365//365: Day 303 – Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (360) [PP]

"It's time to put down the hedgehog once and for all."

(Check out ExpertPenguin’s in-depth review of the iPhone version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I here, which contains a very different perspective of Sega’s latest release than the review below)

90 minutes. That’s how long this $15 game took to beat. 60 of those minutes were dedicated to the actual game, while another 30 minutes were repeated deaths due to inane platform design and stage layouts as a whole. To say that Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I fails to deliver any type of longevity is a massive understatement. With four worlds to visit, containing three acts that are followed up by a boss battle that’s seems overly familiar, there’s absolutely no substance to be found. Some of the stages were given quite a bit of content to explore, though after one run through, there’s no reason to ever come back again. Not to mention the fact that Sonic himself has a miserably slow acceleration, with an overall top speed that Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins can nearly match, something that was a severe fault at E3, yet was never addressed. The addition of the lock-on targeting is commendable, and adds a fresh take to traversing through stages, but it’s a gimmick that doesn’t save Sonic 4 in the end. It’s not all a wash though, as Sonic 4 does have a crisp, bright and lively world to it, with unmolested audio cues and throwback musical pieces that are pretty well composed. Unfortunately this is an interactive form of media, so good looks and strong pipes cannot mask the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I fails miserably at every gameplay facet. About the only things that can salvage an Episode II is a massive gameplay overhaul, or an outright cancellation. Put that $15 towards Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3, and throw in 240 more points towards Sonic & Knuckles. You’ll thank me later.

No Sonic, this game comes no where close to a 10.

Rating: 3.5