Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Was Full Of Squandered Potential

"There's no denying the glaring flaws of Sonic the Hedgehog 4--the wonky physics, the blatant remixing (or one might even say "rehashing") of classic levels and bosses from the first two Sonic games, and the soundtrack's questionable and often derided soundfont being chief among them. But despite its problems, even 15 years later, I still find myself occasionally coming back to replay both episodes."

"I appreciate how, instead of every zone having the same hazards and obstacles scattered throughout, each act of each zone had its own distinct gimmick to help one stand out. For example, Casino Street Act 1 featured your standard pinball flippers, bumpers, and slot machine gimmicks. Act 2 shifted the focus to a new mechanic entirely: flipping around and racing across playing cards that act as platforms. The third act brings in colorful cannons that you can manually aim to shoot Sonic across the level."

"Many of the flaws that plagued Episode 1 were significantly reduced for Episode 2. Zones like White Park and Oil Desert offered more originality than those in the first episode. Instead of being a mindless sidekick who simply follows Sonic around and runs into everything, Tails was given new utility, able to carry Sonic across chasms, blast through water and snow at high speed, and even destroy every enemy on screen with a powerful team blast."

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 marked a 15-year milestone on October 7, 2025, as a measured attempt to revive classic 2D Sonic gameplay. The release suffered from wonky physics, heavy reuse of classic levels and bosses, and a divisive Genesis-style soundfont, yet remained visually vibrant and occasionally enjoyable. Each zone featured distinct act-specific gimmicks, such as Casino Street's pinball flippers, playing-card platforms, and aimable cannons. Visuals captured a modern sheen on classic aesthetics, and Jun Senoue's synth-heavy score was catchy despite criticism. Episode 2 reduced many Episode 1 flaws, added original zones, and gave Tails meaningful utility and team-based moves.

Read at GameSpot