"Retro engine Sonic 4" feels like an old-enough inside joke that it's weird to say, but I honestly wouldn't object at all. That game (games?) deserves a redemption arc more than Chaotix.
If there is any concept art, design docs or other dev material for the scrapped Sonic 4 ep 3 I wouldn’t be opposed to it being in the museum… especially since Christian Whitehead was supposedly going to be involved with S4 ep 3. Honestly the top 3 things I want from Origins Plus are: 1. A New Playable Character 2. Concept Art and Video of Sonic 3 from when it was an isometric game 3. A playable SegaSonic Arcade
If they can unfuck the uncapped velocity issues in Sonic 3 and add Ray, that would already be pretty good.
And here I was hoping to get a cool online co-op or multiplayer mode like Mario 35. There could have been so many possibilities with the Retro Engine.
Multiplayer is absolutely not an easy mechanic to just slap in after the game is (technically) already done.
I understand, and strong post-launch support isn't even something Sega has historically done to my knowledge. But it's always good to wish.
If Amy is playable I wonder what moves they will give her. Tails is vertical up. Knuckles is horizontal. Mighty is vertical down. Ray is diagonal. I'm not sure what they could do for Amy. A hammer glide?
It's the 25th anniversary of Sonic Adventure this year, so I could see it finally arrive in a more remastered form, and it'd be a good way of bringing it to the Switch for the first time as well.
The survey Sega sent out actually mentioned new co-op modes (it didn’t say online, but Sonic 2 mobile had online VS mode). Personally, (like I probably say too often), I just hope they expand 2P VS to more levels. CW said he updated the engines to allow for this, so it probably won't be too hard to do. Most of Sonic 1 & CD's levels would nicely with 2P Vs, probably even some of S3&K's as well. If they also bring back the Super Sonic in 2PVS mode glitch that was in the Mega Drive original (but make it as a toggle option) and include a port of Sonic R, you have an awesome multi-player package. Also, about the extra characters: If Amy is playable, I hope they provide a "lock-on" bonus, so you can play as her in Mania. I'm guessing Metal Sonic will also be playable as he's promiently featured in the artwork...
Also add a chill song to the menu, please. It's so weird they didn't add anything at all. Mega Collection slayed in the soundtrack department.
They'd also need to make new levels to close out the game's story regarding the Death Egg Mk. II. Considering the pattern is 4 full two-act stages and one Boss Stage, then that'd be 10 new stages.
It'd actually be twelve, Sonic 4 has three-act stages. Regardless, no they wouldn't. They'd just have to change the ending of ep2. Or, the most likely option, they'd do nothing and leave people to assume it was taken care of eventually some other way.
I'm expecting her Advance moveset. I think it fits her character just fine and most people (seem to) think the different approach to the stages is refreshing.
Sorry, I keep thinking in terms of "Episodes per Classic Era game" and 10 was 5 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles-style Zones set on Angel Island and 5 Sonic the Hedgehog CD-style Zone set on Little Planet under the Death Egg Mk. II. The latter would rather defeat the reason most people would want to see Sonic the Hedgehog 4 brought back in anyway, since the Little Planet, as far as we know, is currently housed in the Death Egg Mk. II's shell. So probably the former. I wouldn't be happy if they just up and change it, but if they show the Little Planet slipping out of the shell and the shell itself drifting away after the credits, it's not actually changing anything... I would imagine something more akin to Super Mario Bros. 2, where she can stand on the backs of mechs and use them as platforms. Though that really doesn't lend itself to exploration as well as Tails being able to fly and Knuckles being able to climb. She'd probably be more of a challenge run...
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think that screwing up canon in some way is the reason anyone wanted to see Sonic 4 concluded, I'm pretty sure it's just because the game's pretty damn spartan with eight zones and one-and-a-half playable characters, even if it were made way better by the Retro engine.
Semi-related but on launch day I was playing Sonic Origins in front of a friend who isn't a Sonic fan and he asked me why Sonic 4 wasn't included, and that he was confused. He said he loved Sonic 4! I had to explain to him in the politest way possible that most fans don't like Sonic 4 and that it's addition would make people unhappy. It's funny how much of a divide there is regarding the fans' perception of 4, and the public's perception of 4.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 screws up canon just by existing in the same timeline as Sonic the Fighters (Death Egg II) and Chaotix (Metal Sonic Kai). The Little Planet staying inside the Death Egg Mk. II's shell, ironically, doesn't screw up the canon since we've not seen the Little Planet after, so for all we know it's actually still in there and visiting yearly with it's brand new armour. I'm saying people would like to see the Little Planet freed and the storyline concluded, and that's pretty much the only reason why they would like to see the game brought back for one last hurrah, nothing continuity-wise just finishing the story.
Episodic game releases are a thing of the past. Episode 3 won't happen for that reason alone. I also don't think anyone would be excited to play a third episode that came 11 years later of a not fondly remembered second episode. Or even first. If they want to conclude the storyline, at this point make it either a physical or just like a web comic like those Forces prequel comics. Make it wrap up the story and that's it. At this point Sonic 4 Episode 3 would be a waste of money not only for Sega, but for anyone buying it too.
Never said there would be an Episode 3, just that if they remade the game with proper physics for this Sonic Origins Plus, they could add new levels after the Episode 2 levels that could be considered Episode 3 and referred to like that simply so we know the distinction from what we currently have under Episode 1 and Episode 2. If we get a Sonic the Hedgehog 4 rerelease, I'd rather it be put under a "Complete Edition" containing all they've done thus far at least.
Sonic 4 will remain the same as the supposed Phantasy Star generation Trilogy... Forever incomplete, forever forgotten...
