1UP has received a handful of screens and one poorly filmed off-screen gameplay video of the next Sonic the Hedgehog game, showing what Sonic looks like in motion when played by your average gamer. Those screens also confirm four zones – Splash Hill Zone, Lost Labyrinth Zone, Casino Street Zone, Mad Gear Zone and a “Special Stage” – from the first episode of Sonic 4.
We’ve double-checked with Sega to see what they have to say about the matter and will burst forth with gold rings when and if they get back to us.
Leaked Video and Screens Reveal Levels in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 [1UP]
Hank
February 17, 2010 at 9:44 AM
Does anyone even care about Sonic anymore? Please Sega, just let him rest in peace.
Report PermalinkBrink
February 17, 2010 at 2:01 PM
I still care about sonic Hank and am really looking forward to Sonic 4 – what isn’t to like about 2D sonic?
Report PermalinkChuloopa
February 17, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Whilst i think it’s awesome that they are putting sonic back where he belongs (in 2d) – that gameplay video looked super slugish compared to the original sonic.
Report PermalinkWheres the speed in his jumps? Where’s the intensity? So far all i’m seeing is a game where the developers are still hoping people will buy the game on “oooo shiny” value alone…
Aaron Clement
February 17, 2010 at 10:43 AM
It’s shot on a dodgy camera phone & is an alpha build according to 1up, so that may lean towards why it looks ‘sluggish’. Mind you, some of the little things like his ‘turning’ speed definitely looked sluggish compared to the original sprite based 2d outings. Largely I suspect because they’re animating his turn from back to front, rather than just flipping the sprite around.
It still looks better than the other rubbish we’ve been forced to endure in previous years, so I’m still hopeful!
Report PermalinkStephen Alexander
February 17, 2010 at 10:42 AM
The overall speed of Sonic’s running looks similar to the Genesis entries, though I find myself missing the rapid-spinning leg animation. The jumping looks a bit slow and floaty too. Guess we’ll see when it comes out.
Report PermalinkPlasmaDavid
February 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
I agree with Chuloopa, the game design (from the few screens etc we’ve seen) is looking VERY conservative\chunk\rounded-sparkly. If that even makes sense.
I mean, the backgrounds we can see aren’t even as interesting\good as the old games. Look at the SSBB Sonic level, is it too much to ask for something that looks akin to that?
I suppose we shouldn’t wish for a clone of the old games, but if these pictures are anything to go by then it shan’t be anything near the old games.
Then again, Sonic Rush were apparently excellent, is this the same team?
Report PermalinkJ
February 17, 2010 at 3:38 PM
Not excellent, just not completely terrible which puts it signifcantly above any of the other Sonic games to come out in the last 10 years.
Report PermalinkIt was solid but lacked the strong level design of the early games.
PlasmaDavid
February 17, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Oh and thankyou Aaron for the reminder;
When you’ve hit rock bottom you can only go up. As such, this looks to be the best Sonic game in almost a decade. (SAB was EXCELLENT)
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