SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4 Episode I

Sonic rises once more like a phoenix from the ashes, returning to the 2D plane where he belongs. Sadly, a poor pricing strategy and some cheap level design make the fourth instalment a case of too little too late

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"Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I" is a platformer game that brings back the classic 2D gameplay after a 16-year wait. The game features enhanced graphics and online interactions, as players control Sonic in a new adventure, filled with familiar elements and enemies from the franchise. The game provides a single-player experience, allowing players to relive the nostalgia of the original Sonic games with new levels and challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

35%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,221 reviews

music112 positive mentions

gameplay50 negative mentions

music
458 mentions
24 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The music in "Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I" has received largely negative feedback, with many players describing it as forgettable, repetitive, and lacking the charm of previous Sonic soundtracks. Critics have noted that the compositions often feel generic and poorly executed, with short loops that can become grating over time. While a few tracks are appreciated, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack fails to meet the high standards typically associated with the Sonic franchise.
- “The soundtrack (despite what some people say) is very enjoyable, even if it's not 'Sonic 3/Mania quality'.”
- “As for the soundtrack... it does the job, I kinda like some of the themes in this game like the ones in Lost Labyrinth and Mad Gear, and each act has an individual track, which is neat!”
- “The music is actually surprisingly catchy from what I've experienced so far, though it is held back occasionally by the sound font used to make it, and the visuals are overall very unappealing in terms of both level aesthetics and character models.”
- “The music is possibly the only passable thing, and at best is underwhelming compared to other Sonic soundtracks.”
- “The music is some of the most insulting of all Sonic games and is insufferably repetitive, especially during the endgame.”
- “The soundtrack is a shame to its predecessors.”
graphics
364 mentions
21 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of Sonic 4 Episode 1 have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing them as cheap, bland, and reminiscent of low-budget mobile games. Critics note a lack of visual clarity and originality, often pointing out that the aesthetics feel like a poor homage to classic Sonic titles rather than a fresh take. While some appreciate the colorful backgrounds, the overall consensus is that the graphics detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
- “From the complex and rewarding gameplay to the stunning visuals, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 is the greatest game that Sega has ever had the honor of achieving.”
- “The graphics are colorful and minimalistic in palette choices while staying complicated enough to look like an art piece.”
- “The visuals are nice.”
- “The graphics were very underwhelming.”
- “The graphics are so low-budget it's ridiculous.”
- “The graphics are ugly, the controls are annoying, and the game just isn't fun.”
gameplay
328 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Sonic 4: Episode 1 has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players criticizing its clunky controls, lack of momentum, and unoriginal level design that fails to capture the essence of the classic Sonic games. While some appreciate the introduction of new mechanics like the homing attack, others find them poorly implemented, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game is seen as a disappointing attempt to revive the franchise, lacking the fluidity and excitement that defined earlier titles.
- “From the complex and rewarding gameplay to the stunning visuals, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 is the greatest game that Sega has ever had the honor of achieving.”
- “The gameplay is fun for what it is.”
- “The controls and the physics of Sonic's movement are generally fine and the homing attack is quite a nice feature which is quite essential for the gameplay given the layout of some of the levels.”
- “Visually, it looks decent, but the nostalgia factor can only carry you so far when the gameplay is this clunky.”
- “The gameplay itself is also just...underwhelming.”
- “The gameplay is awful.”
story
99 mentions
10 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The story in this game is widely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, often reduced to a simple premise of stopping Dr. Eggman without any meaningful context or character development. Many reviewers express disappointment that it fails to build on the narratives established in previous Sonic titles, resulting in a generic and forgettable plot that does not resonate with fans of the series. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers little in terms of storytelling, making it a weak continuation of the Sonic franchise.
- “The story is great and interesting.”
- “The story is interesting without being overly complicated.”
- “The story should have been about Sonic discovering a new island and after some exploring he finds out that Eggman is trying to take over the island so he has more power to take over South Island.”
- “The only story you get here is 'Eggman's the villain, go stop him' without any context or reason.”
- “The story is pretty much non-existent; you just move through levels and there's no cool cutscenes like in Sonic 3 where each act and level told its own story that would eventually pay off in a very satisfying ending.”
- “While the classics were light on story, Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles had small scenes scattered throughout the game to give the player an idea of what is happening; this game has none of that and as a result has no story.”
grinding
37 mentions
5 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unenjoyable, with players often feeling forced to replay levels excessively to achieve goals like collecting chaos emeralds or completing achievements. Many reviewers express frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding for lives and the lack of engaging gameplay, leading to a sense of boredom and annoyance rather than satisfaction. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than a fun challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Starting in the Splash Hill Zone, which looks like a reimagined version of the iconic Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1, the game also features other stages that resemble previous games, such as the Casino Zone and Mad Gear Zone, reminiscent of the old Scrap Brain Zone from Sonic 2. Overall, the game is a great display of platform gaming goodness. The soundtracks are classic from the Genesis era, and while the graphics are good, they aren't on par with Sonic Generations. The level design is bright and colorful, drawing from previous games with some new tweaks. Boss fights are fun and not tedious, although the last boss does require some patience to defeat as you battle all the previous bosses before the final showdown with Robotnik's robot armor.”
- “Getting all the chaos emeralds is some sort of Sisyphus ordeal: play the same stage over and over to enter a special stage that you never feel like you begin to master since they’re much like the dreaded Sonic 1 special stages, except they have a time limit, you spin the level yourself while trying to not get dizzy from the trippy kaleidoscope-like background, meanwhile the bumpers are creatures of chaos that send you flying wherever until you get kicked out of the stage, so then you replay the same tedious and unpleasant regular level to try again, and again, and again, and again... all this after actually beating the game in like 30 minutes.”
- “Every time I try to give this game another chance, I'm reminded at how terrible and tedious it is to play.”
- “This game was just tedious; I can't see myself starting it up again.”
stability
23 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and unresponsive controls that render it nearly unplayable. While a few users noted smooth performance on specific platforms, the majority experienced significant issues, including bugs that affect gameplay mechanics and progress tracking. Overall, the game's stability is considered a major flaw, detracting from the overall experience.
- “No glitches or bugs at all!”
- “Runs very smooth with practically no troubleshooting on Windows 10.”
- “No glitches (at the time of writing this), making it automatically better than 90% of Sonic games, including Sonic Mania.”
- “I've tried pressing the play button, downloading external files and importing them into the game's files, and tried troubleshooting it, but no matter what I do, I literally can't play this game.”
- “The game is laggy, buggy, and essentially unplayable.”
- “This is literally one of the worst Sonic games I've ever played, probably worse than Sonic 06 only because that game is so bad it's good, had hilarious glitches, and it has a nice soundtrack unlike this... thing.”
humor
21 mentions
95 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The humor in "Sonic 4" is largely perceived as unintentional, with players finding the game's awkward physics and poor design choices amusing at times, but ultimately frustrating and boring. While some moments elicit laughter, particularly in comparison to other poorly received titles like "Sonic 06," many reviewers feel that the game lacks the charm and fun of classic Sonic games, leading to a mixed reception regarding its comedic value. Overall, the humor is seen as more of a byproduct of the game's shortcomings rather than a deliberate design feature.
- “I could go on, like the title screen being hilariously lazy, the environments looking bleak, etc. but you get the idea.”
- “I'm not going to be blaming my numerous problems with Sonic 4 on that fact, I just find it incredibly funny.”
- “While Sonic controls just fine at full speed, when you have to make him move from square one it's so awkward and sluggish, especially since they decided to go with the modern Sonic look, making him hilariously walk like a normal person with animations that don't even match the speed he is going at.”
- “It is not funny!”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
replayability
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of the game is mixed; while some players find enjoyment in mastering levels and collecting missed items, many feel it lacks the depth and charm of earlier Sonic titles, leading to a limited desire to replay. The game offers some alternate routes and achievements, but its short length and mediocre platforming diminish its overall replay value. Players generally recommend revisiting classic 2D Sonic games for a more fulfilling experience.
- “There's loads of fun to be had, and like any Sonic game, there's loads of replayability in truly mastering each zone.”
- “🔲 Infinitely replayable.”
- “The 2D Sonic games are generally very replayable, especially Sonic 2 and Sonic CD, and I'd recommend doing so instead of playing through this from what I have seen.”
- “Overall the platforming is mediocre; some stages do have some replay value as some do have alternate routes, but bosses are either as pitiful as their Genesis counterparts or disappointing like the final boss.”
- “- Extremely short and lack of replayability (4-6 hours at most unless you're going for the achievements).”
- “Being a Sonic game, it does have a decent replay value, but you probably won't want to.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game reveal a deep connection among fans, with some expressing joy and nostalgia that brings them to tears, while others feel disappointment and frustration, leading to a sense of heartbreak over the game's perceived decline. The contrasting experiences highlight the strong attachment players have to the Sonic franchise, evoking both fond memories and painful critiques.
- “I love this game and Sonic so much that I cried at the end because of how much critique this game gets. This is not Sonic Forces, which is also a decent Sonic game for me, not a bad one.”
- “This game makes me want to cry, for the following reasons.”
- “Sonic 2's plot is about the same again, but Tails is there to help you, and in the ending, he picks you up in the air as you're plummeting to your death with a very emotional music track playing in the background.”
monetization
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode I is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it lacks the quality and effort expected from a sequel to a beloved franchise. Priced at around $10, players find it unworthy due to its numerous defects and the availability of superior free alternatives, leading to disappointment in its perceived low effort and reliance on nostalgia. Overall, the game is seen as a soulless attempt to capitalize on past successes without delivering a satisfying experience.
- “Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode I has the cash grab price of around $10 USD; it's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings with the product, especially considering the sheer number of completely free, much higher quality games on Steam.”
- “It feels bad to give a Sonic game a negative review, but this was a low effort cash grab even back then.”
- “0 out of 5 stars from me, for a game that feels like zero effort went into it, just a cash grab for those who enjoyed a game from the far past that was perfect how it was.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by great art direction and cohesive world-building, with strong character designs and music enhancing the experience. However, there are mixed opinions, particularly regarding Sonic's character design, which some find unappealing.
- “I dislike the Sonic character design simply because it looks weird.”
- “Sonic's character design is disgusting.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization varies by platform; while it runs smoothly and looks good on some setups, it is noted to be less optimized for PC users. Despite these issues, players still find enjoyment in the experience.
- “The game looks good on my setup, runs smoothly, and overall provided an enjoyable experience during the COVID-19 lockdown. I have also played this on console.”
- “The game itself is fine, but not very optimized for PC.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the original's essence is lost due to mismatched music and tone. However, certain levels, like the labyrinth zone, successfully evoke a sense of adventure reminiscent of classic titles, incorporating unique elements that enhance the overall experience. Overall, while there are nostalgic elements present, the game's atmosphere struggles to fully capture the charm of its predecessors.
- “The levels play pretty much in the same style you'd expect from a 2D Sonic game with obstacles, enemies, rings, etc. There are a couple of neat twists or elements that add atmosphere to the game. For example, the Labyrinth Zone has an Indiana Jones in a lost tomb feel as Sonic walks with a lit torch while overcoming activated obstacles, or suddenly the walls start to move like at the beginning of Hydrocity Act 2 in Sonic 3.”
- “However, due to the unfitting music and attitude, the atmosphere that the original conveyed is gone.”
- “Skip ahead to 2012, and I saw Sonic 4, which looked like the old school games I loved and not the weird furry-driven/3D fighting games with 'gritty' atmosphere that had plagued the Sonic games for so long.”