UPDATE: The UK, AU and U.S. official Sonic 4 websites have also been updated with music for Lost Labyrinth Zone Act 1, three new badniks, concept art and more screenshots. The concept art and new screens have been added with the Japanese ones at the bottom of this article.
Thanks to Shoryuken for the heads up and thanks to Woun at the SSMB for obtaining the screens! /UPDATE END
SEGA has officially revealed the Lost Labyrinth Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 today. The update arrived on their official Japanese Sonic 4 website with eight new screenshots. The screenshots show that there has been a major overhaul of the stage, including new elements, such as dark areas in which Sonic will need to carry a torch to light up his surroundings. Sonic will also require the torch to light dynamite packs in certain areas to advance. The mine cart seen in the leaked footage of this level is still present, but it looks like it will only be used for a short period of time rather than take up a whole act. Judging by the screenshot, the mine cart moves forward without the need for tilting the screen.
We’ll keep an eye open for a U.S. and European update and let you know of any new info/media that may get released. Meanwhile, you can check out the screenshots below. If you saw the leaks, are you happy with the changes? If you didn’t, do you like your first glimpse? Let us know in the comments!
Thanks to Blue Blood at the SSMB for the heads up!
UK, U.S. and AU website:
Japanese site:
I had a feeling they’d overhaul the mincart.
the UK site just revealed LLZ with more screenshots
US website also updated.
Love the new look of Lost Labyrinth.
Dynamite gimmick really looks nice and fun. (=
the uk site has also been updated
Oh thank god for that. I’m happy 🙂
Cant wait for this game to come out. Its going to be like sonic 1.
I love the look of this zone, now that I get to see it in some higher-def shots, it’s just got a interesting look about it, great lighting and detail. I haven’t really cared much about the look of the game so far, but this just looks like a fantastic zone to take a trip through.
@Shadzter you’re welcome!
HOLY SUGAR! That looks amazing!
Those backgrounds are really quite stunning…
DUDE! This looks so amazing, and the music is good for a change. I hate the music for act 1 and 2 of Splash Hill. The detail on the level is stunning.
YAY! My favourite zone 😀
Gotta love that music, and I am really liking this new gimmick, but that could also be very frustating depending of the level design.
Thank god tilting is no longer neccisery for the minecart 🙂
Minecart!!!!
This zone looks cool. Really interesting.
So.
Splash Hill – Lost Labyrinth – Casino Street – Mad Gear – Egg Station?
I’m glad it seems they’ve opted to make this level more puzzle oriented. Sorta like a hybrid of Marble Zone and Labyrinth Zone. I can dig it. I just hope the poor physics won’t hinder precise jumping.
That level looks really cool, very detailed, big change from Splash hill Zone.
I thought the minecart thing was just gonna be for the iPhone version?
The background is going to distract me during gameplay.
@Jim-X That was just speculation, SEGA never said that. They have only said that the iPhone version will have two unique levels. It’s still possible that the minecart level is one of the iPhone levels because this minecart level is not the same as the original. It appears that this version of the minecart only takes up part of the level and isn’t controlled by tilting the stage.
I love it. If they’re trying to, in a way, “HD” Sonic 1, they’re not succeeding. This looks way cooler than Marble OR Labrynth!
Looks cool. Nothing special. Level change is good news. Just not big news. But it’s still news. Can’t wait to find out what else they’re gonna dish out on Sonic 4. =)
Looks really fun now. This game looks really good right now! I can’t wait to get my hands on this on my iPhone and Xbox. The torch part looks really fun.
It’s kind of good and bad that it looks a lot like labyrinth zone. But at least we’ll get some good water parts.
Oh and Fluffy Kitten’s source with the mine kart was again Big the Cat as it seems.
I love Sonic’s idle animation with the torch, his head is on fireeee!!
Wonder what info come next.
lol I love how Sonic is crouched down waiting for the dynamite to explode.
Automated minecarts? Level in the dark with a light source in hand?
This has Donkey Kong Country all over it.
This looks awesome. They actually had original ideas for this instead of completely copying Sonic 1’s Labyrinth! The fact that they changed so much due to fan reaction means a lot. Now all I need is to get my hands on this game…I look forward to hearing the drowning countdown music and having a wicked nostalgia trip from it.