sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II officially announced

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Dec 30, 2011 at 6:05 pm

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, the long-awaited return to 2D gameplay for the Sonic series, met with a mixed reception when it debuted on consoles in 2010. The Windows Phone version debuted several months later. In WPCentral’s Sonic 4 review, I praised its faithfulness to the console game (outside of a crummy pinball level exclusive to the mobile game) and touch screen controls. While the retro remake of Sonic CD is still due to arrive sometime (having already hit consoles and iOS), many fans have been left wondering about the fate of Sonic 4: Episode II.

Good news today then, as Sega has finally released a teaser trailer for Episode II. The trailer is devoid of gameplay footage, but it does at least promise the return of two popular characters: Tails the fox, Sonic’s young sidekick, and Metal Sonic, one of the main enemies in Sonic CD.

Head past the break for another video and more gameplay details!

Sonic 4 Mango update turns the music back on

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Dec 9, 2011 at 1:02 pm

The arrival of the Mango update has been a great thing for Windows Phone Xbox Live gamers, with a few exceptions. Specifically, Twin Blades couldn’t run on Mango until it got patched, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I began to experience a nasty sound bug. Thankfully Sonic 4 received a Mango update today that fixes things right up.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I version 1.1 release notes

Added Fast App Switching support
Fixed sound bug that occurred when players earned an extra life, causing the music to stop

Sonic 4 is a great touch-screen platformer that captures nearly all of the magic of its console counterpart. Now that its tunes are working properly again, fans of the blue hedgehog can step into his shoes and thwart Dr. Eggman’s plans as intended. If you haven’t played the game yet, give our review a look.

Sonic 4 costs $6.99 and there is a free trial. Pick it up here on the Marketplace. To learn about Sonic CD, the follow up/prequel to Sonic 4, check out our developer interview.

Thanks to Mark Tepper for the tip!

Xbox Live Black Friday sale looks a bit familiar

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 at 3:02 pm

Last week, Sonic 4, Full House Poker, and Assassin’s Creed all went on sale for half a day before mysteriously returning to full price. Those three Xbox Live titles are now officially on sale for the week of November 22-28, apparently as part of a Black Friday sale.

Sonic 4: Episode 1 is a 2-dimensional platformer starring the world’s fastest hedgehog. Our review praises its similarity to the XBLA version as well as the touch screen controls, which are the best we’ve encountered in a mobile platformer. Sonic 4 regularly sells for $6.99, but it’s $4.99 this week. Marketplace link

Full House Poker (review) is a single-player Texas Hold ‘Em simulator. Not only was it the first Windows Phone title to feature full Avatar integration, it also shares excellent connectivity with the Xbox 360 version of the game. Full House Poker is on sale for $1.99, down from $2.99. Marketplace link

Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles (review) is a 3D platformer/action title set in the middle ages. With great graphics and full voice acting (though the acting is atrocious), it feels like a DS game squeezed into a mobile title (‘cause it is). The controls are fiddly and the platforming can be frustrating, but the story and action mostly make up for it. Assassin’s Creed is on sale for $2.99, down from $4.99. Marketplace link

Sonic 4 is the Xbox Live Deal of the Week

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011 at 3:17 am

Last week was a fantastic week for Xbox Live game deals, as four different games went on sale. This week we’re back to a single sale game, but it’s a good one: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I from Sega. Sonic’s first Windows Phone title will be on sale for $4.99, down from $6.99.

2010’s Sonic 4 was the first proper 2D Sonic game to hit consoles since Sonic & Knuckles all the way back in 1994. The Windows Phone port is extremely faithful to its Xbox 360 older brother, with 90% of the same content. The mobile versions of the game replace two console levels with new ones (one of which is rather weak, but oh well). Most importantly, Sonic 4’s touch screen controls work really well, making for a fine platforming experience. Check out our review for more details.

Picking up Sonic 4 on the cheap is a great way to prepare for the mobile version of Sonic CD. One of the finest games in the series, Sonic CD is dashing its way to Windows Phone and consoles later this year.

The Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I sale lasts for one week only. Grab it here (Zune link) on the Marketplace.

UPDATE: The game mistakenly showed up at the super-low price of $2.99 for part of Wednesday. It has since returned to the $4.99 price. Thanks to Dark Jedi I Am and the other readers who tipped us.

Sonic CD coming to Xbox Live, Sonic 4 Episode II planned for 2012

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Aug 26, 2011 at 12:56 am

Sega surprised everyone today by announcing a new Sonic the Hedgehog game for Windows Phone. No, it’s not a surprise that they’re doing a second one after Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I turned out so well (see our review). What we didn’t expect from the next mobile Sonic game is that it would be a port of… Sonic CD.

Sonic CD (AKA Sonic the Hedgehog CD) was originally released on the Sega CD/Mega CD, a CD-ROM add-on for the 16-bit Sega Genesis/Mega Drive console, back in 1993. It marks the first appearances of Sonic’s would-be girlfriend Amy Rose and fan-favorite villain Metal Sonic. Sonic CD has seven huge zones, each with three acts, as well as unique 3D special stages. Most uniquely, Sonic can travel into past and future versions of most stages by passing through time portals at high-speeds. Successfully defeating Eggman’s Robot Generators in the past actually changes the future for the better. Sonic CD also features a fully animated intro and two different endings. By the way, it's my all-time favorite Sonic game.

Head past the break for details on the new Sonic CD port and the concept video that helped make this port a reality!