Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1

[crackdude]

Most of the Sonic 4 negitivity is based around some of the most stupid shit like character models, eye colour, 'plastic looking grass.'

I find most people (at least on this website) have more problem with the homing attack, speed boosters, overall lazy look and feel of the game (which makes it look like horrendous value for money) and the just plain stupid ideas like the Mine-Cart stage.

Which are all valid complaints, by the way.

Sincerely, a complaint about Sonics eye color is more valuable than a homing attack complaint. You haven't tried the homing attack in this game, but you have full comprehension of the eye color.

[Sega Uranus]

Most of the Sonic 4 negitivity is based around some of the most stupid shit like character models, eye colour, 'plastic looking grass.'

I find most people (at least on this website) have more problem with the homing attack, speed boosters, overall lazy look and feel of the game (which makes it look like horrendous value for money) and the just plain stupid ideas like the Mine-Cart stage.

Which are all valid complaints, by the way.

Sincerely, a complaint about Sonics eye color is more valuable than a homing attack complaint. You haven't tried the homing attack in this game, but you have full comprehension of the eye color.

What are you talking about? I am entirely certain everyone on this forum has played at least ten Sonic games in their lifetime, so they should have general ideas how this all works. The main issues that come from the homing attack is that it literally removes difficulty, player creativity and just makes the game seem less of a sequel and more of an awkward transition like Sonic Heroes was.

In the Genesis games to get to higher hidden sections you would have to bounce off of the enemies and build momentum while aiming yourself over them, in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 you can just keep pressing jump if they are in front of you, you should be able to get to those higher platforms without thinking. Another issue is that taking them out also removes the elemental shields. You could argue that something like the flame burst thing would be fine, but as chaining enemies with the homing attacks in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is a basic gameplay function you will potentially lose all of those extra points you could have gotten. Also, Sonic Team has always made sections when you use the homing attack over bottomless pits, and unless it was removed there were sections from the leaked videos that had these!

I even pointed out awhile ago that it would have been neat if you got the blue shield that you would obtain the homing attack until you got hit. With this, Iizuka and awkward fans would get their homing attack, but also smart people could enjoy it in that Sonic Team could design the levels in where you have to go backwards when you get the homing attack to go to different platforms you could not reach without it. Look how simple and obvious this could have made the game better. It is that easy. That is pathetic and sad.

I just do not understand why people will defend this game up and down with "WELL YOU HAVE NOT PLAYED IT" when almost every problem is completely obvious to anyone who knows what they are on about. If this was just a side game, fine whatever, but it is not. The fact of the matter is that this is literally Sonic Team's lowest budget upcoming game and it is a sequel to probably SEGA's most loved and bought set of games ever. To me, this is just proof enough that they do not care.

[crackdude]

In all seriousness, I don't get what the big deal is. I imagine that back in 1992 if there was Internet it would be filled with angry Sonic fans ravaging about spindash, and look how standard that became.
It's a gameplay addition. We'll see how it works when it is out.

[Sega Uranus]

Spindash is optional in that the player could be completely unaware of it and have it not effect how you beat the bosses, levels or most of the puzzles (in this case, Sonic & Knuckles only has like one... I think, none of the others do). It does not impact the momentum of the game much as you have to completely stop before you can pull it off. Therefore you need to actually think.

It is an issue. Stop being weird about this please.

[Dr. SEGA Monkey]

Most of the Sonic 4 negitivity is based around some of the most stupid shit like character models, eye colour, 'plastic looking grass.'

I don't know what forums you've been reading, but most of the negativity is based around the horrible physics. And to a slightly lesser extent, level design.

[crackdude]

I'm not commenting further on these subjects. I think it's pointless to complain without playing it, you guys are convinced it will be shit anyway.

It doesn't make a difference to me right now.

[Sharky]

Most of the Sonic 4 negitivity is based around some of the most stupid shit like character models, eye colour, 'plastic looking grass.'

I find most people (at least on this website) have more problem with the homing attack, speed boosters, overall lazy look and feel of the game (which makes it look like horrendous value for money) and the just plain stupid ideas like the Mine-Cart stage.

Which are all valid complaints, by the way.

As far as I've seen on THIS site it seems pretty split...

The homing attack shouldnt be a problem for anyone that have any self control... sure at SOME points you might NEED to use it just like in Sonic 2 at some points you NEEDED to use spin dash... which wasn't in Sonic 1 but most of the time it's completely optional.

Speed boosts are something that are being worked on...

And I think 'lazyness' is completely debateable... I actually really like the design of all the other levels bar the green hill zone style zone... I like the music, I like that they have brought back Super Sonic in normal levels...

I think Sonic 4 could have been soo soo much worse then what we have right now and I think it has a good chance of coming togeather as a good game.

[Barry the Nomad]

http://spindash.de/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-4 ... izuka.html

English translation of an interview from spindash.de:

Would you mind briefly introducing yourself to our readers?

My name is Takashi Iizuka and ongoing projects are “Sonic 4 Episode l” and “Sonic Colours” and I’m a producer. I was director for many of the Sonic titles including “Sonic Adventure” series.

How long has Sonic 4 been in production at this point?

It’s been a bit more than one and a half years since we created the project concept around January 2009. But it was 4 months later when we fully started this project.

Why was the game designed for download and not as a retail version?

As you know, Sega have announced “Sonic Colours” the newest packaged title for this year. Apart from those packaged titles that are only for console, we wanted to make a more accessible game, with a reasonable price for wide range of platforms. This project has also been encouraged by the fact classic “Sonic the Hedgehog” for XBLA, Wii Ware etc… is doing so well.

Can we expect a retail version of the game at some point in the future?

So far we are not planning that.  I would like this franchise to develop as downloadable exclusive titles.

Do you have a concrete concept of how much an episode is going to cost?

It’s still TBD. As mentioned earlier, we would like to have this series as reasonable as possible because we would like this to be pick up and play title with reasonable price.

Will there be downloadable content for purchase?

So far, this is not planned.

Will there be a difference in gameplay between the various console versions?

We have optimized the game for each console for example adjusting graphic resolutions and tilt controls etc… Although for the 3 console versions the contents themselves will be the same. On the other hand for iPhone version, 2 action stages are swapped from the ones for console versions given the fact this is handheld device with tilt control feature. So there will be 2 exclusive stages for both iPhone version and console versions.

Are future episodes going to feature an online multiplayer mode?

Unfortunately I cannot say anything yet.

Has the project been developed as a response to popular demand, or was it actually due to the well-known HD fan images that SEGA decided to produce this kind of game?

I know there’s been demand from fans for a new title for classic Sonic series.  I’ve been wanting to bring back classic series if there is suitable way to do it. But it’s been difficult for us to develop classic series for package title in the way we do for current 3D Sonic series. So I can say, thanks to current established downloadable game market we could finally start this project.

Will the game include voice recordings, and is Sonic going to make a sound of any kind?

Now having VO is normal for Sonic titles, but we chose not to have VO for this title. This is because we wanted to enhance a good part of classic series in the new title for classic series.

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bolded bit is me pointing out further evidence that the mine cart and pinball levels may have been scrapped in the console versions. Note he says "swapped" from the ones in the console versions, meaning the console versions may have two new acts to replace the original build that had the mine cart and pinball machine. I think "swap" is PR lingo to cover the fact that they should be saying "we've designed two new acts for the consoles to replace the much maligned and out of place mine cart and pinball stages seen in the leaks. As we are too pressed for time to alter the iPhone version, we're keeping those two acts and are advertising them as 'exclusive levels' rather than 'leftovers from a previous build'."

just my take on it.

[Orta]

Hence the delay.

[Sharky]

Hence the delay.

Of course... but what is your point?

[Barry the Nomad]

I'm forgetting who is on what side

[crackdude]

And the color girls go toot too toot toot too to toot too to toot toot to too tooot

[Orta]

Hence the delay.

Of course... but what is your point?

It's obvious. They could try fixing everything that's wrong with the game, from changing the horrendous music to making proper physics. It can't be helped.

[Sharky]

Hence the delay.

Of course... but what is your point?

It's obvious. They could try fixing everything that's wrong with the game, from changing the horrendous music to making proper physics. It can't be helped.

But they are improving the physics... level flow amonge other things. I was talking to aaron just a couple of days ago and he told me at least one thing thats been improved and while I can't say what it is it's something small but important and its one thing among many.

As for the Music I actually really like some of it... And others I'm not too fussed. The underwater level has some pretty good tunes and so does the one with gears and bolts and such.

[Barry the Nomad]

Lost Labyrinth has the best tunes, followed by Mad Gear. I'm really hoping that LL Act 2 is being redesigned to be a standared level, as I really liked the tune composed for that act.