I like how in the original review of the game Johnny said He wasn’t a fan of episodic releases as Half Life Fans have been waiting years for episode 3 of that game. He was scared Episode 3 of Sonic 4 would experience a similar fate. Well…..here we are.
At least SEGA quickly announced Sonic 4 episode 3 was cancelled. Valve let HL2 Episode 3 hang in limbo for so long that it could never have lived up to the hype, and they STILL haven't officially cancelled it after almost 15 years. The best we have for a conclusion is the script that the lead writer posted on his blog.
When it comes to episodic gaming as they call it, I feel like a lot of developers what that entailed. Outside of the traveler's tales formula, none of them really knew how to use it. And now I look at FF7R... I doubt that was the intention at all. Has the 2nd part of it come out yet? Or the Yuffie part? Interstice or something, I don't know. Here's hoping that sticks to one console.
As a casual Sonic fan, I’m finally glad to learn the history of the production, the marketing shenanigans, and why it’s not held in the same regard as the classics. Thank you.
If I can thank Sonic 4 on any front, it made me appreciate retro games that much more when I was like 12. Used to enjoy the game, but once I tried Sonic 1 to 3&k at the time, my young brain asked "Why does this feel more fun than the newest title ?" But we now have Mania blessing us so now all is well
If they were gonna bring back Little Planet, where were the Time Stones!? An updated, speedier version of the time travel mechanic could've been a great way to give Sonic 4's levels more incentive for exploration and variety, and it would have called back to Sonic CD without just repeating it.
True. Modern technology could've made for some _sick-smooth_ transitions as well, sending you just smoothly flinging back and forth between different time stages. And always nice to hear from you, Josh.
@@snailgirl6 They just see sale numbers and think “WELP! No one bought it. NEXT IDEA GO!” But now with the incoming Sonic Colors Remaster, this shows that yes, Sega DOES acknowledge past titles, for good or worst (though Colors was one of the good ones). I’m now just scared for whatever new (or remastered?) Sonic game they teased oh-so long ago..
I saw the bootleg Sonic 6 posted over on Facebook and somebody commented “What happened to 4 and 5?” We’ve reached a point in time where it’s become easy to forget about Sonic 4 now. Wew.
Like how they never made any sequels to the Matrix! The Wachowski Sisters knew the ending was perfect, and the story was handled good--and any further sequels would only serve to dilute the power of the Matrix and mess up the narrative
"I'm sure if he were wearing Raycons they'd still be on his ears, concussion be damned." You had no reason to spit great jokes at me in an ad but you did it anyways.
I was honestly dreading it: nearly everyone I know who’s done Sonic 4 Episode II referred to it as the 69 attack and I just wanted Johnny to be a bit less immature
@@aionicthunder We're a bunch of nerds watching another nerd reviewing a game about two colorful cartoon animals fighting robots, maturity was never on the table.
Can you blame him? Sonic is one of his favorite franchises of all time. To see a series he grew up with go down the tube all because the people who own the IP care way more about shameless profits and quantities (so much to the point that they seemingly *Refuse* to hire more competent people who can do it justice) over actual quality has left him disillusioned. As someone who was introduced to the series with SA2B, I tried to defend Sega for the longest, but even I gave up after a while when it seemed like they were just too prideful to learn from their mistakes. *Even Clement was going to abandon the series before Unleashed came out.*
Yeah. I'm not an Sonic fan myself. But even I admit that the blue blur has been having an field day. He started off great. But than gets down with dumps. He has been really solid again, but not long started to go down into the junk pile. It makes me sad seeing an recognizable series having it's up & downs and it was mostly an letdown. Hope he'll find some way to recover.
@@jaretco6423 It's very appropriate that the series has a thing for casino levels, because each game ends up being a damn roulette wheel on whether it'll be bad, amazing, or meh.
That's what happens when you got people in authority who care way more about profit and quantities over quality. Sega doesn't get that. And at this point, I don't think they ever will. Even Nintendo, for all their faults and hubris, still know how to keep the quality of their star franchises up there, *especially* their mascot.
What I like about these revisits are all the research segments Johnny has placed in, I never knew about that Sonic The Portable for years! Well done John!
Even as a kid, I thought this game was weird. Before I really knew what a lot of proper Sonic physics, graphics, music, etc. were like, this game just felt off to me.
Because, look at Rush and Advance. Nothing but mediocrity there too. No mystery at all. All DIMPS games are the same: dash pads, springs, and bottomless pits.
17:14 to 17:22 Man... I genuinely felt like a part of my soul _died_ while listening to this part. It's like...any kind of optimism I had just...evaporated. ...I think I need to be alone for a while.
Before I start, congratulations to Lewis for starting a new career. The video was really well edited, the footage complimented Johnny's script EXTREMELY well. Sonic 4 failed what Mega Man 9 and 10 succeeded. While those games introduced new level themes and went away with a lot of the problems in the previous classic games; momentum and slow latter climb from MM1 and 2, being unable to jump out of a slide while underwater from 4 and 5 (or period in 6), increased I-frames for the bosses that was introduced just to make the charge shot seem more useful, rush jet being able to take damage from 7 etc... They also kept the good stuff like the better menu from 4 and onward, and the overall classic Mega Man feeling ON top of having some of the best weapons in the series and having multiple characters. P.S 9,10 and 11 are my favorite Classic Mega Man games. Meanwhile, Sonic 4 only had 1 character, fucked up the physics and the momentum based game-play and a whole lot of other unique stuff from the classic games. It also has a REALLY boring art-style, if I am honest. If you are not going back to the classics, at least do what Mega Man 11 did and be stylized. We have Mania now, so who cares.
I think the only thing 9 and 10 faltered in was removing the charge and slide. Feel like they didn’t need to do that. 11 definitely made a good decision to add those back.
Lewis did a great job editing for this one. You can tell the experience and long-term friendship you guys have because it blends really well with your video style.
Great re-review of Sonic 4 Johnny, and... at long last! The final BSC member made it into a Vs. video, and as editor no less! Stellar work there Lewis, hope we get to see you again in the role!
Imagine if Crash 4 had like 12 levels, all of the bosses were repeats from the PS1 games, and the ending is just the same ending as Crash 1. That's Sonic 4.
And also the gameplay and physics are horribly mangled and Crash's basic abilities don't even work and instead of spinning into enemies he uses his melee attacks from the tattoo games and he uses that design too and the music is absolute dogshit and they release it episodically and none of the other characters or old features were there. That's Sonic 4.
@@Squishito Also imagine if instead of Crash sending enemies flying fast straight into foes & crates with his spin like in the original, his spin instead lobs them in the air like 3 feet away(like in Twinsanity). Plus Aku Aku not protecting Crash from tnts & nitros like before in the originals, or invincibility not having music & sucks at protecting Crash(also Twinsanity). Lastly Crash taking damage while jumping on enemies. That's Sonic 4.
Fun fact: Mr Needlemouse was a mistranslation, it was meant to be Mr Hedgehog. So the codename for this shoddy knockoff of the Genesis games is a name that wasn't ever really Sonic's. How appropriate
6:17 this is why I like this guy so much! Thank you Johnny for your quality and objective reviews! I'm a long time listener and I like to use your videos to help determine if I want to try a game of not.
I remember having quite fun with Episode 1. However, now that Mania exists I don't bother going back. Plus, SEGA's idea to name the game Sonic4 because of marketing makes it... less good.
Honestly I enjoy when somebody is able to critique something without making me feel like they’re hyperexaggerating all the time, and the opinions feel genuine instead of basically being the same thing some other guy had already said a million times over
Well honestly I'd say it's because even people who enjoy it just see it as painfully mediocre so there's not really anything to defend Personally I sort of like the music but that's the only thing I'll defend
I see EPISODE 2 as a good game when I detach it from the classics Episode 1-just no just a bad mobile game and a even worse console experience even in 2010 I thought it was just regurgitated sonic 1 with toy graphics,nothing redeemable except the compositions which did get repetitive Overall though i want the graphics of episode 2 with the level design and physics of mania that’s my dream 2D sonic game
Johnny I just wanna say thank you for doing what you do man, idk why but for some reason in the past year or so this channel has become a sort of comfort zone for me, whenever I'm feeling anxious or nervous, I just put the Vs. Playlist on Shuffle and watch/listen away. And in a time in the middle of my college years where shit is stressful as hell and most of my closest friends just left for this semester, anxiety and stress is at an all time high. So thank you so much for what you do, I can't imagine how my life would be without this channel, never thought I'd say that ab some channel on RUclips of all things haha.
I’ll never forget that the first time I booted up this game on my Wii after downloading- knowing nothing about it and being amazed to see it- and thinking it was a student-made game
Damn man, gotta say that the editing was super on point in this video. Really accentuated the finer parts of the review while helping a lot of Johnny's jokes land all the better. A very enjoyable watch from start to end. - Smartass commenter
i remember those animations. i also remember that animation called sonic generashorts and sonic stop motion adventures. god bless those animations they were childhood in the 2010s as well as sonic nazo unleashed
"If they locked the next main entry to mobile phones, fans would go apeshit". Time is a flat circle. I'm glad I still haven't used my free trial for Apple Arcade.
i love that as well as it's ending kinda being a take that to episode 2's lame cliffanger.(which ended with little planet still in the death egg where eggman could just restart it while you save little planet in mania's ending.:3)
By the way, fun fact, Sonic 4 Episode 2 was the second to last Sonic game Dimps developed, with the last Sonic game Dimps developed being the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.
To any younger fans who missed out on the sonic 4 experience at launch, i recall a popular video that explained that if u input the homing attack late, your airdash would re-roll u into a ball to hit enemies to maintain the flow of the originals. Our copium during these times was hardcore
Do you guys remember when the game was revealed and people went berserk over Sonic’s modern design? I think this was one of the main factors of the whole ‘classic vs modern design’ war in the fan base. Oh my god, does anyone remember AKnotholeResident?
@@diydylana3151 Chances are you've probably found the video but I'll explain anyway. Before episode 1 came out, Johnny and Eliot made an April Fools joke video where they got an early review copy of the game. It's really funny and I recommend giving it a watch.
@@SnaksiXD I just feel his Mania bias has basically impacted my enjoyment of this video. The 4 games are just ok, and yet he acts like this is another low point that can stand toe to toe with freaking 06'. Even if he didn't mean that, that is the vibe I'm getting.
@@Super_Suchi in a way, saying that something is soulless (even if it is true) is more depressing than someone shitting on it. I feel like he can't judge the games without thinking of the title. The only thing that is "soulless" is SEGA's decision to change the name and make it a multi-platform title.
Even when I already thought this game was inadequate as a sequel to the Genesis games, Sonic Mania comes along and becomes the final nail in this game’s coffin.
Mistranslations have become a part of the gaming aesthetic--especially retro gaming related stuff. Two good examples are: "A winner is you" and "All your base are belong to us" You should know this, you spoony bard
"I am of the firm cynical belief that the reason that it was called Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was simply to push units. And the reason it went multiplatform was because if they did lock the next numbered entry behind mobile phones fans would collectively go ape-shit." "Do you guys not have phones?"
I've never really cared for anything created by blizzard, but I think about that comment more and more, even before the lawsuit coming to light and all the bullshit surrounding it, and it legit makes me angry on behalf of the fans.
For me Sonic 4's main issue was the title. If it would've been called literally anything else, I wouldn't have as big of an issue with it, but calling it "Sonic 4" gave it really high expectations. Those were huge shoes to fill, and it didn't live up to the name. It wasn't *that* bad, but it absolutely pales in comparison to Sonic 1-3. I mostly hated the awful physics in episode 1, and the unoriginal zones that were basically just offbrand versions of classic stages. Still wish they'd re-release Sonic 4 with both episodes together in one package, and maybe some fixed physics for episode 1. Still feel that Mania is basically the true Sonic 4 lol
Not just the title. They put SO much into the marketing for this game too. I bet they were hoping to get an easy New Super Mario Bros response but weren't willing to put enough money in to actually do that.
And because of that we got the terrible viral video that is aknotholeresident (Richard Kuta) complaining about Green Eyed Sonic, and that inevitably led to Classic Sonic
I have over 20 hours in sonic 4 episode 1 and I do not know entirely why. I loved that game, and still go back to it every now and then. I genuinely think if it was titled anything other than sonic 4 it would be looked at in a more positive light. But sega did a sega.
Maybe it’s just me but I feel that people nowadays see the Phantom Menace in a better light, especially when you consider the overall reception to the sequel trilogy
The thing about TPM is that people were rabid with excitement up to its release. It didn't become clear that it was bad until it was out. Sonic 4 though was constantly raising red flags as it was being marketed, and a near-finished build prolifically leaked months in advance, which confirmed people's fears about it being an unworthy sequel. Sonic 4 didn't get a similar hype cycle to TPM since it wasn't even TRYING to give off the veneer of a worthy follow up. TPM at least had trailers that indicated proper production values and music.
@@Seiyol Also, Sonic 4 came out in the aftermath of games like Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic 06, Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight meaning that fans at this point were probably used to getting disappointed. I was too young to see people’s reaction to Sonic 4 but I can only imagine how cautious the hype was for this game if there was any
@@vanadium8865 The prequels and sequels are bad but for different reasons. The only reason people are being kinder to the prequels is just a bandwagon because for literally over 15 years, the prequels got rightfully shat on for being an embarrasement to the original trilogy (and i don't even much care for those movies). Now that something just as bad came out, it's "cool" to think that the prequels are somehow better. Wait 10 years and the inevitable new trilogy will get shit on and the sequels will looked upon favorably by the same people that trash them at release.
ITS THE FACT THAT YOU SHOWED MARIO AND SONIC AT THE OLYMPICS TO CALL THEM OUT ON HYPOCRISY FOR NOT HAVING YOU TOP 10 FOR MEEE😂😂😂😂😂😂 you really did get better at these videos I’m a young media professional and now that I’m older I can appreciate what it takes to put out an amazing product like this
I can't help but feel this "series" was nothing but wasted potential. Despite how negatively received Episode 1 was, Episode 2 felt like the devs took all the criticisms people had and tried to fix them as best they could. The visuals, controls, level design, everything was at least a little bit improved from Episode 1, and with some more time I think it could've started to live up to the reputation of being called Sonic 4. This was entirely on Sega for forcing a spinoff mobile game into something bigger than it was supposed to be.
11:37 John, you are playing with FIRE in that edit! If people weren't asking "When Sonic.exe Nightmare Beginning", they'll CERTAINLY be asking for it now! Sonic.exe Spirits of Hell is better anyway; it's hard AF though.
20 seconds in, wooo!! Usually have busy mornings so it’s nice. Really liking this retrospective... despite barely having over an hour of playtime of any classic Sonic game. Just can’t get past Labyrinth Zone act 3...
14:30 Nah Johnny, you did a SGB Playthrough with Elliot back in 2014. I remember because Elliot does that bird scream while crashing the plane into a wall and killing you both, it was a fun let's play :D
I remember when they rereleased Sonic CD prior to episode 2 as some way to tie into it, then ended up being the better release. How history repeats, as Mania seemed to also be meant to tie to Forces but ended up being the better received of the two releases.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles isn't episodic. Send Tweet.
You forgot to mention that modern Tails is capable of fighting badnicks in this game, instead of being completely helpless in the boost games.
How do u write your scripts for videos
Sweet
Who would think it is?
But...one of them came out before the other. Sorry, I don't have twitter so I had to comment here.
“Probably won’t be returning to it”
Also Johnny 10-15 years from now
“Continuing the sonic marathon we have sonic 4 episode 1”
Content creation is hard.
@@SomecallmeJohnny get paid big man👍🏿
Or for the sonic hacking contest
He *did* say probably. : P
YES
I like how in the original review of the game Johnny said He wasn’t a fan of episodic releases as Half Life Fans have been waiting years for episode 3 of that game. He was scared Episode 3 of Sonic 4 would experience a similar fate. Well…..here we are.
Sonic 4 Amy rose VR when ?
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 3 Steam Early Access exclusive only purchasable with doge coin.
At least SEGA quickly announced Sonic 4 episode 3 was cancelled.
Valve let HL2 Episode 3 hang in limbo for so long that it could never have lived up to the hype, and they STILL haven't officially cancelled it after almost 15 years. The best we have for a conclusion is the script that the lead writer posted on his blog.
When it comes to episodic gaming as they call it, I feel like a lot of developers what that entailed. Outside of the traveler's tales formula, none of them really knew how to use it. And now I look at FF7R... I doubt that was the intention at all. Has the 2nd part of it come out yet? Or the Yuffie part? Interstice or something, I don't know. Here's hoping that sticks to one console.
At least Half Life never got any bad game
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is like the IRS. You forget about it at first, until there's nowhere left for you to run.
I've never laughed so hard while being so scared of a comment.
"I don't care who the IRS sends, I'm not paying taxes!"
😂 incredible comment!
I'd rather deal with the IRS than play Sonic 4 honestly.
Even the Joker would rather face Batman than deal with the IRS.
I’ve never heard anyone talk about the history of this game. Knowing it was supposed to be mobile only explains so much.
1 person actually did before johnny but he's not as big as Johnny.
im sitler
@@eebu4053 what?
It's explains how crap the graphics were even by 2010 standards.
I can't imagine ever playing a game like this on a touch screen.
Fun fact, if you beat the leaked version of Episode 2, you'll be greeted with a "To Be Continued" message, which was removed in the released version
I hope that there still a possibility for an Ep 3.
Oof...
@@augustbornone It's been 9 years, let it go.
@@TommyDeonauthsArchives What do you mean by "Oof....."?
@@DarkkirbyKRPG I mean there is possibility, right?
As a casual Sonic fan, I’m finally glad to learn the history of the production, the marketing shenanigans, and why it’s not held in the same regard as the classics. Thank you.
If I can thank Sonic 4 on any front, it made me appreciate retro games that much more when I was like 12.
Used to enjoy the game, but once I tried Sonic 1 to 3&k at the time, my young brain asked "Why does this feel more fun than the newest title ?"
But we now have Mania blessing us so now all is well
Sonic Mania basically destroy sonic 4 in all perspective
If they were gonna bring back Little Planet, where were the Time Stones!? An updated, speedier version of the time travel mechanic could've been a great way to give Sonic 4's levels more incentive for exploration and variety, and it would have called back to Sonic CD without just repeating it.
As per usual, Sega and/or Sonic Team had a good Sonic game idea, and...then they just don't...
Hey Geek Critique nice to see you here in s SCMJ video
True. Modern technology could've made for some _sick-smooth_ transitions as well, sending you just smoothly flinging back and forth between different time stages.
And always nice to hear from you, Josh.
@@snailgirl6 They just see sale numbers and think “WELP! No one bought it. NEXT IDEA GO!” But now with the incoming Sonic Colors Remaster, this shows that yes, Sega DOES acknowledge past titles, for good or worst (though Colors was one of the good ones).
I’m now just scared for whatever new (or remastered?) Sonic game they teased oh-so long ago..
@@ChipsCST And they botched the port somehow.
I saw the bootleg Sonic 6 posted over on Facebook and somebody commented “What happened to 4 and 5?”
We’ve reached a point in time where it’s become easy to forget about Sonic 4 now. Wew.
Like how they never made any sequels to the Matrix! The Wachowski Sisters knew the ending was perfect, and the story was handled good--and any further sequels would only serve to dilute the power of the Matrix and mess up the narrative
@@NimhLabs This is Animatrix slander
@@NimhLabs Correct.
The trailer for Sonic Mania seems to suggest that it's replaced 4 as the 4th classic game
@@Chernobog2 Sooo, Sonic 4, ep. 1 & 2 = Dragon Ball GT? Got it.
"I'm sure if he were wearing Raycons they'd still be on his ears, concussion be damned."
You had no reason to spit great jokes at me in an ad but you did it anyways.
"The 69 attack" I laughed at that way harder than I should've.
I was honestly dreading it: nearly everyone I know who’s done Sonic 4 Episode II referred to it as the 69 attack and I just wanted Johnny to be a bit less immature
@@aionicthunder Can't really help it seeing as...that's exactly what it is. At least Johnny took the joke farther than anyone else.
I’m pretty sure he called it that in his original video
nice
@@aionicthunder We're a bunch of nerds watching another nerd reviewing a game about two colorful cartoon animals fighting robots, maturity was never on the table.
14:35 Don’t forget the SGB playthrough!
Poor Elliot. Never got cut a break during these 2D games.
No. No he did not. Getting a game over in World 1-1 will probably be forever the worst thing he’s done
@@tailsprower8118 I don't know, Elliot dying in a Switch Palace is probably worse
@@holyrogue7811 Though to be perfectly fair though why did that switch palace have a bottomless pit? It just made no sense.
@@holyrogue7811 oh yeah I forgot that! Fuckin’ hell Elliot 🤣
Cradh 3 aswell but then elliot came back and did really well
17:13 Johnny actually sounds more exhausted here than during his day-long Sunshine streams. I feel that, after so many inconsistent years, but damn.
Can you blame him? Sonic is one of his favorite franchises of all time. To see a series he grew up with go down the tube all because the people who own the IP care way more about shameless profits and quantities (so much to the point that they seemingly *Refuse* to hire more competent people who can do it justice) over actual quality has left him disillusioned. As someone who was introduced to the series with SA2B, I tried to defend Sega for the longest, but even I gave up after a while when it seemed like they were just too prideful to learn from their mistakes. *Even Clement was going to abandon the series before Unleashed came out.*
@@SabeNo-rh7mb As I said, I feel that, it's more that it hurts to see the guy so beaten down.
Yeah. I'm not an Sonic fan myself. But even I admit that the blue blur has been having an field day. He started off great. But than gets down with dumps. He has been really solid again, but not long started to go down into the junk pile. It makes me sad seeing an recognizable series having it's up & downs and it was mostly an letdown. Hope he'll find some way to recover.
@@jaretco6423 It's very appropriate that the series has a thing for casino levels, because each game ends up being a damn roulette wheel on whether it'll be bad, amazing, or meh.
Blame Sega for being a bunch of incompetent failures.
17:13 this small part HURT, you can tell Johnny is just tired of this shit man.
That's what happens when you got people in authority who care way more about profit and quantities over quality. Sega doesn't get that. And at this point, I don't think they ever will. Even Nintendo, for all their faults and hubris, still know how to keep the quality of their star franchises up there, *especially* their mascot.
Rangers is going to make the feeling even worse. Sonic Team are a bunch of talentless manatees.
@@SabeNo-rh7mb Idk, Sega has seen huge critical acclaim in most their franchises as of late. I think it's something else...
@@captinsparklezremix I wouldn't say they're talentless. Look at the other games some of the Devs have made outside of the Sonic series.
@@SabeNo-rh7mb You do know Nintendo made Mario 3d all stars last year and skyward sword hd this year....
Holy shit, that editing took an already funny review and turned it up to 11. Johnny, please hire Lewis again, he's really talented!
that's so awesome lewis edited this! it's so cool seeing how far the bsc crew has come!
What I like about these revisits are all the research segments Johnny has placed in, I never knew about that Sonic The Portable for years! Well done John!
Even as a kid, I thought this game was weird. Before I really knew what a lot of proper Sonic physics, graphics, music, etc. were like, this game just felt off to me.
It's you!
@@tyminator8176 Nah it’s definitely the game.
@@CoalWurld What if I told you it was actually ME?
@@CoalWurld Sorry, he meant that he recognized me. I make things sometimes.
It has always been a mystery to me how Dimps, the team that had made Rush and Advance games, could make such mediocrity.
Budget, presumably
when you make a half decent mobile game but sonic team is like, "aight we changed our mind make this into a console game in a few months lol"
@@ctpp64 Dimps: God dammit Sega, make up your mind!
Coding commandos are Cheap & Quick. Say what you will about cheap and quick but it is profitable most of the time. 8 months for lost world 3ds.
Because, look at Rush and Advance. Nothing but mediocrity there too. No mystery at all. All DIMPS games are the same: dash pads, springs, and bottomless pits.
Man I had no idea about Sonic 4's original history. You know it's dull when Johnny can't even muster up care for Slicers.
8:40 The experience is so dull, he doesn't even flip out over Slicers...
Wow... that is a change...
Damn...just
Damn.
Not gonna lie, Sonic 4 honestly made me appreciate the NSMB games more for staying true to their classic 2D Mario feel & gameplay.
That & none of them were trying to be flat out follow ups to the NES/SNES games, just new 2d modern Mario games
NSMB are overhated by petty and entitled people
@@BH-98 And then again Mario Bros 2 didn't follow the first in the west
@@BH-98 *cough* New Super Mario Bros 4 *cough*
@@jlev1028 New Super Mario brps 4 doesn’t exist
8:37 Johnny said Slicers *without* losing his shit?! Is he becoming desensitized?!
He has overcome his ptsd. What great character development.
It's probably because they're a joke in Sonic 4.
It's Sonic 4, not even that game can make Slicers elicit the same reaction.
17:14 to 17:22
Man...
I genuinely felt like a part of my soul _died_ while listening to this part.
It's like...any kind of optimism I had just...evaporated.
...I think I need to be alone for a while.
Before I start, congratulations to Lewis for starting a new career. The video was really well edited, the footage complimented Johnny's script EXTREMELY well.
Sonic 4 failed what Mega Man 9 and 10 succeeded. While those games introduced new level themes and went away with a lot of the problems in the previous classic games; momentum and slow latter climb from MM1 and 2, being unable to jump out of a slide while underwater from 4 and 5 (or period in 6), increased I-frames for the bosses that was introduced just to make the charge shot seem more useful, rush jet being able to take damage from 7 etc...
They also kept the good stuff like the better menu from 4 and onward, and the overall classic Mega Man feeling ON top of having some of the best weapons in the series and having multiple characters. P.S 9,10 and 11 are my favorite Classic Mega Man games.
Meanwhile, Sonic 4 only had 1 character, fucked up the physics and the momentum based game-play and a whole lot of other unique stuff from the classic games. It also has a REALLY boring art-style, if I am honest. If you are not going back to the classics, at least do what Mega Man 11 did and be stylized. We have Mania now, so who cares.
I think the only thing 9 and 10 faltered in was removing the charge and slide. Feel like they didn’t need to do that. 11 definitely made a good decision to add those back.
I’m sorry but 8-bit graphics aged so bad for me, Megaman 9 should have used 16 bit graphics like the X games
Yeah. Mega Man 9, 10 & 11 felt like an old style, yet newly Mega Man games than Sonic 4 has.
the music was also still as good as ever, while sonic 4 fucked it up
@@ctpp64 sonic mania isn’t above the any of the classic except cd and 1
Lewis did a great job editing for this one. You can tell the experience and long-term friendship you guys have because it blends really well with your video style.
“The friends are just collateral damage “
- Johnny
"they can- they SHOUDN'T ignore that"... i felt that.
Great re-review of Sonic 4 Johnny, and... at long last! The final BSC member made it into a Vs. video, and as editor no less! Stellar work there Lewis, hope we get to see you again in the role!
This is not Lewis's Johnny Vs. debut. I know Johnny has kind of disowned this video, but his old Vs. on Final Fantasy XIV was a collab with Lewis.
& yet he still hasn’t had a smash card intro
Imagine if Crash 4 had like 12 levels, all of the bosses were repeats from the PS1 games, and the ending is just the same ending as Crash 1. That's Sonic 4.
And also the gameplay and physics are horribly mangled and Crash's basic abilities don't even work and instead of spinning into enemies he uses his melee attacks from the tattoo games and he uses that design too and the music is absolute dogshit and they release it episodically and none of the other characters or old features were there. That's Sonic 4.
@@Squishito Also imagine if instead of Crash sending enemies flying fast straight into foes & crates with his spin like in the original, his spin instead lobs them in the air like 3 feet away(like in Twinsanity). Plus Aku Aku not protecting Crash from tnts & nitros like before in the originals, or invincibility not having music & sucks at protecting Crash(also Twinsanity). Lastly Crash taking damage while jumping on enemies. That's Sonic 4.
At least there are less bad Crash game (aside from the post Naughty Dogs ones)
@@Squishito You just reminded me how bad Twinsanity was....
URF. Twinsanity wasn't that bad.
...it feels weird hearing Johnny talking about this game when he straight up abandoned both games.
Fun fact: Mr Needlemouse was a mistranslation, it was meant to be Mr Hedgehog. So the codename for this shoddy knockoff of the Genesis games is a name that wasn't ever really Sonic's.
How appropriate
6:17 this is why I like this guy so much! Thank you Johnny for your quality and objective reviews! I'm a long time listener and I like to use your videos to help determine if I want to try a game of not.
I remember having quite fun with Episode 1.
However, now that Mania exists I don't bother going back.
Plus, SEGA's idea to name the game Sonic4 because of marketing makes it... less good.
Watching Dana Carvey's face slowly fade into frame with all the SEGA guys made me laugh much harder than it should've.
Honestly I enjoy when somebody is able to critique something without making me feel like they’re hyperexaggerating all the time, and the opinions feel genuine instead of basically being the same thing some other guy had already said a million times over
This is like the only Sonic game I never see people defend.
Well honestly I'd say it's because even people who enjoy it just see it as painfully mediocre so there's not really anything to defend
Personally I sort of like the music but that's the only thing I'll defend
I see EPISODE 2 as a good game when I detach it from the classics
Episode 1-just no just a bad mobile game and a even worse console experience even in 2010 I thought it was just regurgitated sonic 1 with toy graphics,nothing redeemable except the compositions which did get repetitive
Overall though i want the graphics of episode 2 with the level design and physics of mania that’s my dream 2D sonic game
S/O to Lewis for his editing job on this video! Great stuff-loved the energy of this video due to his work!
Johnny I just wanna say thank you for doing what you do man, idk why but for some reason in the past year or so this channel has become a sort of comfort zone for me, whenever I'm feeling anxious or nervous, I just put the Vs. Playlist on Shuffle and watch/listen away. And in a time in the middle of my college years where shit is stressful as hell and most of my closest friends just left for this semester, anxiety and stress is at an all time high. So thank you so much for what you do, I can't imagine how my life would be without this channel, never thought I'd say that ab some channel on RUclips of all things haha.
15:38 "What can you do?"
Ad: "She knows exactly what she can do."
I’ll never forget that the first time I booted up this game on my Wii after downloading- knowing nothing about it and being amazed to see it- and thinking it was a student-made game
Beautiful work as always, and much love to Lewis for his editing skills! He did an amazing job here!
Damn man, gotta say that the editing was super on point in this video. Really accentuated the finer parts of the review while helping a lot of Johnny's jokes land all the better. A very enjoyable watch from start to end.
- Smartass commenter
i remember those animations. i also remember that animation called sonic generashorts and sonic stop motion adventures. god bless those animations they were childhood in the 2010s as well as sonic nazo unleashed
so does this mean we're missing out on a remade Sonic 3CD & Knuckles & Knuckles review?
Been watching you and sgb since 2012, I’m glad you’re still making content💯💪🏽
The best reviewer on RUclips!
Episode 2 is a huge improvement over 1, but I remember vividly finishing the game with a big headache due the music
Ye, awful soundtrack
Slightly less trash doesn't mean it's not trash
@@ikaguraThat’s your opinion. I have to agree with Nero.
I remember being super excited for Sonic 4 back in 2010. Now I think it’s just not good and am happy with Sonic Mania being released
Been having a couple of rough days recently, and these vids always cheer me up.
Thanks, Johnny. ❤
I remember telling people "just you wait, Sonic 4 will revive the series!" when the announcement came out
cosmic oof
"If they locked the next main entry to mobile phones, fans would go apeshit".
Time is a flat circle. I'm glad I still haven't used my free trial for Apple Arcade.
12:08 "Sorry Wii owners"
It's fine, store shut down anyways so... _scoffs_
"Almost like it was suposed to be a mobile game"
This single sentence sums up Sonic 4 ep 1/2
man watching you take on these games again for videos really shows how your style has improved for the better over the years
Wait... Little Planet is inside the Death Egg...
Did Eggman technically build a Dyson Sphere?
2:16 oh my... absolutely ruthless editing haha. kudos
I still love that the sonic mania trailer just pretends that sonic 4 doesn't exist on that elevator lol.
i love that as well as it's ending kinda being a take that to episode 2's lame cliffanger.(which ended with little planet still in the death egg where eggman could just restart it while you save little planet in mania's ending.:3)
it wasnt intentional lmao, whats up with EVERYBODY hating sonic 4 like its the necronomicon of sonic games
In an alternate universe, these games were called “Sonic Mania” and Sonic Mania was called “Sonic the Hedgehog 4”
13:59 Gotta love that he still calls that the 69 Attack from the previous review of Episode II. XD
Also, love the edits in this vid, I cracked up at several points. Well done, Lewis!
The fact that Sega took a simple mobile game and rebranded it to Sonic 4 to sell numbers is a pretty hilarious thing to know.
By the way, fun fact, Sonic 4 Episode 2 was the second to last Sonic game Dimps developed, with the last Sonic game Dimps developed being the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.
Sonic team is still on this ''Sonic only'' schtick to this day.
06 really traumatized them
@@retron99 that was also like, 16 years ago, they should've moved on already
To any younger fans who missed out on the sonic 4 experience at launch, i recall a popular video that explained that if u input the homing attack late, your airdash would re-roll u into a ball to hit enemies to maintain the flow of the originals.
Our copium during these times was hardcore
sometimes i sit at the beginning just to listen to your amazing theme song johnny
Perfect timing, I just got back from shopping and now get to unwind with some Johnny goodness!
Did you buy some Raycons?
@@34_Israel Pfft, I've actually owned a pair of black ones for years 🤣
Do you guys remember when the game was revealed and people went berserk over Sonic’s modern design? I think this was one of the main factors of the whole ‘classic vs modern design’ war in the fan base.
Oh my god, does anyone remember AKnotholeResident?
You've uncovered uncomfortable memories I forgot I even had.
So that’s why Sonic could stand on wall in Sonic 4: Episode I it was the remnants of the original mobile game’s roots.
Who else has their early copy of Sonic 4? Those special stages were nuts.
@@diydylana3151
Chances are you've probably found the video but I'll explain anyway. Before episode 1 came out, Johnny and Eliot made an April Fools joke video where they got an early review copy of the game. It's really funny and I recommend giving it a watch.
as someone who grew up watching your videos im glad you are still going strong to this day!
Bro, the Metal Sonic theme is lit. I can't believe you lumped it in with the rest of the 4 OST.
Facts.
@@SnaksiXD I just feel his Mania bias has basically impacted my enjoyment of this video. The 4 games are just ok, and yet he acts like this is another low point that can stand toe to toe with freaking 06'. Even if he didn't mean that, that is the vibe I'm getting.
@@LizardOfOz69 Bro he was really not that hard on sonic 4. Watch Cybershell’s video if you really want to see someone being harsh on Sonic 4.
same with episode 2 being less original, i feel it revamps existing concepts way better than the first episode tbh
@@Super_Suchi in a way, saying that something is soulless (even if it is true) is more depressing than someone shitting on it. I feel like he can't judge the games without thinking of the title. The only thing that is "soulless" is SEGA's decision to change the name and make it a multi-platform title.
Even when I already thought this game was inadequate as a sequel to the Genesis games, Sonic Mania comes along and becomes the final nail in this game’s coffin.
I remember when Screwattack hyped this up at SGC 2010 like it was the biggest game ever. Funny (and sad) looking back.
Funny, I was always under the impression that they hated Sonic.
@@toonzach2870 So?
the graphical difference between episode 1 and 2 is INSANE
4:09 "Needle mouse" is actually a mistranslation of the Japanese word for "hedgehog," and wasn't actually an early name for Sonic.
It's insane how prevalent this little "factoid" is, despite being so obviously wrong.
Mistranslations have become a part of the gaming aesthetic--especially retro gaming related stuff. Two good examples are: "A winner is you" and "All your base are belong to us"
You should know this, you spoony bard
I'd like proof there
@@NimhLabs Ah, "spoony bard", a phrase so iconic that even years after better translation efforts, it is still included.
@@DirectorOfChaos9292 This video ruclips.net/video/4PLXVCrLrrk/видео.html at 5:47
Your videos increase in quality every single release. One of the best on the platform! Thx John
"I am of the firm cynical belief that the reason that it was called Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was simply to push units. And the reason it went multiplatform was because if they did lock the next numbered entry behind mobile phones fans would collectively go ape-shit."
"Do you guys not have phones?"
I've never really cared for anything created by blizzard, but I think about that comment more and more, even before the lawsuit coming to light and all the bullshit surrounding it, and it legit makes me angry on behalf of the fans.
For me Sonic 4's main issue was the title. If it would've been called literally anything else, I wouldn't have as big of an issue with it, but calling it "Sonic 4" gave it really high expectations. Those were huge shoes to fill, and it didn't live up to the name. It wasn't *that* bad, but it absolutely pales in comparison to Sonic 1-3. I mostly hated the awful physics in episode 1, and the unoriginal zones that were basically just offbrand versions of classic stages. Still wish they'd re-release Sonic 4 with both episodes together in one package, and maybe some fixed physics for episode 1. Still feel that Mania is basically the true Sonic 4 lol
Not just the title. They put SO much into the marketing for this game too. I bet they were hoping to get an easy New Super Mario Bros response but weren't willing to put enough money in to actually do that.
As unoriginal as NSMB are, even they had some detail quality than this.
And because of that we got the terrible viral video that is aknotholeresident (Richard Kuta) complaining about Green Eyed Sonic, and that inevitably led to Classic Sonic
@@jaretco6423 that series ran itself dry but the games themselves were all very competently made
Ken tried so hard to market this game. You could tell he knew the game was soulless, too
00:40 I find it funny that the carpet is so sparkly clean and then there's just a lump of a man laying full spread in the middle.
The story bebind these games sounds like classic Matt McMuscles material.
Ironically, I have been getting into his videos a lot lately, and it has truly open my eyes to how much bullshit there is in the video game industry.
This is what brought me back into the sonic franchise and made me realize that Sonic wasn't just a series of games on the Sega Genesis. Thanks Ouya
It should've been
I have over 20 hours in sonic 4 episode 1 and I do not know entirely why. I loved that game, and still go back to it every now and then. I genuinely think if it was titled anything other than sonic 4 it would be looked at in a more positive light. But sega did a sega.
This game has the Phantom Menace effect, where people thought was okay at the time but now it's a joke.
Maybe it’s just me but I feel that people nowadays see the Phantom Menace in a better light, especially when you consider the overall reception to the sequel trilogy
The thing about TPM is that people were rabid with excitement up to its release. It didn't become clear that it was bad until it was out. Sonic 4 though was constantly raising red flags as it was being marketed, and a near-finished build prolifically leaked months in advance, which confirmed people's fears about it being an unworthy sequel.
Sonic 4 didn't get a similar hype cycle to TPM since it wasn't even TRYING to give off the veneer of a worthy follow up. TPM at least had trailers that indicated proper production values and music.
@@Seiyol Also, Sonic 4 came out in the aftermath of games like Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic 06, Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight meaning that fans at this point were probably used to getting disappointed. I was too young to see people’s reaction to Sonic 4 but I can only imagine how cautious the hype was for this game if there was any
@@vanadium8865 The prequels and sequels are bad but for different reasons. The only reason people are being kinder to the prequels is just a bandwagon because for literally over 15 years, the prequels got rightfully shat on for being an embarrasement to the original trilogy (and i don't even much care for those movies). Now that something just as bad came out, it's "cool" to think that the prequels are somehow better.
Wait 10 years and the inevitable new trilogy will get shit on and the sequels will looked upon favorably by the same people that trash them at release.
12:01 ok Johnny did you add that thing near eggman what the absolute hell is it?
ITS THE FACT THAT YOU SHOWED MARIO AND SONIC AT THE OLYMPICS TO CALL THEM OUT ON HYPOCRISY FOR NOT HAVING YOU TOP 10 FOR MEEE😂😂😂😂😂😂 you really did get better at these videos I’m a young media professional and now that I’m older I can appreciate what it takes to put out an amazing product like this
I can't help but feel this "series" was nothing but wasted potential. Despite how negatively received Episode 1 was, Episode 2 felt like the devs took all the criticisms people had and tried to fix them as best they could. The visuals, controls, level design, everything was at least a little bit improved from Episode 1, and with some more time I think it could've started to live up to the reputation of being called Sonic 4. This was entirely on Sega for forcing a spinoff mobile game into something bigger than it was supposed to be.
Alright, I'm loving all the editing that Lewis did for this video. Kudos to the both of you.
@SomecallmeJohnny should totally tackle the DKC series in the future👀
Man those Auctioneer lessons are really paying off, I thought I had this video on 2x speed during the sponsored AD part of the video
Both episodes are really great tbh, they are so underrated
Internet: makes... questionable sonic fanart
Sega: Sonic and Tails shall canonically 69
Johnny time again!!
I've been loving these Sonic reviews so much!
5:15 LOL that barrel really wanted to hog the spotlight to itself
11:37 John, you are playing with FIRE in that edit! If people weren't asking "When Sonic.exe Nightmare Beginning", they'll CERTAINLY be asking for it now!
Sonic.exe Spirits of Hell is better anyway; it's hard AF though.
3:43 I like how you’d mentioned the soundtrack as Sonic is just covering up his ears.
20 seconds in, wooo!! Usually have busy mornings so it’s nice. Really liking this retrospective... despite barely having over an hour of playtime of any classic Sonic game. Just can’t get past Labyrinth Zone act 3...
Man this is Lewis first time editing and what a job amazing job Lewis
14:30 Nah Johnny, you did a SGB Playthrough with Elliot back in 2014.
I remember because Elliot does that bird scream while crashing the plane into a wall and killing you both, it was a fun let's play :D
I remember when they rereleased Sonic CD prior to episode 2 as some way to tie into it, then ended up being the better release. How history repeats, as Mania seemed to also be meant to tie to Forces but ended up being the better received of the two releases.