“Everytime I play this game, the better it feels.”
Those were the words that Terry Lewis of The Other View agreed with as I played through Sonic 4. I had gotten significant hands-on time with it at E3 2010, but aggravating nerds, crowds, and noise prevented me from diving fully into what the game has to offer; that didn’t occur this time around at a TriplePoint PR gaming event in Manhattan. Nestled in an intimate setting with good colleagues–and a darkened room with a 100+ inch television–I was able to get a true feel of Sonic 4.
Judging strictly by the same Splash Hill Zone that was on display out west in Los Angeles, Sonic 4 is going to be the game that makes the speedster relevant to gamers over 12 who grew up with the hedgehog during the 2D, 16-bit years. Everything about the new Sonic screams old Sonic; there’s the wonderfully videogamey music, bright quirky landscapes, spikes, spin attacks, and a multitude of gold rings. There’s even that odd sluggishness that accompanies Sonic whenever he isn’t speeding along. Sonic 4 , at least from what I can tell from this opening level, takes the best of Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3, and slaps on a slick HD coating to bring it into modern times.’Twas rad.
TriplePoint PR also presented Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, the first two Dreamcast games that will be available for digital download this fall. The public relations representative we spoke with drove home the fact that these are the original, unaltered games–the only thing that has been changed is that the games have been upscaled to run at 720p (and they looked damned good, I must say). They even keep their original 4:3 aspect ratios. Crazy Taxi has one additional change: The Offspring’s music isn’t in the game. I consider that a positive.
All in all, SEGA looks to have a strong turn out this fall, which compliments the other fine releases we’ve seen this year such as AfterBurner: Climax, and Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing. Still no sign of a Dreamcast 2. Regardless, it looks like SEGA has finally realized that giving their fans want they want–quality games that are either from or throwbacks to the company’s heyday.
