Sega is reinventing itself on Apple’s iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch by going old school. Sonic the Hedgehog, arguably the company’s most notable title, returns to the App Store this Thursday. The game offers many new worlds to tap into.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I is a sequel to the fourth installment of the series, 1994’s Sonic & Knuckles. It will be the first Sonic game to be released initially on the iPhone, with later releases on the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and WiiWare.
Look for many recognizable elements, such as the inclusion spin-dash attack (introduced to iOS users in Sonic 2), the homing attack and familiar stages with traditionally hectic game play.
Another familiar feature will be the inclusion of special stages, which will allow players to collect chaos emeralds and turn into Super Sonic. The bad guys will also be familiar, with Dr. Eggman being advertised as the game’s main villain.
New to Sonic 4
Gamers will also see some new things as well, at least for Sonic iOS games. The game will include online leaderboards, with players attempting to complete levels as quickly as possible – likely something similar to the time trial modes in the console versions.
But maybe the most interesting thing about Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I is revealed in the last part of its title. While episodic games are nothing new to the iPhone, there are certainly new to the Sonic series.
Aside from acknowledging that the game will be released in episodes, little else is known about Sega’s plans. What can be assumed is that Episode I will be cheaper than past Sonic App Store games, which cost $6.99, and given the wording of press releases there will be multiple stages included in each episode.
One cannot assume whether or not this mix of classic game play with more recent App Store innovations will be a good one, though the company is confident.
“One of the great aspects about Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is that the game play elements are truly universal,” Maya San Martin, Sega’s director of mobile business development told Appolicious. “Even if you haven’t experienced Sonic before, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 exposes you right off the bat to the speed and platform-based gaming people love.”
As for whether iOS gamers agree, that will be decided on Thursday.
