Sonic the Hedgehog 4, originally scheduled for release next month, has today been delayed by Sega. Hardly surprising, considering the release was creeping ever closer with only leaks and speculation to promote it. The game has now been slated for "late" release this year.
"SEGA is incredibly happy at the overwhelmingly positive response to Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I from both press and fans around the world, and wants to ensure that we’re delivering the best Sonic experience possible," states Sega. "With this dedication to quality and the Sonic experience in mind, SEGA has decided to extend the development of the game, and will now release Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I in the latter half of 2010."
iPhone users at least got a bit of good news to go with the bad. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has now been officially confirmed for Apple's portable products. Further details on this release will be coming soon.
Whether this delay is in response to some negative comments following the leaks (most notably the infamous "mine cart" section) probably won't ever be confirmed, but hopefully the delays will lead to some positive development time. What do you reckon? Is the delay a good sign of quality control, or an ill portent?
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Announced For ‘Late 2010,’ iPhone Confirmed [Sonic Stadium]
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Contest:
4:40 PM on 05.20.2010 | 
bah!
...But to be fair, it looked like the controls were awful. They should fix it. >_>
It looks so bad, I don't even want to bother with it.
The people complaining about this were generally 'hardcore' Sonic fans from fansites, who hate everything Sonic related.
Fucking whiners...
Dreamcast ports of Crazy Taxi, Sonic Adventure, Jet Set Radio Future and maybe Shenmue 1 and 2, followed by episode 1 of Sonic 4 would have been a great summer!
Also, can we make "waah minecart" the new "he's the wrong blue" or whatever? Just for shits and giggles, of course.
They sure have an odd way to call whining and bitching. From what I've seen, its been more like overwhelming criticism.
An iPhone version was leaked back when the whole game was leaked. So this has definitely been on the books from the get go. Nice try though.
@ Magesx - Then DON'T READ IT? People on the internet think they're so damn privileged. It's not like he's posting screenshot gallery after screenshot gallery.
I don't get it.
That's right, fixing everything. Physics, music, graphics, whatever. They could add new content like a classic Sonic mode (no green eyes, Robotnik, etc. etc.) and other stuff too. I personally am excited about this news. I was looking forward to Sonic 4, but now it can possibly be a true successor to Sonic 3. It can play and feel just like the classics I still love to play.
Funny thing is though, this is the first time they've delayed a Sonic game like this with the hopes of improving it. Even the classics suffered from cuts due to time, such as whole levels, and of course Sonic and Knuckles, essentially a patch made for 1994 to complete a game they half finished (Sonic 3). I think this shows that they care, even if just a little, probably because they realize this is like their last chance with so many people. Sonic 4 is a bold statement, it has to live up to what has come before it (And by that I mean the original trilogy. It's not hard to live up to Sonic 06, I could shit in a box and it'd live up to that game)
Aside from that I could not care less when it releases. Just that it's good.
I really believe this fourth entry(in the series) will be one of the best. That is, unless your hopes, dreams and desires are ridiculously over-the-top. Sonic fans should enjoy this. I can't wait! =)
But then again "A delayed game is eventually good, a rushed game is bad forever" Shigeru Myiamoto. Words I live by everyday.
I'm annoyed that the criticisms I have of a 2D sonic revival, that a true 2D sonic sequel would never be episodic nor download only, but would be a complete game with the marketting push of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, is still being ignored.
I don't have the patience for a Half Life, the Episode 3 that will never be made situation. Let alone the fact that this is only a quarter of a 2D Sonic platformer. There is no reason the developement of a quarter of a 2D platformer with a full budget should be delayed past a year of developement time (as I assume they started last summer at the latest). At the very least, I expect a full game when I am told it will be delayed.
It really does sound like Sonic Team wants to get this one as right as Sega will allow it to be. I'll welcome a wait for quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TZERN3EEKg
Yeah Sega.... "positive".
Its bad enough they lie to themselves, they're lying to us now too. Its not even a GOOD lie.
I hope that's code for "We're getting rid of that minecart level and putting it on the iPhone as an exclusive."
It's all well and good to envoke the Myamoto mantra, but that requires you to be good at making a game, which sonic team is not.
Why delay it? Get it out, then improve it for episode 2.
Because waiting for the same game with probably MORE mine cart levels sounds as about as appealing as a kick to the balls, in reverse, in cube 2: Hypercube.
Sonic and Mario are equals in 2D. Sonic is a title that could easily sell ten million copies, if a good console release of a 2D title was made, as it's only competition on the consoles is Mario. Heck, it even has the fact that it's multi-platform going for it. There is no reason not to treat a "true" 2D revival of Sonic as bigger than Mario.