Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 Physics

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has finally been released, starting off with Episode 1. The game had been delayed several times over, without a release date ever stated until completion. Sega listened to both the positive and the negative comments from the fanbase as a means of fixing and keeping things within the game.

Unfortunately, this title uses Sonic Rush's physics, which often leave the game hard to play. This video was made to show what can be done in Episode 1, while also comparing how things are done in the first two Sonic titles. Hopefully something can be done to change the physics back to the classics for future episodes.

An explanation of certain events in the video:

1) When using the Spin Dash, Sonic will come to a complete stop if he drops to even a slightly lowered part of the ground. In the classic titles, he will continue to keep spinning until he has slowed to a halt or run into something.

2) If the player does not hold down the direction they want Sonic to go while in the air, he will drop straight down. Even when pushed by a spring, he will not move any further than the player has him move. The classic titles launched Sonic much further if he was not being guided by the player.

3) If the player is rolled into a ball and attempts to climb up a slope, they will not get very far up, regardless of the amount of speed built up on a flat surface. Sonic will also slow down, rather than gain speed the more he attempts to go back and forth. In Episode 1, it appears running is the only way to build up speed to run up slopes. In the classic titles, the Spin Dash and somersault built up speed based on Sonic's momentum.

4) When Sonic grabs an air bubble, he will become completely immobile as he swallows it. In the classic titles, it was still possible to maneuver him in a direction, albeit slowly.

5) If the player lets go of the D-Pad while Sonic is running, he will come to a complete stop, regardless of the amount of speed he has built up. Originally, it takes longer for him to slow down before coming to a complete stop. This is the same as with jumping in the air.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Sonic the Hedgehog 4
• Episode 1

[AGeekNamedZach]

Let me Summarize the comments of this video before you scroll down further. Flames, trolling, and fanboys. Now enjoy the video.

[TsukentoX]

@AGeekNamedZach Indeed. They tend to make even me not want to read them.

[Thedeadskin1]

My main problem with this game was the over-reliance on nostalgia, personally.

The reason the physics are mainly so weird is because of the engine it used: it's Sonic Rush with more friction! The momentum issues were fixed in the near-universally hated 3DS version of Sonic Generations, developed by the same studio as Sonic 4 (Dimps).

Its physics don't even come close to Sonic 2006's, tho. Just look at Kingdom Valley and Aquatic Base.

[TsukentoX]

@Thedeadskin1 Sonic '06 is a whole other ballpark where virtually everything was broken. That and it wasn't done by Dimps. Sadly, the Sonic Generations 3DS release seems to be plagued with Dimps' inability to make proper level designs, despite fixing the problems Sonic 4 had.

[djdavedoc]

This guy speaks sense. Sonic 4's Physics are terrible in comparison to the Original Mega Drive titles.

[TsukentoX]

@Arbiterisl33t69 Played the first three Halo titles start to finish. So yes, I have played them. And no, I don't go by "what my friends think." If I did, I'd still have an Xbox 360 and subscription to Xbox Live.

Clearly you are upset if you felt the need to jump in here and complain about a subject that took place several months ago elsewhere. Especially hilarious how you're resorting to calling me a "gay nerd" or "nerdy ass faggot." Congratulations! You're using the insults of a teenager.

[TsukentoX]

@ghostpinguin It helps if you actually refer to older comments to see exactly why it was brought up.

[ghostpinguin]

@TsukentoX wtf does Halo have to do with this video OMG were talking about Sonc not some stupid ass copy of Unreal Tournament , no one cares how ya played Halo series from start to finish.

[paulcarrillo226]

@TheSonicman1991 classics are always the best now gtfo and username does not deserve the year

[JShedgehog]

But I mean there's just no pleasing some people. There are always those people who want a Sonic game to be EXACTLY like the MD/Gen titles and frankly that's not gonna happen and I'm fine with it not happening. Even if it did they would complain about it being a rehash or whatever. People will always find a reason to complain. The only physics issues I have with this game are the slopes physics and that Sonic unrolls when he's in the air. It's kinda weird but not that big of a deal.

[JShedgehog]

They're not TERRIBLE, but they definitely could be a lot better.

[Thedeadskin1]

@TsukentoX It's a little depressing that you can't have light without darkness.