#Sonic the hedgehog 4 episode 2 pc series#

With Episode 2, it seems Sonic Team addressed the main complaint from Sonic 4вЂs first installment, and simply went through the motions when it came to making the rest of the game. ItвЂ™s solid, providing the occasional pleasant moment and dose of eye candy, but itвЂ™s one of the more banal offerings of late, which is a real shame considering what a high point Sonic Generations was. The game isnвЂ™t particularly bad, itвЂ™s just not engaging on any level. I could still happily go back to Episode 1 and play several levels again, but I have absolutely no desire to return to Episode 2 anytime soon.

#Sonic the hedgehog 4 episode 2 pc series#

Outside of one nice little fight that has Sonic avoiding a series of falling crates and using them to reach Eggman, Г la The Blocks Cometh, thereвЂ™s really nothing IвЂ™d consider playing more than once a feeling that permeates the entire experience. The boss battles are similarly unremarkable, most of them dragging on for far too long and attempting sudden ambush attacks to falsify a sense of danger and difficulty.

From slippery platforms to weary вЂњIвЂ™m being chased by a wall that will crush meвЂќ sequences, the majority of the action in Episode 2 feels too old fashioned and predictable to really offset SonicвЂ™s more methodical movements. These moments are few and far between, however, with an alarming amount of sluggish underwater levels and repetitive, uninspired platforming gimmicks from yesteryear making up the majority of the challenge. One stage in particular, set on a roller coaster with constantly shifting tracks, is intricately designed and satisfyingly tricky to navigate. There are certainly moments that bring a littleВ exhilarationВ to the table. Sadly, the slower pace has not brought with it the superior level design of past titles, and this makes for a game that is, on the whole, relatively dull and quite forgettable indeed.

Those players hung up on physics ought to be more than satiated by the way Sonic feels as he sprints across the landscape, but thereвЂ™s a price to pay for such nostalgic commodities. Sonic takes more time to reach top speed and slow down, and there are no more instances of him defying gravity while clinging to ceilings. Though there are obviously moments of speed, Episode 2 comes closer to capturing the feel of the Genesis platformers than any other title to date. Both flying and combo rolls are integral to getting past certain obstacles, and are initiated or cancelled at any time with a simple contextual button press.ДЄlong with theВ weightierВ physics is an overall slower progression through levels. As well as flying, the furry pair can combine to form one giant ball that smashes through barriers and destroys larger opponents in a heartbeat - at the cost of limited control and an inability to change directions.

In a nod to his Genesis debut, Tails may aid Sonic by grabbing his hands and propelling him through the air like a small orange helicopter, but interaction between the two is far more extensive than once it was. Tails can be controlled by another player either locally or via Xbox Live, or he can act as an independent CPU character. More importantly, Miles вЂњTailsвЂќ Prower has made his grand return, and his appearance proves quite crucial.

Since Episode 1 took most of its inspiration from the very first Sonic the Hedgehog game, it is fitting that Episode 2 should draw heavily from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with stages based on the Aquatic Ruin, Oil Ocean and Wing Fortress Zones, not to mention Metal Sonic as a recurring rival (and playable character for those with Episode 1 game data). Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2В (PC, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade )ДЄs with Episode 1, this new chapter is split into four stages comprised of three main acts and a boss battle. Unfortunately, however, it seems that Sonic Team and Dimps was so focused on fixing that one problem that it forgot to make sure everything else was up to snuff. This time around, Sonic moves through stages with a sense of weight and momentum far more reminiscent of his earlier platforming adventures, which many will consider a boon. Part of the benefit of an episodic series is that developers can listen to concerns such as this and address them in future updates, something quite clearly evidenced in Episode 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 was considered a letdown by many longtime fans of the series, mostly due to the fact that its physics were not similar enough to the original Genesis titles.