Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 Preview

By Dan Pearson Published 5 April, 2010

Blue screen of love.

You can imagine the scene. A high-powered SEGA meeting, somewhere in a Tokyo high-rise. The brass is gathered, and PR and marketing representatives for each territory shuffle notes and try not to look each other in the eye. They're here for the internal announcement of a new Sonic title. Hopes are not particularly high.

Once a time for joy, celebration and the printing of money, recent years have seen the shadow of Sonic, and indeed the shadow of Shadow, cast long and dark across the minds and memories of SEGA fans worldwide. 3D has been the slow and painful poison which has laid low one of gaming's greats, relegating him to a supporting role in the games of his greatest rival. He has, rather sadly, become something of a joke.

So the presentation begins. The lights dim. The SEGA chorus rings out across the boardroom. And then something wonderful happens. Blue. So blue. 2D. Wonderful, crisp, high-definition, two-dimensional. No swords. No WereHog. No creepy supporting cast. Just Sonic, looking better than he ever has - amongst beautifully rendered green slopes, checkerboard hills and sky the colour of happiness.

A gradual rumble builds, becoming a cheer. Sonic is back.

'Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1' Screenshot 1

It can't be overstated how crisp Sonic 4 appears in motion. It's mesmeric.

Of course, it probably wasn't like that, and some of those experiments we dissed earlier have been quite successful. But Sonic 4 looks to be exactly what people have been asking for - a back-to-basics, pure platformer about speed, excitement and finding the perfect path.

The stages we see played, from the opening Splash Hill Zone, are classic Sonic, borrowing heavily from the Green Hills of the original. Each is a multi-level start to finish race, with different routes offering different levels of efficiency and toughness. We're told that generally taking the high road is the fastest, most dangerous option, ably demonstrated by the various finish times achieved by our SEGA demonstrator. Most levels will feature three or more basic layers, with multiple opportunities to switch track, either by accident or design according to your skills.

The Sonic hallmarks are fiercely evident in the opening stages - there are plenty of loops, bumpers, boosters and spikes, as well as the odd corkscrew section. Later, during Splash Hill Zones two and three, new mechanics are introduced through vines and zip-lines. Vines break the pace a little, forcing Sonic to swing back and forth to gain a little momentum, while zip lines are fast and direct, winging the blue blur across level sections in a straight line.

Both of these can be targeted with the new air dash move, which helpfully highlights its current target with a bold flashing reticule. These targets can also be enemies or bumpers, allowing Sonic to maintain momentum without sacrificing accuracy - vital for efficiently traversing large sections of levels.

For example, one of the areas of the second Splash Hill Zone features a large gap across some spikes, with four floating enemies above them. Bouncing across in the traditional manner is possible, but this will slow you down with each bounce. Using the targeted air dash is far quicker, and the game automatically picks out the next enemy in range for you, meaning that four stabs on the button sees Sonic slamming from one robotic critter to the next, maintaining his velocity.

It's a useful little touch, and one which focuses gameplay on slickness without detracting from the series' trademark twitch responses. Negotiating some of the trickier routes through the levels using this technique looked to be a real pleasure, allowing levels of speed which would otherwise be hampered by the reaction times of we mere mortals.

In fitting with Sonic 4's no-nonsense pantomime storyline, Dr Robotnik and the Chaos Emeralds return, blissfully bereft of cinematic exposition. Robotnik, or various hefty members of his mechanised henchforce, appear in boss battles at the end of each area, in incarnations apparently 'remixed' from the original Sonic games. We didn't actually see the eggy bounder in action, but we're promised some pleasingly refreshing takes on his old war machines.

'Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1' Screenshot 2

The vine-swinging move disrupts the pace.

Chaos Emeralds must be picked up from the rotating maze levels which have always held them, accessed by finishing a stage with 50 rings or more. These are top-down affairs, with a pulsating, mandelbrotian pattern in the background. Sonic stays centre-stage, and in the PS3 version which we saw demonstrated, the maze was rotated around him using the SixAxis's motion control. Bouncing through these mazes is a matter of picking up rings on the way, with certain totals opening gates to allow progression. Right at the end sits the Chaos Emerald.

Each stage allows both score and time attack, with respective personal bests recorded to local, friend and global leaderboards. These promise some hot competition, fuelling the compulsive time-shaving which has proven such a popular backbone to games like Trials HD. In fitting with this, the restart time is extremely fast, allowing perfectionists to start runs again almost instantly should they take a non-optimal path. It should make for some satisfying sofa-based pad-passing, another old-school staple which we see so little of these days, and one certainly worth reviving.

We didn't have long with Sonic, but a little part of me has fallen in love with him all over again. Maybe it's the simplicity, or the lack of plasma rifles. Perhaps it's the incredibly infections music or the honest-to-goodness cartoon beauty of it all. I think perhaps that it's that incredible blue, a colour which seems to speak directly to the seratonin-producing areas of the hindbrain. The pervading sensation I'm left with, however, as the tinkle of rings and the whoosh of power-ups fades slowly from my consciousness, is that of being reunited with a dear old friend.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is due out for PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 this summer.

Picture of Dan.

About Dan Pearson

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Pearson archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • toa_boa #1 2 years ago

    "is that of being reunited with a dear old friend"

    amazing!

  • kaya08 #2 2 years ago

    This sounds good!?

    *Is confused*

  • lucky_jim #3 2 years ago

    Loving the sound of this. The success of Splosion Man shows there's a market for speed-run platformers. That game had a lot of content for your 800msp though, the "episode 1" part of Sonic 4's title makes me worry a little. I'm not sure that a third or quarter of a Sonic game at 800 or 1200msp would cut the mustard.

    That said, Sega have a track record of offering good vfm on downloadable titles (like Outrun and Rez, off the top of my head).

  • HuggyAtHome #4 2 years ago

    If it had that Trials HD compulsion to it then I'm sold

  • spiritsnake #5 2 years ago

    ill buy the 1st episode regardless of reviews,if i hate it,wich i dont think i can,atleast ill have experienced sonic all over again.

  • 3william56 #6 2 years ago

    I personally believe that Ep1 should be free, as a grovelling apology to the world for the travesty ol speedy shoes has become, and a way of getting some faith back before they expect anyone to pay up for more. In fact, a save game from any paid-for post 1990 Sonic game should qualify you for all the episodes free.

    Though I'll settle for a video of every 3D Sonic game designer getting a live hedgehog shoved where the sun don't shine as an alternative.

  • SG #7 2 years ago

    From the description it sounds more like they've focussed on Sonic 1 as the most influential. I still want Tails and Knuckles. :( I mean, S3&K was the best Sonic EVAR.

    Just none of the other shit characters.

  • GamesConnoisseur #8 2 years ago

    EP1 should be pretty cheap as a mean of hooking gamers into the addictive time trials and as a complusions for the purchases of the further Episodes. I can say that I m pretty sold on the reboot of the Sonic this time.

    Finally!

  • Zomoniac #9 2 years ago

    So is it in the style of the MD Sonics with manageable platforming as well as speed or is it using the Sonic Rush mechanic of hold right until you die, try to remember where pit of death is and jump two seconds before it appears on screen to not die?

  • nuanimal #10 2 years ago

    So is it going to be Dr Robotnik or Dr Eggman in the released game!?

  • impsarepeopletoo #11 2 years ago

    No mention of the godawful looking mine cart level that's leaked out then?

  • GaryHoward #12 2 years ago

    A tear has descended from my weepy eye and a light has shone upon the blue furball for once. Cannot wait to get this.

  • Dave52 #13 2 years ago

    nuanimal: "So is it going to be Dr Robotnik or Dr Eggman in the released game!?"

    Let's hope it's Robotnik...! I'm very excited about this, old school Sonic is hard to beat...

  • Pedrolot #14 2 years ago

    After loooking at the first picture alone..im sold!

  • Thornhillboy #15 2 years ago

    Hello Childhood, where have you been?

  • Ged42 #16 2 years ago

    Trying not to get hopes up, damn it.

  • metalangel #17 2 years ago

    Mine Cart level? Oh man, the one in Sonic 2 for Game Gear killed the rest of the game for me.

  • mcmonkeyplc #18 2 years ago

    Mummy!

    /moist

  • itsgood2slide #19 2 years ago

    @impsarepeopletoo

    Wait, was the <a href= "http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=4AtXI6 JI7G%2Fu9zpA5xz3d4h4l5k2TGxc">mine cart level</a> not an April Fool?

  • rarehobo #20 2 years ago

    Not sure about the lock-on targeting. I have very low expectations for this after, hearing about the mine cart level.

    Edit, shouldn't of said hearing* after viewing the video of the mine cart level above, you'll see it looks god- awful.
    Edited by 2 at 06/04/10 @ 09:51

  • Shinetop #21 2 years ago

    The only thing that's still slightly offputting to me is the fact that Sonic is still that green-eyed, thin-limbed douchebag they turned him into in later games rather than the small round sonic from the heyday. Still, if this is anywhere near as good as it sounds I'll gladly ignore that little peeve.

    People complaining about the minecart apparently haven't played the minecart level on the game gear or the flying level in Sonic 2 and as such, don't really have a say in any of this.

  • waynenot #22 2 years ago

    "Perhaps it's the incredibly infections music ...."

    Sounds nasty.
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 09:36

  • Eraysor #23 2 years ago

    Please excuse me while I drool everywhere.

  • Zerobob #24 2 years ago

    I'm 100% confident at this stage in saying I'm definitely going to buy this. Good reference to Trials HD there too; I think it does play on the same "Just 1 second faster this time" urge that drives you into never putting the game down.

    So that's Sonic 4, Alan Wake and Halo Reach must buys for me this year. Better finish some of the games I've barely touched first!
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 11:46

  • azazel_fallenangel #25 2 years ago

    You're getting my hopes up Sega, but you've let us all down before. Don't do it again.
    I will be downloading this, straight away, PS3.

    Also, hopefully they will have Tails and Knuckles in it again, modern co-ops don't match up to me and my mate completing Sonic 3 & Knuckles together, back in the day [wipes tear away from face in reminiscence].
    Of course, that was after we discovered Tails was essentially invincable, all sonic had to do at a boss was stay out of the way...

  • beastmaster #26 2 years ago

    Blue, blue skies indeed.

  • GaryHoward #27 2 years ago

    It would be hilarious if the Chao Emeralds had no effect in this game in terms of turning you super, just like in the original back in 1991. Haha, good times. I joke of course, it would nice to see Sonic go Super Saiyan once again and this time, presented in a much more lush and sterile fashion as he charges through the Green Hill Zone like he's on ecstasy.
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 09:52

  • GaryHoward #28 2 years ago

    @ azazel_fallenangel - Erm dude, I think Sonic is the only playable character in this game, you know like back in the day with the original - it's going down that root.

  • Steroyd #29 2 years ago

    *Reads preview*

    *Cries tears of joy*

  • RodHull #30 2 years ago

    Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood. Pleasebegood.

  • Cryguy #31 2 years ago

    Promising. But still won't believe it 'til I play it. SO want this to be good. Still a bit unsure about "direct targeting" et al. Come on Sega, nice and simple now please.....!

  • Stomp224 #32 2 years ago

    Dont get my hopes up. I wont be hurt again! :'(

  • Zerobob #33 2 years ago

    I really hope that mine cart level is some kind of joke.

  • tiredoldandy #34 2 years ago

    Still looks as rubbish as the DS Sonics.

  • Brainz #35 2 years ago

    wonder how the controls on the 360 version will work out. as we all (360 owner) know the d-pad is a bit messy and using the analog stick might not be the answer.
    did the controls work proper in splosion man?
    still: looking forward to this

  • youhavenomail #36 2 years ago

    We've all seen THAT footage on YouTube, Pearson. The cycle is over!

  • septimus #37 2 years ago

    Hope this comes out on the iPhone also. Don't get so much time in front of the TV anymore.

  • Stuz359 #38 2 years ago

    I am glad they are putting in Leaderboards and such like. I remember competing on the first Sonic. I got the first level perfect, simply no way it could be any better, and for some reason I was about five seconds off times that were being printed in Mean Machines. They failed to mention at the time they were using the NTSC version whereas I was using the PAL version. Cheating bastards.

  • chischis #39 2 years ago

    His new look is still loathesomely "over-cool" though, with the thinned, accentuated eyes and longer spikes. Christ, I wish Sega would ditch that look and take the little blue bugger back to how he looked originally.

  • GaryHoward #40 2 years ago

    I just saw the Mine Cart level video, and that's why I am not a fan of the PS3 Controller's tilt feature. I'm sure it will be less unbearable with the Xbox 360 controller since I'm buying it on that.

    http://ti nypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=4AtX...
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 11:37

  • Eraysor #41 2 years ago

    Even the minecart level cannot destroy my enthusiasm for this game. It was probably a bad alpha build, and the guy playing it was evidently useless. And everything else I have seen has been excellent.

  • metalangel #42 2 years ago

    The lack of coop is a shame... In Sonic 2 you could have a less able parent/sibling/friend helping as Tails during boss fights, true... But Sonic 3 allowing Tails to carry Sonic aloft was genuinely great.

  • KujiGhost #43 2 years ago

    I'm a sucker for these modern retro games. Count me in!

  • Craig0702 #44 2 years ago

    Bring on the motion-sickness-inducing Emerald bonus levels once again! Happy days :D

  • Slipstream #45 2 years ago

    A confirmed purchase, although, I am very keen to hear what state the soundtrack is in.

    Recently replayed Sonic 3+ Knuckles...they've yet to top Ice Cap and Lava Reef.

    Oh just saw this Wait, was the mine cart level not an April Fool?

    That must be! LT and RT? There is no tilt axis in the 360 controller lol.
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 13:29

  • Acrid #46 2 years ago

    impsarepeopletoo: "No mention of the godawful looking mine cart level that's leaked out then?"

    Like Sonic 2 on Master System!? WHOOP! Where do I pre-order?

  • antony_williams #47 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:19:54 12-02-2012

  • layleeloo #48 2 years ago

    Finally the first decent sonic (non handheld) game since the mega drive! Hurrah

  • iago71 #49 2 years ago

    Ive always been a Mario man and never had a Mega Drive. The first Sonic I played was that 3D one on the Dreamcast which as fun as it was just couldnt compete with Mario IMHO

    Looking at this I think I might just finally get into it years after looking at the MD versions with a little envy! I always wanted to play the 2D Sonics. Im really looking forward to it. I hope its as good as it sounds like it could be. :)

  • metalangel #50 2 years ago

    I think devs are too obsessed with making Sonic games "fast" and forget that the bits where you'd just run/roll fast weren't that common in the old games. It was more about timing your way past traps and finding shortcuts.

  • FenderMaster #51 2 years ago

    My only concern with this game is that the it would end up a Sonic Rush style "hold right to win" rollercoaster, rather than a great platformer like the MegaDrive series, but having seen some footage, it definitely looks more like the classic platformers. Everyone who has seen the mine cart level knows it's going to be horrible though...? It looks atrocious! SixAxis is used to tilt the level, rater than move the mine cart, a bad decision, it's definitely going to be a weakpoint...
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/10 @ 18:39

  • cherryuk #52 2 years ago

    Ouch EG!! (1st para)

    But very, very, true!!

  • DrStrangelove #53 2 years ago

    I'm looking forward to a new Sonic game that's not horse crap. It's been a while.

  • richyroo #54 2 years ago

    Brainz: - "wonder how the controls on the 360 version will work out. as we all (360 owner) know the d-pad is a bit messy and using the analog stick might not be the answer. "

    Shouldnt be a problem as Sonic you dont really use up and down, just left and right and the jump buttons. You dont have to worry about accidently jumping when performing a move, unlike say Street Fighter IV which it is really bad for!

  • ChocNut #55 2 years ago

    Can't wait - wish it was coming out on PSP too though - I've sonic cd running on it right now and if the wii can do it then a psp version should have been possible. Hear that pirates? Yeah, it's your fault.

  • Xinch #56 2 years ago

    "Perhaps it's the incredibly infections music"

    "infectious"? I would have used "alluring".

  • TexMurphy01 #57 2 years ago

    ... listening to the customers and giving them what they want? What kind of a crazy business model is this?!

  • technotica #58 2 years ago

    Sounds great, I think I'll look for a megadrive emulator and the Sonic 1 until its out! ;)

  • smelly #59 2 years ago

    I dunno, if this turns out good, i might start expecting a good 3rd party wii game too!

  • SlackMaster #60 2 years ago

    It great that we have a new 2D Sonic and what looks like a return to what made the games great. I'm not sold on this episode business tho.

  • RobTheBuilder #61 2 years ago

    I think I want this to be good more than any game I have ever seen previewed.

  • thesombrerokid #62 2 years ago

    this makes it sound a little like they don't know what sonic is about, i hope i'm wrong but sonic is about the juxtaposition of the fast parts and the slow parts, he is at his best when you are able to backtrack and absolutly at his worst when you cannot. the levels more than any other platformer in his day where worlds to explore as long as your within the small time limit, they better have super sonic too :D.

    fingers crossed.

  • Sebangu #63 2 years ago

    How pathetic... You start saying 3D Sonic games are crap then you say Sonic 4 is magnificent whereas it is based on 3D games themselves ! Run, run, run, homing attack, run, run, run, homing attack, ... Like our Doctor said once : "YOU KNOW NOTHING, FOOL" !