Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1

[Waffle]

Don't know if its already posted, but here are some screenshots.

http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x? ... #img152164

These better not be screen shots you can just get on the official site !

[Barry the Nomad]

Oh ho ho ho they are in deedy!

[MadeManG74]

I think people are somewhat overreacting about my and a few others negative comments on this game.

While I think the game will turn out okay, this is not good enough for a "Sonic the Hedgehog 4". They really are barely trying to make anything in here outstanding like they would have back in the day, it seems like they barely care or like the 3D Sonic games more. I like some of the 3D Sonic games too, but if you are going to make a retro style game, why even consider adding stuff like that in?

If this was just not called Sonic the Hedgehog 4, I would be fine with it. It is just an average release in the series, by releasing this they will just make the original trilogy seem far less interesting and great to the general public.

Wow, you REALLLLLLLY have a stick up your ass. How can you call the game not good enough? Have you even played it? Saying "I heard" or "I saw in YouTube footage" doesn't cut it. Jesus fucking christ.

So what you are saying is if it had no Sonic at all you'd be fine with it but since you can use Sonic but not in the specific way you want you wont buy a potentially great game...seems pretty backwards.

Everyone I see complaining about it just wants older content, and I can agree and see why they would want this, but in the end, will probably be just a really fun and enjoyable game. Would you buy it if it was a rancid piece of shit but had better Sonic Models and less features like Homing attack? It is sounding like that honestly.

 

(i'm just messin' around guys, you're still cool.)

[jonboy101]

Don't know if its already posted, but here are some screenshots.

http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x? ... #img152164

These better not be screen shots you can just get on the official site !

Yeah so what if they are?!

[Mengels7]

While I think the game will turn out okay, this is not good enough for a "Sonic the Hedgehog 4". They really are barely trying to make anything in here outstanding like they would have back in the day.

Look I was 3 when Sonic 3 came out. I thought it was great. Going back and playing it, it is still fun, but c'mon there's nothing absolutely "outstanding" about it that they're missing in the new game. It's 2010. Why wouldn't they try and improve the formula a bit? If the game ends up being shit, okay then let's bitch, but you gotta play it first.

[STORM!]

　Downloaded the music from the first stage on the site and... its pretty shitty.

 Jun Senoue is not good enough to do this job.


 Untill now, he has made a better job on Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

[MadeManG74]

I just downloaded that song, I didn't think it was that good.

[Dr. SEGA Monkey]

IMO, everything Senoue makes is gold. And this is no exception. This song will grow on you eventually.

Also, check out this Splash Hill remix in Sonic 3 style.

http://http://8bitcollective.com/music/geckoyamori/Sonic+4+-+Splash+Hill+Zone+(Classic+Arrangement)/

[Sega Uranus]

It sounds nothing like any other Sonic song I ever heard. Considering how vast that selection is, I am extremely confused with how this turned out.

Also, it is not very good. DO NOT TRY AND DEFEND IT DR SEGA MONKERY RAAAAGGGGGHRRRHHHHH

[upsidedown fuji]

I don't think it sounds as bad as you guys say but it does feel like it's missing some gritty synth sounds the first 3 had. That fan remix really shows that it isn't all that bad, it just needs some instrument changes.

[Barry the Nomad]

http://www.sonicstadium.org/news/ngamer ... cial-stage

British gaming magazine, NGamer, just sent out their latest issue in the mail and within its many pages lies a preview of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1.  

Here are a few key points in NGamer’s preview:

“The sound effects are pulled straight from the 16-bit days, and both the loading screen and the extra life icons rip their sprites straight from the heart of the nearest Mega Drive”

“The bonus stages, activated by finishing a level with over 50 rings, resemble the mazes from the very first Sonic the Hedgehog, but with a modern twist. Now, instead of reacting to the spin of the maze, the player controls it by titlting the Wii remote. A Chaos Emerald is still the prize, but now Sonic has to fight for his right to even be in the same room as the gem – doors blocking off access have t be removed by collecting a set number of rings.”

“Sonic 4 will be split into three episodes, each containing four zones of three acts (and a boss) apiece.”

“Act 3 of Splash Hill Zone is the only act to take place at sunset.”

[MadeManG74]

After the problems of Sonic Unleashed, Sonic The Hedgehog 4 seems to be finally giving the fans what they want on a home console. Judging by your reaction when this WiiWare series was first announced, it's definitely something that you're really looking forward to. So when we secured an interview with Sega's Takashi Iizuka we thought we'd ask our forum members to pose the questions.

Now, Iizuka wouldn't answer all your questions -he couldn't tell us how long there would be between episodes, how long each episode would last for or whether Mecha Sonic would be making an appearance, but he didn't deny that Tails might make an appearance in a future episode!

This is the second in our 'ONM Asks' series of interviews. Last month you asked Ace Attorney Director Shu Takumi some questions and we're hoping to set up some more in the future. So if there are any leading developers you'd like to grill, let us know by commenting below. On with the interview...

Why has Sonic 4 taken so long to come about? - BADGERGAMER

Takashi Iizuka
Takashi Iizuka: Ever since Sonic Adventure was released in 1998, Sonic has evolved into a game which is faster and features new actions for Sonic. On the other hand, the sense of speed from side scrolling means that the popularity of 'classic' series still remains high. Even now a lot of fans enjoy playing those classic games via the Wii's Virtual Console. The aim for Sonic 4 is to provide a 'new classic series' using modern techniques that have only been around for the past few years for fans from all around the world who love the 'classical' series.

How long has Sonic The Hedgehog 4 been in development and how has the approach for designing a downloadable game differed from the way you design other Sonic games? - MK Skillz

TI: About a year including concept development. As this is a downloadable title, the data size and price is very different from a packaged title. We just focused on old school classic game content to minimise data size and price.

Why did you decide to make it episodic? - Aki-toriko

TI: The object of this project was to make a game with a lower price which can be played and downloaded easily from the beginning. We are exploring making each episode volume small and having an increased number of possible episodes.

Why did you decide to use the WiiWare service rather than releasing the game on one disc? - Deku Scrub

TI: As stated previously, this was always planned as downloadable exclusive title. We thought the users who purchased classic games like 'Sonic 1' and 'Sonic 2' through the Wii Virtual Console would be the most interested in the downloadable titles.

Were you inspired by the success of New Super Mario Bros on both Wii and DS? In terms of giving the retro fans what they wanted? - FlibyFlow

TI: At first we weren't aware of it. At the beginning of the development we wanted to create a downloadable exclusive title but knowing that the Wii version of New Super Mario Bros. has become a major hit in Japan and also around the world, it encouraged us as even now 2D platform action is loved by a lot of people.

All The classic games since Sonic 2 have featured Miles "Tails" Prower. Will Tails be featured in any one of these episodic adventures? - SuperKnightAI

TI: Tails won't appear in Episode I. I'll leave it to your imagination whether he'll appear for further episodes!

What made you decide to include the Homing Attack, and does it have any impact on the classic- gameplay? - MK Skillz

TI: As you know, Homing Attack was an action featured from 'Sonic Adventure' and it didn't appear in the classic series. In Sonic 4 the Homing Attack is added, and this provides sense of speed that none of the classic series have.

Can we expect only levels or enemies inspired by the original games or will there be anything completely new? - bleedOrange

TI: Sonic 4 stages have motifs that remind us of previous series, but they have been designed to be completely new for this game. We prepared many gimmicks and devices that are classic and also some you have never seen before!

Now Sonic has returned to his old roots, will he remain this way from now on or will we still see him return in his 3D adventures such as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Unleashed? - Dooby

TI: I think Sonic 4 is positioned as a game which provides simple classic gameplay, so it is not considered the same as something which evolved as a 3D action series. I cannot answer how 3D action series will expand from now on unfortunately.

Will Super Sonic be available to players who collect all 7 Chaos Emeralds? - Sonic Boom

TI: It is one of the biggest characteristics of the classic series but whether it is in this game or not, I'll leave to your imagination.

In your opinion does this game have most in common with the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, the Sonic Advance games, or the Sonic Rush games? - spambot404

TI: Of course Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy is the one this has most in common with. With the DS Sonic series, you have various actions like grind or boost. What I am creating with this title is a simple platform action game that you can enjoy with one button.

Any chance we could see a return of the Vs Mode from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, where you have to race a mate to the end of the zone? - Random_guy_14

TI: We don't provide Vs Mode in Episode I. Unfortunately, I cannot answer about further episodes at this point.

Will the Wii version offer something different to the PS3 version? - The Batman

TI: Basically we prepared identical game content so users could enjoy playing with their preferred hardware platform. However, some hardware specific capabilities are implemented. For Wii, you can enjoy a special stage by using the Wii Remote's tilt control.

What is your favourite thing about the game so far? - Flash7

TI: What I like most is being able to provide new [games like the] classic series after 16 years. Developing a classic Sonic world that used to be pixel art and making it high-res by using CG rendering means a lot for me as I was one of the developers of the original classic title.

http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co. ... p?id=16088

All the talk of speed speed speed (like to explain the homing attack) makes me a bit concerned.

[Barry the Nomad]

new pixxx:

http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/sonic-the ... 269C6E24F0

[upsidedown fuji]

NeoGaf is in meltdown mode again now that their fears of the homing attack have been confirmed in this newest batch of screen shots.

Honestly, I don't know what to expect with the homing attack in a fully 2D setting. It can go either way really. Hopefully the levels can be completed without it and the homing attack is in there more as a way to get high scores on time attacks. The older games used it more as a crutch to corral Sonic between different areas that would have been too hard to navigate in 3D.

I want an official video of this game released soon. I want to stay hyped.

[Sharky]

The homing attack only became the 'enemy' recently.... not 5 years ago Sonic Adventue 1 and 2 were considered the hight of 3D sonic games and everyone forgets the glowing review scores for Sonic Rush.

I've never had a problem with homing attack... I must say I really dislike the lock on thing around the enemy though... Sonic doesnt need that shit.