Sonic the Hedgehog has been around in 2D form since the late 80s and while he’s not as elderly as Mario, he’s still one of the most important characters in computer games history. Back again, nearly 25 years on he’s looking very slick on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with the recent release of Sonic 4 Episode 2.
In terms of a classic 2D side scrolling platform game, the graphics are near faultless with stylish animation and cool fx. However, despite this and the potential of the new array of moves, Sonic 4 Episode 2 has got a couple of bugs that make it too annoying to be genuinely enjoyable.
Take the boss at the end of Zone 1, Sylvania Castle Zone. Robotnik has got a big new robot machine to battle agains that looks amazing with just the right level if difficulty, but the control touch screen function on the iPhone, iPad and Touch stick infuriatingly, making it hard to pull off the boss beating moves when you need them. This is a problem that continues throughout the game, stripping off slabs of fun like they were pounds of flesh.
A big redeeming feature is that when you go back to a game you’ve left earlier, you get to start from your last star. However, be prepared to be annoyed by the underwater bubble issue that makes playing Sonic games a slight let down. Give the dude an oxygen mask or don’t let him under water. This wouldn’t be so bad if wasn’t for the stickiness of the controls that seem to kick in just when you need a fix of O2.
Sonic 4 Episode 2 has got a decent amount of potential, but it doesn’t quite work as well as it could have. With a price tag of £4.99 , you’ve got to hope that a fix or two will be deployed for future updates.
Sonic 4 Episode 2 review: 2.5/5
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