Sonic 4: Episode 1 is just a rehash of levels from the first two with two new ones, but it's still a fun game.

User Rating: 7.5 | Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I IOS
Ever since the Dreamcast went into retirement, things have not been looking very good for our blue speedy hedgehog. After getting my iPod Touch (2nd gen), I decided to celebrate by buying myself a iTunes gift card. The first game I bought was Sonic 4.

You might be asking, why did I buy the iPod version? Well, simply because it's half the price and contains all the levels the console versions do. So, yeah, if I want a downloadable game or a XBOX 360 or PS3 game (why hasn't Valve made a iPod game that I'm aware of yet), I'll buy it on the iPod Touch. I did the same with NBA Jam.

Sonic 4's concept is simple, throw in 4 zones from the first two and the final zone from the second, add minor tweaks to them, add a homing attack, spice up the graphics, and call it a new game. If you've played the first two, you will find this game fun, but you'd wonder why you paid $7 for this game (like me). Everyone else will be in for quite a treat. The gameplay is exactly the same as the first two, except for the fact you have a homing attack. For those who don't know however, it can be summed up very easily, run as fast as you can through a level, collect rings so you don't die if you get hit (even 1 ring will do), if you get 50 rings or more and make it to the end without losing them, you can jump into a gigantic ring to enter a bonus stage, beat one to gain a Chaos Emerald, collect all 7 to unlock Super Sonic, and you can use Super Sonic by getting 50 or more rings and pressing a button. Your rings will get depleted slowly, but you can go faster, and you are invincible from everything, except for getting crushed or falling into a bottomless pit.

The controls are simple. You have a virtual joystick on the left side of the screen and a button to the right. Press the button to jump. Plain, simple, effective.

The music is the one of the game's only claim to originallity. They sound like an arcade OST than a Genesis one, but that's not a problem at all. The music is good, except for a few pieces.

The graphics are good. That's all I can say.

This game has negetives, however. For one, it's just a rehash of levels we've seen before. For another, it's extremly short, you can beat it in two hours flat, three or four if you go for the Chaos Emeralds. And it's ridiculously easy. What happened to all the enemies? Where are all the traps? And why are there so many rings? Short and easy are not a good mixture at all. Kinda like electricity and water. OK, I'm exaggerating, but still. And the physics are akward. They aren't as bad as the fanboys make it sound, but they aren't exactly great either.

THE VERDICT!

Pros:

Simple and fun gameplay (+8.0)
Controls are simple and work well (+1.5)
Music is good (+0.5)

Cons:

Short, easy, and ridiculously expensive, even at $7 (-3.0)
Physics are akward (-0.5)


Overall, the game is fun and worth playing, but you will feel ripped off if you are a old-school Sonic fan or if you want a long game (If you do, please play a JRPG). The bottom line is, it's fun, but it has little replay value, and you should play this game at a friend's house on a console if he/she owns it.


FINAL SCORE: 7.5 (Good, but proceed with caution)