SEGA has today officially released nine more screenshots of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, giving us a further look at the various stages of the game that were first accidentally revealed by Microsoft on Tuesday. In the screenshots we see a new hummingbird badnik, re-using of the giant gold rings, Sonic and Tails running on water, and oddly no homing attack reticule when Sonic jumps in front of a badnik.
The SEGA Blog also informs that the first gameplay trailer will be released exclusively on Gamespot next Thursday February 23rd at 9am US Pacific Time. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out and share it here.
Check out the screenshots after the jump.
Source: SEGA Blog & SEGA Flickr
Thanks to ENVY at the SSMB for the heads up!
A gameplay trailer next Thursday? How exciting! I can’t wait to see those models in action…
BEAUTIFUL is the only word to describe how good those screenshots look.
The big gold rings and the starposts. Bonus and Special stages?
No homing attack?
Perhaps its optional this time and does not force you to use it
I always thing the homing reticule is a pain, granted it helps you see where to go, but I wish there were options to remove it if you wanted.
You could just.. not press the jump button twice..
It appears as soon as you jump..
And regardless of that, you can’t avoid homing attack sections in most games.
Yes you can. You just need epic jumping skills.
I meant generally in the games, not exclusively to Sonic 4
“Needing epic jumping skills” is a silly excuse. Some homing attack sections are impossible to jump past, and you’re just better off using it anyway.
He means the targets, not the move.
It should also give you the ability to point in the direction you want to go when multiple targets are near by to make more use out of the target when you do choose for it to be there so you can tell when your manual targetting is taking effect.
Or maybe in mid air press both R and L triggers or buttons to activate a target if you want it, idk.
My only question to Sega is: WHY DID EPISODE 1 NOT LOOK LIKE THIS?
Because it was also on wii?
I guess that Episode 1 is more of an experimental project due to the fact that Sonic Team hasn’t made a true 2D Sonic game since Sonic & Knuckles, not to mention its limited budget at the time. Hopefully, they’ll probably revamp Ep. 1 and ‘lock-on’ with Ep.2 and/or Ep.3 in future editions.
Seriously… stop saying “revamp this, renew that”! Instead of being happy that a new episode comes out, you still demanding and lamenting more and more. Honestly. can’t you just accept something? It’s like that and done. Sega has to look forward and not backward to get going on, when will you guys finally realize that!? Be happy with what you got and stop demanding so damn much! You are worse than kindergarten children.
Sir, I think you should calm down just a tad bit. You’re just bashing some dude who’s asking for one simple feature. I absolutely hate people who criticize other for not loving Sonic to death, and go on some stupid rant on how it’s not Sega’s fault and how “they can’t accept anything,” which is OBVIOUSLY not true. Just accept what others say and move on.
This kind of behavior within the community disgusts me.
if they come out with episode 3 I’m sorry but that would be stupid. This whole episode thing already makes me mad to begin with and I think they should just release sonic 5 after episode 2.
Uh, you do know they they’ve planned the whole “three episodes” thing since the beginning, right?
I love those Kingfisher badniks.
Here is my reaction to this situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BR3ATTlSlk
This time there’s no Wii to downgrade the game.
I don’t think the technical limitations of the Wii had anything to do with the quality of S4E1. I mean, Unleashed Wii and Colors look pretty good and play well.
The problem wasn’t making beautiful graphics, but the WiiWare restriction of 40MB for the games’ size.
A Wii version would probably be possible, they would just have to drastically change the game’s appearance and limit it as much as they can.
Nonononono… as great as this game’s looking, I need that Homing Attack!
Puh-lease tell me there’s an option to turn it on/off…
Probably not. :/
Please SEGA… please give us lock on technology soon…
How I get that it would be fun to jump from one episode to the next in succession but the artstyle and physics are not compatible with episode 1 If SEGA were to do it it would include episode 2 onwards leaving the first separate
Yeah…
We can all only dream…
If they do, if you have all chaos emeralds in episode 1 then episode 2 special stages should reward you with super emeralds so we can go HYPER SONIC and get the seizures we all love
YES! O_O I WANT THAT GLORIOUS SEIZURETASTIC FORM AGAIN!
if they put hyper sonic back in sonic at all I AM DONE ^-^
Except that will never happen.
http://www.tssznews.com/2012/02/14/online-co-op-confirmed-for-sonic-4-episode-ii/
“all new game engine,bringing you updated physics and an original graphical style”
I never really understood why people are do obsessed with the idea of the lock-on feature. Is it really that big of a deal to exit Episode 1 and put in Episode 2? Either way it still wouldn’t work out because of the major differences between each Episode. (Dimps promises to “improve physics,” not to mention the game looks a lot different now.) So adding a lock-on would just be confusing for most people.
just think of the possibilities if this can be link with episode 1. we could play it with episode 2′s graphica and physics and tails! it would be awesome
Dare I say, better than Sonic 2? No… maybe… well, maybe if we can change to classic settings and physics along with the textures for Episode I stages looking different than Green Hill, Casino Night, Labyrinth, and Metropolis… but then again, there is most likely going to be an Episode III with Knuckles and possibly Amy… so… yeah…
“Dare I say, better than Sonic 2?”
Haha no.
“Better than Sonic 2″
ROFLAMO no. I highly doubt that there ever gonna make a game as good/better/close to sonic 2.
mark your god damn sonic calanders then! we got a date with Gamespot next thursday and for the occasion, im bringing roses painted blue, red, white and yellow with some gold roses
Hm, so is anybody else now wondering if the Christmas level is separate from the Carnival? And how about Sky Chase, is it making it’s 4th appearance? (2nd Chronologically)
In one carnival image, Sonic seems to have just broken through what was once an ice block, and the image with the end goalpost and bonus stage ring has a street lamp with exactly the type of banners you would see at a real carnival/theme park. If anything, these images made me think more that the two are one level.
I was actually wondering if they were doing the stage transition thing like in Sonic 3.
Well, if they are combined, that would mean we only have 3 stages and that they’re making the last stage a surprise… however, if they aren’t, it is most likely a level transition like in Sonic 3.
“first gameplay trailer will be released exclusively on Gamespot next Thursday February 23rd at 9am US Pacific Time”
Il be sure to get that Trailer on my YouTube Channel ASAP!
Um, did anyone notice that Little Planet is in the background on the cover?
Apparently not. The folks at Sonic Retro were able to recognize it though.
Hmm…
Something I’ve been wondering lately… is if Sonic still curls into a spindash everytime he hits a dash panel like Episode 1 (if there are gonna be any dash panels in Ep. 2, that is.)
I’m just hoping there are no dash panels like Episode 1 had. The level design in Episode 1 was awful, the excessive amount of dash panels being one of the MANY reasons why.
I don’t get why they still put that stupid, crooked grin on Sonic’s render.
Also. I hope it isn’t another one of those “fake trailers” with like– 2 actual seconds of gameplay that Sega seems to have taken a liking to lately.
Would you say the same about Generations’ trailers?
Uh, not really. The first gameplay trailer for Sonic Generations showed plenty of gameplay footage.
But.. it’s not Friday
Thank you SEGA
God, what the hell is gonna happen tomorrow if THIS happened TODAY??
You sure its a actual TRAILER, and not just some words popping up on the screen <<
We’ve already gotten words popping up on the screen. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KhMsQij8H0)
So why would we get it again?
Anyone else notice the Eggman Snowman?
yeah did anyone notce the eggman/robotnik logo on the oil drum before and yes for an wait whats the level let me get out my copy of sonic 2 ah its oil ocean i was thinking of
please Sega no homing attack!
I love the attention to detail. That Aquatic Water level looks really nice. I never really thought of Aquatic Ruin Zone in Sonic2 as one of the most memorable levels, but it looks like they have done it proud.
The levels look connected somehow..
They are getting elements from Sonic CD and Chaotix my fav games, I couldn’t be happier!
Also I love the new Badniks! they truly look like Badniks! I hope they replace the dumb Eggpawns one and for all!!!
These pics look amazing, it makes me want to play the game even more. Also, that looks like a new run animation, looks really gorgeous.
These screeshots look awesome I can’t wait to see the trailer next week i like the animation looks really good just need to see this in action now
Man, this is looking great. o_o
Agreed
WOW if they revealed this today then what are they gonna release for tomorrow or the next few days before the trailer? o_o
@Truesonic
Probably more concept art.
-n- Please keep the homing attack….SOME PEOPLE need to learn to live with it, it’s been what….10 years now and they’re still crying and complaining about it?
This post makes no sense. You’re saying that Sega should keep the homing attack, because people will complain about it not being there?
Either you just contradicted yourself, or I’m just confused as heck.
Maybe there’s an option to turn the targeting reticle off…I mean, we did well enough without it in Adventure through Shadow the Hedgehog (although it did cause some annoying jumping-into-a-bottomless-pit at times)
Oh yes! Specail stages are back.. again!
This just made my Friday all the better! Woo! Thank you SEGA!
Whoops spelled special wrong… Pfft…
More Concept art is up Shadzter!
Thanks, I saw it, but I’ll leave it for Jason. I personally don’t find these weekly small doses of concept art newsworthy.
Can everybody be NICE to the wii?! come on! the poor thing just died! Not to mention the poor console had most memorable sonic games made for it (including Super Smash Bros. Brawl!).
Okay, let’s see:
- Sonic and the Secret Rings was mediocre.
- Sonic and the Black Knight… was very mediocre.
- Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is a silly compilation of mini games that just aren’t fun.
- Sonic Colors was good.
- Sonic Unleashed did okay, I personally don’t like this version though.
- Sonic 4 Ep: 1 is a direct port, IIRC, no differences here.
- SSBB hardly even counts. Just because Sonic is available as a playable character doesn’t categorize it as a real Sonic game.
For the most part, Sonic hasn’t done bad, but not good either. Sonic Colors is the only game I would hardly ever consider “memorable.” The game’s short length doesn’t help it much at all, which is why I said “hardly.”
I think Sonic did much better on the HD consoles, but that’s just my opinion.
SEGA will better use Ultimate SEGA Genesis Soundfront for new music for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.
They won’t. I doubt they even know such a thing existed within the community.
Since the graphics aren’t trying to resemble the Genesis anymore, I don’t think the instruments will either.
I love the snow level! The aurora borealis and the carnival lights… its an orgasm for the eyes, really. If you could think of a name for this level, what would it be?
Cold Carnival Cabin?
Frost Lights Resort?
Frost bite fever, maybe?
Agreed it looks awesome…
Christmas Carnival?
Graupel Festival?
Crystal Kingdom/Park?
Twinkle snow?
Ice slide?
Snowy scamper?
ice Ice eggy? (JK)
Slippy surface?
Winters peak?
snowy peak?
Arctic Carnival?
I hate it when people assume that it’s “Sega” or “Sonic Team” developing the game. It’s DIMPS, people. DIMPS is developing the episodic series, NOT Sega or Sonic Team. When you complain about the game, don’t complain about it to Sega, complain about it to Dimps. They’re the ones that added the homing attack and the silly physics in Episode One, not Sega, Dimps.
Geez, get it right guys.
Hope the PS3 and 360 have enough blast processing to handle this one.