Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (WiiWare) - Review by Chris

Introduction

15 years have passed since Sonic the Hedgehog last graced a home console in a brand new 2D title and since then, we've been assaulted with a plethora of 3D games which have failed to retain the classic gameplay and speed which made the original Sonic games so enjoyable to play. It's a template that the handheld Sonic titles, particularly the Advance and Rush series, have continued to employ and by far, they have been the best Sonic games in recent years. Hoping to up the quality of their Sonic games and recapture glory past, SEGA have teamed up with Dimps to create a brand new, episodic, 2D Sonic game for download across all platforms. Is Sonic back to his best or should be hang up his running shoes?

Gameplay

Story elements have never been a strong point for prior Sonic titles and so this time around, the developers have opted for the less-is-more line of thinking seen in the original titles, with the game simply boiling down to Sonic having to stop Dr. Eggman, who is up to no good once again. With the spotlight squarely on the gameplay this time around then, it's apt that the game has returned to the premises of the older games to show that Sonic is still a viable and noteworthy character in today's gaming industry.

Set across 4 levels comprising of 3 acts and a boss battle each, with one final stage at the end of the game housing a multi-part final showdown with Dr. Eggman, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 lays on the nostalgic feeling thickly so as to ease everyone back into the routines of prior Sonic titles. Running from left to right, you'll attempt to make it through each of the acts as fast as possible, collect as many rings as possible and managing to refrain from getting hit by one of Eggman's robotic Badniks or from dying. Collect enough rings by the end of the stage, and you'll be giving the opportunity to play through a Special Stage, this time taking the form of those seen in the original Sonic the Hedgehog game on the Megadrive/Genesis where you move Sonic through a rotatable level to get to the Emerald, in the hope of collecting one of the 7 Chaos Emeralds in the game which, once all 7 have been collected, you'll be able to use to turn into Super Sonic to the detriment of your Rings total. It's the trademark gameplay that has made up the bulk of every Sonic game to date and very little in the way of changes have been made this time around. It's Sonic at its most purest of forms and makes for some speedy and invigorating gameplay that draws you in as easily as the earlier games did.

The biggest, and only, addition to the gameplay this time around is that of the lock-on homing attack, making its transition from the 3D home console games to this new 2D iteration. Some Sonic fans may cry sacrilege but it adds more to the gameplay than it does remove and it's put to good use throughout, with some of the level design requiring you to make use of it, especially if you're aiming to set the fastest times on the game's online leaderboards. On top of this, Sonic has at his disposal all of his prior moves, such as his spin dash, as well as the speed, invincibility and bubble shield power-ups.

Unfortunately, as with other recent Sonic games, this game harbours its own issues, most of which comes as a result of the design choices made by SEGA and Dimps. The first and most prominent issue which will no doubt anger Sonic fans is that the physics engine has changed this time around, much to the detriment of the game's speed. Things such as running from a standing start to coming out of a jump after a spin dash have changed, with the former taking what seems like an ages to get up to speed and the latter seeing Sonic spread eagle as he comes out of the jump rather than stay tucked into a ball, have been changed making for some disjointed gameplay that hinders the game rather than helping it. Similarly, doing spin dashes now requires you to keep your finger on a direction otherwise Sonic will come to an abrupt stop and you'll also find that Sonic seems to be adverse to the effects of gravity as he can stand perfectly still on the vertical sections of loops and ramps without falling. For all the good the developers have done elsewhere in creating the game, these issues will undoubtedly put some purists off of playing the game, as they are evident throughout.

With that said, if you can manage to overlook these issues, there is a very capable Sonic game here to be enjoyed, and one which does not feature any of his mostly unnecessary friends which is definitely a plus point for the game. The game itself is on the short side for the price you're paying (1500 Nintendo Points in the US and Europe while only 1000 points in Japan) but of an average length for a 2D Sonic title. The levels of course have many multiple routes through them, allowing for repeated runs and speed runs, and comprehensive online leaderboards keep track of the fastest times for each of the acts, giving the game some longevity after it's all over.

Controls

The control setup for the game is incredibly simple: you'll use the d-pad on the Wii-mote to move Sonic while the 2 button is used for jumping or, in combination with down on the d-pad, initiating a speed boost. It's as simple as that and makes the game every bit as easy to pick up as its earlier predecessors. There are no real issues with the general controls for playing for the standard levels, with most problems stemming from the aforementioned new physics engine in place for the game, but when it comes to the Special Stages, things can get a little rough. Motion controls or the d-pad can be used here and whichever option you choose, the end result is an oversensitive set up that takes some practise to get used to. A few tries and you'll definitely get to grips with it but the initial play of these special stages, and some of the later ones, may leave you frustrated at the controls.

Graphics

Visually, the game retains the general art style from the earlier Sonic games while having received the modern day touch to suit today's technology. In general, this WiiWare version looks identical to the other versions on the other consoles, which shows some good effort on SEGA's behalf to give everyone the same experience, with the only real difference being that the game isn't quite as sharp in resolution, although that is to be expected.

Bright colours and a high attention to detail permeate the level design, making for some great looking locations that manage to feel and look the part for a Sonic game, perhaps more as a result of the re-using of visual assets from previous Sonic games than anything new which the developers have brought to the game. It is disappointing to see that the levels are recreations of those from the first 2 Sonic titles, and at times poor recreations, and certainly some originality would have been welcomed but you'll quickly get passed this as an issue and begin to enjoy the nostalgia filled levels for what they are.

Sonic, Dr. Eggman and the various Badniks you'll encounter throughout the levels all look and retain the original looks, while now carrying a slightly cel-shaded look, and do look great. But, again, as with the level design, some originality here would have been nice, especially in the boss department which borrows all of its assets from the earlier games, but it all adds to SEGA's otherwise successful attempt of recreating the look of the original Sonic games in this new title.

Sound

If there's one primary area that'll divide Sonic fans more than any other, it's the audio. For the most part, the sound effects are exactly as they were in the Megadrive/Genesis days, which go some way to creating the nostalgic feel SEGA are aiming for. The actual music, however, is all brand new for the game and it's certainly a mixed bag, with some high notes and some low notes. It certainly all feels like it belongs in a Sonic game but perhaps it could have done with less of the now trademark drum beat which seems to crop up far too often.

Final comments

Some may question certain design choices, particularly the game's new physics engine, but after the disappointment of recent Sonic titles, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise and as close as you'll get to having the old Sonic games back. Longevity and a lack of originality also mar the game somewhat but what it gives you is the quintessential Sonic experience from start to finish and a very enjoyable one at that. If you can overlook the hefty price tag, there is an enjoyable game here to experience and one which will hopefully provide a decent springboard for future episodes to build upon.

Pro: Recaptures the enjoyable Sonic gameplay of old, visuals and audio will pull some nostalgic strings
Con: New physics engine makes for some awkward mechanics, short in length, very easy, hefty price tag
Final score: 8

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