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Sonic the Hedgehog 4 confirmed ... and it's episodic! photo

The time has finally arrived! After months of teasing, Sega has officially revealed the truth behind Project Needlemouse, the long-awaited reboot for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. That truth is Sonic the Hedgehog 4!

An all-new sidescrolling adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will see the world's fastest hedgehog return to his roots in a game that's being aimed squarely at the jaded retro fan. Sonic 4 will see a reboot for the series and the first "true" Sonic sequel since Sonic 3

The strange news here is that Sonic 4 will be episodic! Episode 1 will hit the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 this Summer! The game will have the classic spindash ability, and power-ups like the power sneakers. Online leaderboards will also be in play, and the Wii and PS3 versions will allow for some form of motion control using the Wiimote and SIXAXIS. 

This is, truly, Sonic's last stand. He's coming home, and he's got one final chance to do it right this time. Good God, let this be good! Hit the jump for the first real trailer, courtesy of GameSpot.








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197 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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matty125's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:07
matty125
He's the fastest thing aliiiive!
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:07
Jon B
Haha, I imagined you'd be really sharpish to jump on this.

Looks good, but I'm not swayed by the episodical nature, to be honest. I'd prefer it was just one solid game.
njsykora's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:07
njsykora
Episodic? You've got to be kidding me. 1 zone a month confirmed!
ArcticFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:09
ArcticFox
Please, please dont screw this up Sega. Episodic content was ruined for me by Half Life 2's "episodes," maybe this can reinstate my faith in that method of content delivery.
DashRollRush's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:09
DashRollRush
I'm just glad it's coming to the wii.
Best controller for 2D games IMO.

Also OMFG IT'S SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4!!!
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:09
Jim Sterling
"Haha, I imagined you'd be really sharpish to jump on this."

I'd already written the post under the assumption it was gonna be called Sonic 4. Just had to add the episodic bit and it could go live within one minute of announcement. :-)
Monster w21 Faces's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:09
Monster w21 Faces
Sonic is for scrubs.
Ben Perlee's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:09
Ben Perlee
ZOMG.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:11
Jon B
Ewwwww I just noticed the logo uses new art and not the old art. Do not want that crappy 3D artwork.
The Fundoshis's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:11
The Fundoshis
LOL,

Oh dear Jim, I bet you are one happy chap right now. :D
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:12
Jim Sterling
I am going to give this episodic deal a chance. Let's see what it means before we get too upset.
TheCleaningGuy's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:12
TheCleaningGuy
I hope this is good, I really hope it is....
Can't wait to see more gameplay, I hope Sonic Team still knows how to make levels in 2D...
There better not be voice acting in this, either!
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:13
bluexy
Is an episodic release the best way they could do this? I've got lots of love for classic Sonic in any form, but after all of the marketing hype I was hoping for something a little more substantial. Something that would punch me in the face and say, "Hey asshole, Sonic is back." I don't think two or three levels of a Sonic game every 3 months is going to do that.

Then again, maybe they're planning on some big episodes, and Sonic will be better than ever. *sigh* They've trained me to be pessimistic about Sonic.
blaked569's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:13
blaked569
i'm sad it's not done in pixel form as per mega man 9, 10 :(
Nephlabobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:13
Nephlabobo
An episodic, DLC platformer?

I say "Good day to you!" Sega!

No thanks.
jc83's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:14
jc83
I was skeptical and I knew Sega couldn't do this without something being wrong with it. So they made it episodic.
Tombstone's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:15
Tombstone
I'm hoping the Hedgehog pulls it off.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:15
Jon B
@Jim
I'm willing to give it a shot since someone just suggested that each episode = spiritual successor to 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Provided each episode is a sizable chunk of gameplay, it should be alright. But being Sega/SonicTeam, I've learned to be skeptical.
ohno's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:15
ohno
It looks like it will be a good video game that I will play for a while!!
True Axiom's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:15
True Axiom
I am apparently some sort of genius, because I called the Sonic 4 thing way back when it was announced as Needlemouse (or, rather, it's what they should do) and said it would be downloadable last week.

This means...maybe Sega gets it? Maybe they understand why their previous games have failed horribly? Maybe this won't be an abortion of a game like...well, everything since Adventure?
Xbudz's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:15
Xbudz
*cries tears of joy*
njsykora's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:17
njsykora
I'm by no means writing off the episodic idea, hell this is Sega not Namco. I just don't think that model will work very well with a game like this.

Minimum episode requirement: 3 zones. That's 1 full 12-zone Sonic game in 4 episodes. Also no more than a month between episodes.
Gimic300's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:17
Gimic300
The running animation looks strange a little strange to me. Sega can't win me over until they fix the running animation.
Guagloves's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:17
Guagloves
o_O

Curious as to why this is episodic but a new 2-D sonic game excites me.
Scaraba's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:18
Scaraba
though it may be STH4. I'm skeptical because they were too lazy to make several [dozen] miles of track for a 3d game...
Kad's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:18
Kad
WE HAVE RUNMAN: RACE AROUND THE WORLD, THIS IS NOT NEEDED

But seriously, I'm excited to give this a chance. I really hope they can pull it off well.
MellowBunny's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:19
MellowBunny
My heart skipped a beat.
sandorasbox's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:19
sandorasbox
honestly, they really missed out on an opportunity to nostalgia trip us by just showing a clip of sonic running and playing the green hill zone tune. I half expected it, anyway.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:20
Darren Nakamura
...Cool I guess!
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:21
Tarvu
The Professor of Sonicology at work!

Godspeed Sonic you ol' spikey bastard.
Scaraba's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:21
Scaraba
BUTSTILLIAMEXCITEDBECAUSETHISISARETURNBACKTOFORMOFWHICHIGREWUPEXCLUSIVELYON.
JLondon78's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:22
JLondon78
Where does everyone put Sonic CD!?! There were FOUR good Sonic games! FOUR!
T-rav's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:23
T-rav
YEEEEEEEEAR!
Barchester's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:23
Barchester
This announcement gave me goosebumps. Here's to hoping it'll be good. If not, if Sega screws this up, it's over for this little blue hedgehog.
Jesse Cortez's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:24
Jesse Cortez
Yay!! <3 <3
pentimento's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:25
pentimento
If Sega screws this one up, I say we lynch Sonic.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:25
Jon B
GUYS.


I SPY AN UNANNOUNCED CONSOLE.
eskimo bob's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:26
eskimo bob
an episodic PLATFORMER? what's next, an episodic fighting game? this is the silliest thing I've heard all year, but we'll see. (although I can't see how much good can come out of this.)

either way, I just excited in my pants.
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:29
atastysammich
Uh-huh. Every game's his last stand around these parts.
j00zt1n's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:29
j00zt1n
Hm. I was actually more excited before I saw the trailer.
Jack Maverick's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:29
Jack Maverick
@Jon B: I honestly want to think it's Sega goofy Wii-like console. Perhaps PC? Who knows.

I look forward to it, even if I do think the whole episodic thing is weird. Which I do. So much so.
flaming burrito's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:30
flaming burrito
This is the correct way to go. Hopefully it will play and feel like the old sonic games. From the short clip, it seemed too loose.
NESgamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:30
NESgamer
See Sega? it wasn't that HARD was it?
Dinin Vorta's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:31
Dinin Vorta
You better not my break my heart again Sega. If this is good I may be reduced to tears of joy.
Gesuka Carrillo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:32
Gesuka Carrillo
"COMING SUMMER 2012"
Playstation Network
Xbox LIVE Arcade
And ???

Wtf?!
Phos's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:32
Phos
Corkscrew leading into loop, looks like Sonic Rush, only sans boost. Also, apparently has the Homing Attack even though the move only exists for navigating in 3D.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:33
Jon B
@Jack Maverick
That's the thing though, if it was PC or that new console, they've already been announced, so they would be listed there already.

Time to go site source code digging.
Rm88's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:33
Rm88
Well, at least Wii is getting it.
Orion456's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:33
Orion456
"Speed is something that is not given; but rather earned through dedication. Speed is not found by simply pushing a boost button, but by building momentum. It is the reward for skill in the face of difficult challenges – this kind of speed is the most exhilarating, not only because it is fast, but because of the pure perfection such speed exemplifies. This is the truth of the original Sonic games – and this is the truth of Project Needlemouse."
This was on the project needlemouse blog a few days ago. I couldn't find it on there at the time of writing so i got this quote from wikipedia, but it was on the blog honest! Anyway this is what gives me hope. Who cares if it has 3D graphics, as long as it has that old school feel of builing momentum which sonic games have been lacking for over 15 years, and as long as you don't just have to press right to instantly go fast (i.e. Sonic Rush/Unleashed) i'm sold. Also would you really want it to be 16-bit? If i wanted to play a 16-bit on i already have plenty to play. Also, it has fucking Badniks! There's just one final piece of the puzzle... will Dr Robotnic be called Dr Robotnic?
SBC Slam's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/04/2010 02:34
SBC Slam
I am ALL about this.
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