History Trivia / SonicTheHedgehog4

* FlipFlopOfGod: When it was announced, press releases stated that this game is set between ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' and ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', hence why it uses the modern character designs. However, after ''Episode III'' was canceled, the series was split into a "classic" continuity and a "modern" continuity, so it became unclear where this game stands. It is not considered a classic-era game, with the classic-styled ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' filling its role as a sequel to ''Sonic 3'', but it is not considered a modern-era game either, with comments from the writers of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' indicating that Sonic Team considers ''Sonic Adventure'' the beginning of the modern continuity. All of these details would suggest that this game is [[CanonDiscontinuity no longer canon...]] except it's been flip-flopped on ''again'' following the release of games like ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' and ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'', as well as ''WebAnimation/TailsTube'', which establish that the series is returning to a pre-split continuity. While the games' canoncity and exact placement in the timeline is still unknown, the IDW comics using enemies and locations from it as well as an unexpected playset release in 2023 focused around Episode II's final boss suggest SEGA are at least not keen to have it forgotten.

* FlipFlopOfGod: When it was announced, press releases stated that this game is set between ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' and ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', hence why it uses the modern character designs. However, after ''Episode III'' was canceled, the series was split into a "classic" continuity and a "modern" continuity, so it became unclear where this game stands. It is not considered a classic-era game, with the classic-styled ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' filling its role as a sequel to ''Sonic 3'', but it is not considered a modern-era game either, with comments from the writers of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' indicating that Sonic Team considers ''Sonic Adventure'' the beginning of the modern continuity. All of these details suggest that this game is [[CanonDiscontinuity no longer canon.]]
** Seemingly flip-flopped on ''again'' following the release of games like ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' and ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' as well as ''WebAnimation/TailsTube'' which establish that the series is returning to a pre-split continuity. While the games' canoncity and exact placement in the timeline is still unknown, the IDW comics using enemies and locations from it as well as an unexpected playset release in 2023 focused around Episode II's final boss suggest SEGA are at least not keen to have it forgotten.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: With the Wii Shop Channel shut down, the UsefulNotes/WiiWare version of ''Episode I'' is no longer available for purchase. That said, the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, Steam and mobile versions can still be purchased and downloaded, at least for now.

** ''Episode II'' was meant to have a UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} port in the early stages, but it was cancelled when the decision was made to target the [=PS3=] and 360 as the base platform. A compilation of the two episodes for the UsefulNotes/WiiU (and possibly also the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne) was instead considered, but never went anywhere.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** When ''Episode I'' was leaked, players were greatly disappointed at two particular levels: Casino Street Zone Act 2 was nothing but a small pinball area where you had to collect 100,000 points, while Lost Labyrinth Zone Act 2 was entirely focused on finicky motion controls. The game [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/05/20/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-delayed was delayed]] and both levels were replaced in the console version. The mobile version still kept them, due to those levels being built with mobile in mind.
** ''Episode II'' corrects some of the issues that plagued ''Episode I''. This included fixing the physics engine and lowering the amount of [[NostalgiaLevel levels styled over older, famous ones]].

* BTeamSequel: Unlike the past four classic entries, both episodes were developed by Creator/{{Dimps}}, the same team behind the ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy'' and the ''VideoGame/SonicRushSeries'' as opposed to Creator/SonicTeam and the (defunct) Creator/SegaTechnicalInstitute, though the former still played a supervisory role in its development.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The first episode was originally intended as a mobile phone game named ''Sonic the Portable'', intended as a low-key spinoff to test the gyroscope capabilities of smartphones. Sega of America instead decided to brand the game as ''Sonic the Hedgehog 4'' and push it to consoles, to appease longtime fans of the series. This move ironically backfired; said fans felt it wasn't faithful enough to the Genesis games to warrant the title, which would have been avoided if it was merely a mobile phone spinoff.