Sonic 4 Episode 2 Reviews

[JezMM]

Yeah, I agree Ep 1 was more vibrant. I'm glad Ep 2 went for a more toned down look though. It's another "cool" thing I associate with sequels to go for a slightly less generic look for the next installment (I'm really not thinking of Ep 1 and 2 as the same game any more, they are small games, not halves of a big game).

Obviously, for Sonic, bright and colourful IS generic, so I welcome the more unorthodox colour palettes.

If there is an episode III, I'd expect a sort of half-and-half of primary colours zones and mild-on-the-eyes zones. Or possibly a really striking, contrasting art style, like bright levels with handfuls of dark elements, or dark levels with handfuls of bright elements (say a properly dark zone where only bright neon lighting breaks the darkness at various points).

[SuperLink]

While I disagree about the visuals on some level, the backgrounds were more stylistic and well 'classic' in Episode 1 even if the foreground and characters look less ugly/plastic, I'd still like sprites.

What I also disagree with is the fact that people are taking one opinion on visuals to discredit the review as a whole.

[Blue Blood]

Oil Desert doesn't really look like a Sonic stage or have much identity of it's own. People said this when one screenshot of it came out on the XBL website ages ago and I disagreed- now I see exactly where they were coming from. Sky Chase Wing Fortress looks like fine for pretty obvious reasons, and Sylvania Castle just comes off as generic. White Park is a bit different cause all it's acts have a different aesthetic. Act 1 I have no qualms with. Act 2 is like a simplified Sky Park from Rivals. It doesn't look like something from a Sonic game beyond the rings and springs, and looks mundane regardless. Act 3 is an ice cave. I can definitely agree with a lot of the criticisms about vibrancy, identity and whatnot. Graphically superior, visually it's not got quite the same effect at all..

Edited May 16, 2012 by Blue Blood

[Neon]

Joystiq Review:

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2-review/

3/5

[Komodin]

Joystiq Review:

http://www.joystiq.c...isode-2-review/

3/5

Hm, no paragraphs about Sonic's recent failings... that's a nice change of pace.

[blackherox]

Didn't they say in an interview in the last year or so that they'd pay attention to critical feedback and even stop selling Sonic games that did critically badly? (it seems this didn't apply to Sonic Free Riders but it's not like the mantle for Kinect games is particularly high)

Even if I really enjoy EpII and think it's better than EpI I agree with Blue Blood there.

I assume given Sega recent financial circumstances, that said statements were revoked if not publicly then internally.

[Neon]

4Players Review: http://www.4players....Episode_II.html

83%

Goes to Metacritic.

Ve3tro Review: http://ve3tro.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2-review/

8/10

Edited May 16, 2012 by Neon

[Barry the Nomad]

I'm starting to think that the 5/10's are just reviewers giving episode 2 what they wish they had given episode 1. But since they can't change their score, they're docking points from ep 2 just for the ep 1 connection.

[Sami]

Or maybe the game deserves a 5/10.

... Oh! Sorry, I forgot I'm not allowed to dislike the game. Carry on.

[Neon]

Meristation Review: http://www.meristati...s-juego/1535845

6.5/10

Goes to Metacritic.

SlideToPlay Review: http://www.slidetopl...pisode-2-review

3/4

WTF Is... Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II ?

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxshfqtiHQ

[Xenos]

Sheesh, remember when fans liked Tails?

[OlenJimi]

I don't remember anyone liking Tails. Me and my friends always turned him off in Sonic 2 and 3.

[Ming Ming Hatsune]

It's not like I didn't like Tails in Sonic 2 and 3, I just didn't mind him. I ignore Tails because he was no use to me except collecting missed rings.

However had to turn him off for Special Stages in Sonic 2. That was the only time. Thank goodness this was handled well in Episode 2, otherwise I would have gone mental.

[Barry the Nomad]

http://toucharcade.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-ii-review-another-new-sonic-game-that-isnt-terrible/

TouchArcade reviewed the iOS version, gave it a 4/5

Edited May 17, 2012 by Barry the Nomad

[SuperLink]

Man I love Tails I think lots of people like Tails I personally have never understood the fandom's SEETHING RAGE for seeing any character besides Sonic in anything ever. No one gives a fuck when pointless Mario character #309582 is playable in Mario games (lookin at u blue toad and yellow toad) but when Sonic does it it's a CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH seemingly.

It's a pretty unfair stigma I'll say that much

Sonic's cast is just as good/bad as any other colourful cast of kids characters so why it gets the most grief for it out of any franchise ever is beyond me.

..otherwise a good review.

Well it's ok but he jumps to conclusions a lot.

i.e. *crash into a wall* WHY DID YOU STOP

and doesn't realise you can only use the tag in the sky at first but I guesss that's also the game's fault for really not demonstrating that very well.

Edited May 17, 2012 by SuperLink

[Komodin]

No one gives a fuck when pointless Mario character #309582 is playable in Mario games (lookin at u blue toad and yellow toad) but when Sonic does it it's a CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH seemingly.

To be fair, though, you aren't required to play as pointless Mario characters #309582 to get through the game, nor do they introduce unexpected gameplay changes that you had to put up with whenever you do play as them.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Komodin

[SuperLink]

To be fair, though, you aren't required to play as pointless Mario characters #309582 to get through the game, nor do they introduce unexpected gameplay changes that you had to put up with whenever you do play as them.

That I can understand, but hate on the gimmick not the character himself. Tails did nothing to be hated in Sonic 2-3&K.

To be fair the tag actions forced into Ep2's stage designs are not Tails' fault uwu it's like hating Sonic as an entire character for having shitty gameplay in Sonic '06 (though I'm sure it didn't help peoples' impressions of him either).

[Indigo Rush]

Or maybe the game deserves a 5/10.

... Oh! Sorry, I forgot I'm not allowed to dislike the game. Carry on.

Hey, no offense bro, but we get it. Not only that, I haven't actually seen anybody attack you or any other member for disliking the game since the reviews started pouring in.

Anyway, I got the final version, and have been playing the heck out of it. Rather than write a massive dissertation like I did for the beta, I'll post what I like and what I dislike about the final release of Episode II, because it really is a mixed bag. Sometimes I have an immense amount of fun with it, and sometimes I look at it and can't help but think about how it could've been so much better! Anyway, here we go.

Things about Sonic 4: Episode II that make me happy:

• Improved gameplay and physics: It's been stated over and over again, but the momentum, rolling, uncurling, bouncing and handling physics improvements are wonderful! More often than not, I get into this game and at times it genuinely feels like a classic Sonic game from the 90's. My favorite moments include bouncing along badniks and item monitors at a brisk pace... without the homing attack!
  
• The homing attack takes a back seat: I don't hate the homing attack, but one of the bigger problems in Episode I was the sheer unbalance regarding it. There were Bubble chains everywhere you looked, and the game really wanted to shove it in your face. Episode II, not so much. There are still many moments where it's used, but more often than not, it's either optional, or used creatively, with only three or four actual bland Bubble chains in the entire game. That's how it should be.
  
• The game looks beautiful: Duh. The graphics being used fit perfectly, and really bring out the potential that Sonic 4 should have showcased in the first Episode. Better late than never, I suppose, but still, seeing Sky Fortress Zone: Act 3 with it's sunset in the sky vista is actually spine-chilling.
  
• Tails and the combo actions: I'm actually very glad that Tails is back in this game. I'm also happy to report that the combo moves aren't as broken as people claim, and are actually very fun to use! It takes a bit to get used to the Flying Combo, but it can be really useful when you're in a tough spot. The Super Spindash Combo is also great. It's almost nothing like the boost: it's nowhere near as versatile, and the levels aren't designed in a way that you can abuse it ala Sonic Unleashed. Besides that, just having Tails is great. Actually being able to play as him (through an exploit in the multi-player mode, but whatever) is enough to satisfy me!
  
• Metal Sonic is in this: YES. Playing as him in Episode Metal is great, too.
  
• The story: I love how this ties into Sonic CD and Sonic 3 & Knuckles at the same time. Episode Metal is the key here. It's nothing extravagant, but neither were the classics.
  
• Attention to detail: The character animations and expressions, the way each individual Small Animal behaves, the new band of unique badniks, the updated special effects... it's all great! Things like this show how far a little effort can take you.
  
• Creativity: There's a lot of new things to be found in this game, and quite a few surprises if you've been staying away from the leaks or YouTube videos. Oil Desert and White Park are very creatively designed levels, and I love it!
  
  And the things in Sonic 4: Episode II that make me a sad panda:
  • Boosters and bumpers: there's still too many of them. While it's not something that ticks me off as much as other members, it's still a point of contention for me. I can see several areas where I could've either used a spindash or simply kept holding right to advance. This feels like some kind of "easy mode." There's no balance.
    
  • Bottomless pits: While a lot of the Bubble chains are gone, the few that aren't tend to take refuge over a bottomless pit. And sometimes, there isn't even a platform there... that's right, you're forced to use Tails' Flying Combo over those sections. Forced tag-team gimmicks wouldn't be so bad... if not using them ended up killing you! Oil Desert and Sky Fortress are terrible offenders, with Sky Fortress getting some leniency for being an air-fortress level. Makes sense there, but a desert? Sorry, no beans. I'm not happy about this. This is fake difficulty. Again, like with the speed boosters making things easy, the bottomless pits make things too hard, as if this were a "hard mode." Again... there's no balance.
    
  • Super Sonic's physics haven't changed: Okay, some people will claim that this was intentional. If so, then it wasn't a good idea. I don't care if the idea is to have him zip all over the place, I shouldn't have to re-adjust to physics whenever I transform. That, and being forced out of it with the combo moves is annoying.
    
  • Episode Metal is kind of short: I know it's an extra thing here, but the levels are just hard versions of the originals. That's... kind of weak.
    
  • The soundtrack is weak: There are some gems, but it's among a pile of dirty pebbles. It's obvious that Jun Senoue isn't a one man show... so why not give him some help?
    
  • The bosses aren't fun: They're creative, to be fair, but far too tedious to be any fun. The first bout with Metal Sonic in White Park and the final boss are probably the best. The Oil Desert boss is kind of cool, too, but still kind of tedious. They certainly could've done better here.
    
  • Not all the levels are creative: Sylvania Castle does make an effort, but it still has that Aquatic Ruin vibe. Wouldn't opening up with a beach level have been cooler? Classic Sonic never had a beach! Oh well. The only big offender here is Sky Fortress for being Sky Chase and Wing Fortress with an HD coat of paint. The levels themselves are fun, but at least change the color of the paint-job! And the recycling of the badniks was unnecessary as well. They could've been more creative with this.
    
  • Red rings do NOTHING: They don't unlock anything, don't contribute to a secret ending or anything... it's just there for the achievement. That's kind of lame. Unlocking a hard-mode (not that we need it, but hey, it'd be something), sound test, concept art, playing as Metal Sonic instead of Sonic... anything! But there's literally no incentive besides an achievement.
    

  With all that being said, with the problems the game has, it's still incredibly fun. Though there are moments where I can't look at the game objectively without seeing missed potential and some misdirection, I still had fun with it. And most importantly, unlike Episode I, I have frequently been hopping back into this game with excitement. It's genuinely fun! And now... for my own arbitrary score...

  Gameplay: 6 (Good physics and handling, but docked for seriously lame level design)

  Graphics: 9 (Great graphics, though Oil Desert and Sylvania Castle seem a bit mucky)

  Music: 6 (There are some gems, but a lot of it is forgettable)

  Content: 7 (For a cheap download game, this is a lot. Too bad there isn't more in the way of rewarding collectables)

  Lasting Appeal: 8 (I love playing this game, but the levels aren't anywhere near as expansive or re-playable as Sonic 3 & Knuckles)

  Final Score: 7.2/10 - Give the demo a try, Sonic fan or not. It has some really fun moments and clever ideas. The gameplay is very fun a lot of the time, but the same issues of level design, music and balance keep this game from being a true classic. I found it to be worth my money, but your mileage will vary.

Edited May 18, 2012 by Indigo Rush

[Neon]

Eurogamer Review:

http://www.eurogamer...pisode-2-review

6/10

For reference, they gave Episode 1 a 9/10

[SilentDoom]

Eurogamer Review:

http://www.eurogamer...pisode-2-review

6/10

For reference, they gave Episode 1 a 9/10

Also for reference, this is a different reviewer. You can tell instantly from the tone of the review. If this reviewer reviewed Ep 1, the score would be significantly lower. Here's some examples of what I mean:

Episode 2 arrives with some major changes then, and not all for the better. Old, bad habits are once again evident, while the design itself is still frustratingly not quite right. Sonic is less weightless and skittish than in Episode 1, but now the scale has perhaps tipped too far the other way. Getting up to speed takes longer, while movement at low speeds is incredibly sluggish; annoying when trying to navigate some platforms, absolutely fatal when attempting to survive the poorly handled boss fights.

The music, as in Episode 1, is a terrible pastiche of what arcade game music should sound like. It looks and sounds like a Sonic game, but only from a distance.

For the most part actually, this Eurogamer review is pretty good and it's clear that this review actually has somewhat of an idea of what they're talking about when it comes to the Sonic franchise.

Edited May 17, 2012 by SiLeNt PyRrH0n

[Blue Blood]

Heh, the Eurogamer review is one of the three big ones I've been waiting for, the others being IGN and Gamespot. I'm glad it only got a 6 from them.

Based on 8 reviews, the 360 version currently has a 64 on Metacritic. Posting it here cause whether you like Metcritic or not, it IS influential. No reviews for the PC or PS3 versions have been added yet. Would someone else like to tally up the scores from all the critic reviews out there? Looks like they;ll be higher than Metacritic is currently showing.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Blue Blood

[EXshad]

I don't mind that the game is getting some subpar scores, Dimps should get a little flak for not fixing things like the level design. Plus, everyone's entitled to their own opinions and the like, and it's good to see the game get a wealth of different scores. What I do mind is that the game is getting worse scores than Episode 1 did. It seems like they rewarded that game, regardless of how gimpsy the physics were or how unoriginal it was, with an 8 out of 10 simply because it was 2D and called Sonic 4. Meanwhile, the sequel, while not perfect, fixes many of the issues from its predecessor and then gets knocked on for not fixing the remaining lingering problems that were also present in Episode 1, many of which were hardly even mentioned back when that title was getting reviewed.

It's a very odd double standard in my mind. And yeah, some websites have different critics reviewing each game, and that's excusable, but in the grand scheme of things, I just find it baffling.

Edited May 17, 2012 by EXshad

[Barry the Nomad]

How about user reviews?

I checked the app store reviews: 67 ratings: 4.5/5 stars

41 of those included written reviews. 30 are five star and four star (with only a handfull being four)

The other eleven are either 1, 2 or 3 stars and every single one has to do with either the game crashing on startup (they probably need to restart their device or delete and redownload the game) or the fact that the screen orientation does not change when you flip the screen. Which I agree, does need to be implemented, but it does not warrant a 1/5. Probably gave 1 star to call attention to it.

As for XBLA: 11,571 gave it an average of 4/5

Google Play (Android) gives it a 4/5 average too:

edit: should note that the 1 star and 3 star ratings on Google Play are, like the app store, given for technical reasons (encountering slowdown or app not booting up). Could be the game's fault, or could be the user is lacking memory or has too many apps open.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Barry the Nomad

[Shaddix Leto Croft]

Review from Dreadknux at Spong

http://spong.com/feature/10110692/Review-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-4-Episode-II

SPOnG Score: 9/10

[pppp]

Review from Dreadknux at Spong

Episode II feels like a true successor to the Mega Drive classics.

[media=]

Wow really DreadKnux? You can like the game, but no way is this a sucessor to Sonic 3.

Edited May 17, 2012 by pppp