Preview: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 - Preview
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 01 June 2010 / 3,500 Views
For those of you who have been on a video game vacation, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is Sonic’s return to 2D side scrolling goodness with 3D rendering. The game is to be released in downloadable episodic format with Episode 1 currently slated for Summer 2010. SEGA has made a big emphasis that Sonic is the only playable character in Episode 1.
So, this is the game you’ve been waiting over fifteen years to play, right? This is the saving grace of the Sonic franchise that’ll propel the furry blue hedgehog into the limelight again, right? Actually, it is a huge step in the right direction. VGChartz had the great privilege to sit down and get some hands-on time with Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and this is what we thought.
If you’ve played the first three iterations in the series you will definitely feel a sense of familiarity. The title screen, the music, and the power ups are all reminiscent of the classic games. The main moves are spin dash, jump, homing attack, and a light forward jump to build momentum.
You can relate almost every new zone with a classic zone that is very similar. The first zone you will see in Sonic 4 will remind you of Green Hill Zone, for instance. The game is filled with bright, vibrant colors and beautifully rendered 3D models which look very appealing in the 2D environment.
There looks to be around 4-6 acts per episode, which should put total playtime around 4-8 hours depending on your ability. You will also see online leaderboards and achievements to collect throughout the game.
The only concern I might have about the game is there may not be enough new content. Sonic 4 feels so much like the classic games, I don’t want it to feel like a remake. In SEGA’s defense, there is a good deal of the game we have yet to check out, so all hope is not lost. With that being said, SEGA really wants to make sure the fans get what they want. So, if you have any suggestions, let us know below. Want to play as Tails? Knuckles? How about multiplayer?
