles with up to date graphics. The colours feel lush and vibrant, enemies animate and look great and even the background feels like it’s been well thought out and designed. Even Sonic animates well with his legs blurring at full speed.
The arrangement and look of the game is classic Sonic which is definitely a good thing. No expansive cities and weird awkward humans to interact with but rather your much loved chequered green paradises and pinball littered casinos. Even the progression follows the same pattern with no story whatsoever and three acts and a boss battle with Dr. Robotnik himself in each zone. It all worked back then and it works now. Which is perhaps the game’s biggest selling point, it’s ability to latch onto nostalgia. This is evident right down to its sounds which include the shield, spring and checkpoint noise used in the very first game!
The music too deserves a special mention, since they perfectly match the style and tone of the previous games. Using MIDI tracks was a bold move and one that paid off since they have provided some of the catchiest beats in a Sonic game of recent memory. Fans will especially appreciate the way the same music track is slightly altered between acts of the same zone (much like Sonic 3 / Sonic & Knuckles)
Something Doesn’t Feel Right
Sadly though while the sounds and looks are true Sonic the controls of the game feel too far astray from the Mega Drive classics. The movements are the same, with Sonic’s abilities including running, jumping, using his spin dash and the newly added homing attack (which actually fits into the game surprisingly well) but how the game handles isn’t right. Going from standing to running takes far too long, the physics feel plain weird at times (running up a wall can often make you move faster!?) and rolling in a ball oddly slows you down. Even the jumping feels off as letting go of the forward button stops you dead on the spot. It doesn’t control terribly, but after playing Sonic The Hedgehog recently and comparing the two it lacks the momentum and rewarding nature found in that game. On the bright side though, the game has very few moments where you feel like you’re watching rather than playing and the speed is also at just the right tempo.
While I appreciate the zones take inspiration from past Sonic titles, the lack of any truly new stages is a real shame. Temples, forests, mechanical plants and casinos are fun to play through again, but adding something entirely new would have set this apart from the past titles. Like New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii it sometimes feels like the developer has played it too safe in terms of new ideas.
At 1500 points the game isn’t cheap so you’d expect the amount of content to match the hefty price. Sadly that isn’t the case. At only four zones long (with leaderboards on each act if you want to test yourself against others worldwide) you can likely finish the game in one sitting. There are Chaos emeralds to find and a final boss encounter to beat, but it just isn’t enough. Some may argue that this is what the Sonic games have always been like, but even so a lower price point would have been more justifiable.
Bottom Line
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was always going to get compared with the originals and unfortunately it falls well short of them. That isn’t to say it’s a bad game though, because it’s not. This isn’t the continuation of the classic series we were all looking for which is a shame. The new controls and physics, lack of brand new ideas and the low amount of content hurt this otherwise decent product. Here’s hoping lessons are learnt for the next episode.
7/10