Sonic the Hedgehog 4 [PSN, XBL, WWare]

[randombs]

My take on it all:

The thing with the original Sonic games was that the speed built up over time. Sonic started at a normal pace and slowly built up his momentum until he was zooming across the screen (sometimes the screen couldn't even keep up and he'd be off-screen to the right. THE SPEED!). But if you bumped into something along the way, you had to start your run-up all over again.

The point was, this super speed was earned. You earned the right to see why the Megadrive could do a game as fast as Sonic.

But look at it now. He's so quick off his feet that his walking animation hasn't even had time to catch up before he's zooming about like a mad hedgehog. And it looks like arse. IMO, of course. But it really does.

But why? I think it's to do with how society has evolved since the first Sonic games, and how instantaneous reward is favoured over slow and patient hard work. But instant rewards are ultimately empty rewards.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the developers became worried that whoever was playing would press right, start moving, wonder where all that super Sonic speed is that was bullet-pointed on the back of the box (or, in this case, the scrolling blurb on the download screen) and switch off to play something faster instead, like Speedboys II.

[BeyondJumpFish]

I totally agree Billy.

Also, do i need Flash player to play this, because it looks like it belongs on Freeonlinegames.com (EI: ****).

[randombs]

^^

[Lime-01R]

The thing with the original Sonic games was that the speed built up over time. Sonic started at a normal pace and slowly built up his momentum until he was zooming across the screen (sometimes the screen couldn't even keep up and he'd be off-screen to the right. THE SPEED!). But if you bumped into something along the way, you had to start your run-up all over again.

The point was, this super speed was earned. You earned the right to see why the Megadrive could do a game as fast as Sonic

I dunno what Sonic games you where playing but in 1 through until S&K Sonic would achieve his top running speed within a single screens distance worth of level. Anything faster was achieved by either set pieces (mostly tubes) where Sonic couldnt be harmed or things designed to boost (speed boots or buffers) where the acceleration was almost instantaneous. Likewise Super/Hyper Sonic would match these speeds within an instant and the only real danger coming from dropping off the bottom of the screen or running out of air. And so far in these videos I havnt seen anything different, except yes the animation certainly looks odd.

What speed built up over time are you speaking of exactly?

[randombs]

I just put Sonic xbla on.

You're right!

Rose-tinted glasses? More like time-dilating beer goggles

I must have been too busy being happy and empowered writing about it, as though I'd finally cracked just why I don't like the Sonic Rush games.

[Lime-01R]

You dont need a reason not to like the Sonic Rush games though... They are reason enough themselves

[sj33]

I must have been too busy being happy and empowered writing about it, as though I'd finally cracked just why I don't like the Sonic Rush games.

We've been through this mate, it's because you've run through the level so fast that you can't rememeber a thing about the level you just played, then suddenly you're on the next zone!

That or you're a corpse at the bottom of some bottomless pit of doom.

[BeyondJumpFish]

Im not so sure. Sonic did build his momentum alot slower then in this new take on him. It felt more like you were pushing a ball that gradually built up speed. Ok, you'd reach top speed in the first screen or so, but it alowed a much greater level of control in tricky spots. I get the feeling in number 4 your going to be "over jumping" alot of places and running into spikes you can't see yet.

[abigsmurf]

In the sonic games you'd get up to full speed fast but the max speed was fairly low unless you went downhill or in a speed section (unless you spin dashed). Here you can get up to insane speeds by double jumping.

[Dogg Thang]

It's not just about the speed itself. The bigger issue is how he controls when he is slow. The Sonic Rush games were all about, well, rushing through them. The original Sonics, yes, you could go really fast through them but there's a good chance you'd probably die or, more likely, just hit a wall or something. And the chances of getting the chaos emeralds would be pretty slim.

There were places where you could totally go for it (start of Chemical Plant Zone in 2, much of Mushroom Hill in S&K) but many other places required actual platforming and negotiating the level.

And so Sonic in the original games controlled just as well when slow, because he had to. I recently played through 1, 2, 3 and S&K and the control of Sonic is absolutely spot-on. If they want something more classic for this, they really should have gone back to how that Sonic controls. Yeah, it's great that they've got the old Sonic drum beats and the levels look nice but it really won't matter all that much if control is a pain in the ass.

[SuperBeatBoy]

Is it just me or am i the only one who is getting annoyed at all the people talking about how fast sonic should be and all his momentum and shiznit. But then i loved the original Sonic Rush, so my point is probably invalid.

Just can't wait for a nice colourful 2d platform game featuring Sonic. The main gripe everyone should be annoyed about is that its bloody episodic.

[BeyondJumpFish]

...and the fact it looks like its programmed on Java...

[randombs]

...and that his momentum isn't built up gradually like in the old games...

[Dogg Thang]

...and the constant cloud trails, weird flips, homing attack and slippy animation...

[plopboy]

...and the nausea inducing mine cart level....