Warning, Minor Spoilers!!!!!
It
has been a year and a half since Episode I was released and it couldn’t have
come at a better time. This title
included a new graphics engine and fixed physics, but is it enough? This episode continues the story of Episode I
and helps incorporate the story of Sonic CD into the main Sonic the Hedgehog
games (I.e. Sonic 1 through 4:2)
The
story begins four months after the events of Episode I with Sonic having
recruited his best friend Tails to help him defeat Metal Sonic and prevent Dr.
Eggman from completing a new Death Egg.
This new machine is built around Little Planet, which will create a time
traveling Death Egg. Sonic and Tails
arrive at Sylvania Castle Zone and the adventure begins.
The
game plays like Episode I in that there are 4 levels, each with three acts and
a boss act. The fifth level has one act
and a final boss act. The gameplay is
similar to Episode I; Sonic still retains his spin dash and homing attack but
he gains a few new moves too. Sonic and
Tails can perform new combination attacks at anytime. If it is activated on the ground Sonic and
Tails will perform the rolling combo, a super Spin Dash which is faster and
more powerful than the regular attack. Copter
combo is activated in the air; Tails will fly and carry Sonic. If it is activated underwater, the submarine
combo allows Tails to carry Sonic and will spin his tails to propel both of
them forward. There is even a new item
box which allows Sonic and Tails to destroy all enemies on screen, gain a large
number of points, and collect lots of rings as a reward. Collectables in this game include the seven
Chaos Emeralds as well as a hidden Red Star RING in each act; the RINGS serve
no other purpose than to get an achievement.
The special stage from
Sonic 2 returns, well it’s also from Sonic Heroes, and Sonic Rush, and Sonic
Colors, and Sonic Generations. To enter
a special stage the player must reach the goal sign with 50 rings or more, just
like Episode I. The goal is to collect
the set amount of rings within three rounds.
The special stages differ in that there are not only bombs which make
you lose ten rings, but also eclectic bombs which slow you down. Sonic and Tails can also use the Sonic Boost
technique from Sonic Rush and modern Sonic games, but it is a gradual speed
boost rather than an instant boost.
There is even an item in the special stage that creates a line between
Sonic and Tails; all rings that touch this line are collected. There are even springs that can take you to
alternate pathways for better or worse.
The best thing about
this is during single player mode. In
Sonic 2 lots of people were cheated out of collecting a Chaos Emerald because
Tails got hit; not only in this game does Tails follow you more precisely, but
if he gets hit the player is not penalized.
These special stages are actually fun and I love playing them.
Once all the Chaos
Emeralds have been collected Super Sonic is unlocked and can be played in all
stages, including boss acts this time.
Interestingly, when the combo moves are activated with Super Sonic, he
will return to normal and will not transform again until the player activates
it again.
The
graphics in this game are not groundbreaking, but they are pretty amazing. It really shows itself off in Sky Fortress
Zone Act 3 and that boss fight. It takes
place during sunset and you are able to see all the light and shadows from the
characters and even the rings. I love that environmental damage is back. In Episode I the only thing that could hurt
you was an enemy. In Episode II avalanches
from White Park Zone and fire from engines in Sky Fortress Zone can hurt and
even cause instant death, which is awesome!
This
game isn’t without its faults, however they are minor. I dislike how there are plot holes in the
story. In the opening Sonic and Tails
arrive on the Tornado and jump off of it.
In Act 1 of Sky Fortress Zone they are back on the Tornado, they then
land it on the fortress in Act 2. Then
the boss fight takes place with the Tornado, which they ran away from in the
previous two acts. Also, they ditched
the Tornado on the falling fortress, so the Tornado is destroyed?
Also, I don’t
understand why the Chaos Emeralds are as big as Sonic’s head! It just doesn’t look right; when he
transforms the emeralds are smaller than his head again.
Even though there are
fewer speed boosts and springs, there are still plenty of them. DIMPS needs to stop doing this and allow the
player to gain speed, not give it to them.
I don’t like how the
stage results are handled. In every
other Sonic game the points are totaled in real time, while in this game the
stage is blurred and this huge score tally is presented and blocks everything
behind it. Also, I hate how the animals
are rescued from the capsule. In every
past Sonic title the animals jump around in excitement for freedom, here they
slowly escape and even sometimes trip on the ground. It just looks odd to me.
I also didn’t really
like how the game ended because it did not have a proper conclusion like
episode I or any past Sonic title, although this could be that the ending
cutscene may be the opening scene for Episode III or Sonic 5, much like how it
happened in Sonic 3 as it led into Sonic & Knuckles.
Overall, this is a huge
improvement over Episode I and does deserve the title of Sonic 4. I wish they had made lock-on technology for
this to connect to Episode I and replace Episode I’s sprite with Episode II’s. This game is very fun and has lots of replay
value. There is even a local and online
co-op mode, this is the first console Sonic game built for online
connectivity. I give Sonic the Hedgehog
4: Episode II an 8 out of 10.
Episode II in available
now on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Playstation Network, Nvidia Tegra 3 Android devices,
Steam, any Android device, and iOS. It will be available for Windows Phone sometime
in July.
