Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Much better than Episode I.
Genre(s): Platformer Action Platform(s): Microsoft Windows Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Android IOS Ouya Release Date: Microsoft Windows WW: May 15, 2012 PlayStation 3 NA: May 15, 2012 WW: May 16, 2012 Xbox 360 WW: May 16, 2012 Android WW: May 16, 2012 iOS WW: May 17, 2012 Ouya WW: July 3, 2013 Nvidia Shield WW: July 31, 2013 Developer(s): Dimps Publisher(s): Sega Predecessor: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I Successor: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode III (cancelled)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is an episodic platform video game developed by Dimps with assistance from Sonic Team, and published digitally by Sega for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, and Microsoft Windows in 2012, with ports to the Ouya and Nvidia Shield releasing in 2013.

Plot

Metal Sonic survived his previous defeat in Sonic CD (1993), but was severely damaged, and left on Little Planet when it disappeared at the end of the game. After the events of Episode I, Little Planet returns, and Dr. Eggman locates and repairs Metal Sonic. Sonic hears that Eggman is back and reunites with Tails to stop him.

Good Qualities

1. For starter, despite still not being as good as the Genesis games, it is a massive improvement over Episode I, since the game nearly fixed all of the problems, except maybe the originality.
2. Very good graphics for the time that look a lot better than Episode I, since they are very colorful, detailled and overall look better than a lot of 2.5D games of it's era, it is even on par with Sonic Unleashed at times.
   • The lightning is also way better than the first part, being much more bright, and had shadow on the characters, compared to what was seen in Episode I.
   • The characters models are spot on too, with them being much less hideous looking than Episode I, and they also are way more colorful and vibrant to look at.
3. Tight and responsive controls, Sonic and Tails will never feel unresponsive and clunky at all, and they will respond well, like if the developpers know about the first Episode many flaws and wanted to make sure that the controls this time we're better than ever, this also make the game more fun to play and more simple.
4. Despite still having a few rehash from the Genesis games, there are less of them and the game is a bit more original, even zone with the snow and the sky aren't completely copied from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3.
   • In fact, even the bosses sometime feel like it's going to be the same as the Genesis games, making you think that they did recycle bosses from the Genesis games, but in reality, they are completely different, which is somewhat hilarous.
5. Spectacular soundtrack that is not as ruined with the Genesis soundfront, since it use it correctly, to the point of the soundtrack being better than the majority of Episode I, they aren't even forgettable at all.
   • They also sound very catchy, and there's barely any musics that are ear bleeding to listen to, there are many exemples of good music in this game, such as:
     • Silvia Castle Zone, Act 1 and 3
     • White Park Zone, Act 1
     • Special Stage theme
     • Main Menu theme
     • Metal Sonic theme
     • Final Boss theme
6. The physics are a massive improvement over Episode I, due to the fact that it is much better programmed here, even though it isn't as great as the Genesis games.
7. The level design is pretty decent.
8. Tails appear in this game, compared to Episode I, but unfortunately he isn't completely playable other than helping Sonic.
9. The boss fights are really good and aren't rehash from the Genesis games anymore, as now they are very original and complex, they also are very challenging and also had balanced difficulty.
10. Nice looking artworks, as always, much like Episode I.
11. It is way more challenging than the Episode I, since there is way more difficulty, there are some levels that require brain and strategy to beat them so at least there is challenge now, unlike that game.

Bad Qualities

1. Despite being a way better game than Episode I, some peoples might dislike it due to having rehash from the Genesis games.
2. While not as much as Episode I, the game rehash some of the zones from the Genesis games, especially those from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, this include but not limited to:
   • Silvia Castle Zone, while not a complete rehash, it is rehashed from Aquatic Ruin Zone from Sonic 2, but howewer it isn't easy to see the first time you play it.
   • White Park Zone is a huge rehash from Ice Cap Zone from Sonic 3, as the zone is very similar with the design, and there is way too much similarity with it.
   • The Special Stages are rehashed from Sonic 2 and Sonic Pocket Adventure, due to how it play and look, they also feel way too similar in design.
3. The game end on a cliffhanger, and had a sequel-baiting, but due to how poorly received the Sonic 4 saga was received (this episode 2 received mixed reviews back then but now is considered a decent game), and the fact that it didn't sold as well as they hoped, and due to this, the third episode was cancelled.
   • In fact, originally, the ending had a "To be Continued" but was cut off because they did know that it will never had a sequel.
4. The physics still aren't nearly as good as the Genesis games, and sometime aren't completely accurate.

Reception

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II received mixed reviews by critics and mixed to positive reviews by gamers, it was criticized for it's rehash of the Genesis games, but was praised for it's soundtrack, graphics and the overall improvements over the first Sonic 4 game.

It received a score of 66/100 for the IOS version, a 63/100 for the PS3 version, a 61/100 for the Xbox 360 version and a score of 54/100 for the PC version.

Trivia

• A Wii version was planned but due to the limitation, it was cancelled.

Comments

Loading comments...