Sonic 4: As gamers, we have earned the right to be skeptical

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Sonic 4: As gamers, we have earned the right to be skeptical

Submitted by Joe Fourhman on February 4, 2010 – 9:57 am8 Comments

The slow drip of “Project Needlemouse” info reached a culmination yesterday with the announcement of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. The downloadable game is coming to all three online store services this summer… PSN, XBLA and WiiWare. It promises a return to the classic 2D fast-paced gameplay of Sonic’s heyday.

Which, of course, is the same promise that a dozen other Sonic games have made. So SEGA will pardon our furrowed brows as we analyze the trailer and hope against hope that they don’t release a stunner that half the game will feature Sonic-in-Jetpack or Choose-Your-Gender-Sonic or Stealth-Action-Mode or any of a hundred gaming buzzphrases that could ruin the game yet again.

If the early reviews display a Sonic as good as the originals (or the oft-forgotten 2D DS games), I’m there. But my eyes have seen too much to grant SEGA a free pass after less than 5 seconds of gameplay footage.

Tags: downloadable, psn, sega, sonic, sonic 4, trailer, wiiware, xbla

http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Sadowski/506807615 Tony Sadowski

I'm there. Day One. Excited. Fanboy ACTIVATE!

Can't wait. Burned before, but ready to love again.

Spin Dash me hard, Sonic.
http://www.fourhman.com Joe Fourhman

I really like the idea of having an all-new Sonic game readily available on the system menu. If it's great, I'll be there with you. I'm a man of my word (*I own Muscle March).
http://kingtonyx.blogspot.com/ TheTony

I know you'll be in. System Menu Sonic 4 is a great prospect.

I'll buy it either way, but…yeah, of course, it could easily suck. I think, looking at the brief video clip (and noticing Sonic's run animation), there's a chance it could come off a little cold. The graphics will be shiny and all that, but the goofy things they could do figure-wise with a flat, 2D-ish sprite may be missing.

If Sonic's legs don't turn into a whirling circle at some point, how is he ever going to really look like he's going fast?

The animation was some of the charm of those old Sonic games. The cartoonishness.

I mean, I was disappointed by the pathetic, shrinking amount of sparkles that appeared around invincible Sonic in every game after the original. The sparkle trail went on FOREVER in the first Sonic, and subsequent sequel type games kind of did away with that. It's a really cool effect if you're cruising along and going through loops and all. Lame if it's just 4 sparkles orbiting your 'hog.

I am excited about the idea of the future episodes, although I have to say, I hope it's not just a full game broken up into 3 or 5 installments, at 1000 points each. If so, give me the option of buying all of them Day One.

Because I WILL drop full-game money on a new Sonic game. I don't want to have to wait to keep playing after a few more worlds, you know?

I also worry that people won't buy it. Because it's a download-only game.

Anyway, yeah. I'll be there. And I know you will too – as long as it isn't horrible in some way.
StephenJMunn

Yeah, I'm looking. Let's hope they've put Dimps on it, eh?
http://www.yg.com/ aion database

I totally understand why most gamers are skeptical about the Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 which will be released this summer. Though I've come across good write-ups about it and iPhone is said to be the 4th platform, I'd still be keeping my eyes open for the reviews when it's launched.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Sadowski/506807615 Tony Sadowski

It's Dimps! Kotaku says so, and why would a website lie to a person?
StephenJMunn

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StephenJMunn

Sonic without buttons? Bleeeeeargh.