A Final Retrospective on the Blue Rodent



Chances are if you're a Sonic fan you got pretty excited about "Project Needlemouse" when it was first announced. Chances are you were even more excited to play Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode One after downloading it. There's also a good chance you enjoyed the game, regardless of the fact that it reeked like last weeks recycled newspaper being delivered in place of a fresh headline. Like myself and many others who were expecting the remake of what Sonic used to be, involving two dimensional innovations and brand new zones as the series progressed, you've either settled with the fact that you just paid fifteen dollars for the same game(s) you played in the 90's, or you didn't get the game at all.

We'll say it once and we'll say it again -- Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode One is a great game. It's not a glitched out piece of garbage or something that would make you drop your jaw in disgust. The game is awesome, but in all honesty it still didn't feel like the big deal Sega was so ecstatic to present us with. This was (as I said before) a completely rehashed blend of everything we've seen in Sonic throughout the years. Like many other fans out there we [at Press Pause Radio] were personally thrilled for the general release, but disappointed when we realized we had just played through something we already dominated decades ago, as opposed to this flashy new "rebirth" we heard so much about. The funniest thing is how those folks who were buying digital copies of the original Sonic in order to "protest" the new Sonic 4 project -- weren't really missing much after all.

Sonic still has a gambling problem...

Perhaps our slightly sour reactions of the game come from the fact that we're stuck with such a steep price tag for something so familiar. We loved the classic Sonic games, but we're still crying out for a new twist that doesn't involve strange concepts or unplayable control schemes. Take Sonic Colors on the DS for example, classic Sonic mixed with unfamiliar zone atmospheres and new abilities thanks to the wisps. So we see a few cheesy cut scenes here and there, but they can be skipped if you're not too fond of them. The game was an overall success, leaving most fans with a level of satisfaction they initially wanted from Sonic 4, also proving that Sonic Team is still quite creative. 

Anyone who's played Sonic 4: Episode One (including myself) is probably going to recommend that you try it, but still admit it's not exactly the golden Sonic revival we've been waiting for. Again, we're only one "episode" into this boat, so the folks at Sonic Team and Sega could really surprise and impress us for a show we couldn't afford to miss -- even if it costs us another fifteen bucks. In all honestly if future episodes contain loads of creative new ideas and concepts, it would probably make up for the mediocre reception of this entire redo. So here's to a decent start with hopes of great improvement, along with constant kudos to Sonic Team for trying their best to keep the spirit alive.

-Sean B.