Don't call it a comeback. Though the blue blur delivers more misses than hits, he churns out more releases than anyone but Mario and crew. Will this finally be the game that erases all the heartache, or another groaner that makes us question why we keep coming back like abused hedgehog wives? Check our verdict on the original series sequel 16 years in the making.
The Pros
- Prettified throwback levels
- Surprise modernized moments
- A trip down memory lane
The Cons
- Awkward physics
- Cheap tricks
- Not much bang for your buck
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 Review:
They say you can never go home again. For me, home means the early ‘90s, sharing a Genesis controller with my best friend and we had Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic was one of those rare, immediately essential titles that affected gamers physically. With only 16 bits, Sonic made our stomachs drop out on loop-de-loops and our hearts race as we sped through scenery so fast its design was all but lost on us.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is Sega’s appeal to fellow nostalgic gamers with a “true” sequel to the original sidescrolling series. But can the timed 2D platformer still hang?
Retrofitted
Sonic 4 retains the shape and style of its elders, splicing speeding through a timed platform course with puzzle elements. There’s always more than one way to get from the left side of the level to the right, and a bit of exploration can lead to extra rings and a faster time. There are four zones with four short acts apiece. Each zone is familiar Sonic territory (casino, ancient ruins, factory), with the most recognizable being the Splash Hill Zone, a sexy 2.5D HD rehash of the first ever Sonic level, the tropical Green Hill Zone.
Speed Bumps
Though the nod to longtime Sonic fans is an appreciated tribute, the minimal aesthetic requires dead-on physics. Sonic 4 does not deliver on this front. The action can be jarringly stop-and-go, like a rickety rollercoaster struggling to get up an incline. Sonic is at his worst when not at top speed. When walking or underwater, his awkward motion makes the timer running on-screen feel like a huge tease. At the end of each Zone, you’ll take on Eggman in boss battles that range from painfully simple to simply painful. A common theme for this title, Sonic suffers greatly for not being able to find the sweet spot between classic and contemporary gaming.
The homing attack, which can be activated when an enemy or environmental element lights up with a red reticule, is a theoretically enjoyable addition from the 3-D games that would be very welcome here if it were to operate sensibly. When it does work, trouncing Eggman’s animal slave-bots from on high is sharp and satisfying. Unfortunately, reticules often show up when they shouldn’t and don’t when they should, often leading to split-second, unavoidable miscalculation or dropping like lead to a frustrating death.
Frustrating deaths don’t have to be a bad thing—look at downloadable contemporary Super Meat Boy. This game’s masocore levels are punishing, but beating most of them involves a satisfying “a-ha!” moment that makes the struggle worthwhile. Instead of hiding elegant secrets, Sonic 4’s levels rely on cheap tricks like unforeseeable bottomless pits and moving walls that seem to jump to your position at the worst possible time no matter how far ahead of them you get. This isn’t to say that this is a departure from series roots—the original Genesis games gave me plenty of agita as a little girl—but our medium as a whole has evolved past cheap tricks for a reason, and even the most retro-fetishist sequels should fall in line.
A Grim Future
In order to future-fy the otherwise retro homage, the gentle fatty of the original Genesis titles has been replaced by the newer “extreme” Sonic, a slender bro hog with wicked dreads. It’s a design choice I could happily do without. There are some neat modern twists, however, that serve as high points. I dug taking a ride on a bridge of playing cards that arced across the screen like a Vegas dealer spreading out a deck, and was happily taken by surprise when I was able to rotate the screen to pour Sonic out with a roomful of water.
Though it isn’t without winning moments, you need to know that this installment of Sonic 4 is short and often confused. Most of what you will enjoy about this game is directly related to how much you may have loved the original Genesis titles, which is a credit that should be given to them and not Episode 1.
Instead of dangling Sonic’s bloated corpse in front of us, Sega either needs to pump him full of re-animator juice or lay him to rest in the exotic pet cemetery. The more mediocre Sonic games Sega releases, the more I want to be left alone with my happy childhood memories.
Comments
Displaying 1–19 of 19
Xereau
I never expect a 5 star rating on the Sonic games but I did expect better than a 3. After playing and loving this game I looked at what everyone else had to say and was shocked, it is like just because it is Sonic it can't be good, I feel like everyone got together and said " lets find the smallest things and glitches and tell them that this is why it isn't good. First off I did some research after playing the first three Sonic games with and without Knuckles, the game has not changed that much yes even the Physics. First off the Jumping thing, yes he has always lost momentum while in the air when you let go of the d pad, but that just makes sense, when in the air at top speed in Sonic 1 it took me three seconds to stop moving forward. In Sonic 2 it took 2 seconds and in Sonic 3 it took 2.5 seconds. So right there in isn't consistent. The sudden stop in Sonic 4 isn't that bad though, and easy to fix too, just don't stop pushing forward. The spin dash is the same, he loses momentum while in spin dash almost as fast as he did in Sonic 2 and 3, it took 3 seconds for him to slow to a stop. in Sonic 4 it is the same, so if you want to keep moving forward then don't release the forward button. besides that the Physics are almost if not the same as the first three games. And lastly the Homing attack, It works fine guys and it makes sense on why it won't work at different moments, he can't home on things above him well that makes sense because Gravity says "NO!" it works the same in the 3D Sonic games too, if it is above him he can't home on it. I say that Sonic 4 Deserves a 4/5 or a 8.5/10 the rut that Sonic was in, he climbed out of it. Oh and every game has it's glitches, saying that Sonic 1,2,and 3 didn't have glitches is just plain stupid. Mario also has his glitches, and so does Megaman, and they are all good games. This is coming from some one who has played Sonic for the past 18 years and I am glad that Sega is doing what they need to to fix there broken mascot, props to them. Every one who says that Sonic 4 has crappy Physics should go back and play the first three games then tell me what they think. (Besides the Jumping thing that one is different lol.)
Ryzuki
I expected this to get a 5 star rating but after reading the review, i guess it's a 3 star game after all. Oh well. At least SEGA is trying.
johnsprogram
On the plus side, SEGA is on the right track for making a Sonic game correctly.
sonicwind510
You know, it's very annoying that they find any stupid thing to complain about and that's what makes the game "not so great". But what's so funny is that you look at call of duty: modern warfare 2 and halo games with plenty of glitches, glitches for days but still get 5 out of 5. i'm beginning to think they they are being extremely bias.
viperxmns
It's a shame that they saddled Sonic 4 with stupid things like physics issues. I hope you guys enjoy Sonic Colors more, that game is finally, finally on track to restore some dignity to the franchise.
Xuptokny2
Being a very heavy Sonic fan, I'd like to throw in my two cents.
Downloading this game, I was very nervous. I wanted to keep an open mind and not quickly judge anything.
::Sound::
As soon as the game started, it greeted me with a very nostalgic "SEGA." Soon after the music started with the same exact electronic drum sound from Sonic 1, 2 and 3. The music was very pleasing to my ears and I was raring to play.
::Levels::
The best and easiest way to describe the levels is this:
Level 1 (Sonic 4) is really Green Hill Zone Act 4, 5 and 6 (Sonic 1).
Level 2 (Sonic 4) is really Labyrinth Zone Act 4, 5 and 6 (Sonic 1).
Level 3 (Sonic 4) is really Casino Night Zone Act 3, 4 and 5 (Sonic 2).
Level 4 (Sonic 4) is really Metropolis Zone Act 4, 5 and 6 (Sonic 2).
The bonus levels are unique in their control scheme, and remain true to the previous sonic games in the sense of sonic floating around in a maze trying to get rings, and the emerald.
So many elements in the 4 levels were ripped straight from the previous games, and I mean SO MANY, that it is almost like a continuation. Metropolis for example has the star baddies that explode, the 'comb' platforms, the background, the teleporting pipe things, the cogs you run and spin on, etc.
Oh and the bosses are identical for the first half of each fight to each of their respective levels.
::Physics::
Obviously this is being written assuming you have played earlier Sonic games. Sonic in this game does not control the same mainly because you only keep your momentum if you continue to push the D-pad. If you spin dash and jump immediately and let go of your direction, you will lose speed very quickly, until you reach a stop. It's like the air is really thick. Heck, I remember in Sonic 1, 2 and 3, being able to moonwalk if done right.
I am only trying to share what Sonic fans would care about, but those fans I'm sure have already played it. I did and still enjoy playing this new installment, and look forward to more... and maybe a patch to fix his physics XD
Lunar_Savage
I forgot to mention the gimmicks in some of the levels. Suffice it to say they are all well done and also are a strong reminder of classic Sonic. Perhaps too much polish went into the gimmicks. xD As they are probably some of the highest points in the game...unless you really like boss battles.
Lunar_Savage
This review is pretty spot on. Though I think I would've given 3.5/5 though, as he forgot to factor in the music which is another important part of the Sonic games.
The physics were indeed off. Way off. You gain no momentum while rolling. It actually slows you down. You lose forward momentum if you let go of the direction you're going after a jump. Sonic clings to walls and ceilings (some ceilings are automated unless you have next to zero momentum). You don't gain much momentum while running unless some serious slopes are involved. And even then, your speed hits a cap and you can go absolutely no faster (meaning no running off the screen like in Sonic 2). Which makes levels like the casino zone very painful to play in and less nostalgic (if you liked building up momentum by rolling in the big "U" shaped sections).
You uncurl when you come off a ramp which shoves the homing attack down your throat and leaves you vulnerable if you grudgingly decide against using it.
And there's no pinball feel to the game. Even the casino which made an admirable attempt at installing pinball moments into the game, failed. As soon as you come off one of the flippers, you must hold in the direction it sent you to keep going. Let go, and you fall like a rock.
Springs and other skyward thrusting objects in the game do not have the "oomph" to send you to the intended destination. Yet again, you are forced to do the work for these poorly implemented devices and hold the stick or d-pad in the direction you're going.
Then there's the dashpads/boosters. I wouldn't have such a big problem with these things, if they didn't slow you down. Every one of the dashpads forces you into a roll. And as I pointed out earlier, you slow down when rolling. No matter how you enter the roll. Spin dash, dashpad, holding down while running. You will slow down to a grinding halt while rolling (much to my disappointment as I love the spin dash...though it does have some uses, especially against a particular boss). Even when on a slope (as evidenced in Splash Hill Zone, much to my dismay). Ultimately, all the dashpads do is give you a momentary glimpse of speed. No wonder why the required so many. :/
As for the rest of the game, it is very quite well done. The atmosphere, level design, and little aesthetics of background art are simply amazing and scream classic 2D Sonic style game. All to a great soundtrack that rings true with that old school Sonic feel and rhythm. It also has IMO, a good difficulty progression. Barring the final boss of course which sky rockets the difficulty compared to the rest of the game...and rightfully so. As the final boss is epic and should not have been anything less than that.
The final gripe is content to price ratio. The game is simply to short for $15. $10 is a much better price.
Now if SEGA could just fix the physics, they'd have a 5/5 game on their hands. Bring on episode 2!
Bass.EXE
The only major problem I had with this game was the physics. And not the running physics even. It was the jumping physics. If I'm jumping, and I let go of the joystick, why the hell would sonic lose all forward velocity? That makes no sense and results in, like the reviewer said, awkwardness, along with many deaths
girrzimm
they need to hand the character of sonic over to an indie company to make the game for them, because the people working at those companies now are the ones that grew up idolizing sonic. So the game is being made by the fans essentially
power-o-pwn
um first?
jungleman67
might get it
PaulAtreides86
reviewer obviously needs to go play the old Sonics again..... this plays exactly the same! its amazing and I am so happy Sega is going back to this style of sonic.
although i do agree.... the new sonic art sucks.... quit trying to modernize his look.
XwingVmanX
I can't believe this review is still so hard on Sonic. I love this game, it makes me feel like I am playing the original sonic, but with enough new to keep it interesting. I will admit the game is pretty sort, but part of the fun of sonic is playing one level over and over to try and find the secret passages and trying to get the high score.
I have no idea why you thought the physics were bad, I had no trouble at all controlling sonic and the new lock on mechanic worked great imo, aside from a few instances, but they were nothing to complain about.
And I never felt cheated by the game, I will admit some of the bottomless pits were a little cheap, but thats it.
I feel this remake was a success and can't wait for episode 2.
weiyunchi
there are many things about the rating that i agree with. others not so much. I absolutely agree with the fact that sonic's animation is not what i feel it should be. it should be like sonic 3 for instance. While i couldn't get over that fact for quite some time, i watched some videos of people playing the game and despite having a slow animation speed, were able to beat levels with blazing speed. the mechanic that allows you to do it is the new jumping mechanic. With that it plays much better. granted i would rather have it back to sonic 3's physics. secondly, the game indeed was overpriced. 10 dollars would have been much better. either way, i was pleased with the game after i got used to what they were going for. hopefully they will make some tweaks for episode 2. i'd give it between a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.
Squidward100
smh this was supposed to be Sonic's redemption, played the demo. it was ok at best until i bought the game, sonic goes waaaay too slow for a 2d game. this is a good arcade game worth buying..... if u didnt play the original sonic.
neilstaman
Sonic 4 ep 1 is not a sequel. It is more of a tribute to sonic's previous 2d ventures with a 3d twist. I for one enjoyed this game, simply because I enjoy the homing attack more than sonic's 2d game play. But a 3/5 is logical. Games is priced too hgih and the value does not back it up. I did enjoy 5-6 hours just getting the emeralds and super sonic. Not a bad XBLA game. But not a continuation of the 2d sonic games in terms of physics or gameplay.
IN_YO_FACE
I played the demo if feels like I'm playing Sonic 3D Blast and that's not a good thing they should have went back to 2D.
Adampro123
I had such high hopes for this i thought this would be the return of the good sonic games, unfortunately from what i played it just feels bad playing it. you go too slow for a sonic game and the physics are just bad.
Displaying 1–19 of 19
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