Definitely agreeing with everything everyone has said above. I just remember being pleasantly surprised that I was getting enjoyment out of Episode II (and Metal) at the time when I was expecting the worst, so that has definitely had an impact on my views of the game. Then again, it doesn't take much to impress me normally
I would have gotten Episode 2 had it come to Wii which was the only system I had at the time. By the time I learned Steam was I thing, I didn't really care about it any more. Then again, it is only $10. Is it worth bothering?
For ten bucks? Maybe. I'm sure it goes on sale often enough too. I'd like to see Sonic 4 redone in a classic-accurate engine and finished with a few more levels by someone, some day. There's no reason it has to stay a plastic 1/2 rip-off, there's some potential of it's own to build off of.
Forgot about the Humble Bundle. Now what to do with the games I already own... OH NO I DROPPED MY KEYS! S3K https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=EaU4yDcrXAcRXzf6 SADX https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=xfhpytx8ucdHamuD SCD https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=UfsqUk5hw5vfwxCm SA2 https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=t5nsnnBKVAzSwEr4 SA2B https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=vGChWxdvnmz7AHuY S&SASR https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=t6XmXbDK6cb3MPhZ SLW https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=CveWmqzupEuHBzeZ Generations https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=v3UAvuyzSnvEYXvx EDIT: Just goes to a blank white screen. Brilliant.
I feel like Sonic 4 would've been much better received if Dimps and Sonic Team at least attempted to make the levels visually distinct. For instance, imagine if Sylvania Castle actually looked like an abandoned castle with all the plants from Stardust Speedway in Sonic Mania instead of a second-rate Aquatic Ruin knockoff? If they also nerfed the homing attack, spin dash, and reduced the number of speed boosters, it would've been even better.
Yeah easily the biggest draw to Sonic 4 (even worse than the physics, honestly) was it trying to desperately grasp at older level concepts to make new levels. Not a terrible idea in concept, but the execution feels lazy and they could've done much more unique stuff with levels/ideas of levels (White Park Act 2 was genuinely a good idea, I wish they played more into it rather than making it a single act, though part of me worries like it would've leaned too much into Carnival Night) rather than just being like GUYS, LOOK! IT'S CASINO NIGHT! DON'T YOU LIKE CASINO NIGHT! Episode 1 was way more blatant with this, but E2 had it's issues too, because White Park is the only act that feels kind of original, but even then it's just not crazy. Sonic 4 could've maybe gotten away with being less offensive to all parties if it at least tried to be unique. It'd still be a game with poor reception and one not generally liked, but they at least would've looked like they were trying. Plus maybe we'd get a better soundtrack. I love Jun to bits, but man, Genesis-styled music is not entirely his forte, methinks.
The most frustrating thing about Sonic 4 for me was how Dimps had already demonstrated that they were more than capable of continuing the classic Sonic gameplay style with Sonic Advance. No matter how good Mania was, I'll always view the first Advance as the true Sonic 4. It felt like the Genesis titles and its levels weren't just old zones with a thin coat of paint. I mean, some of them recycled themes from prior games, but even then they looked pretty different and had enough mechanics to stand on their own. Advance 1 felt like a natural progression from S3&K.
I though Oil Desert was an original enough concept. And the other levels were still nice aesthetically despite some reuse.
Oil Desert had a cool idea, but it still kinda feels a little too Oil Ocean-y for my liking. Maybe that's just me, since I'm not really a big fan of Oil Ocean to begin with. I will give Episode 2 had way more legs to stand on in terms of unique design, but it still was somewhat obvious what levels they were trying to replicate. Granted it's not a huge deal, as they still stand out in ways that are somewhat unique - I just wish they were a little more so, like some have mentioned before in this thread already. Episode 2 also has a really nice Death Egg, I think. I like how it looked outside and inside, even though it wasn't crazy different.
Episode 2 Death Egg was weird though. It was supposedly a shell around little planet, but when you're in the death egg... where's little planet?
I was under the impression that the planet in the background of the last level is not earth but Little Planet.
But you can see in Winter Park that there's scaffolding Appearing around the planet in the atmosphere which I'm assuming is little planet
Lost Labyrinth or Sky Fortress are 100% the picks of ones I'd like. good melodies that aren't really fleshed out enough in their "base" tracks. Also: I absolutely disagree with Sonic Advance 1 being the "true" Sonic 4. It still has fucked physics and unoriginal level design...
Sounds like it was ripped straight from Sonic Heroes or thereabouts, which isn't a bad thing, it's just Senoue's style.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but what issues with physics are you referring to? IMO, aside from Mania, they're still the closest we've gotten to the Genesis. Momentum is still very important, unlike Sonic Rush and Sonic 4, where you could get full speed instantly and didn't need any to do things like climb slopes or run around loops. I also don't agree that its level design was unoriginal, but I don't want to really get in a lengthy debate so I'll just leave it at that.
People prefer Episode 2 to Episode 1? Physics (arguably the biggest problem) are practically unchanged, level design is still mediocre. The only positive is that it looks a bit prettier. Maybe it'd be playable if it didn't stop you every five seconds to do a 69 with Tails.
Yeah, sorry if we're going a little off topic here but I'm with DigitalDuck on this one. For all the improvements Episode 2 might've brought, it completely ruined every chance it had of being fun for me by forcing you to use some stupid coop moves to go trough the levels.
Yup. Any improvements Episode 2 made in the physics and control departments were countered by the annoying tag-team gimmicks.
