If its 15 seconds long at least make it one full stretch of 15 seconds and not 10 things shown in 15 seconds. We must dissect this video upon its release, but we'll need solid footage to do that so we don't come off dissecting 3 seconds of Splash hill zone footage like the last time. Also music. Play music.
The whole issue that a load of us had was rehash. I don't care what Ken said it was an issue we had and yet we still got what we didn't want. Sonic 1 did reuse Badniks but this isn't the first game were talking here. Sonic 4 is the successor of three other classic instalments (not including the games after) that has different Badniks for each zone, even the one's that were very similar to older models were different (Orbinaut) in some way.
I like how when everyone saw the hermit crab badnik they were like "SUNNY BEACH LEVEL CONFIRMED" and it turns out that it resides in a christmas themed level. =P Anywho, I have to admit that I'm actually hyped for this. Which really just means I'm going to be all the more pissed if this turns out to be complete garbage in a pretty disguise.
I don't see how 1 nostalgia level is too bad, at least when it's done well. And I'd rather have 8 original badniks and 2 recreated ones distributed throughout all the levels then 12 badniks that are rehashed and look like ass. And so far only the boar seems to be multi level, and that could be it (I doubt we'll see the seal in the roller coaster level for example). The boar concept art showed him with different colors, likely to fit different themes. The others did not have that. I image the rest will be 1 and done, and the boar will be your typical motobug type thing, just hanging out all over the place because it can. The only badniks that behaved differently to my knowledge were the praying mantis which now blew up, motobug which turned around, and the orbinaut opened up so you could actually kill it. The rest behaved exactly like the classic ones.
It was speculated that there might be time travel in Episode 2. I wonder what happened to that. Maybe it's a final level (that could take place on Little Planet) exclusive gimmick?
Visually this looks very impressive, but I'm going to hold out for a gameplay trailer before even considering a purchase. Besides the whole game supposedly being a "Rehash" of old ideas, my biggest concern is the special stage. The half-pipe style's been used in Sonic 2 (obviously) and Sonic 3D on saturn, but twice more recently in both sonic rush and colours (DS). Not to mention a similar "full tube" rendition for Heroes and a remake in the 3DS version of generations. It's a good design but I really miss the variety of special stages between the older games.
Episode 1 was the throwback why the hell do we need anymore. Man some people are just happy whatever Sega throws at them and don't care for the quality the classic series brought. EDIT: Regarding the special zones being rehash from Sonic 2. I don't really care for them because it's what I expected but in all honesty the entire modern Sonic games are like expanded versions of the Sonic 2 special stages anyway so call them a throwback to modern Sonic if you really like that sort of thing.
I'm loving the dramatic use of lighting and fluorescent color in these stages. The lights and snow-covered flora in Christmas Night zone, the explosively bright and colorful horizon in Aquatic Garden zone. The artful detail and vibrance in these screens make everything look gorgeous, Sonic and Tails included. This seems like a great new look for Sonic. Common trope aspects aside, I think we'll be in for pleasantly new visual experience in this game. I just hope the gameplay is up to snuff. If so, and if we're not getting an Episode 3, perhaps we could get Sonic 4 Episode 2 and Knuckles or something.
Well Remembered. I think this was confirmed or at least thought highly of considering the whole "There'll be some clue to Ep 2 in the CD release trailer!". Let's hope that we do get Time Travel back, and maybe we'll get past and good / bad futures. Come to think of it, the christmas carnival level having 7 minutes on the clock does resemble closely to the time you'd achieve attempting to get a good future in a single level on CD. But then again, on the other hand, something as gimmicky / good / whatever-you-see it as Time travel being in the game again would have been advertisted. And it wasn't on the XBL marketplace description so yeah, maybe not. Otherwise, I look foward to seeing this "non re-hash"-fest kick off. Music and gameplay please. In other thoughts too, if the date is to be believed, May 16th, this would happen before SoS'12 / SB'12. Meaning we could be expecting a new title exclusive to those events. Again, speculation.
has anyone considered that the throwback stages are the special stages? That Aquatic Ruin/Castle stage is really beautiful and original IMHO to be considered as a throwback or a rehash. And yes. Xmas Carnival zone for the win :D It's one of the most beautiful stages I've ever seen on a Sonic game! EDIT: That signpost is so kickass :D
Alternately I like what they did with the level and therefore I don't care. If I didn't like it I'd say something, but I do. I care about the quality but it looks good to me do far. Also sonic 2 rehashed sonic 1, and sonic 2 reused that rehashed level twice. How bout that quality
I saw this shot on the main page, but not on the Flickr page. I'm curious as to where this would be in-game, and what that black 'text area looking' stripe is doing there.
If it's like last time you won't get the music, not yet. That screams title card transition to me. Also, shots still look really lovely - the end-of-act for the Christmas zone especially looks really nice. To be fair though that entire zone does - makes a refreshing change to see a zone of white hills rather than green ones =P
Looks like Winter Hill Zone has become a thing then. :v: And Dust Hill has been infested with oil refinery machines. It's in essence Middle East Zone now. Sonic 2 tropes reborn! :v:
Coming from someone who actually really enjoys Episode 1, this looks like a huge improvement. Really looking forward to seeing that boss from the concept art in full 3D. I wonder if lock-on was originally going to be implemented. I'd imagine Sonic 4 Episode 2 and onwards would have been much closer to Episode 1 if it wasn't for fan and critical feedback. I mean, look at what happened with the PartnerNET leak.
I am really interested in that snow/ice cap inspired zone. The motion blur behind Sonic kind of worries me, might have another case of Sonic moving too fast it's hard to keep track of what's coming up on the screen.
While I agree that Sonic 2 did rehash one of it's own levels with a decent amount of original content on top, Emerald Hill was not a rehash just in the spirit of Green Hill. The blocks are different, the grass is longer with flowers in them, trees look different, new loop spirals, even the Badniks look and behave different. EHZ tries to be different from GHZ which this Neo Aquatic Ruin zone isn't, in fact it clones Aquatic Ruin zone more than Hill Top Zone clones Emerald Hill Zone. You know from all the ranting that people have said from pages and pages in the Episode 1 thread I'm amazed I'm having to explain this. There was a video (one of Skyler's I think) where someone explained to Ken Balough that you will get your carnival level, your beach level, your water level that we're happy with but we want original designs, much like Casino Night Zone vs Carnival Night Zone or your Scrap Brain Zone vs Metropolis Zone. That is exactly what I wanted for Episode 2 and I don't think it's too much to ask. EDIT: To put it in another perspective if Sonic Colours played completely two dimensional (classic style not the rush physics like the DS version) and was called Episode 2, I would have praised the comeback of Sonic with it's original gameplay mechanic and fantastic original levels.
