Sonic 4 to be released after 16 years
It has been 16 years since the last Sonic the Hedgehog game was released on the Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis if you are in America). That game was Sonic 3, completing a trilogy of great adventure games that a whole generation grew up with, including me.
I got my Sega Mega Drive when I was 6, and it came with Sonic 2, which I spent hours and hours playing trying to complete. I think I completed it once, but could never get past the last level. After this I got Sonic 1 in retrospect and then got Sonic 3 the day it came out in 1994. What I always remember is the music, which when I hear it now reminds me of playing on the Mega Drive– it is soothing, relaxing music.
Now it has been announced that Sonic 4 will be released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live and downloadable on the Wii (along with an intriguing “and ??????????” – which gaming system is this referring to? iPad/iPhone are rumoured).
The game will be a direct sequel to the Mega Drive/Genesis games. Most Sonic games since then have been 3d and have all tried to be very “innovative”, but this has been at the expense of the gameplay and enjoyment of the game. The team at Sega have realised this and now are going back to basics, with a 2d scrolling game in HD with 3d rendered models.
The early video footage looks excellent and it looks just like the Sonic games of old.
The level designer from Sonic 3 is working on it, and while the entire Sonic Team isn’t working on the game, this gives it the much needed credibility and makes it very clear that this will be going back to when the Sonic games were at the height of their quality and popularity. The new levels appear to be based on the classic ones, and the gameplay looks exactly like it used to with all the old moves.
Personally, I am very excited about this, and I will be downloading it on the very first day of release. The Sonic games are my favourite series of games ever, and I have been waiting for another 2d one for many years.
Oh yes – this is called “Sonic 4, Episode 1”, meaning that there will be more. Ace!
One Response to Sonic 4 to be released after 16 years
Yay!
Forget bloody remote operated sports whatsits where you have to wave your arms like a bloody idiot, forget advanced graphics war games that look as real as a film, wave goodbye to footie games where the players look just like do on the telly….
All hail the return of the 2D spinning blue hedgehog!