Technician Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Developer: Dimps , Sonic Team

Episodic video games are often tricky for developers to pull off. Outside of Telltale Games, who have made a name for their monthly installment series such as The Walking Dead, it seems a lot of companies get caught in a desire to rework and redesign entire aspects of their games based on the reception of the first episode in a series.

For Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Sega took over a year and a half to release a follow-up to the first title in the Sonic 4 series. With numerous changes to the physics and gameplay, Episode II feels more like a proper sequel than another chapter in the same game. However, the extra development time has helped to make this latest Sonic title another strong entry in the series.

Following story threads from both the first episode and Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II sees the revival of Metal Sonic, one of Dr. Eggman’s deadliest creations. Together, the duo plans to use the mystical Little Planet to construct a new base to conquer the world.

It’s up to Sonic, now joined by old friend Tails, to stop the mad doctor’s scheme. What follow are several hours of classic running, spin-dashing, and loop-de-loops for the blue hedgehog to make his way through.

The first thing to note is that Episode II shows evidence of its extended development cycle. The physics in the first episode drew much criticism from fans, with many feeling Sonic was far too “floaty” and hard to control.

Episode II fixes this, with controls that fall far more in line with the original games from the Genesis, though they aren’t as loyal as the Classic Sonic controls in last year’s Sonic Generations. Sonic still has his more modern homing attack, which remains essential for moving through levels and fighting bosses.

As for the boss fights themselves, they’re easily some of the best the series has seen in the past few years. From a gigantic junkyard robot to an aerial dogfight, every boss is a multi-staged endurance test, providing some of the game’s high points.

Less impressive is the level design throughout the rest of the game. While there are a few standouts, many of the areas lack any real innovation. This isn’t to say these levels aren’t fun to play, they just don’t offer anything new to the franchise.

This is offset a bit by the return of Tails. An optional sidekick in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the two-tailed fox is now an integral part of the gameplay. Whether players are on land, at sea or in the air, Sonic and Tails can team-up for additional maneuverability or destructive force. Though not a major addition, these mechanics serve to give Episode II a unique flavor.

Also adding to this is a special bonus for owners of the first episode. Upon starting the game, players with save data from Episode I will be given access to a set of four levels entitled Episode Metal.

The new section presents reworked versions of four levels from the first game. In them, players control Metal Sonic, and get to see how he was returned to full power between the events of Sonic CD and Episode II. While the levels themselves aren’t very exciting, there’s fun to be had playing as Sonic’s robot doppelgänger .

Another enjoyable aspect of the game is the soundtrack, which is just as impressive as in the last episode. The techno-influenced tracks all work well with the levels they’re paired with, and help to sell the light-hearted, fun atmosphere the game is aiming for.

Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is another enjoyable entry in the series. Though this downloadable adventure doesn’t quite reach the creative heights of full retail releases like Sonic Generations, there’s still plenty here for fans of Sega’s blue blur to sink their teeth into.