Sonic the Hedgehog 4

[SuperBeatBoy]

I totally agree that he doesn't move the same. Its just not something i really care about, i enjoyed the gameplay and level design more than anything else.

Hopefully SEGA will here all the fan criticisms and fix it in the next installment to keep those people happy.

[Lyris]

That video sums it up for me - I don't understand why the developers of the game can't just compare how the old game handles and implement it that way. How hard seriously is it to replicate the feel of an old Mega Drive game?

This is assuming that the new game handles the way it does out of ineptitude. If they really intended it to play this way as an improvement, then I'll just have to agree to disagree.

Please no "Well there are more important things in the world u saddo!!" or "you're analysing too much!" comments.

[Lyris]

I totally agree that he doesn't move the same. Its just not something i really care about, i enjoyed the gameplay and level design more than anything else.

I'm sure it will be fun as a platformer in its own right. If I had downloaded this game and it has featured any other video game character I'd probably be saying nothing.

[Escape-To-88]

Having played the Beta a month or two back, I think it's a decent enough Sonic game. It was never really an answer to Mario in my book to be honest, mainly due to level design. I thought it was fun for a few minutes, but the music could do with a serious boot up the blue arse.

I also think it's worth agree'ing with a couple of people in this thread that I think we sometimes forget that present SEGA isn't the REZ, Burning Rangers, Shenmue of old, you only have to look at the Wii version of Nights for undeniable proof of that!

[Lyris]

Very true. I enjoyed the NiGHTS sequel despite the fact that it was only a superficial resemblance/fan service, in much the same way that I think a lot of people will enjoy Sonic 4. The only difference is that there have been countless Sonic games over the years.

[Uli]

maybe we ALL should get used to adding the respective platforms to our threads and firstplay comments?

@ rmoxon
check the console demo out - i am pretty sure it's different from the iPhone, from the comments posted here i would assume it's worse.

[prinnysquad]

Demo on 360. So much to like ... so much to hate.

Lovely visuals, apart from the crap black line around Sonic's spikes. Also, when he jumps, it's too visible. You can see him tucked up and rotating slowly. It just looks all wrong, slow and ponderous.

I quite liked the pace of the game - scope for ring exploration (steady, FamMydOdd) and not too much on-rails throwing about of the player.

Very much disliked the movement controls. The spins slow down too quickly uphill, the motion is mostly slow, that homing jump is annoying - I'd prefer it as a double jump if the jumping had to be changed. The red lock-ons are useful enough when its an enemy, but when its a rock it just looks daft. The spins in general don't feel powerful enough. But I got used to all of that **** soon enough I guess.

Don't like the way, when you spin off a ledge, you reach a short distance, then hit an invisible brick wall and fall like a dead weight. There's no momentum there.

Seemed more like a homage than anything new.

[Baseley09]

Only a demo on 360.....I'm scared about spending my pennies blind.

[Sketcz]

He explained exactly what he feels is wrong with the way Sonic controls, and used Mario's physics as an example to demonstrate why it is a non-trivial issue for some people.

Oh wow, it's like you were inside my mind when I posted and totally understood what I said.

You have no idea how often people misunderstand me.


Also, this guy gets it, this guy NAILS it. Hell, I'm going to say this guy is a genius (he also looks a bit like me, but is not me)

[Neon Ignition]

Ha ha, he manages about a minute and then turns into a moron It's not so much that most people don't get that a vocal tiny minority don't like the momentum of Sonics animation, it's that it's a small perception made out to be a major failing when it's not. I'm no fan of the lack of weight, accurate control and twitchiness of Mario in Mario Sunshine compared to the other games. I'm not going to make an anal nerd rant youtube comparison video rubbishing the millions who didn't have any issues with it though.

It'll be interesting, once time has passed to see how perception settles on this within the wider canon.

[Julio III]

I completely understand the physics complaints as I have felt them ingame (and died some unnecessary deaths from it, but I really don't care about them. I really enjoy the game regardless. I think it is really good fun and captures a lot of the spirit of the MegaDrive Sonic games. There are some bits I am really really frustrated by, mostly the bosses.

[randombs]

My only real problem with it is THE MONIES!

Oh by the way, apparently the Casino zone is wicked. Is that true?

I'm leaning more towards possibly buying this episode but not the others(yeah, right) if there's enough replay value. Read complaints about being stuck in a pinball machine so I'm worried.

Part of me wants to just play the old Sonics and be done with it.

:edit:

I just found a Eurogamer review of the PSN version:

the other was simply a matter of the game not telling me I needed to use the analogue stick to get from A to B rather than awkwardly trying to jump through the section – it took me about 50 deaths to figure that one out, and there seems to be no reason why the d-pad is rendered useless in that particular area.

WTF? Is that true? I was going to get it so I could use my Saturn pad but if there's a section that needs the analogue stick, that sounds ridiculous. Also, I suppose the mine cart level uses the Sixaxis?

[Garny]

My only problem with the game is what i think is the last boss, complete pain in the butt

Feels like Sonic to me, but its been a very long time since i last played a 2D one. Its brought back some nice gaming memories anyway

Edit: Watched the above video, i can now see what people are getting at. That explains why i got stuck in a few holes and couldnt get out like i used to (pinball lvl i think it was)

[Julio III]

I heard the stuck in a pinball bit is exclusive to the iPhone version. There are some bits which look designed for tilt control (I'm playing on the 360, er, with the analogue stick) but they are minimal. There is one stupid bit in Zone 3 Act 3 which I died continuously on not knowing what to do. Then read up that I had to hold down as well as doing the tilting left and right.

[Lyris]

If any of you are put off by Sonic 4 - or even if you're not - then why don't you watch this YouTube video to see what fan hackers have made?

There is more "OSM" in this little YouTube clip than there has been in Sega for years. It's a better imitation than Sega could ever hope to make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CS9AyAdSjs&feature=player_embedded