Electricpig has posted up a new preview of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, featuring thoughts on the whole of Splash Hill Zone and Act 1 of Lost Labyrinth Zone. The versions available were the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, of which they played the former and glimpsed the latter. The previews author, Ben Illis found both to be visually identical, but control wise were very different. Illis seemed to struggle to play this game with the Xbox 360’s analogue stick and d-pad, and feels the controls on PS3 will be “preferable”.
What might set them apart is the controls: since Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 is a 2D game, the Xbox 360’s analog stick is somewhat irritating, and the time it takes to pull from all the way left to all the way right when he’s hurtling along at speed is irksome, not helped by the awful D-pad on the controller. We have a feeling this one’s going to be preferable on the PS3, or with Microsoft’s new Xbox 360 gamepad (Though buying it just for this would probably be overkill).
The levels, Illis feels “trod a fine line between retro nostalgia and inventiveness” and “were a blast to play”, so much of a blast that Illis thinks this an ideal return to 2D gaming for Sonic.
“Tearing through the green loops and bouncing up the cliffs of Splash Hill while rescuing bunnies and bouncing off robot fish transported us back to our childhood, and seems like the ideal way to return to 2D Sonic gaming.”
The preview then moves on to the Lost Labyrinth Zone, where Illis says the game “ramps up the learning curve a tad.” At one point with the boulders, a graphical glitch is mentioned, but it’s good to hear it is the only one.
“Here, you’ll be dodging falling boulder, Indie style, or even rolling along on top of them (Which caused the only graphical glitch we saw), and as with older Sonic games, it becomes no longer possible to simply hold right and jump now and again.”
The preview ends by describing the games small amount of zones and stages, but Illis says that “SEGA fans of old will relish these morsels of pure fun.”
For the full preview, head over to Electricpig.
“the Xbox 360’s analog stick is somewhat irritating, and the time it takes to pull from all the way left to all the way right when he’s hurtling along at speed is irksome.”
meh i dont really understand why theres a problem with the analog, i can do it just as fast with the analog as i can on a d-pad(well maybe extremely slightly fast on the d-pad) but i havent really played it yet so…i cant really judge, but to be honest i think its a biased decision
It doesn’t real right on the d-pad. Then again, that’s about the only reason I prefer it on the Wii.
Did we ever find out if the Wii version will be compatible with a Gamecube controller?
A fun game, eh?
God I’m happy I have a PS3 to play the probably best version.
@ Eggman
me too bruddah! gonna play this bitch at 1080. where its meant to played at. lol at 480 on wii. 😀
@ Burtzman:
Wii Remote only I’m afraid:
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/sonic_the_hedgehog_4_episode_i_18119.html
Scroll down to ‘compatible controllers’ at the bottom right of the page.
@Eggman123
Same, though ill be playing it in 1080p on the PS3 and 480p on the Wii.
I dunno, man. That X360 D-pad really sucks, haha.
@Shadzter: Awww… man. Was hoping to play with the same controller I play Mega Collection with. The Wii Remote D Pad seems so tiny. Thanks, though.
@ Brad
Well they realised this after 5 years and now finally are making a new controller.
Gotta love a good D-pad for 2D sidescrollers.
Gez, now I don’t know which version to buy. The 360 version has achievements. I like the Wii D-pad, and the PS3 version seems to have the best controller according to Electricpig. I’m really going to have to think this one through!
I’m planning on downloading Sonic 4 for the Wii cause it’s the main console I play on and the 360 for the achievements
Cool, it’s nice to hear a good review on this game.
Preview, infact.
Here’s my suggestion if you’re going to get it on the 360, but can’t stand the D-pad on the controllers: get the Street Fighter IV Fight Pad. It basically a Saturn controller for the 360, the D-pad on it’s amazing. I use it to play all the 2D sidescrollers I have on my 360. Not to mention, you can plug it into your computer too and use it on there, I play all my ROMs with it! And if I remember correctly, it wasn’t too expensive either.