Sonic 4 isn't really much of an update, more like a fan reconstruction of the first 2 (with elements of 3). I don't like the 'new' sonic design very much, and I'm not too keen that 3D models replace classic 2D sprites. How good would this have looked if it was all HD 2D graphics, like the Scott Pilgrim game? Very good actually and I don't want to listen to your protest words.
So you run around 4 very nostalgic zones which are pretty much every stage from the first 2 Sonic Mega Drive games pulped into total familiarity. The similarities make up for everything in the game, which of course include the boss battles that are pretty much copy-pasted from previous titles. Although it gives me a mildly fuzzy memory massage, if I wanted to fight these bosses I'd play the respected games they feature in! And that way I'd get the complete experience of nostalgic energy.
My favourite sonic games were always 2, 3, and Knuckles, and are still among my most cherished gaming memories. It's nice to see them somewhat updated, although with inferior character sprites, music, stage design and content, it feels more like a step back from the main canon series. The foreseeable gradual increase of content across new episodic releases is a great marketing scheme, but not very fair on my wallet. I'll still buy them all..... videogames...my one weakness...
This game relates to Toy Story for me. When I saw the first TS film, it blew my damn 7 year old mind, immediately after we left the cinema I asked my parents when we could see it again. Turns out that I next saw it on video at home. :( But also :), as I had the chance to buy the game version for the Mega Drive! Well, either that or an obscure title that caught my eye, featuring a cute yellow star with cool Sonic shoes. Remember, this is when movie to videogame crossovers were actually good, especially disney games, so this was a tough decision. Buy the game I of the movie I had enjoyed so much, or impulse buy a relatively obscure title based on looks alone? So I got Ristar instead, which I deeply regretted at first, but eventually, I grew to really, really like it. The punishing mistress that it was! I even made a Ristar T-Shirt for a primary school project. I was proud of it, and other people seemed to admire it too.
So in the game, you play as Ristar, a cute character awoken from his celestial slumber by the cries of a planet in dire need. Planet? I meant to say.... Galaxy! So you travel from world to world (stage to stage) each themed appropriately, as per the rules of gamedom - Ice, water, forest, lava and so on. What makes this game stand out is how Ristar attacks - he stretches his arms, grabs then headbutts enemies. He even makes use of this technique to climb walls, and swing on branches. In fact he pretty much solves everything with his trusty headbutt.
Another stand out feature is the excellent music. Now, I can only think of a few Mega Drive games which had good music - Sonic 1, 2, 3 and Knuckles, Ristar, Dynamite Headdy...then my mind goes blank. That's ok, good music is what the SNES is for. But this is among some of the best music on any system! Especially that lava world stage 1 music, so damn awesome. And when you complete a world, you're treated to a cool transition scene, complete with a kick ass space travel tune.
One thing I remember clearly, is that this game is hard. Especially that damn music level. It's boss is a bird whose singing is so bad, it hurts, which certainly didn't help my temperament. Just thinking about it...rargah! Broken screen mega drive controller thrust. Actually, I didn't break any controllers in frustration until Mario Kart Double Dash. Mostly because controllers in the 16 bit days were so freaking robust!
