So how is this game, again?

[turbojet]

I do not have a console or any resource to get this game at the moment. I was hoping to get it as soon as I am home. Judging by the reviews, it looks like a pretty solid game. Judging by you guys, sheeeyat! It is like a goddamned unholy abomination. I never been part of any Sonic fandom faction. I just play the games and have fun. Physics has never been a problem for me, but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nDRsjiXiMo, Jeebus Cripes! Is it really that bad? Do I have to regret not having Sonic Colors on HD consoles? I know that this probably doesn't warrant a topic? Is it as broken as it looks?

[Spooky Mulder]

The physics are very flawed but not nearly as apparent as that video would make it seem. Most of those things only happen if you try to make them happen.

The most obvious things about the physics is that the gravity feels sort of off, Sonic has problems gaining momentum and loses it instantly if you take your finger off the D-pad, and he can sort of walk up walls when he shouldn't have enough speed/momentum to do so. It doesn't play like the classics at this point, but the game is a ton of fun and the level design is much better than the Rush/Advance series IMO. I dont know if you played Sonic Rush, but the physics are pretty much the same.

[EXshad]

It plays excellently if you're not purposely trying to break the fuck out of it. Sure, Sonic can stand on the sides of walls, but a majority of niggles like that I actually had happen to me in games like Sonic CD and Sonic 3. Plus, it's funny. Still, once in a blue moon, it can be a problem, like when Sonic manages to KEEP sticking to a surface when it's not funny anymore, so hopefully that'll be fixed. Still, it feels enough like the classics, they just need to implement the momentum so Sonic won't instantly stop moving when you take you finger off the D-pad.

Personally, I loved it. Time attack and "score" attack add a ton of replay value, and each level is a blast from the past. You can play the game in order like the classics, or choose any act of any level you'd like. It's a unique change of pace. Just note that you can't get to the boss of each zone until each acts are cleared, and you can't get to the last level until you beat each boss. The graphics kick ass, blending new and old seamlessly, and the sound design is top notch.

My personal gripes are that the levels rely too much on speed boosters and not actual ingenuity, along with the fact that things tend to be a bit too much of a rehash at times. Also, it is short, and wouldn't be so bad if it cost me less than $15. But if you can look past these flaws, you'll love it, hopefully as much as I did.

Edited October 17, 2010 by EXshad

[E.J. The DJ]

The games not as bad as what they show in that video. It's actually pretty fun and leaves you wanting more(room for episode 2). But seeing as people over here usually have more sence than the people over at the sega boards: Is it actually possible for sega to make a patch for pswii60 and iphone to fix the inertia?

[Nocturnal Meteor]

Although the physics have a lot of problems (such as the roll physics, air momentum, and walking up walls), if you can get used to them you can have a lot of fun with the game. And like BD3 said, you'll only usually find a lot of the problems with the physics if you look for them.

[Blue Blood]

To most people it's a good game that's not as good as the classics. I think it's verging on shit though.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Blue Blood

[Solly]

To most people it's a good game that's not as good as the classics.

Pretty much this. The physics are kind of wonky but the game looks good, and the level design is top-notch(bar some dickhead enemy placements here and there).

In my opinion, it's a solid, worthwhile platformer.

[DaBatGuy]

Is this a damn fun 2D Sonic game? Yes. Does it live up to the hype of the title "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"? No. I had a blast playing this but I believe Sega shot themselves in the foot by titling this "Sonic 4" instead of "Sonic 1/2 MegaMix HD".

[Meg]

Is this a damn fun 2D Sonic game? Yes. Does it live up to the hype of the title "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"? No. I had a blast playing this but I believe Sega shot themselves in the foot by titling this "Sonic 4" instead of "Sonic 1/2 MegaMix HD".

[JezMM]

It's a fantastic Sonic game, but a bad classic Sonic game, think of it like that.

[Ebby]

I played the demo and I stood on the side of a hill. But that's the only bad thing that happened to me physics wise.

[Machenstein]

It really depends on what you want from Sonic 4. If you loved the cosmetic aspects of the classic games, the game does deliver on those for the most part. The levels are a homage to the original games, the badniks have returned, there are no new characters, the story is just Sonic and Robotnik duking it out, the classic sound effects are back in full force, and even the "Seeeegaaaa" chant returns. If you loved transforming into Super Sonic during regular gameplay, the game has that too. The tunes are a mixed bag, but they can be quite catchy.

If you loved the fluid sense of control the classic games had, you won't find that in Sonic 4. To put it quite simple, inertia and gravity are pretty much nonexistent in this game. The game will not register any inertia Sonic has, whether it be on the ground or in the air, unless you are holding down the direction Sonic is going in. The Spin Dash is also not much use as there are some walls Sonic can't Spin Dash up, yet can simply walk up. That is because gravity does not apply to Sonic when he is running up walls rather than rolling up them. Sonic also uncurls when he flies off ramps, forcing you to use the Homing Attack rather than simply bopping on enemies. Not to mention the fact that Sonic does not bounce back up to the same height he hits an enemy or item box from.

The physics are not so broken that the game is unplayable, but the sense of gravity and fluidity the classic games had is definitely missing. At least the level design got the "high route/middle route/low route" philosophy down as the game puts more of an emphasis on platforming and exploration than, say, something like Sonic Rush.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Machenstein

[Ferno]

Well, if the game's anything like what I've heard this past week, you need to:

Hide yo kids.

Hide yo wife.

And hide yo husband- cuz Sawnik 4's physics rapin errbody out here! :U

[Saint Nathan]

Good game? Yeah, the physics are off in terms of movement and can get wonky, but it's a good game.

It's a decent Sonic game without nostalgia goggles. The physics are literally the worst possible for any Sonic game.

See? If it's really good or not depends on how you look at it. As a Sonic game it ain't good in terms of physics no matter what other people argue (I think I've said before that you can't logically argue against them) but the level design and the style is really good, along with the music.

So it depends on if you let the physics bother you.

[Spooky Mulder]

The physics are literally the worst possible for any Sonic game.

I'm not defending them but aren't they exactly the same as the Rush physics?

[Solid SOAP]

I just played and beat it with my friend and we both loved it. Obviously the physics were something we had to bypass by holding right a little bit more than we used to in the old games, but really, the level design is up there with Sonic 1 & 2, the graphics and music are great (If the latter party is a bit lazy, albeit), and overall it really felt like an awesome homage to the classic games (At least Sonic 1 & 2). If you're going to buy the game and not really go out of your way compairing the physics of Sonic 4 to the physics of the old games, it's great. I dunno about a must buy as it's a little shorter than I'd hope, but it's a really well put together game that just could use some tweaking regarding how momentum is handled.

There was one section in Casino Street Zone where the gimped spin-dash was extremely apparent even while holding right, but other than that I never occured anything that really made me hate the physics.

[Frozen Nitrogen]

I actually enjoyed it more than I expected to. My number one complaint isn't even the physics; it's that I cleared in in under 4 hours. Short game is short.

Nevertheless, the physics DO feel floaty and disjointed. One minute it refuses to give you any momentum at all (Splash Hill vines spring to mind); the next it gives with one hand and then taketh away with the other (general walking, Casino Street cannons); and other times you'll find speed from nowhere (or rather ubiquitous boost pads). Target detection is, on occasion, hilariously messed up: I was trying to home on the start of a line of Bubbles, but instead my lock-on somehow hit a spring three screens away and the homing attack wizzed me over there. WUT.

Complete cut/paste rehash of Ye Olde levels still annoys, although there were some gems in amidst the general gratuitous de-ja-vu-ery. Loved the card-running in Casino Street (everything about Act 2 was sweet; easily the best act in the game). Yhe backgrounds in general were delicious, except for Splash Hill's, which was ugly and empty. And I learned to really like the final boss, with it's breakdancing lurch of doom.

OVERALL: It was worth buying, though only JUST. The game is playable, and - for brief periods - enjoyable, though the physics rape provides a constant undercurrent of frustration and hatred simmering below the surface. It's not quite an '06, but neither could even the most generous apologist claim it is a worthy successor to S3K.

[Saint Nathan]

I'm not defending them but aren't they exactly the same as the Rush physics?

Not really, actually. Rush seems to have some sort of proper control on it's physics, more polished and better off. Spin Dash can get you places just as well as flat out running, but you don't need to build up the speed. Stuff like that.

Sonic 4's physics are pretty much badly put together, Spin Dashing is generally ineffective and isn't worth ever using on the fact that running is simply quicker and better in any situation. If anything, Rush can get away with the fact that you are boosting over half the time, and the physics don't really matter. It's a shitload more apparent in Sonic 4.

[PC the Hedgehog]

If you play games just for fun and aren't bothered by poor physics, then I think you'd definitely love it.

[PSI Wind]

I actually enjoyed it more than I expected to. My number one complaint isn't even the physics; it's that I cleared in in under 4 hours. Short game is short.

Nevertheless, the physics DO feel floaty and disjointed. One minute it refuses to give you any momentum at all (Splash Hill vines spring to mind); the next it gives with one hand and then taketh away with the other (general walking, Casino Street cannons); and other times you'll find speed from nowhere (or rather ubiquitous boost pads). Target detection is, on occasion, hilariously messed up: I was trying to home on the start of a line of Bubbles, but instead my lock-on somehow hit a spring three screens away and the homing attack wizzed me over there. WUT.

Complete cut/paste rehash of Ye Olde levels still annoys, although there were some gems in amidst the general gratuitous de-ja-vu-ery. Loved the card-running in Casino Street (everything about Act 2 was sweet; easily the best act in the game). Yhe backgrounds in general were delicious, except for Splash Hill's, which was ugly and empty. And I learned to really like the final boss, with it's breakdancing lurch of doom.

OVERALL: It was worth buying, though only JUST. The game is playable, and - for brief periods - enjoyable, though the physics rape provides a constant undercurrent of frustration and hatred simmering below the surface. It's not quite an '06, but neither could even the most generous apologist claim it is a worthy successor to S3K.

Who are you, and what happened to the real Frozen ?

Joking aside, I found it to be a BLAST to play. Physics aren't great, yes, but it's a very good game IMO.

[Frozen Nitrogen]

Who are you, and what happened to the real Frozen ?

Joking aside, I found it to be a BLAST to play. Physics aren't great, yes, but it's a very good game IMO.

Err...

>_>

Umm...

I meant... "I HATE EVERYTHING ARGLEBARGLEGARGLE"

Nah, it's passable. Still Sonic Rush 3, though.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Frozen Nitrogen

[Gamerguy21]

I personally think the game's pretty good. The only problems I have with it are how short it is and the fact that Sonic loses all momentum whenever you let go of the d-pad. However, that second problem didn't really bother me since I usually just keep the d-pad pressed in the direction I wanna go anyway.

And the physic problems aren't nearly as bad as that video makes them seem. Sure, the physics aren't exactly the same as the Genesis games, but usually you have to go out of your way to replicate the things in that video.

The physics are literally the worst possible for any Sonic game.

O rly?

[Frozen Nitrogen]

However, that second problem didn't really bother me since I usually just keep the d-pad pressed in the direction I wanna go anyway.

1) Hold right

2) WIN

[Solid SOAP]

1) Hold right

2) WIN

[Ferno]