Sonic 4 – Surprisingly Fun?!
I won’t lie, I haven’t played a Sonic game in a very long time. After Sega left the hardware race, I pretty well gave up on Sonic. Don’t know why, but honestly Sega hasn’t been Sega since they stopped making consoles. Lately I’ve been going crazy with Saturn reviews, which you can check out by clicking on our YouTube link at the top right of the site, or check out the Saturn playlist I created (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF683F0069AE1354F&feature=plcp). The bottom line is, I’ve been reliving some excellent Sega classics, and have been craving for more Sega love. What’s an old-time Sega fan to do? Download Sonic 4, that’s what!
I played for around three hours and I’m having a really good time. Sure the physics aren’t what you remember from the Genesis days, but this is a beautiful and super fast Sonic played in 2D. What more could you ask for? Well, besides better physics… I downloaded the PS3 version for the low price of $5. I’m not directly going for the trophies, but have found them to add some depth to the game. For example, you normally go for the Chaos Emeralds in a Sonic game, well now you score a trophy for doing so. Beat the first level in under 60 seconds and bam, another trophy. I like trophies and achievements like this, that make you want to go for them. Fun and challenging.
I don’t want to go on and on about this because today has been an insanely busy day for me and COE-related duties. I was on the phone and emailing tons of PR agents all day trying to secure games for January and beyond. Trust me, it’s not easy. So in-between doing this I figured I’d try Sonic 4, before recording some more footage for my next Saturn review. I know many of you will be able to add your own comments on the game so I won’t go on. Just know that I’m surprised by how much fun I’ve been having with a new Sega game. That hasn’t happened in a very long time. If you’ve been craving an old-school Sonic, be sure to check this one out.
For those interested, I finished off the first two zones, got all seven Chaos Emeralds and am going to try and finish the game tomorrow before starting on Sonic CD HD, which I hear great things about. Really want to see how the HD version translates. After that, I think I may just pick up Sonic Generations. Could it be, could Sonic actually be back?
So what have you all been up to lately?
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Yeah I had a really good time with Sonic 4 and want to go back and finish off all the levels as Super Sonic. Some of those Chaos Emeralds were tough as nails to get. I’m really looking forward to Episode II.
The only problem I had with Sonic going 3D was that post Dreamcast the games just didn’t feel the same to me. It’s one of the reasons I barely played any Sega games outside a few like Panzer Dragoon Orta and Shenmue II, etc once the Dreamcast was officially pulled. I’m trying to change my ways though and plan to cover more Sega games moving forward.
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I definitely agree there, but I think that the modern games have just taken an especially long time to find the right groove. Sonic Heroes was all right. Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic and the Black Knight, Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, Shadow the Hedgehog…those are all really awful. Sonic Unleashed though finally started to get things right with how the daytime levels played, so the game was pretty good despite the tedious night-time levels. It wasn’t until Sonic Colors that SEGA finally fixed everything. But if we consider Sonic Unleashed, Colors, Advance 1-3, Rush, Rush Adventure, 4, and now Generations, Sonic has been getting back on track for awhile. It’s just taken quite a long time since the passing of the Dreamcast (and even then, Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are nowhere near as good as Super Mario 64).
I really think it’s high-time that SEGA brings back some classic franchises and tries to make them stick again. I think Shenmue, Streets of Rage, Jet Grind Radio, and more can make a comeback.
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Yeah Sega really hasn’t been Sega since the Dreamcast days. Once they left hardware they lost their spirit and most of their developers along the way as well. I’d really love it if they brought back their classic titles and revamped them for a new generation of gamers to enjoy. Space Harrier, After Burner, etc. all those classic arcade titles could do wonders today if they were creative enough with the properties. I really would adore another Skies of Arcadia, Panzer Dragoon RPG, and more. Just stop releasing the crazy amount of Sonic already!
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Sonic 4 is great fun. I think that all this talk about Sonic’s fall is greatly exaggerated, because he has had some legitimately fun adventures. I’m very impressed with Generations. I still think he isn’t quite up to Mario’s caliber, but he’s certainly doing well.