Wired Review: Wonky Physics, Nasty Levels Ruin Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Wired writes: "The new downloadable game for Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (reviewed) seems to make all the changes that Sonic’s fans have been clamoring for: It brings the series back to 2-D. It gets rid of Sonic’s crappy friends and makes the iconic blue critter the only playable character. Cute little birdies even pop out of enemies when they explode, just like in the good old Genesis days."

WIRED: Pretty graphics. Will make you feel 10 years old again for a few minutes.

TIRED: Terrible physics. Gameplay on autopilot. Evil traps designed to catch you off-guard.

[Cyrus365]

Wow a 4 out of 10, that's the lowest score i've seen for this game.

[MrMccormo]

Have you played the demo? The controls absolutely suck. Everything else (graphics, music, level design) is top-notch, but the controls are just bad.

[Cyrus365]

No, but strange how most sites gave this game an 8 or 9, ignoring the poor controls, and such.

[PS360fanboy]

I did and I don't think the controls suck. The only part I didn't like was Sonic's animations and the fact that the demo only had one level=X

Oh, and that it costs 15 euros...

[JsonHenry]

I have to agree. The new physics that control sonic doesnt feel "free" enough. And he slows down in momentum wayyy too fast if you dont keep pressing forward.

[xskipperx82]

Yeah, this is a strange duck this one. Gamers are all aboard the hate train while 90% of reviewers give it 8/10. I personally hate the controls but try to overlook them because I have been waiting way too long for this game to hate it. I'm trying my best to love it.

[Neckbear]

It's mainly because of the short lenght, price and the fact that it just doesn't feels like an old Sonic game, despite what they promised.

It feels just waay too clunky for a good Sonic game if you look at how glorious they were back then.

[BlackBusterCritic]

So you're saying you can't dislike this game because you were waiting too long for it? You have to TRY to love it? That gives off the impression that the game isn't as great as they say.

[Fel08]

This is not the best Sonic game, but its a huge improvement from all the Sonic games that SEGA released in the past few years.

[aquafina117]

Agreed. I still prefer the classic Sonic games.

[RageAgainstTheMShine]

same here.

Sonic 4 is one of the baddest out there.

even if they combine all the episodes and slap $9.99 we wont buy this crap.

More shame on you Sega. You did not fail to disappoint.

[MaximusPrime]

Controlling sonic was the only bad thing. I'd give this game 7/10

[Lirky]

It felt un-sonic. Like mega-man universe different direction than its old-school style too much 3d Should of stayed sprites just embossed or something.

[kasasensei]

To be honest, i have less to reproach to the graphics than to the controls. And i still think this "episodic" game is over-priced, so i don't plan to buy it anytime soon.

[hazelamy]

the physics are just off in this game, sonic doesn't have the momentum he did in previous games.
considering how long it takes to get sonic up to speed it feels like he weighs a ton, yet the hit slightest obstacle and he stops dead.

it just feels wrong.

all in all, it looks and feels like a flash game, a real dissapointment.
i'm not paying a tenner for like three hours of gameplay.

[Feylynn]

Go pick up the original Sonic games and review them by today's standards holding nothing back in consideration of "for it's time".

Sonic has always taken forever to get up to speed, had touchy controls and instant death moments. It seems to me this game is superior in every way to the originals.

I never liked the originals because of these same problems. I was a Sonic fan don't get me wrong but I liked the animated series.

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle on the Gamecube is the only Sonic game I recognize as not only good, but fantastic. Haven't liked a Sonic game other then it.

[Shadow Flare]

Just as an example of how heavy the physics are, in old sonic games, if you spin up a ramp and jump, you'll go quite far and high. In sonic 4 if you spin up a ramp and jump, he'll stop mid-air and drop to the floor where you left the ramp. It's awful

What I will say is, after trying to give this game a chance, it is growing on me. I'm finding myself able to play it faster and more flowing. And this definitely is the best sonic for a long time.

The music is horrific btw. It all sounds the same. It all sounds like it's played with one instrument compressed through a midi file

[orion456]

I argree.
The small details of the physics are way off.
Try doing a fully charged spin dash without holding down right; see how far you get. And why is the camera so damn close. I can't see enemies in time to do anything. I can't see the environment around me either.
Why don't Sega just hire the people who are making that Sonic 2 HD remake. Valve do that sort of thing all the time and it's worked out pretty well for them (TF2, Portal).
They also need to hire this guy to do the music... http://www.youtube.com/watc... I can't believe how much better that is. Or hire a critically aclaimed popstar like Justin Timberlake. Remember what happened last time they did that... http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Slade23]

wired review?? LMAO should be called worst review. this guy dosen't even know how the original sonic games are like. Really get a reviewer that actually knows about sonic games. heck I even seen people have better time trails in this game. wonder why. well they keep playing the level to practice. you can't be good at it by just playing the level once. and really sonic's crappy friends. look at Rouge with those big breast (srry for all the girls gamers in here... forgive me) but anyways Crappy?!?! Tails,Knuckles,Amy, and the choatic group been in the original sonic games. And you think you know sonic games. yeah right!!

[tatsukishi]

I recently played through the demo and found it to be pretty much exactly like the original sonics minus the awesome in air dash that lets you hit enemies which I really loved thanks sonic adventure. I was planning on picking this up today but $ demands I wait till next thursday.