Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Retr0gamer

I severely doubt there's any difference. There's also no controller lag with VGA or HDMI.

yawnstretch

I think I'll go with my gut and get the ps3 version.

Thanks anyway!

johnny_ultimate

Copied from arcade & retro forum (in short: I dig it):

Well what would you know, I'm just here to sing the praises of Sonic 4 after an hour and a bit with it on the PS3.

The first thing that I very much like is the level design. Now, don't get me wrong, one or two bits so far haven't fit quite into the Sonic spirit (one particular bit where you have to jump over a death bit using rotating cards is irksome). But for the most part the levels have impressed me with their innovative takes on Sonic tropes. The Casino levels (barring said card bit) are fantastic, a cacophony of noises, excitement and gambling. The Mine levels are equally fun, the torchlight one particularly a lot of fun indeed. Now, not all the ideas hit - the rolling balls you have to balance on for example just feels counter intuitive - but most do. The first levels are the worst so far, once the 'world map' of sorts opens up the designers let loose.

Secondly, it just feels right. The sounds and fun soundtrack go along way towards this. The graphics are merely OK - at first I was disappointed, but like most Sonic games you kind of just forget them after a while. However, some bits (like the pseudo 3D trail of cards you can jump on) do look very good indeed.

Movement wise, sometimes the new 'home in' attack works, other times it's an annoyance, more the former though. The first steps you take feel sort of wrong, but after that it all begins to feel like Sonic again.

The bosses are the only major weakness so far - merely mediocre, nothing special.

Now, I would be the first to complain if this was all about speed. It's not - the level design has far more tricks up its sleeve than that. There are the typical Sonic on-rails bits where everything moves like a blur, but there are tonnes of distractions and diversions in each level that they feel like interesting and welcome additions to the franchise. The odd stupid enemy aside (the geckos that pop up in world one are a nuisance) the game runs far more smoothly than I would hope. It feels like it has genuine variety. Really like the special stages too, although a bit easier than the old school variants.

Oh, one more problem - they dish out extra lives like its no ones business. I have 50+ after an hour

So my rose tinted glasses are off, and I really really like Sonic 4. It's a welcome retro revival, one which brings plenty of new ideas to the table while remaining loyal to the games it is inspired by. Dare I say well done Sonic Team? Give me another hour or two, but so far I'm impressed.

super_furry

yawnstretch wrote: »

I think I'll go with my gut and get the ps3 version.

Thanks anyway!

Don't do it! The 360 version is much better thanks to Blast Processing and five layer parallax scrolling!

gizmo

yawnstretch wrote: »

Can't find an answer to this anywhere on line - which version of Sonic 4 is most responsive. I hate controller lag and am leaning towards the PS3 version - would hdmi be faster than VGA?

Thanks for any comments!

As Retr0gamer said, there'll probably be no technical differences between these versions so I'd just get it on the platform whose controller you prefer.

SuperDude87

I actually quite like this game. It isn't perfect but then again I don't really think the perfect game exists.

Having followed the thread over on neogaf I was really aprehensive about getting it due to the at length discussion of "teh physics teh physics are all wrong11!!!!!!!!!one1"

Sure I don't like how Sonic will come out of his spin when thrown in mid-air which is especially annoying when you happen to run into an air born nasty, there are a few speed issues but in general it's an enjoyable game.

Completed it not long after buying it but am now stuck on the last Chaos emerald it's so damn frustrating even more so when you have to complete an entire level for the umpteenth time just to get there.

Has anyone got all of the Chaos Emeralds and if so any tips? There's no way just to jump straight to it is there (the level select screen only lets me do ones I've already completed)

Anyway I'm looking forward to Episode 2 whenever that will arrive

fifth

CMpunked wrote: »

The lost labyrinth boss stage is bugging the shiv out of me.

Also, completing the first act in less then a minute?!
Anyone had a shot at this one?

Yup got that achievement last night, not hard mostly involves sonics feet never touching the ground , using all the springboards you can find.

Got it in 58 seconds, was going to get around 50 seconds but I hit a wall twice and rolled back down a slope once, so that slowed me down.

johnny_ultimate

SuperDude87 wrote: »

Has anyone got all of the Chaos Emeralds and if so any tips? There's no way just to jump straight to it is there (the level select screen only lets me do ones I've already completed)

Just got them all, and I just focused on the first seven stages (mainly the Splash Hill and Casino ones). The Splash Hill Zones are easy and short, you'll get to the end of the levels with 50 rings no problem. Casino ones are a bit trickier, mainly because the second and third stages have 'death pits' near the end if you don't slow down and take your time crossing them. Unfortunately, if you fall you're unlucky because there isn't enough rings between the final checkpoint and the end of level to access the special stage. Focusing on the casino zones will also guarantee you the '99 Lives' achievement (I now have 111 :eek:).

The only hard bonus stages IMO are four, six (I think, maybe five) and seven. The former is the hardest, because your time limit is really tight - you really need to be picking up all the time bonuses. Six you just need to watch out for getting 'sealed in' by the red and white bumpers at the end of straights - make sure to keep rotating. Seven is tricky again because there are some awkwardly place red exclamation marks near bumpers, so if you're not careful game over man. But just take your time in that one and you'll be fine.

AceCard Jones

I have to say this game was really good. I enjoyed it a lot, the different physics took a bit of getting used to. But if you take the old ones out of your mind you get used to it quite fast. What would have made the new physics worse would have been if the levels didn't match them, but they did.

Only bit that had me wanting to fling my pad through the TV was the boss in Mad Gear Zone. The one who flings the different size/speed items at you as you're running after him. Felt that was the only part the running/jumping physics let the game down as it made dodging these quite hard.

Found the levels really fun, I don't know if I'd say easier than the old games because I know the old games inside out and never get hit or die in them, so with this game being new it's hard for me to say. Great fun either way.

Only point I'd take from this game is for the time it took them to release the game it is a little bit on the short side. Not so short as I'd be angry about it just not long enough to justify the wait since it's announcement.

Over all nothing about this game made me regret buying it.
Nostalgia, music, level design etc was all up to scratch.

Only achievement I need now is the complete the last boss gauntlet without being hit one. Which could take me a while and maybe a pad or two. Anyone needs any help or tips with the other achievements let me know.

I'd agree with Eurogamer's 9/10.

Well done Sega.

EDIT:

My best tip for the bonus stages is to learn them off and find the quickest routes.
Unfortunately the special stage level selects only unlock for each stage as you complete them.
My best tip to counter this is every time you start a new bonus stage, if you're about to run out of time hit pause and restart and you begin again without having to do a whole stage with 50 rings. You can take this one step further if you're quick enough to pause the game before hitting the red circles and restart.
Other than that all you can do is wait for a little luck as rebounding off springs etc can be dangerous or handy.

irish_stevo815

Has anyone downloaded Sonic The Hedgehog 4 yet? If so, is it worth the €12.99?

smilerf

have you tried the demo yet. I was not very impressed tbh. Although i was never a fan of sonic games

irish_stevo815

:eek: I never realised there was a demo. I'll try that out so. I'm glad it's gone back to old school sonic games. Pity it's only Part 1 (4 levels). Does anyone know when Part 2 is due out.

Minstrel27

I bought it and I am enjoying it.

Josey Wales

I didn't see the demo either.

ShaneU

yes it's worth it

Limerick3

I tryed it on xbox, good graphics, buy it if you like sonic. Im not a huge fan tbh

yawnstretch

Yep, it's pretty good (after years of sh ite)

Bugg

Theres a demo on the U.S PSN

eddhorse

You can get the demo of the PS3 version on the US PSN store.
Back to basics, i like it !

DARK-KNIGHT

is it just me or does thread look like trolling nature to it??

yawnstretch

DARK-KNIGHT wrote: »

is it just me or does thread look like trolling nature to it??

It does now, cheers.

AnCapaillMor

Good fun but 12.99 for 197mb is a bit mad.

Josey Wales

Tried the demo yesterday and was very unimpressed.

eddhorse

I liked it, its such an improvement on the 3d type scroller Sonic Unleashed, headaches all day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMmgdNHH7e0

Minstrel27

The shouting and roaring on that game is enough to make it forgettable imo.

eddhorse

Yeah it was shocking, least the demo scared me off that one !

Napper Hawkins

I hate it.

I loved the first 4 Sonic games to the point of obsession and still play them regularly on the Sega Megadrive Ultimate Collection, possibly the greatest 2D platformers ever made along with the old Mario games.

The physics are stunningly wrong and it's far, far too easy, it's like Sonic for the handicapped.

I'm disgusted at how bad this is actually, really truly disgusted and saddened and anyone who disagrees needs to dig out the old games and see for yourselves why this game is the absolute final nail in Sonic's coffin.

F - and that's being nice. **** you Sonic Team, I want my money back.:mad:

cherryghost

DOES NOT LIKE.

It's horrible. They could have done the right thing and at LEAST made the controls and feel of Sonic the same way he was. But no. It's terrible. Demo put me off the full game

CMpunked

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

I hate it.

I loved the first3 Sonic games to the point of obsession and still play them regularly on the Sega Megadrive Ultimate Collection

FYP :pac:

Napper Hawkins

CMpunked wrote: »

FYP :pac:

Did you? Name them.