Upon receiving criticism that the homing attack stops the pace of the fluid, momentum-based gameplay of the Sonic series, Dimps proceeded to add tag team abilities that literally pause the game whenever they're activated.
You might not believe it based on its reputation, but Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I sold and reviewed well when it released. It was fans, who at the time were critical of yet bound by a blood oath to Keep Buying This Shit, that really went in hard against Episode I, posting videos of its wonky physics and deriding it for failing to live up to the promise of its namesake. Glowing praise like "the differences between this and the old Sonic games are so few and far between that playing it involves existing in a constant state of deja vu," and "it takes a step back to a time when Sonic was awesome" started to fade, drowned out by videos of Sonic casually walking up walls in a world made of plastic. For Episode II to succeed, Sonic Team and Dimps needed to make some changes.
Episode I's development took it from a cheap mobile game to a supposed continuation of the Genesis series, and while it may have initially passed for such, key elements like Sonic's physics just weren't there. I mean, you might not know that if you read its Wiki page, which says it has "momentum-based gameplay," a straight up lie given Sonic's propensity to drop straight down out of the air when releasing the D-pad, or to roll more slowly down inclines if you aren't holding right. Episode II addresses this by giving Sonic more weight, and though it's not as close an approximation as the Retro Engine, it is acceptable. Platforming feels far better when your forward momentum isn't determined by how firmly you're keeping the D-pad depressed, and the design of Episode II's four-and-some-change levels feels more thoughtfully crafted around the way Sonic moves.
It even looks better, with sharper and more expressive character models, cleaner textures, and art direction that helps give Episode II an identity beyond being a soupy mess of borrowed levels. Sure, you could say Sylvania Castle is a riff on Aquatic Ruin, Oil Desert is just Oil Ocean, and Sky Fortress is a (better) Wing Fortress, but this is conveyed more in their tropes than it is in their visual design. About the only area where I feel Episode II plays to the audience's nostalgia a little too hard is its special stages, which are designed after Sonic 2's, and by including yet another Sonic CD style fight against Metal. These were less played out at the time, but going back in for a replay, they feel agonizingly tired.
My stomach is starting to hurt really bad, which means it's time to talk about Jun Senoue again. I'm replaying Sonic Adventure (DX, unfortunately. Gotta stay humble.), and I think it's incredible that this man is both capable of composing the best soundtrack in the entire series and also this. Admittedly, he has some good melodies here, but his choice of instrumentation steps all over the good he's doing. It could be worse, but it's far from perfect, and he's still turning in some incredibly short, nasty loops that play during long gameplay sequences.
Like during boss fights! Superstars has caught a lot of shit (deservedly so) for having bosses that are unreasonably long, but Episode II wades into very similar territory, giving most of its bosses protracted attack phases before opening up to allow a modest amount of damage. I've been sharing this observation elsewhere, but it seems appropriate to make a point of it here, too: bosses with set attack and vulnerability phases are antithetical to Classic Sonic's design.
In the Genesis games, your pace was often influenced by the design of the level itself - set pieces being broken up by platforming, for example - but the player still had agency, and the speed in which they finished a level was largely up to how well they played. Likewise, the length of a boss fight was mostly determined by how the payer engaged with the boss' attack patterns rather than having set periods of attack and vulnerability. It was sometimes the case that a fight was rigidly paced out, but even Lava Reef Act 2's boss fight doesn't feel quite as protracted and dull as Oil Desert's.
The best Sonic bosses are the ones where you can bash Robotnik on the head eight times before he gets one attack out, is what I'm saying.
So, yeah, I think Episode II feels good to play and that the improvements Sonic Team and Dimps made worked out in the end. But if you pull back and look at the duology of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as a single game, which ostensibly is what it's meant to be, it's hard not to feel like you're left with an inconsistent and unfinished mess. Because, you know, it is.
Sonic 4's episodic model was popular at the time, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles had established its own weird precedent within the series itself. But if you tried to evaluate it like S3&K, as one whole piece of media that was merely divided into two, it just doesn't work. Each episode looks, feels, and is designed differently, they have their own endings and though their overarching story is connected, the narrative is so threadbare in Episode I that it feels wholly unimportant to Episode II. Hell, most of the setup exists in a four-level side story that only unlocks if you own both games in the same library.
It ends on a real down note, too. Sonic and Tails stop Eggman, but they fail to prevent the Death Egg from being completed and essentially doom Little Planet. This was supposed to be the "dark middle chapter," and presumably they would return (with Knuckles in tow) for a much happier ending in Episode III. Supposedly, Christian Whitehead was also set to collaborate on the third episode, meaning it likely would've resulted in the game feeling even more different than the previous episode. The promise of making Sonic 4 even less cohesive than it already is doesn't sound great to me, but at the same time, I really wish they just stuck to the project and finished the damn thing. Knowing there is a Sonic 4 and it's this half-finished nightmare that fails to continue the Genesis games and is wildly uneven in presentation and design, but which has that name on fucking lock is just depressing.
I guess I just find the larger story of Sonic 4 to be fascinating, because it exists at this sort of post 2006 inflection point where Sega and Sonic Team were still recalibrating, turning the nob and looking over their shoulder trying to figure out what the hell people wanted from them. Starting with a clear conception in mind, changing course when fans vocally rejected it, only to end up cancelled and abandoned as Sonic Team veered towards other projects... a perfect encapsulation of where Sonic was at. As a game, an episode, I don't think Sonic 4: Episode II is bad, but it's also not great. It tows the line between mediocrity and fun. It's a Sonic-ass Sonic game.
Episode I's development took it from a cheap mobile game to a supposed continuation of the Genesis series, and while it may have initially passed for such, key elements like Sonic's physics just weren't there. I mean, you might not know that if you read its Wiki page, which says it has "momentum-based gameplay," a straight up lie given Sonic's propensity to drop straight down out of the air when releasing the D-pad, or to roll more slowly down inclines if you aren't holding right. Episode II addresses this by giving Sonic more weight, and though it's not as close an approximation as the Retro Engine, it is acceptable. Platforming feels far better when your forward momentum isn't determined by how firmly you're keeping the D-pad depressed, and the design of Episode II's four-and-some-change levels feels more thoughtfully crafted around the way Sonic moves.
It even looks better, with sharper and more expressive character models, cleaner textures, and art direction that helps give Episode II an identity beyond being a soupy mess of borrowed levels. Sure, you could say Sylvania Castle is a riff on Aquatic Ruin, Oil Desert is just Oil Ocean, and Sky Fortress is a (better) Wing Fortress, but this is conveyed more in their tropes than it is in their visual design. About the only area where I feel Episode II plays to the audience's nostalgia a little too hard is its special stages, which are designed after Sonic 2's, and by including yet another Sonic CD style fight against Metal. These were less played out at the time, but going back in for a replay, they feel agonizingly tired.
My stomach is starting to hurt really bad, which means it's time to talk about Jun Senoue again. I'm replaying Sonic Adventure (DX, unfortunately. Gotta stay humble.), and I think it's incredible that this man is both capable of composing the best soundtrack in the entire series and also this. Admittedly, he has some good melodies here, but his choice of instrumentation steps all over the good he's doing. It could be worse, but it's far from perfect, and he's still turning in some incredibly short, nasty loops that play during long gameplay sequences.
Like during boss fights! Superstars has caught a lot of shit (deservedly so) for having bosses that are unreasonably long, but Episode II wades into very similar territory, giving most of its bosses protracted attack phases before opening up to allow a modest amount of damage. I've been sharing this observation elsewhere, but it seems appropriate to make a point of it here, too: bosses with set attack and vulnerability phases are antithetical to Classic Sonic's design.
In the Genesis games, your pace was often influenced by the design of the level itself - set pieces being broken up by platforming, for example - but the player still had agency, and the speed in which they finished a level was largely up to how well they played. Likewise, the length of a boss fight was mostly determined by how the payer engaged with the boss' attack patterns rather than having set periods of attack and vulnerability. It was sometimes the case that a fight was rigidly paced out, but even Lava Reef Act 2's boss fight doesn't feel quite as protracted and dull as Oil Desert's.
The best Sonic bosses are the ones where you can bash Robotnik on the head eight times before he gets one attack out, is what I'm saying.
So, yeah, I think Episode II feels good to play and that the improvements Sonic Team and Dimps made worked out in the end. But if you pull back and look at the duology of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as a single game, which ostensibly is what it's meant to be, it's hard not to feel like you're left with an inconsistent and unfinished mess. Because, you know, it is.
Sonic 4's episodic model was popular at the time, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles had established its own weird precedent within the series itself. But if you tried to evaluate it like S3&K, as one whole piece of media that was merely divided into two, it just doesn't work. Each episode looks, feels, and is designed differently, they have their own endings and though their overarching story is connected, the narrative is so threadbare in Episode I that it feels wholly unimportant to Episode II. Hell, most of the setup exists in a four-level side story that only unlocks if you own both games in the same library.
It ends on a real down note, too. Sonic and Tails stop Eggman, but they fail to prevent the Death Egg from being completed and essentially doom Little Planet. This was supposed to be the "dark middle chapter," and presumably they would return (with Knuckles in tow) for a much happier ending in Episode III. Supposedly, Christian Whitehead was also set to collaborate on the third episode, meaning it likely would've resulted in the game feeling even more different than the previous episode. The promise of making Sonic 4 even less cohesive than it already is doesn't sound great to me, but at the same time, I really wish they just stuck to the project and finished the damn thing. Knowing there is a Sonic 4 and it's this half-finished nightmare that fails to continue the Genesis games and is wildly uneven in presentation and design, but which has that name on fucking lock is just depressing.
I guess I just find the larger story of Sonic 4 to be fascinating, because it exists at this sort of post 2006 inflection point where Sega and Sonic Team were still recalibrating, turning the nob and looking over their shoulder trying to figure out what the hell people wanted from them. Starting with a clear conception in mind, changing course when fans vocally rejected it, only to end up cancelled and abandoned as Sonic Team veered towards other projects... a perfect encapsulation of where Sonic was at. As a game, an episode, I don't think Sonic 4: Episode II is bad, but it's also not great. It tows the line between mediocrity and fun. It's a Sonic-ass Sonic game.
I'm pleasantly surprised with this one. Unlike Episode I, there's not much in the way of cheap death traps and annoying level gimmicks. Sonic also no longer feels like such a brick with the terrible momentum physics of the previous episode, making for a more fast-paced experience, as it should be. Visually, it's also a nice step-up, with the character models no longer looking like cheap, low-res PNG files.
New to this episode is the addition of Tails, which allows for co-op. Not like anyone would play this with me to try it out. But mainly, the addition of Tails adds new gameplay mechanics where you can use Tails to fly you up to otherwise inaccessible ledges and platforms or roll up and become a super-powered roly-poly duo to break through obstacles and peed through levels. Admittedly, this kind of slows the pacing at times, especially in a few levels where you have to do it multiple times, but I don't mind much. Takes me back to my 'Sonic Heroes' days...
While I'm not counting it as part of my rating, I figured it's worth bringing up the bonus "Metal Episode." 4 acts where you play as Metal Sonic which is supposed to tie the story of Sonic CD with Sonic 4 (not that there is much of a story). It's basically a rehash of Episode I's fucky level design, especially with Act I having those terrible death traps. The other acts are okay, but really not up to par with Episode II's level design, which isn't great in and of itself, but it's fun enough to qualify it as a decent game in my eyes.
The soundtrack is still balls, though.
New to this episode is the addition of Tails, which allows for co-op. Not like anyone would play this with me to try it out. But mainly, the addition of Tails adds new gameplay mechanics where you can use Tails to fly you up to otherwise inaccessible ledges and platforms or roll up and become a super-powered roly-poly duo to break through obstacles and peed through levels. Admittedly, this kind of slows the pacing at times, especially in a few levels where you have to do it multiple times, but I don't mind much. Takes me back to my 'Sonic Heroes' days...
While I'm not counting it as part of my rating, I figured it's worth bringing up the bonus "Metal Episode." 4 acts where you play as Metal Sonic which is supposed to tie the story of Sonic CD with Sonic 4 (not that there is much of a story). It's basically a rehash of Episode I's fucky level design, especially with Act I having those terrible death traps. The other acts are okay, but really not up to par with Episode II's level design, which isn't great in and of itself, but it's fun enough to qualify it as a decent game in my eyes.
The soundtrack is still balls, though.
It’s better than Episode I but in the same way that 2-day-old lukewarm water is better than cat piss
technically better than the first
Waaaay better than the first one. I haven't played a lot of 2D sonic at this point, but this is by far my favorite. It really feels like a 2D sonic, whereas Episode 1 felt like a weird, off-brand Sonic platformer. Good job Sega.
From disappointment to improvement. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II improves on the first game while still being a mediocre product. It fixes the physics and momentum that the Dimps fucked up with in Episode 1, the levels are better designed, the special stages are a hundred times better than the claustrophobic maze, and the visuals have improved somewhat. I also like the new Tag Combo Sonic and Tails can utilize that cannot be crossed with just speed. There's a bit of fun to be had here to my surprise, but I wouldn't put it up there with the classic Sonic games. The music is hit or miss, and it's very transparent that Jun Senoue isn't the best when it comes to chiptune music, and we still see that today with Sonic Origins with a few of Sonic 3's music had to be changed due to legal issues. Even though I think the level design is an improvement, it's still bland and uninspired, and after finishing the game in about three hours, I feel nothing except pleased that I'm done with this game.
Well at least I finally played the duology, and I'm hear to say that I wasn't missing much.
Well at least I finally played the duology, and I'm hear to say that I wasn't missing much.
Much better then Ep1 and I did like that they did go for new bosses this time but the majority of the game still felt like a worse retread of the previous games. If it was some random side game it would be fine but it just doesn't feel like a follow up to Sonic 3&K like the "4" in the title would suggest. And I don't think the cancelled 3rd Episode would have fixed things either, Knuckles would probably be added and it would most likely be a retread of 3&K. Instead of being a proper continuation it's just an at best mediocre version of the originals.
The sequel to the utterly abominable Sonic 4: Episode 1 is a significant step up from it's predecessor to the point of being somewhat fun and playable, but it's biggest pitfalls still remain.
Firstly, while the physics are improved, a lot still feels very off compared to the Genesis games; then again, it feels like that whenever they do 2D in the modern games too, so points for consistency? The other major flaw is the continues emphasis on using the homing attack every 5 seconds to progress further or take a shortcut - half the time, the targeting reticle disappears as soon as I hit A, instantly resulting in damage and/or death. Crappy design still plagues the levels, but it's not nearly as bad as it was before.
The graphics are way nicer, and the stages are definitely a step above the boring rehashes of Episode 1...for the most part, that is. The biggest addition that Episode 2 makes is Tails, adding in the functionality for Co-Op, which is certainly nice (though, it's not like I could really test it). It also adds a bunch of these "buddy moves" or whatever - basically you do this overly long high-five animation and either Tails helps Sonic fly, swim, or do a combined spindash of destruction - all 3 of which kinda make most of the game way easier than it should be, as you can trigger them anytime you're not taking damage.
Overall it's honestly worth a shot if you find it cheap, but it's also hardly a must-play. Just settles for average, which is still better than a lot of the Blue Blurs escapades since 1998...
Firstly, while the physics are improved, a lot still feels very off compared to the Genesis games; then again, it feels like that whenever they do 2D in the modern games too, so points for consistency? The other major flaw is the continues emphasis on using the homing attack every 5 seconds to progress further or take a shortcut - half the time, the targeting reticle disappears as soon as I hit A, instantly resulting in damage and/or death. Crappy design still plagues the levels, but it's not nearly as bad as it was before.
The graphics are way nicer, and the stages are definitely a step above the boring rehashes of Episode 1...for the most part, that is. The biggest addition that Episode 2 makes is Tails, adding in the functionality for Co-Op, which is certainly nice (though, it's not like I could really test it). It also adds a bunch of these "buddy moves" or whatever - basically you do this overly long high-five animation and either Tails helps Sonic fly, swim, or do a combined spindash of destruction - all 3 of which kinda make most of the game way easier than it should be, as you can trigger them anytime you're not taking damage.
Overall it's honestly worth a shot if you find it cheap, but it's also hardly a must-play. Just settles for average, which is still better than a lot of the Blue Blurs escapades since 1998...
Sonic 4 Episódio 2 é um teste de paciência. Eu não estou brincando pra vocês quando digo que talvez ESSE JOGO tenha sido meu maior desafio nessa maratona.
Sim não foi Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, e nem todo esse monte de jogo terrível do Game Gear... FOI SONIC 4 EPISÓDIO 2. Sem brincadeira, eu prefiro jogar o primeiro do que encostar de novo nessa aventura.
O jogo é mais bonito? porra demais, um dos mais lindos. Ao invés de ter fases copiadas do original, esse tem algumas mais originais (mesmo que também sejam copiadas) o que é um ponto daora... e a trilha sonora é legal também... mas só isso.
Level Design? uma porcaria, simplesmente injustiça atrás de injustiça, PRINCIPALMENTE na Oil Filhadaputa e na Sky Chase Returns. O tanto de armadilhas que esse jogo tem meu irmão... parece Sonic 1 cara, namoral.
Os bosses também são uma merda, terríveis, mal feitos, injustos e CLAAAAAAARO são muito enrolados. Se tu morrer vai precisar ver uma ''cutscene''' de 20-40 segundos antes do boss, e isso são com TODOS ELES, e já que eles são bem injustos... prepare-se para ver isso 7-8 vezes.
O jogo também introduziu uma mecanica que deixa o tails mais util, basicamente usamos eles pra fazer movimentos especiais que são extremamente necessários. O level design usa ele bem? um pouco... mas a maioria é uma pessima execução. Meu problema é que eles são DEMORADOS DEMAIS. Serio, em um jogo como Sonic eu não quero ficar vendo a mesma animação demorada toda hora que for fazer um movimento decorrente no jogo.
Sonic 4 Episódio 1 era uma vergonha, esse aqui é uma facada no peito, que graças a deus MATOU essa saga de jogos. Morra para sempre Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
Sim não foi Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, e nem todo esse monte de jogo terrível do Game Gear... FOI SONIC 4 EPISÓDIO 2. Sem brincadeira, eu prefiro jogar o primeiro do que encostar de novo nessa aventura.
O jogo é mais bonito? porra demais, um dos mais lindos. Ao invés de ter fases copiadas do original, esse tem algumas mais originais (mesmo que também sejam copiadas) o que é um ponto daora... e a trilha sonora é legal também... mas só isso.
Level Design? uma porcaria, simplesmente injustiça atrás de injustiça, PRINCIPALMENTE na Oil Filhadaputa e na Sky Chase Returns. O tanto de armadilhas que esse jogo tem meu irmão... parece Sonic 1 cara, namoral.
Os bosses também são uma merda, terríveis, mal feitos, injustos e CLAAAAAAARO são muito enrolados. Se tu morrer vai precisar ver uma ''cutscene''' de 20-40 segundos antes do boss, e isso são com TODOS ELES, e já que eles são bem injustos... prepare-se para ver isso 7-8 vezes.
O jogo também introduziu uma mecanica que deixa o tails mais util, basicamente usamos eles pra fazer movimentos especiais que são extremamente necessários. O level design usa ele bem? um pouco... mas a maioria é uma pessima execução. Meu problema é que eles são DEMORADOS DEMAIS. Serio, em um jogo como Sonic eu não quero ficar vendo a mesma animação demorada toda hora que for fazer um movimento decorrente no jogo.
Sonic 4 Episódio 1 era uma vergonha, esse aqui é uma facada no peito, que graças a deus MATOU essa saga de jogos. Morra para sempre Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
This team could not make a boss fight to save their lives lol
Tails About An Episodic 4th Entry.
Sonic 4 Episode II is an improvement of the first game in significant ways that made it a solid entry if you even somewhat enjoyed the first game but its nothing too special and you'll probably get more leverage out of other games in the 2/2.5D in the platforming genre and it is relatively short but the visuals and stage envoirments are a massive improvement over the first episode as it has minimal asset reuse and doesn't have the ugly cellshading esc look the first went for but at the same time 9/10ths of the game outside of the final special stage and flying fortress act 3 is childs play and the game is way too easy but all in all if your a MASSIVE sonic fan go ahead and play this game you might get a small kick out of it I wouldn't buy the game for any amount of money over 5-10$'s though as its way too short.
Trivia:
Owning both sonic 4's grants you access to episode metal thats a shorter but harder episode 1 with a metal sonic skin and a few cutscenes.
Sonic 4 Episode II is an improvement of the first game in significant ways that made it a solid entry if you even somewhat enjoyed the first game but its nothing too special and you'll probably get more leverage out of other games in the 2/2.5D in the platforming genre and it is relatively short but the visuals and stage envoirments are a massive improvement over the first episode as it has minimal asset reuse and doesn't have the ugly cellshading esc look the first went for but at the same time 9/10ths of the game outside of the final special stage and flying fortress act 3 is childs play and the game is way too easy but all in all if your a MASSIVE sonic fan go ahead and play this game you might get a small kick out of it I wouldn't buy the game for any amount of money over 5-10$'s though as its way too short.
Trivia:
Owning both sonic 4's grants you access to episode metal thats a shorter but harder episode 1 with a metal sonic skin and a few cutscenes.
Needed a quickie after finishing DKCTF and this one seemed like a short enough time. I absolutely fucking hate Episode 1 but Episode 2 is a MUCH improved time that's still just an overall mediocre game. Physics and Visuals across the board are better and I like the overall zones more but at the same time the team up mechanics trivialize so much of it that nothing is really memorable save the final zone (which is almost entirely made of gimmicks). Bosses still fucking suck with all of them feeling way too drawn out and once again trivialized by how busted the roll move is (seriously this makes the spin dash fucking worthless).
Overall Sonic 4 is a mess of a game and I'm glad Mania exists to put this one down in the gutter.
5/10
Overall Sonic 4 is a mess of a game and I'm glad Mania exists to put this one down in the gutter.
5/10
Better than the first but it’s just borderline acceptable
this game is genuinely one of the most patronizing video games i've ever played. it's just baffling to me that sega made this, and said to people who waited for years for a true sonic 4 and were dissapointed by ep1 and gave this. it has so little good ideas of its own, and most of the game can be played by pressing one button and that's it. my last straw was when the last special stage was genuinely giving me motion sickness and the sky fortress boss would just not fucking function, it's a terrible game and i'm so glad mania was made just to spite whatever atrocity this game is.
Again, this game was recommended by radicalraisin and Mellorine, but recommended in the way that you would recommend someone do something about the roaches in their house
Basically we've gone from an abysmal Sonic game to a "pretty bad but mostly mid" Sonic game. What a glow up! I mean, for one thing the game doesn't look like total ass anymore. Still sounds like it, but the one thing I'll say this soundtrack has over Sonic 4 is that it's actually willing to reference older Sonic tracks. I was legit shocked when the song for one of the Metal Sonic fights actually referenced Stardust Speedway, even thought it's the obvious thing to do. I just didn't expect this game to, you know, pay tribute to the older Sonic games, something you would think it would do more often.
It also actually plays a lot better too. Sonic's momentum still isn't ideal but it's a lot better than the boulder I was controlling in Episode 1. Honestly I was genuinely enjoying a lot of the first stage, as the addition of Tails allows for more exploration and traversing different paths. It actually reminded me of things I actually liked about classic Sonic, but none of the other stages hit this level of fun and Dimps goes back to their evil ways. I meant to ask this in the Episode 1 review, but do we really need three acts? I get that it's because the first one was a Sonic 1...tribute(?) and also because there was only 4 stages, but these stages run out of steam in the first two acts. Honestly the boss fights last long enough to feel like their own acts.
So the final boss in Episode 1 was a nightmare, mostly due to how long it went on, and every boss in Episode 2 is now this. Each one has several cutscenes that go on for too long and are unskippable, make you wait way too long in order to get a hit in, and have way too many hits. That's right, it's a Dimps game! Each also usually has some move that exists entirely to throw you off and knock you back to the very beginning, as there's almost no way you can see it coming.
I was honestly kind of ready to leave this game at a 2.5, but these bosses were so rancid I had to knock it back down into the below average zone. Still, we went from a 1 to a 2, that's improvement! Theoretically, by the time we get to Episode V we'll have a perfect game, looking forward to it!
I also meant to bring this up in Episode 1, but I fucking hate the face Sonic is making in that game's cover and this one as well. It's supposed to be a smirk but it looks more like he's trying really hard not to laugh at you. Hate this man's lips with my life.
Basically we've gone from an abysmal Sonic game to a "pretty bad but mostly mid" Sonic game. What a glow up! I mean, for one thing the game doesn't look like total ass anymore. Still sounds like it, but the one thing I'll say this soundtrack has over Sonic 4 is that it's actually willing to reference older Sonic tracks. I was legit shocked when the song for one of the Metal Sonic fights actually referenced Stardust Speedway, even thought it's the obvious thing to do. I just didn't expect this game to, you know, pay tribute to the older Sonic games, something you would think it would do more often.
It also actually plays a lot better too. Sonic's momentum still isn't ideal but it's a lot better than the boulder I was controlling in Episode 1. Honestly I was genuinely enjoying a lot of the first stage, as the addition of Tails allows for more exploration and traversing different paths. It actually reminded me of things I actually liked about classic Sonic, but none of the other stages hit this level of fun and Dimps goes back to their evil ways. I meant to ask this in the Episode 1 review, but do we really need three acts? I get that it's because the first one was a Sonic 1...tribute(?) and also because there was only 4 stages, but these stages run out of steam in the first two acts. Honestly the boss fights last long enough to feel like their own acts.
So the final boss in Episode 1 was a nightmare, mostly due to how long it went on, and every boss in Episode 2 is now this. Each one has several cutscenes that go on for too long and are unskippable, make you wait way too long in order to get a hit in, and have way too many hits. That's right, it's a Dimps game! Each also usually has some move that exists entirely to throw you off and knock you back to the very beginning, as there's almost no way you can see it coming.
I was honestly kind of ready to leave this game at a 2.5, but these bosses were so rancid I had to knock it back down into the below average zone. Still, we went from a 1 to a 2, that's improvement! Theoretically, by the time we get to Episode V we'll have a perfect game, looking forward to it!
I also meant to bring this up in Episode 1, but I fucking hate the face Sonic is making in that game's cover and this one as well. It's supposed to be a smirk but it looks more like he's trying really hard not to laugh at you. Hate this man's lips with my life.
they tried a bold strategy with this game. episode 1 was so bad that it actually meant people were much less harsh on its follow-up when instead of being unplayable dogshit, it was merely dogshit
Sonic the midhog 4
Comparado a Sonic 4: Episode 1 esse jogo é uma obra de arte, agora quando não comparamos esse dois jogos...
Falando sobre a gameplay ela teve algumas mudanças, foram adicionadas novas mecânicas com o Tails que são até que boas (Tirando a mecânica de voar que em 10 segundos o Tails já fica cansado)
A Trilha Sonora é ok com algumas musicas que se salvam, como a musica tema da Oil Desert que é ótima (na minha opinião)
Como o primeiro jogo a história continua ruim, genérica e esquecível
Incrivelmente os Special Stages F-U-N-C-I-O-N-A-M e são 10 vezes melhores do que no primeiro jogo. Tirando o sétimo Special Stage que (na minha opinião) é muito chato.
O jogo tem só uma fase "original" que é a primeira, o resto é reciclado do Sonic 2 e 3.
Os chefes são ruins principalmente as batalhas contra o Metal Sonic (Exceto a ultima)
O Sonic 4: Episode 2 é bem mais fácil que o primeiro mas definitivamente tá longe de ser um jogo bom.
Falando sobre a gameplay ela teve algumas mudanças, foram adicionadas novas mecânicas com o Tails que são até que boas (Tirando a mecânica de voar que em 10 segundos o Tails já fica cansado)
A Trilha Sonora é ok com algumas musicas que se salvam, como a musica tema da Oil Desert que é ótima (na minha opinião)
Como o primeiro jogo a história continua ruim, genérica e esquecível
Incrivelmente os Special Stages F-U-N-C-I-O-N-A-M e são 10 vezes melhores do que no primeiro jogo. Tirando o sétimo Special Stage que (na minha opinião) é muito chato.
O jogo tem só uma fase "original" que é a primeira, o resto é reciclado do Sonic 2 e 3.
Os chefes são ruins principalmente as batalhas contra o Metal Sonic (Exceto a ultima)
O Sonic 4: Episode 2 é bem mais fácil que o primeiro mas definitivamente tá longe de ser um jogo bom.
Quite possibly the most mid Sonic game ever made, outside of Forces. The only parts I remember outright hating was some of the music and the Oil Desert boss. I still had fun, mainly with the special team up moves, White Park and Acts 2 and 3 of totally not Wing Fortress Zone. Also the visuals which look fantastic and I was so happy when Superstars when back to something similar to this, if you're not going for Megadrive sprites, this is how a 2D Sonic game should look
It's a bare bones, no nutsack, living like Larry Sonic game. If you like sorta buggy Sonic games with literally no substance story wise, here ya go.
Claramente houve uma melhoria em comparação ao episódio I, já que a jogabilidade, os gráficos, músicas e conceito das fases são "novos" e melhores. Mesmo assim, não merece ser chamado de Sonic 4. É um pouco menos medíocre do que o primeiro episódio.
It is a lot better than the first game for sure. Level design, bosses and the art style have improved a lot since the first game. The game is a lot more original too! Like the partner abilities is a fun idea. And the level themes and boss fights are original ideas too. I'm pleasantly surprised with this game, would recommend for the $2 I got it for.
I was stupid for thinking of playing both of these.
Bom, é melhor que o episódio 1, mas isso não é difícil, já que 98% dos jogos já criados são melhores que aquela atrocidade; Mas infelizmente ser melhor que o 1 não torna esse jogo bom.
Pra começar, os gráficos melhoram consideravelmente, ainda não são bonitos, mas são OK; A jogabilidade é LEVEMENTE superior, não é tão duro e lento, e também adiciona o Tails, que as vezes é muito útil, e as vezes é quebrado e inútil.
Infelizmente esse jogo ainda carrega diversos erros do primeiro, tem fases ruins, música sem graça, gameplay chata e tudo mais; Além de que esse jogo tem por algum motivo muitas fases aquáticas, que deixa muito cansativo; Ainda tem problemas com level design, assim como no anterior, buracos desnecessários pela fase, inimigos mal posicionados e tudo mais.
Enfim, tem muito mais coisas pra reclamar desse jogo, mas eu não quero mais destruir minha sanidade falando disso, já cansei de esperar qualquer coisa dessa franquia destruída pela Sega
Pra começar, os gráficos melhoram consideravelmente, ainda não são bonitos, mas são OK; A jogabilidade é LEVEMENTE superior, não é tão duro e lento, e também adiciona o Tails, que as vezes é muito útil, e as vezes é quebrado e inútil.
Infelizmente esse jogo ainda carrega diversos erros do primeiro, tem fases ruins, música sem graça, gameplay chata e tudo mais; Além de que esse jogo tem por algum motivo muitas fases aquáticas, que deixa muito cansativo; Ainda tem problemas com level design, assim como no anterior, buracos desnecessários pela fase, inimigos mal posicionados e tudo mais.
Enfim, tem muito mais coisas pra reclamar desse jogo, mas eu não quero mais destruir minha sanidade falando disso, já cansei de esperar qualquer coisa dessa franquia destruída pela Sega
In some ways, I can certainly commend Dimps for attempting to greatly improve elements that were sorely lacking in episode 1: the lackluster, cheap looking environments are now replaced with really quite good 2.5D backgrounds and environmental details. The bizarrely animated and somewhat deepfried Sonic model of the first game is vastly improved as well, and there's a lot more polish to his animations and expressions on top of it. The stage themes are more original, the music soundfont is improved (...somewhat, Oil Desert 2 still exists), the special stages are better, Sonic even feels less stiff to control. By all accounts this should've been a marked improvement over the first episode, but unfortunately a lot of elements still aren't where they need to be, and in fact, some elements ended up being DOWNGRADED for some baffling reason. The level design is a lot more automated and homogenous than Episode 1, wheras that game had some issues with placing springs and boosters everywhere, it at least allowed for some semblance of decent design here and there. In Episode 2, the boosters and springs are even more prominent than ever before, and any semblance of original level design is replaced with homing attack chains and the game browbeating you into using the newest gimmick: the Tails Combos. Basically you press a button to combo with Tails, use it in the air and Tails flies you up, use it on the ground and you both spindash together at ridiculous speeds plowing through everything (you'll be using this basically a majority of the game). The rolling attack is so fundamentally broken that it essentially trivializes 90% of the game's design, and it ends up being very mindless. But if that weren't enough, without the Tails combos, the lackluster physics are laid bare plain to see this time. In the first game at the very least you could get a dopamine rush by spamming the broken airdash to gain a ridiculous amount of speed, but here that option is considerably nerfed due to the game wanting you to use the funny 69 rolling attack in order to gain speed. In general, this game has almost no sense of flow whatsoever; whenever the game wants you to use the Tails combos, the game freezes for a second as Sonic and Tails need to high five, do a little pose, and THEN initiate the combo. Because it happens so frequently the pace gets halted and restarted so many times it'll make your head spin. And dear god, the bosses in this game are abysmal. The bosses in Episode 1 weren't anything to write home about but the bosses here take so unnecessarily LONG, and there's so many periods where you can't even interact with the boss at all, just sit there and watch it do goofy nonsensical things until it finally becomes vulnerable again.
Despite being slightly lesser than Episode 1 in certain key areas, this game is still just ok at best, mediocre at worst. Both episode 1 and 2 are experiences that go in one ear and out the other. Like the old saying goes, you can do better, but you can also do worse.
Despite being slightly lesser than Episode 1 in certain key areas, this game is still just ok at best, mediocre at worst. Both episode 1 and 2 are experiences that go in one ear and out the other. Like the old saying goes, you can do better, but you can also do worse.
I actually think this game was kinda fun, not my favorite but a genuine step up in comparison to Episode 1, the levels we're fun to traverse through and for the most part didn't feel boring or tedious, and I love the theming of White Park Zone, it looks pretty and I can dig it's night time and snow setting in a Winter Park Wonderland, but other than that it's just fine, if I could say anything I recommend this over Episode 1 any day,
Infinitely better than Episode I, even if it still isn't as good as the originals. Most of the soundtrack sounds like penis music though
The lowest bar Sonic 4 Episode 2 had to get over was being better than Episode 1, and that bar was at the earth's core. It plays fine, but there's a lot of pace breaking annoyances throughout, and overall makes for an almost agonisingly forgettable game. I don't know who needs to be told that the Sonic 4 duology is entirely skippable and that you should just play Mania, but consider this a reminder for the five of you left.
The only reason this isn't considered one of the worst games of all time is that no one's ever played it.