History VideoGame / SonicTheHedgehog4

''Sonic the Hedgehog 4'' is a side-scrolling platformer developed by Creator/{{Dimps}} that is a throwback to [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'s roots on the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, as well as being a response to the series' {{polygon ceiling}}-related criticism. It's an {{episodic game}}, with only two episodes released. Each episode has four Zones with four Acts each (not including the final Zones), making for a decently-sized downloadable game that Creator/{{Sega}} initially designed to test the waters for classic Sonic's return.

* WhenAllElseFailsGoRight: It's a sequel to the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog classic]] ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic]]'' [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles games]].

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in terms of mechanics.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in mechanics, would later prove much more successful.

* ArcWelding: [[WordOfGod A Sega rep]] confirmed that ''Episode I'' does this to ''Sonic CD'', as it [[http://www.tssznews.com/2011/08/27/ken-balough-on-sonic-cd-as-sonic-4s-prequel/ wasn't considered to be significantly tied in any way to]] the numerical Genesis trilogy.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in mechanics, seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in the series canon as the successor to ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''.

* UnwinnableByDesign: The Steelions in White Park Zone Act 3 start creating large chunks of ice the moment they spot Sonic. Towards the end of the Act, they're deliberately placed to completely obstruct Sonic's path, making it impossible to proceed further (even with the powerful Rolling Combo or using Super Sonic) and your only option to let Sonic drown and try again. Since these Steelions are located in a narrow corridor and are already facing the direction where Sonic would emerge, the only way to get through this area is to run past the Steelions' range of ice before they finish (or defeat them before the ice starts forming, which is much harder), easier said than done as there are so many of them. [[OhCrap And it's underwater.]]

* DoomyDoomsOfDoom: The name of Mad Gear Zone Act 3, Impending Doom. [[{{Understatement}} It fits.]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sonic_4_ep_2_3739.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Sonic and Tails, back in action.]]

* DuelingGames: This game duels with both ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' and ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'', both of which come from [[Creator/{{Nintendo}} Sega's old rival from the 16-bit days]] (the former from its primary development team, the latter from its overseas RetroStudios division).

''Episode II'' officially launched on May 15, 2012 for PC, [=PS3=], Xbox 360, Android, and iOS platforms.[[note]]Although the near-final "[=Beta8=]" was accidentally released to pre-orderers through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on April 21, 2012 at midnight EST.[[/note]] It featured an improved graphics engine (which kept it from releasing on the Wii since it wasn't powerful enough) and somewhat improved the physics of ''Episode I''. The plot involves Dr. Eggman creating a new Death Egg by [[UnwillingRoboticisation roboticizing]] the Little Planet from ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''. [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]] returns as a reoccurring boss, and Tails follows Sonic everywhere just like in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''. He also allows for three new team-up moves: flying, swimming, and a barreling cannonball spin attack. Having a ''Episode I'' save file on the same platform will unlock ''[[OldSaveBonus Episode Metal]]'', a four-act mini-episode starring Metal Sonic.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in mechanics, seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in the series canon as the successor to ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''. [[spoiler:[[AnotherDimension Or does it?]]]]

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in mechanics, seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in the series canon as the successor to ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''.

* ShiftingSandLand: Oil Desert Zone in ''Episode II''', complete with massive SandWorm Badniks.

* OldSaveBonus: ''Metal Sonic'' is playable if you purchased ''Episode II'' on the same platform as ''Episode I''.[[note]]Since ''Episode II'' wasn't released on Wii, people who got the Wii version of the original thus have to either rebuy the game on another platform or forgo the bonus.[[/note]] ''Episode Metal'' is one redesigned Act from each of the 4 main Zones in ''Episode I'' (in reverse order).

* DifficultySpike: After Casino Street Act 1.

''Episode I'' was released on iOS, UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}, PC, and Android. It was hyped as essentially ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' [[XmeetsY meets]] ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' from the outset, thanks to its codename of "''Project Needlemouse''".[[note]]"Mr. Needlemouse" was Sonic's name back when his very first game was still in the planning stages.[[/note]] The game featured almost no momentum thanks to the physics being copied and pasted from ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush]]''. The developers even admitted to doing so intentionally to place more emphasis on using the Homing Attack.

** ''Episode I'''s default boss music is a remade version of and [[DummiedOut unused]] theme found in a ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3D Sonic 3D Blast]]'' prototype.

''Episode I'' was released on iOS, UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}, PC, and Android. It was hyped as essentially ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' from the outset, thanks to its codename of "''Project Needlemouse''".[[note]]"Mr. Needlemouse" was Sonic's name back when his very first game was still in the planning stages.[[/note]] The game featured almost no momentum thanks to the physics being copied and pasted from ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush]]''. The developers even admitted to doing so intentionally to place more emphasis on using the Homing Attack.

* GuideDangIt: Lost Labyrinth Act 2 (the console version) seems to have sent many running to Website/YouTube with its torch puzzle. Once you figure out what each torch does, it's much easier but until then, it can be very frustrating.
** Act 3 has the spiked water chamber, which some fans consider to be this game's Barrel of Doom.
** The "Metal Sonic Falls" achievement. [[spoiler:Those cannonballs Metal Sonic shoots at you in Sky Fortress Act 1? Yeah, ''you can hit him with those''.]]

* {{Interquel}}: According to press for ''Episode I'', it directly follows the destruction of the Death Egg in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''. This isn't evident in the game itself, but this is also suggested to be the case in ''Episode II'', when (barring a time travel explanation) Metal Sonic reawakens after the events of ''Sonic CD''.
* KaizoTrap: You will be sobbing by the end of E.G.G. Station if you fall into this one.

* LawOfOneHundred: It goes to 999 now, since one ''Episode I'' achievement requires you to grind out triple-digit lives (mainly through Casino Street Act 2).

* MinecartMadness: Lost Labyrinth Act 2. The section was reworked into a proper BlackoutBasement stage (the minecart still shows up at the end, sans ScrappyMechanic) after fans gave it a poor reception.
** To clarify, the mobile version was this entirely.

** Part of White Park Act 2's music is based off of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Twinkle Park]] theme, "Pleasure Castle", a song that composer Jun Senoue previously worked on. Twinkle Park also had a roller coaster game play element as the Pleasure Castle section opens.
** You can also catch a bit of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Metropolis Zone's]] opening snare in the theme for act 1 of Oil Desert.

** ''Episode I'''s default boss music is a remade version of and [[DummiedOut unused]] theme found in a ''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast'' prototype.

** Lost Labyrinth, particularly Act 1, has segments in it that sounds like [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Sky Troops]].

* NostalgiaLevel: Every Zone, enemy, and boss of ''Episode I''.
** As for ''Episode II'', [[http://www.tssznews.com/2012/02/13/balough-only-one-zone-in-s4e2-a-throwback/ there is only one throwback Zone in the game]]. [[spoiler:It's Sky Fortress, which takes cues from Sky Chase and Wing Fortress from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''. However, the Death Egg Zone returns [[RuleOfThree for a]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 third]] [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles time]], but is once again different to the previous times Sonic was there. The final battle with Metal Sonic, whilst taking place in the Death Egg Zone, is a throwback to his race in [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Stardust Speedway]] complete with the original song using ''Episode II'''s instruments.]] In addition, the opening cutscene for ''Episode Metal'' takes place in the site of Metal Sonic's defeat in ''Sonic CD'', Stardust Speedway Act 3, and even features the original title card for the zone used in that game.[[note]]The aesthetic is lifted from the Rival Battle in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', however.[[/note]]
** Nonetheless, all the Zones have ''some'' throwback elements and resemblances to previous zones: Sylvania Castle to Aquatic Ruin and Marble Garden; White Park to Carnival Night and Ice Cap (the snowboarding section is a clear nod), Oil Desert to Oil Ocean and Sandopolis.
* ObviousBeta: ''Episode I'' seems to be a justified example. It feels experimental; the programmers probably wanted to see what the average player would and wouldn't like in future installments.
** This is also the case for the ''Episode II'' [=Beta8=]; although it is virtually finished, it has an instant ring debug command and minor graphical errors, as well as [[DummiedOut tiny leftovers]] for an additional ending.

* OldSaveBonus: ''Metal Sonic'' is playable if you purchased ''Episode II'' on the same platform as ''Episode I''.[[note]]Since ''Episode II'' wasn't released on Wii, people who got the Wii version of the original thus have to either rebuy the game on another platform or forgo the bonus.[[/note]] ''Episode Metal'' is one redesigned Act from each of the 4 main Zones in ''Episode I'' (in reverse order).

* {{Prequel}}: ''Episode Metal'' is the prequel to ''Episode II'', explaining how Metal Sonic reappears in [[SlippySlideyIceWorld White]] [[AmusementParkofDoom Park Zone's]] Boss, [[AirborneAircraftCarrier Sky Fortress Zone]], and [[spoiler: [[TheBattlestar Death Egg Mk.II]]]], ''Sonic CD'' itself can be seen as a prequel to ''Episode II'', and the ''Sonic 4'' saga itself is marketed as a prequel to the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''-onwards era.
* [[SequelDifficultySpike Prequel Difficulty Spike]]: What ''[[OldSaveBonus Episode Metal]]'' amounts to, as it takes different acts from ''Episode I'', and amps up the difficulty with more hazards and different Badnik placements. The physics are taken directly from ''Episode II'', however.
* RiseToTheChallenge: Oil Desert Act 3 has this, with the ground rising while you try to avoid being crushed by the ceiling.

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Acts 1 and 3 of White Park. Both involve [[UnderTheSea swimming]] as well, but especially the third act.

* TimedMission: Like the classic Genesis games, you only have 10 minutes to make it through the level. Good luck on E.G.G. Station.
** You also are under a time limit in the Special Stages in ''Episode I''.
* TransformationIsAFreeAction: When Sonic and Tails do their tag team animations in ''Episode II'', the entire game world (and the clock) stops and kindly lets them finish, making those moves much more useful in [[{{Speedrun}} speedruns]].
** Averted with Super Sonic, whose transformation doesn't pause the game.

** Each boss in ''Episode I'' starts out relatively simple, using a silly, cornball boss theme (which just happens to be recycled DummiedOut ''Sonic 3D Blast'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL5qnQzvPlY music]]). But once you've gotten far enough in the fight, the music changes to the faster-paced, aggressive second boss theme, and whatever machine Eggman is using starts fighting for ''real''.

** ''Episode II'', in contrast, generally has each boss gradually pick up the pace as you attack it more.

* UnderTheSea: Act 3 of White Park Zone mostly takes place in an underwater ice cave.
* UnwinnableByDesign: The Steelions in White Park Act 3 start creating large chunks of ice the moment they spot Sonic. Towards the end of the Act, they're deliberately placed to completely obstruct Sonic's path, making it impossible to proceed further (even with the powerful Rolling Combo or using Super Sonic) and your only option to let Sonic drown and try again. Since these Steelions are located in a narrow corridor and are already facing the direction where Sonic would emerge, the only way to get through this area is to run past the Steelions' range of ice before they finish (or defeat them before the ice starts forming, which is much harder), easier said than done as there are so many of them. [[OhCrap And it's underwater.]]

* WhenAllElseFailsGoRight: It's a sequel to the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog classic]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic]] [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles games]].

''Episode I'' was released on iOS, UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}, PC, and Android. It was hyped as essentially ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' [[XmeetsY meets]] ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' from the outset, thanks to its codename of "''Project Needlemouse''".[[note]]"Mr. Needlemouse" was Sonic's name back when his very first game was still in the planning stages.[[/note]] The game featured almost no momentum thanks to the physics being copied and pasted from ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush]]''. The developers even admitted to doing so intentionally to place more emphasis on using the Homing Attack.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', a game which hearkens much closer to the original games in mechanics than ''Sonic 4'', seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in the series canon as the successor to ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in the series canon.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. The later ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' seemingly replaces ''Sonic 4'' in series canon.

* ArcWelding: A [[WordOfGod Sega rep]] confirmed that ''Episode I'' does this to ''Sonic CD'', as it [[http://www.tssznews.com/2011/08/27/ken-balough-on-sonic-cd-as-sonic-4s-prequel/ wasn't considered to be significantly tied in any way to]] the numerical Genesis trilogy.

* ContinuityNod: The final boss for ''Episode I'' and the background that accompanies it is a giant throwback to ''Sonic 2''.
** Likewise, the blue spin wheels from [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Marble Garden Zone]] appears in Sylvania Castle, and the entire Sky Fortress Zone is one big nod to [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sky Chase and Wing Fortress]].

* DownTheDrain: Lost Labyrinth, Act 3. Oddly the only underwater level in ''Episode I'' (excluding the first half of the level's boss).

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, ''Episode III'' was [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived.

''Episode II'' officially launched on May 15, 2012 for PC, [=PS3=], Xbox 360, Android, and iOS platforms.[[note]]Although the near-final "[=Beta8=]" was accidentally released to pre-orderers through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on April 21, 2012 at midnight EST[.[/note]] It featured an improved graphics engine (which kept it from releasing on the Wii since it wasn't powerful enough) and somewhat improved the physics of ''Episode I''. The plot involves Dr. Eggman creating a new Death Egg by [[UnwillingRoboticisation roboticizing]] the Little Planet from ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''. [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]] returns as a reoccurring boss, and Tails follows Sonic everywhere just like in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''. He also allows for three new team-up moves: flying, swimming, and a barreling cannonball spin attack. Having a ''Episode I'' save file on the same platform will unlock ''[[OldSaveBonus Episode Metal]]'', a four-act mini-episode starring Metal Sonic.

''Episode II'' officially launched on May 15, 2012 for PC, [=PS3=], Xbox 360, Android, and iOS platforms[[note]]although the near-final "[=Beta8=]" was accidentally released to pre-orderers through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on April 21, 2012 at midnight EST[[/note]]. It featured an improved graphics engine (which kept it from releasing on the Wii since it wasn't powerful enough) and somewhat improved the physics of ''Episode I''. The plot involves Dr. Eggman creating a new Death Egg by [[UnwillingRoboticisation roboticizing]] the Little Planet from ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''. [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]] returns as a reoccurring boss, and Tails follows Sonic everywhere just like in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''. He also allows for three new team-up moves: flying, swimming, and a barreling cannonball spin attack. Having a ''Episode I'' save file on the same platform will unlock ''[[OldSaveBonus Episode Metal]]'', a four-act mini-episode starring Metal Sonic.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, Episode III was eventually [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. It would be quite a while before SEGA would take another crack at a game like the original trilogy. This would eventually lead to them getting a number of well-known fangame creators to produce 2017's ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', which - if the trailers have been any indication - seems to go out of its way to render Sonic 4 non-canon.

Due to lower-than-expected performance of the series, Episode III was eventually [[http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/01/sonic-4-episode-3-was-planned-then-cancelled/ cancelled]], with its development team having little faith that the project will be revived. It would be quite a while before SEGA would take another crack at a game like the original trilogy - this would eventually lead to them getting a number of well-known fangame creators to produce 2017's ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', which - if the trailers have been any indication - seems to go out of its way to render Sonic 4 non-canon.