Sonic 4: Episode 1 two weeks away

By Robert Purchese Published 28 September, 2010

UPDATE: dated and priced on all formats.

Update: SEGA has dated and priced all versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. The iPhone and iPod Touch versions will arrive first on 7th October; PSN and XBLA versions on 13th October; and the Wii version on 15th October.

Episode 1 will cost a tenner on the PS3 Store and 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360. Wii owners will need to fork out 1500 Wii Points.

Original story: Microsoft has revealed a 13th October release date for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 on Xbox Live Arcade.

Confirmation came from the company's UK PR Dominic Carey. "ZOMG! Sonic 4: Episode 1 dates for October 13th on Xbox LIVE. Bring it on Robotnik (*sigh* Eggman)," he tweeted.

SEGA has yet to respond.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 takes the series back to 2D, back to its roots. It's fast and crisp and colourful. Unsurprisingly, then, we've liked what we've seen.

Sonic 4's also in development for PSN, Wii, iPhone and iPod Touch.

I'm blue da-ba-dee da-ba-dow ba-da-ba-dee-ba.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Ror1984 #1 2 years ago

    Does anyone know how much this will cost? I'm guessing that hasn't been announced as yet?

  • Dolly #2 2 years ago

    Just let me know when I can buy the complete game. Episodic can work for something like Sam & Max, but I can't be arsed with it for a platformer.

  • hiddenranbir #3 2 years ago

    So they finally got the message, 2D it is!

  • ashmatuk #4 2 years ago

    1200 points.

  • Malek86 #5 2 years ago

    I still don't get it, is it actually Robotnik or Eggman?

  • Ror1984 #6 2 years ago

    @ashmatuk - seriously?? Seems a little high.

  • mfnick #7 2 years ago

    Everything is 1200 now. Regardless of whether it deserves it or not.

    No chance of this being 800.

  • Eraysor #8 2 years ago

    yesyesyes

  • dpb135 #9 2 years ago

    @malek86

    Eggman is english name, robotnik is japanese name for him
    Edited by dpb135 at 28/09/10 @ 11:26

  • JoeGBallad #10 2 years ago

    Hope it's good. It definitely looks better than, well, pretty much every sonic game since the megadrive days. And that's coming from someone who enjoys sonic adventure...

  • peteb #11 2 years ago

    @dpb135

    Isn't it the other way around? Wikipedia says:

    "The original English instruction manual for his 1991 debut game Sonic the Hedgehog described the character's full name as "Doctor Ivo Robotnik" while the Japanese version's instruction manual for the same game called him "Doctor Eggman"

    I think nowadays its accepted that his name is Robotnik but Eggman is a nickname of sorts.
    Edited by peteb at 28/09/10 @ 11:30

  • mfnick #12 2 years ago

    @dpb - wrong way round mate. Its always been Eggman in Japan. They changed it to Robotnik when they originally brough it over here as Eggman was though to be too childish for the western audience that they wanted to appeal to.

    They gradually changed it to Eggman with us in the original Sonic Adventure. Destroying the whole history & mythology built up in the west in the process.

    *Used to be a huge Sonic fan when younger*

    Edited by mfnick at 28/09/10 @ 11:37

  • Ror1984 #13 2 years ago

    I remember having a Sonic origins comic when I was a kid. In this, Robotnik was called Dr Kintobor... He was a good guy until he dropped a rotten pickled egg onto a machine and turned evil. This also, somehow, reversed his nameplate, to become Robotnik. I know this sounds like I might possibly be on drugs, but the comic was real!

    1200 seems a bit steep considering Sonic Adventure recently went up for 800! That's a full, fairly lengthy game as well.

  • metalangel #14 2 years ago

    Ror is right, he was Ovi Kintobor until the 'accident' when he turned rotund and became Ivo Robotnik. While the Japanese name was 'Eggman', the generally accepted thing now is his real name is Robotnik and 'Eggman' is a derisory nickname.

  • varsas #15 2 years ago

    @Dolly: IIRC it's episodic in the sense that Sonic 3 was part 1 and Sonic&Knuckles was part 2 so it should be a "complete" game.

  • muscleblade #16 2 years ago

    Its not 1200. Its 400 per episode. Already announced awhile back.

    And its more than 2 episodes too from what i remember.
    Edited by muscleblade at 28/09/10 @ 11:44

  • richarddavies #17 2 years ago

    This is the first Sonic game in years im genuinley excited to try. I hope im not dissapointed again.

  • viper_h #18 2 years ago

    About time. How long can it possibly take to make a 2D Sonic game??

  • Bmovie #19 2 years ago

    I don't care what they charge for this, I've waited 16 years. It's on like donkey kong!

  • ashmatuk #20 2 years ago

    Everyone's favorite blue hedgehog will be ready to go next month as SEGA announced the release date for several versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
    The game will be available for download on the iTunes App Store starting Oct. 7, the Wii Shop Channel on Oct. 11 (15th Oct in EMEA territories), the PlayStation Network on Oct. 12 in America (Oct 13th in EMEA territories), and Xbox Live Arcade on Oct. 13 across all territories.

    Sonic 4 will be priced at 1500 Wii Points on WiiWare, 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live Arcade, and $14.99 / £9.99 / €12.99 / AU$19.95 on the PlayStation Network.

    SEGA previously delayed the title last spring to allow for more development time. The publisher has not said how many episodes it plans to release in this series.

    http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/112/112...
    Edited by ashmatuk at 28/09/10 @ 12:01

  • metalangel #21 2 years ago

    Be warned, peeps. There's a mine cart level. Just think back to Sonic 2 on the Game Gear...

  • Shinetop #22 2 years ago

    To me, he'll always be Ivo Robotnik.



  • Ror1984 #23 2 years ago

    @muscleblade - Thanks, that's actually quite a reasonable price.

    @ashmatuk - That seems to suggest Episode 1 itself is 1200... Now I'm just as confused as before! Thanks for posting that though, I'm not being ungrateful :p
    Edited by Ror1984 at 28/09/10 @ 12:19

  • Whitster #24 2 years ago

    Aparently the Mine Cart level has been dropped for the home releases and only appears in the iOS version now.

  • Shinetop #25 2 years ago

    Every source I've seen mentions 1200 points for this episode. Not 400 per episode.

  • Dave_McCoy #26 2 years ago

    1200 points? Urk! I remember them mentioning since it was episodic they were going to charge 400 per episode. I guess they realised how popular it will be. I'll still probably buy it mind.

  • sonicyoda #27 2 years ago

    @metalangel

    The mine cart level is now an iPhone exclusive stage. The console versions have been changed to put less emphasis on the mine-cart and more emphasis on exploration with an added torch and light mechanic.

  • geeza2020 #28 2 years ago

    I was genuinely excited by this, haven't played a decent sonic game in years, but for 1200 points per episode Sega can stuff it up their arse and fuck off while they're doing it.

  • Ryze #29 2 years ago

    2 weeks eh? Great promo campaign, Sega.

  • darleysam #30 2 years ago

    I was under the impression that Robotnik was what we called him in the UK, and Eggman is how he's known in the States. And as with everything else, the US version is overpowering all other names/logic.

    Robotnik forever.

  • muscleblade #31 2 years ago

    Its 1200 points now. When it was first announced it was 400 per episode.

  • muscleblade #32 2 years ago

    One episode still consiist of 4 levels only so its not a long game for 1200 points. Still getting it myself but for people thats short on income its another case.

    I predict one playthrough will take less than 2 hours.
    Edited by muscleblade at 28/09/10 @ 13:36

  • JoeGBallad #33 2 years ago

    Hohoho... Hahaha.. Oooh sorry about that. Sorry, I was just having a wee chuckle to myself there thinking about... Hohoho... aw you guys moaning about... Hahaha... The price, because all you're doing is reinforcing the belief that good 2D platformers should be resigned to the virtual bargain bins.

  • rudedudejude #34 2 years ago

    It does looks good though.

    Despite being expensive, I think I'll get it to drill the fact into sega to stop the 3d shit.

  • Shinetop #35 2 years ago

    @JoeGBallad: at least you're enjoying yourself.

  • varsas #36 2 years ago

    @muscleblade: I've not read anything about the number of levels. Where did you get that info?

  • Sonic_D #37 2 years ago

    Episodic? 1200 each? Wha...?

  • muscleblade #38 2 years ago

    @varsas

    Protip: Google

    Taken form an interview at Gameradar.com:

    Patrick Petraitis: Is it really worth getting in episodes?
    Well... I would have preferred one big game, but there are four levels in the first episode, each apparently with three acts and a separate boss stage (yep, you get a third spinner now in Act 3) plus seven bonus stages, so that's enough to be getting on with. Remember, Sonic 1, 2 and 3 can each be finished in under one hour, so the length of Episode 1 is probably getting on for that of any of the old games.

    In under one hour he says. Yes the old games where short but did cost 400 points not 1200 on xbla.

    I will still get the game but i do understand those that dont tbh.
    Edited by muscleblade at 28/09/10 @ 14:54

  • varsas #39 2 years ago

    @EarlBassett: If this episode were equivalent in size to the whole of Sonic 1, 2 or 3 would that be acceptable?

    @muscleblade: Is £10 too expensive for the equivalent of a full Sonic game? I don't think one can compare the pricing to a retro release otherwise where were the complaints for SSFIV's pricing?
    Edited by varsas at 28/09/10 @ 14:55

  • kinky_mong #40 2 years ago

    1200 points an episode! Pah!

  • arcam #41 2 years ago

    The Sonic games could be completed in one hour?

    Damn, it's been at least ten years since I played last, but I know my times were never anywhere near that.

  • metalangel #42 2 years ago

    Four levels with three acts each is barely half of an old Sonic game!

  • muscleblade #43 2 years ago

    Its an achievement for completing Soic and Sonic 2 in under one hour. i got al achievemnts for thiose games so yes.

    @varsas

    I dont diagree with you but it was 400 per episode when announced. It seems it will be 4-5 episodes so 1200 per episode will become 6000 points or 50£

    I think its worth it but i dont blame or question those that think 1200 is too much.

  • varsas #44 2 years ago

    @metalangel: It is more than half since Sonic 1 had 6 levels/zones with 3 acts to Sonic 4's 4 levels/zones with 3 acts but the latter also has boss stages and more bonus stages.

    How much was Sonic 1 when it was first released? I am sure it was more than £10; I wonder how much the iOS4 version will cost.

    Personally it sounds like it will be worth it; hopefully the reviews will be good and I can look forward to some Sonic HD!
    Edited by varsas at 28/09/10 @ 15:49

  • midnight_walker #45 2 years ago

    I'll wait for the inevitable disc/all-in-one release. Am I bollocks paying £10 per episode. I'd expect £10-£15 for the entire game, to be honest.

  • Ryze #46 2 years ago

    Sonic The Hedgehog was £34.99 in 1991.

  • Shinetop #47 2 years ago

    £34.99 would be £65 adjusted to today's prices. £10 sounds reasonable.

  • Retroid #48 2 years ago

    1200 points for a single episode?

    AHAHAHAHAHAHA..... no.

    Congratulations, Sega - you've successfully dissuaded a *lot* of impulse purchasers.

  • Lusterpurge #49 2 years ago

    And 50% more for the Wii version? Yeah, no. That is ridiculous.

  • varsas #50 2 years ago

    @Lusterpurge: The last time I bought Wii points online it was about £7 for 1000 points so the price is about equivalent.
    Edited by varsas at 28/09/10 @ 16:44

  • Retroid #51 2 years ago

    Yeah, not all points values are created equal :)

  • DAN.E.B #52 2 years ago

    1200 pts? WTF!

    .............I,ll buy your game but it better be good dammit!!

  • DAN.E.B #53 2 years ago

    Im supprised at this price point as Sega was one of the only companys that seem to release their xbla games cheaper than the rest

    maybe we should wait for the deal of the week vote

  • Climhazzard #54 2 years ago

    Its looking better than some full priced games ive played. A tenner is easily worth it tbh. People moan at the price but will spend 1200 points on maps for shitty CoD. Priorities people.

  • richyroo #55 2 years ago

    I dont care what the price is, beause I will NOT support episodic DLC.
    I too will wait for the inevetable disc based bundle, however long that takes.

  • Pinewood_Groves #56 2 years ago

    Sigh, pricefail.

  • Stomp224 #57 2 years ago

    A tenner, SERIOUSLY? I just bought Sonic Adventure for less than that! You cant even argue "B-B-But the originals all cost £40+!" because £40 now buys you a helluva lot more game than 16 re-worked levels in a nice shiny new art style with (thus far) wonky physics.

    I was all for this, as one of those saps who still buys the 3D Sonics, but F*** me if I'm paying that much for a re-hash. :/

  • TheTingler #58 2 years ago

    Sonic Colours is looking more and more tempting!

    As for this, I'd get it on Steam for a tenner. Or less, preferably.

  • septimus #59 2 years ago

    iPhone it is, though it will probably be £4.99 which is too much for an episode. £2.99 would be spot on.

  • fizzyfish #60 2 years ago

    Still better value than having to buy Sonic 3 & Knuckles (the true experience for the second sequel) as two cartridges, back in the day. Just six acts in Sonic 3 was criminal.

  • muscleblade #61 2 years ago

    The back in the day argument isnt valid imo as as new tech comes around older tech gets cheaper. Games these days are cheap compared to the old games. When you can buy Halo reach for 40£ its not right to pay 50-60£ (depending on episodes)for Sonic 4 even if its a new game its still based on the older. Sonic Colours is something different imo.