MediaKick: "There’s no easy way to say it, Sonic 4: Episode I was an absolute travesty. It didn’t have the same feel as the Mega Drive classics, despite being billed as the true successor. As a consequence, many fans of the franchise seeking a return to form were left disappointed until the recent celebration of Sonic’s 20th birthday in the form of Sonic Generations. The balloons have since been popped and the cake has long been eaten. Now we get into the uncertain aftermath with Sonic 4: Episode II, which promises not only to fix the issues surrounding Episode I, but also includes the return of Tails and Metal Sonic. Is this episodic about to take an epic turn, or are we in for another bit of disappointment?"
Plenty of games seem guaranteed to get sequels. But sometimes, companies surprise people and give them the additional installments they didn't know they needed.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was something many wanted to see for a very long time. Continuing the story from Sonic 3 & Knuckles, many had lofty expectations for this title. When it finally released, many were split on the project. From it’s episodic nature, different feeling controls and changes that felt strange to fans of Sonic’s classic adventures, Sonic 4 Episode I and II were divisive games to say the least.
I feel like if they could keep improving on the Sonic 4 physics, formula and level design they could have gone from the good Sonic 4 Ep II to something genuinely great for Sonic 4 Ep III.
Strange games. Definitely shouldn't have been "Sonic 4". Seeing as it re-used alot of ideas, level themes enemies and bosses etc, it really should have been called "Sonic Megamix" or something and the levels should have been named after the originals. This would have given SEGA a chance to see what fans reaction was to this style of game, before going in for "proper" Sonic 4. Sonic Mania feels far more "Sonic 4" than the actual Sonic 4 does haha
Carl Williams writes, "Retro gamers are usually left out of the fun when it comes to newer platforms, most companies don’t see any value in catering to this niche market. In this new article, Retro Gaming Magazine will take a look at a collection of games that cater to a different area of retro gaming. Starting the festivities off is the “action” category which encompasses titles such as Sonic, Mario and more. Devices with physical buttons are obviously the choice of play with these games."
