Sonic 4 Episode 2 release date for 2012

By Martin Robinson Published 23 August, 2011

"It was always the plan," says Sonic Team.

The second episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 won't be launching until 2012 - well over a year after the first installment of SEGA's episodic series launched in 2010.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4, as its name suggests, was slated as a return to Sonic's 2D roots. Its first episode proved successful, bagging a coveted Eurogamer 9 in October last year. "In short, this is the game SEGA should have made 15 years ago," said Ellie of the game.

With Sonic busy stuffing his face with cake while he celebrates his 20th anniversary this year - and while he also busies himself with the promising looking Generations, a medley of the SEGA mascot's finest moments - the next episode is set to release sometime next year.

"This year, 2011, is the anniversary, so we're focusing on the celebration title," Sonic Team's Takashi Iikuza told Eurogamer, "But moving forward to 2012, Sonic will still be going, so I'd hope to provide Episode 2 then."

Going the episodic route is normally an indication that there'll be a quicker turnaround than there is in a normal sequel cycle - so was it always the intention to have such an extended hiatus for Sonic 4?

"It was always the plan," said Iizuka, "We knew about the anniversary year, and Generations was planned way in advance. It was always our plan to release Episode 2 after Generations."

Valve found itself in a similar situation when it opted for an episodic route for its Half Life 2 successors - and it looks as if the chances of a third Sonic the Hedgehog 4 episode are as slim as seeing an imminent return from Gordon Freeman.

"We can't say if there's going to be Episode 3 or not," Iizuka said when asked if there would be such a long wait between the second and third takes on Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

SEGA was unable to comment on when the new episode would be released, or whether it would be the last we'd see of Sonic 4.

Picture of Martin.

About Martin Robinson

Martin is Eurogamer's features editor with responsibility for commissioning, editing and often writing our feature and preview content. He's also passionate about driving games.

Read more articles from Martin by visiting the Martin Robinson archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 9 months ago

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

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #1 9 months ago

    Episodes happen weekly, sometimes daily, These are not episodes! Sega and Valve have just found a way to charge the same for less content. Good for them.

  • ollyn #2 9 months ago

    Not quite as bad as Valves understanding of Episodic content :).

  • Shinetop #3 9 months ago

    Sure it was, Iizuka! I believe you, buddy.

  • Bullet_Tunnel #4 9 months ago

    thats a long wait, maybe because they are going to put in "old skool" (aka proper), sonic style physics, not the momentum sapping style the last one had, even generations has you stopping if you hold down on the dpad too long. that. isnt. sonic. sorry.

  • shirotsku #5 9 months ago

    I'm excited.

    Apart from being slightly overpriced, thoroughly enjoyed episode I.

  • asphaltcowboy #6 9 months ago

    Fix the feel of the controls/physics! FIIIIIX IIIIIT!

  • HyperTails #7 9 months ago

    Physics aside, I loved Episode 1, and have been waiting for news on Episode 2 for ages now. Generations is looking brilliant, and if they can sort out the complaints then both Generations and Episode 2 could be brilliant.

  • Shinetop #8 9 months ago

    "Handling a bit differently" is not the same thing as "Having completely messed up momentum that changes the entire way you play a Sonic game." Granted, this was for Sonic 4, I can't comment on Generations.

  • Shinetop #9 9 months ago

    Spin Dash and Homing Attack are decent additions to Sonic's moves. Broken momentum is not. This is the main difference.

    Also, by that logic you could make it a point & click adventure game. "It's a different game, it plays differently."

  • Shinetop #10 9 months ago

    I mean, people are complaining about something in a game that was ultimately still really fun just because it wasn't the same as the old games.

    Maybe you had fun, but others didn't. You didn't care about the momentum thing? Fine, good for you, you had a good time, and your money was well spent. But maybe other people had hoped for different handling, and as such, didn't enjoy it that much. Are they stupid for pointing out what they disliked about the game they bought? That's just stupid as far as I'm concerned.

  • Bullet_Tunnel #11 9 months ago

    The thing i found with generations was, if you roll down hill, into a pipe maze sorta thing, if you hold "down",you will eventually grind to a halt, whereas in say-sonic 1, you hold "down" and you would roll n roll down a gradient until you hit something solid or painful(spikes), as a child i would do this so that i wouldnt accidently splat face first into a crab-bot when you went super fast and couldnt see whats coming, as you would stay in attack position, but on generations, my natural instinct was to hold "down" and it would only make me slower, feeling very alien and uncomfortable.

    however, generations has been the best sonic i played since sonic and knuckles, i had the add on cart, with 1,2 and 3.. great times
    Edited by Bullet_Tunnel at 23/08/11 @ 16:27

  • layleeloo #12 9 months ago

    If it's anything like the last I will be leaving it. If it's anything like the sonic Generations demo, I'll be snapping it up

  • TruSmiles #13 9 months ago

    I honestly thought Sonic 4: Episode 1 handled fine. Obviously that's just my opinion of the game, but the physics never felt game breaking to me.

    The only thing I really disliked about Episode 1 was the length.

  • Bullet_Tunnel #14 9 months ago

    @tjtj... definately want it to be great, i played the demo for about an hour straight, trying to reach places and find secrets. looked great, probably one of the few reboot type thing that actually felt as good as the old days

  • Incarta #15 9 months ago

    Ep 1 was ok, but there was plenty that could have been improved. With all the lessons learned, Ep2 should be much better. We hope.

  • Ryze #16 9 months ago

    Yeah, bollocks. That game wasn't worth a fucking 9 at all. More like a 6.

    Glad you enjoyed it, Ellie.

  • Collymilad #17 9 months ago

    I'd just like to say, keep the physics exactly as they are.

    :D

  • ajaxpliskin #18 9 months ago

    Anyone that thought the physics were 'fine' in this game didn't spend very much time with Sonic 1, 2 or 3. If they did, then the flaws with this game would have stood out a mile, just like it did for me and many other hardcore Sonic fans.

  • FenderMaster #19 9 months ago

    The physics were mostly fine, there were only three issues

    1. Uncurling when he comes off ramps

    2. Release the direction you're holding mid jump and he drops straight down, but honestly who releases the d pad? I constantly adjust it mid jump, didn't even notice this until people started complaining online.

    3. When curling into a ball when rolling downhill he kind of slows a little.

    still felt very close to Sonic 2 in terms of level design, platforming and feel, it got most things very right.

    2 negs? pfth... Why? because i accurately stated what the issues with the physics were and still thought it was a good first attempt? Oh Eurogamer... such abuse of a system meant to highlight good comments and bury stupid/obnixious ones and spam...

    Soni Generations will be nothing like the classics, anyone whos played the now expired demo can tell you it plays more like Rush... hold right, bounce off some stuff, boost and win.
    Edited by FenderMaster at 23/08/11 @ 20:57

  • kassmageant #20 9 months ago

    no actual footage yet, but after generations i'd say we might be optimistic... : )

    i just hope generations will be big " FUCK YOU, MARIO GALAXIEZ!"

    yeah, i owned mega drive, not SNES, old habits die hard : )

  • TravisTouchdown #21 9 months ago

    Generations ought to make the whole sorry mess that is Sonic 4 entirely redundant. Fingers crossed, anyway.

  • brod #22 9 months ago

    Let me know when the full game is available to buy.

  • Jimmy__Fury #23 9 months ago

    Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has already been overtaken by Generations. 4 was such a poor release IMHO, there was so little to it and such a big anticlimax. Enjoyed the Sonic Advance and Rush series for more old-school Sonic action. I feel like they just slapped the "4" on the game to drum up interest in what was essentially a rushed download only game.

  • TruSmiles #24 9 months ago

    I really don't understand Eurogamer readers. People always seem to 'neg' down those that disagree with them, even if their comments are perfectly valid opinions. Surely the point of having a reputation system is to remove undesirable comments from rabid fanboys who contribute nothing to an article and spam bots? It's like EG is just one massive popularity game, trying to score points against each other.

  • Dave_McCoy #25 9 months ago

    I doubt I'll pick up Ep2 unless it's almost free in a sale, as in 400 points or less. The first one, while they tried, was just wrong. Sonic suddenly had no weight and it ruined the game for me practically. It just didn't feel right.