The game looks shockingly pretty; comparing this art style with Episode I is like night and day. The level design is actually inventive and fun. There are more branching paths to explore, and red rings to collect that add extra challenge and replay value. The new combo moves with Tails grant you so much room to experiment - too bad I need to wait through a 3-second animation any time I activate one of them. Sonic still moves too slowly from a standstill, making precise platforming tougher than it should be. The soundtrack is an improvement for sure, but I'll never understand why they brought back the grating Episode I boss theme for one of the boss fights.

Sonic 4: Episode II ain't too shabby. It's polished, it's breezy, it's a decent time. Just be aware the adventure is short (2-4 hours) and there are better 2D Sonic games out there.