Metal Sonic returns in Sonic 4: Episode Metal

                Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal is a free downloadable title for owners of both episodes of Sonic 4 on the same device/console.  This episode puts the player in Metal Sonic’s shoes and explains his return from his defeat from Sonic the Hedgehog CD.

                

                

                The story begins with Metal Sonic’s defeat in the Stardust Speedway from Sonic CD.  It shows that much time has passed and Little Planet is returning into orbit of Sonic’s world.  Dr. Eggman sends a device that reactivates Metal Sonic and he barely flies back to Eggman’s base in Mad Gear Zone.  It is here that Metal Sonic is restored and his adventure to defeat Sonic begins.

The gameplay puts Metal Sonic in four different acts from Sonic 4 Episode I.  Each act is essentially a hard mode from act 1 of each of Sonic’s levels.  Metal Sonic’s levels also play in reverse order, Mad Gear Zone being the first zone and Splash Hill Zone being the last.  The graphics are the same from Episode I, but the physics are taken from Episode II.  It is nice that this took the time to explain why most of the levels returned in Episode I, as it didn’t make sense before why all the levels were rehashed.  This is the first time a villain has ever had his own game, so it is funny to see when Metal Sonic passes the goal plate at the end of a stage the sign turns from a picture of Sonic to a picture of Metal Sonic.

What I don’t like about this game is it is too short.  There is nothing to do except beat the game.  There are no Chaos Emeralds or Red Star RINGS to collect.  The episode can be completed with watching every cutscene in about 15 minutes.  I know it is free DLC but I wanted a little more than a 15 minute game.  I also don’t like that the game has the same enemy placement issues as Episode I did; it just feels cheap every time you get hurt.

Overall this is a little entertaining game that mostly will only get a few playthroughs from me.  I give Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal a 5 out of 10. It is not a bad game, but there is just nothing to do and it isn’t much fun playing it.