After what feels like ten years of defending this game from cynicism and letting my cautious optimism ring out across the land, I finally took the long-awaited opportunity to put Sonic the Hedgehog 4 through its paces at E3. I took on the Xbox 360 version, and while Dale North already has a cool preview up, I can't help chiming in with my own Jimpressions.
So, Sonic 4 currently gets a confident "yes" from me. It's a damn good game from the three acts I played, with gorgeous graphics, wonderful sound, and a truly classic feel that this Sonic fan really appreciates. The homing attack, rather than making things too easy, manages to add an extra level of challenge. Knowing when to use it and keeping an eye on opportunities to do so is crucial and tricky. I did notice it can get a bit confused when you're too near your target, but for the most part it works well.
The game puts a focus on level design instead of speed, which is the one major thing I wanted from the game. My one issue is that Sonic himself is a big sluggish when first controlled, as he seems to take too long to get a reasonable pace of movement going. However, once he does (and once his legs become a nostalgic rotating blur), the game is smooth as butter. Also, the boss fight with Robotnik? Frigging class!
With gorgeous animations and gameplay that really feels like an evolution of the original formula instead of a grossly misjudged "reinvention" of the series, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 makes me smile. That's all that needs to be said.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:09 AM on 06.17.2010
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Its encouraging, but let's just hope the focus on level design holds.
I'd still rather see this released as a completed product rather than in pieces, though.
So Jim, what was your face when the boss of the first zone went into rage mode?
Reading back, I guess you didn't say "music", you said "sound", so maybe I'm just jumping ahead of myself.
Anyway, I don't really plan on touching this or any Sonic game post-2002, haha, I'm just stating my thoughts.
Jim, in the original Sonic games when you hit a spring or bumper you would fly through the air in a ball which would allow you to take out airborne enemies. All of these videos I'm seeing of the new game appear to show Sonic flailing through the air in a vulnerable "non-ball" way. Does the new homing attack replace this? I'm just curious. Either way I'm sold on this game! Thanks for your thoughts!
Good news about this game is GOOD news.
They can't decide which soundtrack to base it around on the Sonic CD front and Michael Jackson's dead. :V
Unless it has as awesome theme song as this one (maybe not literally... but SOOONIC HEROOOOOOEEEEEEEES is simply burnt into my brain), i'm just watching the gameplays on youtube. That also makes me smile, but for free!
@jesicAAAH: probably because jun senoue isnt the same composer as spencer nilsen (if youre talking about the american soundtrack.. if not then its probably because Ogata, Hataya, and Makino no longer work on the composition portion of sonic team).. as for sonic 3? well.. i dunno if michael jacksons production team would be up for it nowadays..
also.. the music looped like crazy in the old sonic games as well.. i just think it overall boils down to jun senoue not being as good a producer as Nakamura, Nilsen, or the teams that worked on sonic 3/& knuckles or jp sonic cd.
Hahah everyone knows the JP/EU soundtrack is superior!
@Shouryuuken
I dunno, Jun Sunoue did a lot of music for Sonic even before 2001! I always liked Sonic Adventure music and he was the main composer for Sonic 3D Blast, which I thought had pretty good music, hahaha. So I don't get it! Why is the music so mediocre now! ...Maybe I'm just letting my nostalgia for over-the-top 90's pop get to me!
@ The Silent Protagonist - I totally agree with you, but the nice thing is the episodic nature of this game will help defend us against that. If Sonic Team @#*$s up the rest of the game (which is a very real possibility) then we can just buy the first episode and run.
if sega was going to do a one man show.. it should have been Nakamura again. i wish at least Nakamura could have worked with Senoue..
I really, really loved what I saw. I am so excited.
Can't say this'll be the greatest Sonic game ever until I play it. That's about it.
Also, excite. Bug them relentlessly for a release date.