#sonic #sonicthehedgehog #sonic4ep1 #sonic4episode2

Description and timestamps below:

So here we are....After completing every 2D Sonic game that I know of (including wonderful fan projects), it is finally time to cover THAT game: The infamous Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (Episode 1, 2 and Metal) that many Sonic fans nowadays shun. So it begs the question: Is the title really deserving of such treatment?

Back in 2010, Dimps (who have previously worked on the Advance games and Rush), were tasked by Sega and with assistance by Sonic Team in making "Sonic the Portable" which was a Sonic spinoff game exclusively for release on smartphone and android devices. Halfway during development, Sega decided to rename it as Sonic the Hedgehog 4, making it a multiplatform mainline Sonic installment and as a continuation of the Genesis Sonic games.

The story begins shortly after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles (1994). Sonic the Hedgehog parts ways with his friends, Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles the Echidna, to explore new territories on his own. However, series antagonist Doctor Eggman—who survived his defeat in Sonic & Knuckles—resurfaces, refines some of his past robots, and initiates a plan to get rid of Sonic. While Episode I INITALLY had favorable reviews, many veterans and long term fans of the series (including myself) took issue with a lot of the games physics that were massively different and inconsistent from the classics (which this is supposed to be a sequel for).

Episode II was then announced in February 2011, promising changes to the formula to follow the Genesis games more closely. The game received mixed reviews from critics, although it was generally considered an improvement over Episode I, with praise for the game's improved physics, coop mechanics and visuals, but criticism for it's boss fights (that drag on far too long) and laughably simple level design (in parts). Episode III was initally planned but then cancelled.

Unbeknownst to many however in 2015, Developer Christian Whitehead said that he had been offered the opportunity to develop Episode III with Sega Studios Australia before that division was shut down, and he instead worked on remasters of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 between 2012 and 2013. Whitehead would then go on to lead the development of the critically acclaimed and successful Sonic Mania in 2017 which, like Sonic 4, acts as a sequel to the Genesis Sonic games. Sonic 4 and Sonic Mania were frequently compared, with journalists and fans viewing Sonic 4 very unfavorably in contrast to Mania.

In my opinion and after playing them again, the games are not too bad and surprised me in that they were somewhat enjoyable to play. But the greatest problem that hurt these games was the title in my opinion. Being a numbered title means that game is going to be compared with the Genesis series and merchandising itself as a sequel to some of the greatest Sonic games ever made. The difference in quality between Sonic 4 and those games are plain to see.

But I think when Sonic 4 is looked at how it was initally designed to be: A spin off Sonic game to be played on smartphone devices and called Sonic the Portable, then I think the games wouldn't have had no where near the negative receptions they received. People should be glad these games exist as it reminds us how far the Sonic franchise has come in the last 10 years. This game led to the creation of Sonic Mania, which then itself inspired other great 2D Sonic fan projects. Sega I also like to think, learned a valuable lesson when trying to buy in on people's nostalgia for classic Sonic in a bad way, and have hopefully remembered why those games were the pinnacle of the series in the first place.

But Sega are still a games developer I love and have the utmost of respect for, just to make that clear and these games deserve a place in Sonic's library of games. But anyway, I did have fun playing these two games and Episode Metal again after all these years. Enjoy the playthrough!

0:00 Game Intro + Title Screen
0:35 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
56:09 Episode Metal
1:08:28 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2