Sonic4.... So, what do we think?

http://www.sonicthehedgehog4.com/

Another back-to-basics Sonic, but SEGA promises it's for real this time and it sure looks like it (in fact, it looks more like a redo of Sonic1 than anything else). They're releasing it as download only and as episodes (both are bummers) but other than that it looks pretty decent. I liked the pixelart better than the 3D but I guess you have to see it moving as is always the case with 3D.

The music seems to have improved bigtime though! Oldschool sonicy (judging by the mp3 that starts playing after a while when visiting the site).

Can't beat this!I think it's likely to be more entertaining than anything else Sonic's been in for the last 15 years, but the graphics do make me a bit sad. The general impression I get from the screenshots so far is that it looks a bit unprofessional with the pasted-in photographic clouds, the sloppy airbrushing and noise on the grass, the plastic spikes, the mirroring in the background shrubs, etc. In fact I'm pretty sure that if I'd made these graphics for my former employer, they would have been rejected - or at least withheld from the public until thoroughly reworked. What especially irks me though, is the ugly 3D model of Sonic himself. He (and the badniks and various other things, for that matter) looks much too flimsy, especially compared to the huge grass. In my personal opinion the only proper way to draw Sonic is the way it was done on the original's cover art (see image).

It's not all bad, though. The waterfalls look nice enough, it's bright and colourful, a nice number of multilayers, good contrasts... If it's fun to play - and it looks like for once it actually could be - this might well turn out to be my favourite game this year.

The original Sonic design is still the best! Definitely!

Agree with you on almost all those points although I do like the clouds... It is clear that this is not an AAA title for Sega and the 2D backgrounds (not the islands but the brushes/forests) don't blend well into the 3D foreground. The targets on the badniks make me suspect some sort of homing move, which never seem to work well in Sonic games (well, they work but they are just no fun...)

But still... at least it looks to be going in the right direction. I just don't hope Sega will say "See!?" if the game fails because of poor execution.

That first track is the best Sonic music I have heard since, well, Sonic 2/3-ish btw.

That's how Sonic should look: http://luckettx.deviantart.com/art/Sonic-CD-Animation-Sprite-HD-153689456

Respect to the artist, but no it's not. It looks a bit underworked to me. The shading is too flat, the colours are too primary, the lines are boring and Sonic's body lacks movement. Still, I must agree that it is in several ways much better than the crappy 3D model in Sonic 4.

Judging by this leaked video Sonic4's gameplay will be better than any other Sonic game in the last 15 years.

The Sonic sprite however... ehm... "needs work".

Yes, after all, it's an alpha release, anything can happen.

Thanks for clearing things up Roel. Glad someone understands.

Apart from the sprite and some odd glitches here and there the game does look really, really promising. I especially like the style and bright colors of the levels.

I said “I hope you're kidding” in a manner of speaking. Everyone knows that Sonic sprite needs more work too, and that may affect the gameplay.  From all I've seen so far, some moves from Sonic looks weird, like when he starts moving before running, or the Lost Labyrinth Zone Act 2 riding on that strange mine cart (it looks really weird, dizzy and confusing, hence the name)

Perhaps it's too early to judge about the controls of the game. I think I'll wait until I get my hands on it. Until then, the old Sonic games are the best in terms of gameplay.

After the leaked footage is done playing you're presented with links to more leaked footage. A boss fight (very VERY similar to Sonic 1, act 3) and a couple of videos of the Labyrinth Zone... Labyrinth zone looks great! Not too sure about the music (too upbeat and happy for such a tranquil/ancient Zone), but I like the pace and detail on some of the structures.

My confidence is growing... which is unusual. Usually it would crumble after watching videos of previous hyped-up "retro" sonic promises.

Watching the leaked footage is very weird. It's like they said lets recreate sonic 1, but give each level a different name. I mean, the levels look like sonic 1, they contain the same enemies, and have the same woodland critters jump out of the enemies.
Still, it's the best sonic related idea from Sega in a loooong time. 

It's a Sonic 1 redo more than anything. Which is great! maybe episode 2 will be a sonic 2 redo?

Agreed about the sloppy artwork.

I just hope that after all of the episodes have been released, Sega won't say to gamers like us, "Now you have your old-style Sonic game, so please stop bothering us now" and go back to making bad 3D Sonic games with the delusion that only young children (who like beta-quality 3D games) could possibly enjoy a game starring a blue hedgehog.

For that matter, 3D Sonic games wouldn't be as bad if they didn't try to come up with a different gameplay idea for every one of them.  If they released a sequel that fixed the blatant flaws in a 3D Sonic game like, say, Sonic Adventure 2, they might have released a half-decent 3D Sonic game by now.

Not to say that 3D games, however decent or horrible, can ever replace a good old 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game, because it can't.

Really, how difficult is it to grasp: No more stupid gameplay mechanics!?

SEGA is run by idiots.

http://www.thelostgamer.com/2010/04/08/latest-leaked-sonic-4-video-is-worst-thing-weve-ever-seen/

Since this idea is totally unSonic and obviously a bad idea, I'm pretty much certain it will be in the final game. It's probably also an indication that more stupidities are yet to come 

Yup, the sonic-cycle has hit once again...