From Sonic, Sonic 2 and Sonic3&Knuckles comes the sequel we have all waited for: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode I, where the franchise goes back to its roots to try and redeliver the classic momentum based platformer that carried Sega to success in 1991.

Unfortunately the game does not deserve the complement of its predecessors as for the most part the game insults the classic era of the franchise with a mediocre game that has a inferiority complex - trash can't disguise itself amongst gold.

The level design does not complement the momentum and even the momentum mechanics of the game are poor or rather broken and don't hold their own to the older brothers which will leave you with nothing but a sigh as the game spoonfeeds you dash panels so that you don't earn your speed and you're not punished for mistakes.

The developers don't understand that earning your momentum gives you a fresh experience when you replay the level and you understand the layout well enough not to crash into Badniks or spikes which is why the ring system is there in the first place; so you can fail multiple times, learn from your mistakes instead of punishing you downright so once you finally learn you're allowed to hold the reins of speed and all its goodness.

Taking that away devalues what made the classic games in the first place. The game also introduces the homing attack that is forced on you and drops every bit of speed you've gained so far.

Despite what has been said about the level design, Zone 4 takes a few steps towards the right direction but it doesn't stop the game from falling on its face, you also have the terrible floaty physics and the poor (re-)designed bosses to also thank for that.

The music however is great and with the beautiful visuals are very reminiscent of the classic Sonic games are by far the strongest points of this product which thankfully don't collapse with the disappointment of the game. Even the 2.5D models are great other than Sonic's model itself oddly enough.

What makes this game bearable is the fact that it's a average platformer game when you don't compare it to its far superior prequels, the length is very great for its price and the online time attack where you can compete against other players that can have you playing for hours to see who can break and exploit the game to the finish line the fastest.

The game is by all means worth the £6 but you're better off spending a bit more of that money to buy games like DuckTales Remastered and/or Sonic 4 Episode 2, despite them having lower scores on gaming review sites they're superior in everyway.

Physics? What's that?" -Sonic 4 devs

First of all, Sonic 4 is not a bad game. It was perceived as being bad likely because it changed the formula of the classic Sonic games and people didn't like that. Had it not been titled "Sonic 4," a lot of the negative reception would be diminished considerably, since many simply didn't think it was a worthy successor to the classic games. You have to look at a game both as part of a series and individually in order to have a valid opinion of a game, and that's exactly what I plan to do in this review.

To begin with, I like the visuals and art style (although cel-shaded Sonic looks a bit odd). The music is great, despite what some have said, and the level design is definitely on par with the classic games, albeit slightly more linear. Of course, one of the major inclusions this time around is the Homing Attack, a move that many felt didn't work in a 2D Sonic game. I honestly didn't have any problems with it, I actually found it to be implemented quite well. Now onto the physics. Literally EVERY REVIEW I have seen of Sonic 4 mentions the physics being poor or "floaty." In reality, there are no discernable issues with the physics in Sonic 4, and when compared to the classic games, the physics could be considered better. I'm guessing that, once again, these people are using that same "different = bad" principle, as they have with the rest of the game.

Moving on, the bosses are generally pretty easy, although the final boss is relentlessly difficult. The Special Stages are all ♥♥♥♥ing insane, and the last one is quite possibly the cheapest, most unforgiving Special Stage I have ever had the misfortune to play in a Sonic game. I've tried again and again with no luck, so if anyone has some incredible strategy to beat it, please let me know. Anyway, the Zones themselves are actually pretty creative (especially Casino Street) despite being mainly based on level tropes from the classic Sonic games, but aren't really memorable, with the exception of Mad Gear Zone. That ♥♥♥♥ is epic.

Of course, as with the classic games, there are a few cheap deaths and unfair tricks in the game that can become incredibly frustrating, but nothing too big besides the aforementioned final boss and Special Stages. Overall, it's actually a decent game. Maybe it's not a real sequel to the classic Sonic games, and maybe it's flawed, but it's still enjoyable and holds up as an individual game. If you want a true Sonic 4, go buy Sonic Advance, but if this review hasn't convinced you to at least give this game the credit it deserves, then I don't know what will.

Ugly, lazy, barely any content. The content that's there is either boring or terrible. Sonic controls like Megaman to the point where if you don't hold a direction while being launched out of a cannon or minecart you'll drop like a rock. The music tries to sound like a Genesis and succeeds in all the worst ways. An all-around unpleasant experience, really.

This game has no original stages at all. It can fun sometimes and the graphics are all-right. The final bsoss is really hard but epic.
If you are a fan of the classic sonic series. buy this game. it will be fine. if you are not, don't worry, you will pass the game.

I give this game a 6.5 out of 10