A few days ago, I posted that I believed Sonic 4: Ep. 1 was going to be HORRIBLE. And I'm happy to say that I was wrong. It isn't horrible, but it isn't as great as critics seem to think it is.
#1) Gameplay: Enjoyability
It's a Sonic game right? You know what you're getting yourself into the moment you pick up the controller. However, it doesn't help that the (not quite right) physics engine hinders the player from enjoying much of the experience. If you don't hold the right button when you jump, you stop midair like you just ran into an invisible wall (which can get you killed more than you'd think it would). There are times in this game you will want to chuck the controller at the screen (As two examples, Carnival Street Act 3, and the E.G.G. Station Zone). But the experience remains mostly what it should; fast (it tries, I'll give it that) paced speed driven platforming. The game itself TRIES to be fun, and MOSTLY accomplishes it's goal... MOSTLY.
Score: 6
#2) Gameplay: Playability
As i stated earlier, the physics in this game are pretty interesting (and not in a good way). If SEGA had taken the physics from Sonic 2 or 3, I think everybody (purists included) would have been MUCH happier. Often the homing attack does not target the things you want it to and you'll fall to your death as you attempt to cross a pit. Mostly, the game is pretty easy to pick up and play, if you've played Sonic in the past. But other than that, I'd suggest replaying one of the Genesis era games (which were actually fun).
Score: 6
#3) Replay Value: Play Again?
Do I feel the need to play this game again? Not really. It wasn't super fun the first time around. I'll probably give it another go before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, but most likely never touch it again after that (or until then).
Score: 4
#4) Replay Value: Extras
There weren't any extras, short of the Chaos Emeralds (which have been in every Sonic game since the beginning of time). So, no real reason to play again for anything other than the initial experience.
Score: 2
#5) Graphics: Technical
No real graphical glitches. The game itself looks pretty good, if even a little cheesy (in the good classic sonic way). Enemies had minute details that made them look more intimidating than in the Genesis era. There were a few times when Sonic's spin-dash animation went INTO the ground, but other than that the game itself played. Never noticed any kind of slowdown at any moment. As whole, for what it was, the game looks pretty damn good.
Score: 9
#6) Graphics: Artistic
The art is a style we've come to expect from Sonic, and it's never looked this good. Time has taken it's toll on a few of the more dated environments, but all these years later it still LOOKS good.
Score: 8
#7) Sound: Effects
I was a bit ticked off about this. 80% of the sound effects used in this game were recycled from previous Sonic games. All of the menu sounds were ripped straight from Sonic Heroes. In this area, it just used what was already proven to work; Instead of going to the effort of creating a new sound effect, SEGA recycled the old. However, the new ones sound pretty good.
Score: 7
#8) Sound: Music
This is where I thought Sonic 4 would excel, and quite ironically, this is where Sonic 4 REALLY fell flat. The music is mediocre at best. No memorable tunes. Nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to again. More often than not, the background music reminded me of being in an elevator. A really tiny boring elevator.
Score: 3
#9) Story
Same as always. Sonic chases Eggman. Eggman runs from Sonic. They fight. Sonic wins. And then they do it all over again. Sonic 4 is HARDLY a story driven adventure, but it accomplishes what little it sets out to do in this area.
Score: 7
#10) Bang for Your Buck
Do the math with me.
4 Zones with 3 Acts each = 12 acts total
If each act takes approximately 5 minutes (which not all of them do), then thats 1 hour of playtime.
Add in 4 bosses and the amount of time it take you to beat 7 special stages, and you have another 30 minutes.
Plus the 10 minute final boss (if you don't die a ton like I did)
Add it all together and you're spending 15$ on approximately 2 hours of fresh play time.
Considering the average game is 9-10 hours long (and costs 50$-60$), this is only slightly less than what you would expect for the price. However the lack of compelling features makes the game have less content than other cheaper more compelling games. But if you like Sonic, you'd probably enjoy (or hate) this game more.
Score: 7
THE FINAL VERDICT
This was the little Sonic game that couldn't. I wanted it to be good, I really did. But it really wasn't.
THE OVERALL SCORE: 5.9/10 MEH
Edit: I revised my initial score some after rereading my review for the third time. There were some things I missed, and some things I was too nice about. I'll be sure to get things right the first time in my Kirby's Epic Yarn review next week.
Let's all hope that Sonic Colors (WHICH LOOKS FREAKING AMAZING) is better than this crap.
New Sonic Colors Trailer (GameSpot Exclusive)
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