While I enjoy the "Sonic the Hedgehog" series, I have to say I find it a little harder to get into the 2D games than the 3D ones. I beat the original "Sonic the Hedgehog" years ago, and I do love "Sonic Mania," but those are the only ones I've played through fully (sorry, hardcore fans; I know a lot of people love "Sonic 2," but after playing "Mania," it was hard for me to have as much fun with the original game). That said, I was interested in seeing what "Sonic the Hedgehog 4" was all about: I played it a bit in my youth but never managed to beat it, and I wanted to see if I'd be able to rectify that. I definitely did with "Episode I," and after having liked this in my younger years...yeah, I still do.
"Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I" is a valiant attempt by Sega at bringing back the classic gameplay while adding some modern touches. While many of the changes are bound to upset hardcore fans, I enjoyed how smooth the controls were and how fun the platforming was, and the level design managed to hold my interest throughout the entirety of the game. Some of the level recreations were pretty clever, and I think the game was very accessible for newer "Sonic" fans. Visually, the game looks great, and it nicely translates the 2D games into a 3D visual design. And while the game is short (owing to its episodic format), I think it packs enough content into its short runtime to be pretty interesting in the end. Toss in some rather fun Special Stages, and you have a good foundation.
I do have to agree with the fanbase, though: while I found the controls to be fine, the physics definitely felt awkward and a little weird to get accustomed to. If you're a seasoned "Sonic" player or a classic "Sonic" purist, you're gonna find a lot to dislike here. I also found it odd that, for a game called "Sonic the Hedgehog 4," it felt content to revisit stages from older games. It would've been a lot more interesting for a fourth game if it brought more new levels alongside it. It makes the game feel like it's clinging a little TOO hard to nostalgia when it should be trying to carve out its own identity.
Overall, "Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1" is not an essential "Sonic" game, and it's the type of thing classic purists might not enjoy all that much, but on its own, it's a fun little "Sonic" adventure. It's a nice way for the series to take the leap into the 2.5D landscape, and there's a good deal to like about it. With what we have today with a game like "Sonic Mania," I can't say I recommend rushing to grab this, but if you're curious, it'll be worth a try. After all, it won't take you that long to get through.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"