Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II

It is still not as good as the genesis versions, and it doesn't is as good as the 2D stages of Sonic Generations, but it is still a very fun Sonic game. Maybe some players will consider the game a bit pricey, but it offers quite a lot of replayability.

It's a smooth, slippery Sonic that takes another step away from it's single-button origins without losing any of the hog essense. With local and online co-op, it offers just enough entertainment to justify its steep episodic price.

Occasionally misguided, but not without some major wow moments and epic ideas. [August 2012, p.73]

The game's biggest addition - including Tails as an aid in single-player mode - gives the perfect level of balance to correct mistakes made at mach speed.

As a well-presented game that looks the part and sells itself on speed and accessibility, Sonic 4: Episode 2 is slightly better than the previous effort in a number of ways and yet, there's still room for improvement.

The level design, gameplay and 3D bonus rounds will definitely feel right at home with long-time players, while the frustrating boss battles and terrible soundtrack leave you wondering where Sega could've slipped up in development.

Sonic's still not as great as he used to be, and we're honestly wondering if he'll ever be. Then again, Episode II is better than Episode I and definately worth a playthrough, if only to get your hopes up for a superb Episode III.

Sonic 4: Episode 2 is a half-successful product. Recommended only to diehard fans of Sonic. All others will have to think carefully about the purchase. It's a too classic and uninspired chapter in the saga.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4, once more, has not been the true second coming of your hero.

Sonic 4 Episode 2 is a step back for the franchise, lacking innovation, ambition and fine tuning.

Trying to wear the heavy Sonic 2 boots, the second episode of Sonic 4 is a more pleasant gaming & visual experience than its predecessor, but it lacks that really needed charisma the title deserves. With cooperative gameplay, the inclusion of Tails brings an exploratory element that will be praised for some players, but condemned for the gamers who just want what Sonic titles supposed to be: Fun at ludicrous speed.

The controls took a surprising step back and there were too many puzzles that required Tails' assistance for my liking. If you can get past these though, there is a solid Sonic adventure here at its core that's worth taking a look at for long-time fans.

Overall Sonic 4.2 is an improvement from 4.1 but there are still issues. Playing the game is very nostalgic, but doesn't bring much new to the table, and for 1200 points you may not feel like it is worth your money. I would recommend this game if you are a Sonic fan, but be wary that there is not much new with respect to the game design.

It's a shame that Sonic can't run fast enough to escape his past. Amidst segments that range from profoundly irritating to cautiously routine, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II features a handful of sequences that show a glimmer of hope, suggesting that if Sonic Team and Dimps were allowed to make a new 2D Sonic game without having to obey the demons of his past, we might have received a more clever and inventive episode. Instead, Episode II defaults to another run through familiar symbols and places, few of which seem to be as exhilarating as they were nearly twenty years ago.

There's no denying the rodent's getting a little arthritic in his old age. [Issue#86, p.103]

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II isn't a bad game. Graphically it's easy on the eyes and clearing a level in a few minutes from time to time is pretty satisfying. But there's little Episode II does really well, with as its biggest flaw a lack of speed thanks to average level design. Aside from irritations in a few levels and some boss battles playing Episode II isn't a punishment, but the experience is pretty damn forgettable.

Even though many aspects are just like Episode 1 and the introduction of Tails proved to be a very nice one indeed, there are a few pieces of the puzzle that are missing. Boss fights are horrendous, the music is as bad as in Sonic's 3D adventure and the new multiplayer mode does not offer much cooperation at all. Episode 2 is far from being a bad game, but not much greater than its predecessor.

This classic Sonic game gets very hard when played on your own, but as soon as a friend joins and plays as Tails, everything gets a bit too easy. This games misses gimmicky new features and the levels do not differ much, apart from the theme ofcourse. It's fun to run around with the super speedy Sonic, but unfortunately this game lacks innovation.

While the addition of cooperative play is a big step in the right direction, the core elements that made Episode 1 a tepid experience persist here: mediocre level design, slow pacing, and erratic levels of fun.

In the end, it feels like Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 is merely going through the motions (most of which involve spinning). As was intended, it's reminiscent of Sonic's best-remembered adventures, though it never manages to live up to them.

It gets most of the mechanics right, and it certainly looks like Sonic, but this new episode doesn't have the heart or the imagination of the originals.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Two ultimately feels loose where it should be tight, slow where it should be fast, and tedious where it should be exciting. Sometimes it's best to let sleeping 'hogs lie.

Ultimately, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is Sonic in name only. Rather than being a revival of classic gameplay, it feels more like a fan project that didn't quite get everything right. Rip away the Sonic sprites, and you're left with nothing more than an average platformer. If you have a hankering for old-school Sonic, snag Sonic Generations instead.

What's most galling about the whole exercise is that you find yourself wanting nothing more than a graphically-enhanced version of the Mega Drive originals.

Playing Sonic 4: Episode II co-op is like returning to your favorite family vacation destination as an adult and bringing along a friend. You point at the broken attractions and try to convince them how good things used to be, but no amount of nostalgia can change the fact that the powers that be have let your beloved memory deteriorate.

Episode II isn't an atrocious game, but poorly implemented mechanics and questionable design decisions consistently hobble its attempts to deliver the exhilarating speed that we've come to expect from the series.

Unspectacular and, to be honest, fairly boring. Coupled with one of the most despicable soundtracks I have ever had forced into my ears, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 is very difficult to recommend. It's not terrible, not by a long shot, but it barely seems worth the time -- and auditory agony -- to play.

A frustrating experience for Sonic fans. You can sense the old, creaky bones of what once made the franchise so much fun, but they're surrounded by chewy, rancid meat.

The original question was : "is it better if we're two players?". The answer is definitely yes, but it's still quite mediocre. Prettier, much better designed than the first one, but this Episode 2 still remains a sad version of a platformer with annoying musics and dull level design.