First Hands-On Video of Sonic 4 Episode 2 PLUS a Tentative Release Date

This has turned into the day for Sonic 4 news, hasn’t it? SEGA and NVIDIA surprised visitors to the Mobile World Congress 2012 with the first ever public demo of Sonic 4 Episode 2! While the dude playing the game is pretty bad at it (don’t all early demo videos feature inept players?), it does show off a good two minutes of gameplay footage. I’m sure Sonic fans will be pouring over this little clip for the next month. Is a video not enough for you? Well SEGA has let slip a tentative release date, and it’s not May as XBOX Marketplace had originally suggested.

The game wasn’t perfectly smooth being mirrored on an HD television but Sega urged us to note that the build they were showing wasn’t at all final. When can you expect that final build, you ask? The wait won’t be too long – Sega tells us mid-April will be their target.

Japanese Sonic 4 Episode 2 Site Opens! More Screens, Slick Interface.

Why is it that the official Japanese sites for Sonic games are always way better than the English language ones? Why not translate what little text there is into English and make it so one site can cover all territories? While I ponder such things, I invite you to explore the recently opened Sonic 4 Episode 2 site from SEGA of Japan. There you’ll find new screens, a character bio section, an explanation of the combo moves (in Japanese, of course) and confirmation of Sylvania Castle and White Park being the first two zone names. If you dig a little, you’ll even find tiny screens of the first boss, Egg Serpentleaf, in action as well as a in-game menu screen. Of interest to Ice Cap fans, one screen shows off Sonic and Tails doing a bit of snowboarding in White Park. After the break, browse through the many screens!

Sonic 4 Episode 2 Achievements Revealed!

Well this is a surprise! The list of achievements for Sonic 4 Episode 2 have already been revealed. What, is this game expected to release next week? It seems every day we’re getting more and more info. Revealed within the list are a few zone names, the return of red rings AND the return of a classic zone. Check out all the achievements after the break! Also, we reveal a zone name NOT mentioned in the achievements list or anywhere else on the net for that matter first site to mention the reveal of a new zone name before the “Continue Reading” button, and some new screens. Of course, expect some spoilers.

More Sonic 4 Episode 2 Screens Revealed, Teaser Trailer Next Thursday!

Well, it appears SEGA Blog has finally acknowledged that Sonic 4 Episode 2 screens are out in the wild. But instead of rereleasing the same ol’ screens, they’ve shared a collection of new ones! Some show brand new areas in previously revealed zones, while others take place just moments before or after the XBOX.com screens. Some details include a new hummingbird badnik, the confirmation that special stages will be accessed as they were in episode 1 and that somebody has been building Eggman snow men. Check out the screens, and learn when the trailer will hit, after the break!

Dissecting the Sonic 4 Episode 2 Screens

Yesterday XBOX.com let slip ten Sonic 4 Episode 2 screens. Before Microsoft could pull the info, Sonic and SEGA fan sites from all over the net had saved, uploaded and shared the images to the point where SEGA might as well just allow the images back up and give us a trailer while they’re at it. [Update: it seems they have, the images are back on XBOX.com] The screens, found here, reveal a number of details that had yet to be mentioned by SEGA. After the break, let’s slice open these meaty screens and see what little details we can find!

Sonic 4 Episode 2 Screens (NOT Concept Art) For Your Viewing Pleasure!

Holy crap! Ten screens, boxart AND an expanded game description for Sonic 4 Episode 2 are available for viewing thanks to what can only be a mistimed release on XBOX.com. No SEGA Blog announcement or anything, all this just appeared today! The XBOX site also mentions that the game is offline AND online 1-2 player co-op. Enough from me, check out the official description of the game below and check out screens after the break!

UPDATE: the screens have been removed from XBOX.com. Good thing I saved them!

UPDATE 2: Another piece of info has been added and quickly removed, a mention of a 5/16/2012 release date. This bit of info was noted at The Sonic Stadium Boards and this date matches up with our earlier reported April/May release date of the comic adaptation. The cover art has also now been removed from XBOX.com.

The Sonic 4 Saga continues as Sonic reunites with Tails for all new collaborative play! Following the events of Episode I, Metal Sonic has returned to form a formidable alliance with Dr. Eggman! To face this new threat, Sonic will have to call upon an old friend to help him save the day! Joined by Tails, utilise ingenious combination moves and race across four brand new Zones, in order to put an end to their evil plans! Play alone, or with a friend locally (and online), in an evolution of Sonic 2’s collaborative gameplay! Unleash Sonic and Tails’ devastating joint attacks and combination moves to fight the united force of Metal Sonic and Dr. Eggman. Episode II features an all new game engine, bringing you updated physics and an original graphical style as you race through four unique Zones and a new Special Stage.

Sonic Talk #1: “If You Have Time To Worry… Podcast!”

Hello folks and welcome to my first of what I hope is many podcasts related to the world of Sonic. Every two weeks me, nuckles87 and a guest will be discussing all the latest things in Sonic media. Games, comics, cartoons and more! Our first episode was a little rough, but it’s gonna be like that when just starting out. Read on to see what we talk about this week or start listening below.
[powerpress url=”https://segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/SonicTalk01.mp3″]
[Download]

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Sonic 4: Episode 2 will only have one throwback level

Over at the official SEGA of America forums, a fan brought up the ultimate question. Are we going to suffer through throwbacks the whole time like episode one? Good news, Sonic 4 brand manager Ken Balough says that no, we won’t. He confirms that only one of the zones is a genuine throwback.

Also there is going to be a nice unveiling later this month. Now, he does admit that fans will call anything a throwback, only because it’s a similar environment. Read his full response after the jump.

Sonic 4 Episode 2 Hedgehog Day Reveal: Egg Serpentleaf

To celebrate Groundhog Hedgehog Day, SEGA of America has shared a new piece of concept art from Sonic 4 Episode 2. Is it another badnik? No! It’s our first look at a boss, and an original boss at that! Dubbed the Egg Serpentleaf, the boss appears to be Eggman inside a giant flower that is able to close up and act as a laser. Pretty cool if you ask me! I wonder if the giant flower hints at the stage motif? After the break, more images of the new boss.

Sonic Boar-errr…4: Episode 2 Concept Art Released

Sega has released more concept art for the upcoming Sonic 4-2. Once again we are getting original badnik designs. Here, we see a brand new badnik called “Fullboar”. You know what he’s full of? Hedgehog-killing awesomeness, that’s what! This badnik is so deadly, Eggman got his flicky from a maximum security prison for killer flickies! (I lie.) Hopefully the full game will have even more original badniks and levels to keep it from being the mere copycat Sonic 4 was in design. Read on to find another new badnik. I aint (Sea) lyin’! (Ugh.)

SEGA Reveals Sonic 4 Episode 2 Concept Art, Proving They Can Have Original Ideas

Well this is a surprise! SEGA Blog has revealed concept art from Sonic 4 Episode 2, and this time it’s not a palm tree! From the sound of it, each Friday two pieces of concept art will be revealed. One on the SEGA Blog and one on SEGA’s Sonic Facebook page. I have to say, I’m impressed! Sure they’re not jaw dropping, but they’re original. A blue tube thingy and a cute hermit crab badnik. What a nice way to end each Friday, keep ’em comin’ SEGA!

Edit: Now that I look at it, I realize that the blue tube thing is probably that spinning gimmick from Marble Garden. Original? Maybe not, but I loved the sound they made when you bounced on them.

Sonic 4 Episode 2 Comic Adaptation Points to April/May Release of the Game?

Those who bought the second issue of Archie Comic’s Sonic Super Special magazine (available now at most newsstands, bookstores and comic shops) have spotted a preview for the third issue which promises an exclusive Sonic 4 Episode 2 adaptation. The preview refers to Episode 2 as “SEGA’s hottest new game” and features Sonic, Eggman and Metal on the cover. Given that Archie’s Sonic Generations adaptation released the same week as the game itself, and the fact that the Sonic Super Special magazine is quarterly, AND the fact that one quater of the year from January is April/May, one could guess that the third issue containing the adaptation will release in April/May and that the game will also release at this time. This is, of course, speculation.

ESRB rates Sonic 4: Episode 2 for PC


SEGA hasn’t announced if they will be releasing Sonic 4: Episode 2 for PC, but it seems that ESRB has already spilled the beans early. If you recall, SEGA also kept quiet about the PC version of Sonic Generations, even though there was a ton of proof.

But for those PC players who didn’t get to experience Sonic 4: Episode 1, you might not have to worry. Awhile back we posted that it turned up in the Steam registry. Pretty much means that SEGA has a port of that one in the works for the PC.