E3 2010: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Gets It Right
June 22, 2010
We've all been a little concerned ever since Sega announced it was taking Sonic the Hedgehog back to the 2D plane where he best belongs for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 for all three consoles and the iPhone, but now that I've had the chance to play part of the game's first zone (Microsoft Xbox 360 version) and first boss encounter with Dr. Robotnik (Nintendo Wii version), I can assure you that the company is on the right track here. Sonic moves, spins, jumps, and attacks just as you'd expect (personally I think his acceleration is a little slow, but everyone I've talked to about that thinks I'm nuts). The added homing attack feels like it belongs. The HD visuals are crisp and vibrant (but stay away from the muddy, fuzzy Wii version if you have the option). Level structure allows for exploration and not just blind speed. Even the fight against Robotnik which at first glace looks like a retread from the original Sega Genesis game has a few new tricks. I only wish I'd had more time to play through everything that the demo had to offer. Now we all have to wait until later this year to see what comes next.