Sonic 4 episode 1 is PART OF Sonic 4 and My thoughts on Ep1

[TheDanimator]

Im reallY not sure if I should be making a topic for this or not but im getting REALLY SICK of people saying...

"I didnt like Sonic 4"

By saying that you are saying...

I didnt like a game that I only played about 1/3rd of at most and I only played the prologue and decided I didnt like it.

Its just frusterating how many people keep saying "I didnt like Sonic 4."

I just think thats unfair to say considering they have barely played it, the main stuff hasnt even happened yet.

While Im here Ill also give my input on episode 1.

Gameplay-7.5/10

Visuals-9/10

Music-8/10

I enjoyed the game allot, I personally really like the rehashed levels. It was cool to be able to feel like i was replaying some of the classic levels with the new graphics and I thought it worked well for something thats a prologue. The physics feel a bit broken, but they really dont bother me much and they tend to feel better the more you play, for me at least. I also dont understand why so many people dislike the soundtrack... I love it, I mean it doesnt even touch Sonic 3 and Knuckles soundtrack but I feel like it lives up to the first 2 games pretty well, I just dont understand what people have against it. I really like the visuals also, I love the cell shaded look of the badnicks and stuff, makes it feel retro but modern at the same time to me.

Overall I would give episode 1 an 8/10, for a prologue it was done very well in my opinion.

I am all for updating the physics though.

Another thing...

I still dont understand why people think ep. 1 was a TOTAL rehash I mean, Emerald hill was just as similar to green hill as splash hill is...I think splash hill is different enough.

Also, imo Lost Labyrinth doesnt feel like Labyrinth zone at all, it barely looks anything like labyrinth zone.

And then the stages they did more or less rehash have cool new features like road of cards and impending doom, and the boss rush at the end didnt look like anything ive seen in the first games.

I feel the stuff they did rehash they made good effort to freshen it up.

Edited June 17, 2011 by TheDanimator

[Eternal EX]

The physics feel a bit broken

[TheDanimator]

I wouldnt PERSONALLY say it beats Sonic 1 and Sonic 2's soundtrack but thats not to say I couldnt understand why someone would like it at least equally.

[Blacklightning]

Im reallY not sure if I should be making a topic for this or not but im getting REALLY SICK of people saying...

"I didnt like Sonic 4"

By saying that you are saying...

I didnt like a game that I only played about 1/3rd of at most and I only played the prologue and decided I didnt like it.

[TheDanimator]

Your completely missing my point.

I have NO PROBLEM with people saying EPISODE 1 sucks.

What i have a problem with is when people say Sonic 4 Sucks.

Although I can forgive people when they say this because its an easy mistake to make, Im still sick of it. You can say EPISODE 1 sucks as much as you would like but its still just an opinion.

I can see where your coming from with Green Hill, I agree to some extent, I personally just feel like it still felt like its own seperate level from green hill.

As i stated, would someone please tell me why they would consider lost labyrinth a rehash of labyrinth?

Yes they both have water...they are KIND OF similar in other ways also, but I just dont see it...

[Eternal EX]

As i stated, would someone please tell me why they would consider lost labyrinth a rehash of labyrinth?

Yes they both have water...they are KIND OF similar in other ways also, but I just dont see it...

[Blacklightning]

Your completely missing my point.

I have NO PROBLEM with people saying EPISODE 1 sucks.

What i have a problem with is when people say Sonic 4 Sucks.

[TheDanimator]

Idk, i just think those who consider lost labyrinth a rehash when i see it as vastly different from labyrinth they are gonna be dissapointed with future stages...

I mean what themes havent they done already?

I dare anyone to name more than 3 that would be COMPLETELY different than anything they have done, and be realistic.

Edited June 13, 2011 by TheDanimator

[Eternal EX]

Idk, i just think those who consider lost labyrinth a rehash when i see it as vastly different from labyrinth they are gonna be dissapointed with future stages...

I mean what themes havent they done already?

I dare anyone to name more than 3 that would be COMPLETELY different than anything they have done, and be realistic.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Eternal Awesomeness

[TheDanimator]

Haha I know, and even those outrageous ones you named I can think of similarities to other levels.

Idk man, mushroom hill had Giant mushrooms so it was KIND OF SORT OF the same concept as being shrunk...just like Lost labyrinth is KIND OF SORT OF a rehash.

It was actually funny that you said that because as i was posting this I thought of a giant type zone.

And a sewage system could be compared to chemical plant zone. SORT OF. LOL

Im also just poking fun at what you said.

[Eternal EX]

Haha I know, and even those outrageous ones you named I can think of similarities to other levels.

And a sewage system could be compared to chemical plant zone. SORT OF. LOL

Im also just poking fun at what you said.

Haha I actually didn't think of that. But now that you mention it, it really sounds gross. Sonic & tails flying around in chem plant. Nothing but random crap in the pipes.

[Tobbii]

You want original level designs? Very well.

• 
  
  
• Actual Solleana Stage with roads and sliding on water. (Because we never got one...)
  
• Sonic enters a dreamworld that looks like S1/S4 Special Stages but is a regular stage. (Trippy!)
  
• Sonic has a stage on board a spaceship with command centers and everything. (Only been space stations and airships so far.)
  
• Sonic travels in time to 1942 and runs along WWII battlefields. (Bla-bla non-sonicy, that was not the question.)
  
• Sonic is traversing down ONE HUGE water-slide. (I know some stages have had a water slide, but I'm talking bigger!)
  
• Sonic has a stage set in the ancient city of the Echidnas. (And not just a temple as in SA1.)
  
• Brothel Night Zone. (Hurr-hurr)
  

As people know, I liked Sonic 4 (Review: 7.5), but my main issue was the stage rehash. First of all, we don't know if Sonic 4 is two, three, four or even ten episodes, so as of now that's beyond the point. We had 4 zones in the game all inspired and designed after 2 Sonic 1 stages and 2 Sonic 2 stages with some twists and new stuff added.

Splash Hill Zone was shameless, they didn't even change the textural pattern of the walls from Green Hill Zone. The only new thing was vines which felt forced and worked better in Sonic 3.

Casino Street Zone was shameless as well, because one again the colours and design patterns were almost identical to Casino Night Zone. The new things were Cards which were super-cool and Cannons which sucked and worked better in Sonic 3.

Lost Labyrinth was better, it did a few more things to stray away from Labyrinth Zone, the minecart also worked better than it did in Sonic 2 GG which is a great thing. I liked Lost Labyrinth and thought it was handled well, I'll give it a pass.

Mad Gear I will also let pass, because of much of the same reasons. Here we had 3 acts that was very fun and felt like they actually stood apart from the original Metropolis stage that inspired it.

But let's not forget the bosses, which really should have been original ones rather than rehashes. I mean, seriously? "Dr. Robotnik has improved some of his old machines!", that was lame.

Now, as I said, I did like the game a lot, these issues did not break it for me. But I'm going to step over on your side for a bit here.

Sonic 4: Episode 1 costs 1200 Microsoft Points. Let's say we have three episodes.

Sonic 4: Complete will then be 3600 Microsoft Points, which equal to about 36 Dollars, right?

Then we can assume S4C will have 12 Zones, 4 Acts Each and 3 Final Stages. All in all, that's 51 stages. FIFTY-ONE.

A full retail game costs about 40-50 Dollars if I understand US Dollars right, so let's see.

We get a new 2D sidescroller Sonic for all the three consoles with 51 stages for 36 Dollars...

Sonic Adventure had 35 stages, 11 Action Stages with various characters each and 3 Forced Sub-Game Stages.

Sonic 3D had 15 stages, 7 Zones with 2 acts each and one Final Zone.

Sonic 3K had 25 stages, 13 Zones mixed with 2 or 1 acts and one Final Zone.

Sonic 2 had 20 stages, 11 Zones mixed with 1-3 acts.

Sonic 1 had 25 stages, 6 Zones with 3 acts each and one Final Zone.

And those games we paid more for, hell, Sonic 3 we even had to buy in two parts just like this. So let's, for our last comparison, just compare Sonic 3 to Sonic 4 E1.

Sonic 3 (Part 1):

6 Zones, 2 Acts = 12 Stages.

Sonic 4 Episode I:

4 Zones, 3 Acts, 1 Final = 13 Stages.

And yes, you could make the claim that the 2D era is over and that we don't buy that in retail anymore, but games like Rayman Origins comes to mind, people are CHEERING that it's now retail and a "full game".

And those are my two cents on the stages of Sonic 4.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Tobbii

[Eternal EX]

You want original level designs? Very well.

• 
  
  
• Actual Solleana Stage with roads and sliding on water. (Because we never got one...)
  
• Sonic enters a dreamworld that looks like S1/S4 Special Stages but is a regular stage. (Trippy!)
  
• Sonic has a stage on board a spaceship with command centers and everything. (Only been space stations and airships so far.)
  
• Sonic travels in time to 1942 and runs along WWII battlefields. (Bla-bla non-sonicy, that was not the question.)
  
• Sonic is traversing down ONE HUGE water-slide. (I know some stages have had a water slide, but I'm talking bigger!)
  
• Sonic has a stage set in the ancient city of the Echidnas. (And not just a temple as in SA1.)
  
• Brothel Night Zone. (Hurr-hurr)
  

As people know, I liked Sonic 4 (Review: 7.5), but my main issue was the stage rehash. First of all, we don't know if Sonic 4 is two, three, four or even ten episodes, so as of now that's beyond the point. We had 4 zones in the game all inspired and designed after 2 Sonic 1 stages and 2 Sonic 2 stages with some twists and new stuff added.

Splash Hill Zone was shameless, they didn't even change the textural pattern of the walls from Green Hill Zone. The only new thing was vines which felt forced and worked better in Sonic 3.

Casino Street Zone was shameless as well, because one again the colours and design patterns were almost identical to Casino Night Zone. The new things were Cards which were super-cool and Cannons which sucked and worked better in Sonic 3.

Lost Labyrinth was better, it did a few more things to stray away from Labyrinth Zone, the minecart also worked better than it did in Sonic 2 GG which is a great thing. I liked Lost Labyrinth and thought it was handled well, I'll give it a pass.

Mad Gear I will also let pass, because of much of the same reasons. Here we had 3 acts that was very fun and felt like they actually stood apart from the original Metropolis stage that inspired it.

But let's not forget the bosses, which really should have been original ones rather than rehashes. I mean, seriously? "Dr. Robotnik has improved some of his old machines!", that was lame.

Sorry but Casino street zone act 2 was in my opinion the best stage in the entire game. I'll replay that stage anyday just because of how they did the playing cards. CREATIVE! Mad geard=metropolis, well that explains the resembles. I I was trying to figure out which stage that looked like but couldn't put my finger on it. Plus it explains why I never grew any kind of attachment to it. I hated the original and never could enjoy this version. LLZ acts 1 and 2 were pretty good. Act 3 is the most challenging and annoying stage in the game. Fuck that light holding shit. Wait I think I'm thinking of the wrong stage. Was it 2 that did that or 3?

Splash hill was cool with me. It makes for a decent 1st stage. And your level ideas.

I'm like 50% sure sonic entered a dreamworld. I'll talk more when I get some sleep.

[Tobbii]

Sorry but Casino street zone act 2 was in my opinion the best stage in the entire game. I'll replay that stage anyday just because of how they did the playing cards. CREATIVE! Mad geard=metropolis, well that explains the resembles. I I was trying to figure out which stage that looked like but couldn't put my finger on it. Plus it explains why I never grew any kind of attachment to it. I hated the original and never could enjoy this version. LLZ acts 1 and 2 were pretty good. Act 3 is the most challenging and annoying stage in the game. Fuck that light holding shit. Wait I think I'm thinking of the wrong stage. Was it 2 that did that or 3?

Splash hill was cool with me. It makes for a decent 1st stage. And your level ideas.

I'm like 50% sure sonic entered a dreamworld. I'll talk more when I get some sleep.

I said I liked the cards.

And 2 did the torch, I liked that too actually.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Tobbii

[Carbo]

Getting physics wrong in a Sonic game is like getting jumping wrong in a Mario game. You can get accustomed to it but that doesn't excuse it. To spread more salt in the wound it tries to sell itself as a return to roots by literally using those mechanics in tandem with inferior throwbacks that have poor design sold for the highest price available that a XBLA/PSN game can get.

And you can finish that in an hour.

I guess I enjoyed Episode 1 for what it was but the game itself has almost no reason to exist. It's just "there". Half of the time I was just wondering where the Boost button was located so I could get through the levels. The promise of more is something I'm ambiguous on, because it means we're gambling on something that either might be getting superior treatment due to the various criticisms and gatherings devoted to the game, or something that will just be exactly more of the same if Dimps' effort on Sonic Generations 3DS is of any indication.

Also a minor nag of mine, but after Sonic 2/3/K's pretty enveloping plots and continuities, Sonic 4's plot made no fucking sense.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Carbo

[Preston]

Also a minor nag of mine, but after Sonic 2/3/K's pretty enveloping plots and continuities, Sonic 4's plot made no fucking sense.

It makes perfect sense for Sonic to use a rocket that came out of nowhere and somehow get back on Earth after destroying E.G.G. Station.

[Tobbii]

Sold for the highest price available that a XBLA/PSN game can get.

Nope.

http://marketplace.xbox.com/sv-SE/Product/Sam-Max-Save-the-World/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841097d?cid=search

http://marketplace.xbox.com/sv-SE/Product/Sam-Max-Beyond-Time/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410999?cid=search

Also, at launch, Castle Crashers cost 1800MS points.

[Carbo]

Nope.

http://marketplace.xbox.com/sv-SE/Product/Sam-Max-Save-the-World/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841097d?cid=search

http://marketplace.xbox.com/sv-SE/Product/Sam-Max-Beyond-Time/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410999?cid=search

Also, at launch, Castle Crashers cost 1800MS points.

I bought Castle Crashers at launch for 1200.

Didn't know about Sam & Max though.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Carbo

[Tobbii]

Didn't know about Sam & Max.

Also I bought Castle Crashers at launch for 1200.

That's weird, it was a huge shitstorm about 1800 being too much.

[Scott]

I liked Sonic 4, the levels (although being rehashes) were good, I mean, new routes to take and new gimmicks to spice them up added fun for me, buggered up physic's means nothing to me! Sonic Advance 2 & 3 don't have classic physics, but I loved them, both Sonic Rush games and Colours DS don't have classic physics but I enjoyed them, even the gamegear Sonic games didn't have the classic physics present in the Megadrive titles but I enjoyed a select few of them

Aslong as it says SONIC on it, people are gonna buy it thats for sure (me included )

But that doesn't mean Sonic 4 couldn't have been improved a little, I still wished they would have used the classic sprites, it might have disguised the physics just a bit more!

But as I remember, one of the reasons SEGA went through with this was because of the fan praise and sales from both Megaman 9 and 10 (which are also good, but 9 is too hard ): ) but obviously spiced up the graphics so people of the modern era wouldn't tune out of it and get a feel for how the classics played out. Even though it was said it was meant to appeal to the classic fans while Sonic Colours was meant to appeal to kids, I enjoyed both alot and I'm eager for more Sonic 4!!!

[TheDanimator]

Well I do agree, there is just flat out NO EXCUSE for making the physics like they did.

Event though they only bother me a little, when they say they are gonna make a game that plays like the classics they should keep that promise.

@Tobbii

You said...

"You want original level designs? Very well.

Actual Solleana Stage with roads and sliding on water. (Because we never got one...)

Sonic enters a dreamworld that looks like S1/S4 Special Stages but is a regular stage. (Trippy!)

Sonic has a stage on board a spaceship with command centers and everything. (Only been space stations and airships so far.)

Sonic travels in time to 1942 and runs along WWII battlefields. (Bla-bla non-sonicy, that was not the question.)

Sonic is traversing down ONE HUGE water-slide. (I know some stages have had a water slide, but I'm talking bigger!)

Sonic has a stage set in the ancient city of the Echidnas. (And not just a temple as in SA1.)

Brothel Night Zone. (Hurr-hurr"

Well, my point was that I didnt think anyone could name more than 3 COMPLETELY original levels that couldnt be compared at all to ones previously used in the games. That does include, ALL the games not just the classics.

Basically everything you said above CAN BE compared to other stages, but creative none the less.

Personally, Id be fine with them taking some level ideas from Sonic Advance, that had some cool ideas, like that musical zone.

Edited June 13, 2011 by TheDanimator

[Tobbii]

Basically everything you said above CAN BE compared to other stages, but creative none the less.

[TheDanimator]

Yeah, I MEAN LIKE 1942 WW2 could TOTALLY BE COMPARED TO LIKE

EGG FLEET OR SOMETING BEcause like... THERE ARE LIKE WARS AND STUFF!

And BROTHEL NIGHT ZONE could TOTALLY BE COMPARED TO LIKE

Casino NIGHT ZONE OR SOMETHING, because its in like VEGAS OR SOMETHING KIND OF!

And there are brothels IN vegas.

OR SOMETHING.

*Obvious troll is obvious* lol.

[Blue Blood]

So is this topic basically to say "stop calling it Sonic 4 when it's actually Sonic 4 Episode 1"? Cause like, it's a moot point at this stage when there's only one episode.

[TheDanimator]

Yeah I know, Its obvious that people are referring to episode 1, but it still bothers me... I mean what if someone who was new to the fanbase avoided Sonic 4 completely because someone said it sucked when the other episodes turned out to be AMAZING.

I guess thats not very likely, and your right... now that i think about it its not THAT big a deal if they say, Sonic 4 sucks, when its obvious they are talking about ep1, i think its more just my OCD speeking.

I also made this topic to share my thoughts on Episode 1.