The last time I sat down to play a Sonic the Hedgehog game, it was Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing. That game was great, but it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a true blue Sonic game (pun intended). Sonic hasn’t been treated well since Sonic & Knuckles for the SEGA Genesis in 1994. After playing Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, I am still under the impression that SEGA has a ways to go before recapturing the hearts of the Sonic-scorned.
At the start of the game, you’re immediately thrown into the action without any explanation as to where Sonic has been all these years and what he’s been doing. This actually required a little bit of research on my part, so I headed to the official Sonic the Hedgehog 4 website. Here’s the situation since Sonic & Knuckles:
Sonic has destroyed Dr. Eggman’s space station, the Death Egg. Sonic decides that after his task is finished, he’s going to split up from Knuckles and Tails and take a break somewhere on his own. Unfortunately for him, the vacation’s over before it ever really begins because Dr. Eggman has survived the events of Sonic & Knuckles. Sonic must then traverse through four different zones in order to defeat his latest robotic creations.
It would have been nice if this had been explained at the start of the game, but oh well – not a big deal I guess. What is a big deal is how frustrating the game can become in such a short amount of time. You start off in the Splash Hills Zone, which should definitely look familiar to anyone who has ever played a 2D side scrolling Sonic game. However, it differs from the Sonic formula in that it is a 2.5D side-scrolling game. For those who are unsure of what 2.5D means, it’s when the graphics are 2 1/2 dimensional and give the illusion that something is in 3D when it really isn’t. The music isn’t terrible but compared to its predecessors it just doesn’t hold a candle. After a while it even becomes mildly irritating and just isn’t nearly as catchy as it should be. Moving Sonic with the thumb stick is leaps and bounds easier than using the D-Pad, which is a little odd but is nothing too vexing.
All of the early Sonic elements are present, and yet something feels…off. Something is missing. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. It isn’t broken, though the physics are not the best. The difficulty curve is downright ruthless: It starts off nice and simple in the Splash Hills Zone and then once you hit the Casino Street Zone, you may find yourself screaming at your television. It’s challenging, which is great considering the game’s length, but it’s far from a pleasant experience overall.
The level designs often give you the impression that the developers just don’t like you very much. The enemy placement is almost cruel, giving you very little time to react. The special stages are all pretty cool and instead of moving Sonic around the swirly kaleidoscope maze, you move the entire level around him. They’re well done, though I almost never got to experience them since I kept missing the giant ring at the end of each level. I would run so fast I’d miss it completely and the game doesn’t allow you to quickly correct yourself and run backward. Nope, you’re done. If you missed it, that’s too bad. Try slowing down next time. Each of the four zones includes 3 acts and of course, a boss fight. The boss fights range from dull and simple to obnoxiously difficult. The level select screen is a nice new touch and is esthetically pleasing to look at it. If you grow tired of the Casino Street Zone, you can try your hand at Lost Labyrinth instead.
The graphics are crisp but lack the usual Sonic charm and are devoid of any personality whatsoever. SEGA didn’t completely screw up, I just don’t think Episode 1 is worthy of a $15 price tag. The game is a short albeit difficult romp that may prompt dyed-in-the-wool Sonic fans to cringe in distaste. I felt many periods of déja vu. Haven’t I played the Lost Labyrinth Zone already? I could have sworn I did in a previous Sonic game. Those who have never played a 2D Sonic game may become easily frustrated and discouraged from making it to the final boss.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 gives me funny feelings. This game lacks a soul, but maybe I feel this way because the game doesn’t feel like a true sequel. It’s not bad and it’s not good but I still feel vaguely disappointed. It feels a lot more like a remake than anything else, which is okay but just doesn’t nourish the desire for a direct and canon sequel. After sixteen years I still don’t feel sated, but perhaps this is a strong indication that it’s time to finally let go. Or, I could just wait for Sonic Colors to come out.
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