Step once more into Little Planet and join our favorite blue spiny mascot in this installment of one of the most thrilling platformer franchises ever conceived!

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I was considered an utter failure for many reasons. One of them was that it rehashed so much from previous Sonic The Hedgehog games in terms of environments. It also had to deal with an accrued expectation spanning almost 16 years from Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s release, so it was virtually guaranteed to be subjected to merciless scrutiny from fans of the old saga.

Episode II addressed many of the issues that plagued the previous launch, including the physics and animations. It also came with slightly revamped visuals and fresh sceneries. I can’t stop noticing how good the backdrops look, though the ones in the previous game were no slouch either.

You’d likewise witness the return of one of Sonic’s most “trusted” sidekicks: Tails. This addition helped improve the gameplay experience to a degree. 

There’s a caveat, though: Tails can’t be controlled in single-player mode. We could spend a lot of time arguing why Sega relinquishes control of Tails since we were able to do so back in the day. Tails’ character arc itself has been a subject of heated controversy among hardcore Sonic fans, but this is a controversy that escapes the scope of this review.

At any rate, the story picks up months after the events of Episode I. In this instance, your revived arch-nemesis – Dr. Eggman -  and Metal Sonic – who gets repaired by Dr. Eggman – are out to get you, so you’ll have to deal with two major enemies. 

Classic Sonic has never been very strong in the story department, and that’s okay. If you ask me, I’m not particularly invested in Sonic’s story, specifically as it was fleshed out in Sonic CD and the 3D era. Episode II is mostly cliché 2D Sonic but it does try to fill the gap between the two eras by introducing some bits of Little Planet lore.

Going back to Tails for a bit (sorry for the back-and-forth here!), we must mention certain ways you may maneuver him (called “Tag Actions”). The first one involves a “helicopter combination” by which Sonic grabs Tails’ hand while the latter uses his twin tails to propel flight. Tails can also grab Sonic’s hands in mid-air at any point, saving him from falling further into the void.

That mechanic is also replicated underwater. It’s essentially the same, with Tails using his foxy namesakes to push water instead of air.

The last one is the rolling combo. You might remember how, in previous games, both Sonic and Tails would transform into spinning balls that blazed through the air and across any solid surface. This time around, both furries would join forces to create an even bigger ball of destruction in order to open up new routes and bust through obstacles. This skill would be the main focal point in the development of Episode II’s level designs and one which largely separates it from its immediate predecessor.

I must say that, while I enjoyed the new physics, the gameplay turned into a chore after a couple of hours. Sure, it felt a bit more like the classic Sonic experience, but it still falls a bit short of the greatness of yore. Perhaps it has to do with the touch controls not being up to par with the older controllers, or perhaps rose-colored glasses may be at fault!

Actually, no! I take that back! It’s not just the controllers or the nostalgia factor. Allow me to elaborate. 

Sonic games have always been characterized by one word: Speed! It was the primary selling point since the very first Sonic game saw the light of day.

Unfortunately, in this installment, you’ll often be stopped in your tracks while the game forces you to utilize some specific mechanic or engage in legacy platforming methods which, while not bad in themselves, simply don’t fit with Sonic’s entire premise. The fact that you have an underwater level should be enough indication that this was the intended path the developers wanted to traverse, and one which hardcore fans will not appreciate. 

Lastly, the soundtrack is another point of contention among Sonic enthusiasts. I don’t find the soundtrack particularly offensive. It does get tiring after a few loops, however, but that has more to do with its lack of instrumentation variety - always sticking to the same 80’s and early 90’s techno VST plugins - and the generic “arcade” feel it tries to convey. Notwithstanding, I do crave some of those punchy bass lines!

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II (or, simply, Episode II), apart from being a mouthful, it’s another hit-and-miss with some memorable moments but which, in the end, will still struggle to convince the Mega Drive crowd. If you’re not invested in the older Sonic games, you might not feel as disappointed trying this one out, but it may mar your perception of the classic Sonic experience somewhat.

You can also roll and sprint towards the commentary box to leave your impression about this review (or the game, of course!)