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Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal

From Sonic Retro

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Sonic-4-Episode-Metal.jpg
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal
System(s): Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade),
PlayStation 3 (Sony PlayStation Network),
iOS, Android, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action
Release Date RRP Code Rating
Steam
US
2012-05-15  ? ?
Steam
EU
2012-05-15  ? ?
Steam
JP
2012-05-15  ? ?
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network
US
2012-05-15  ? ?
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network
JP
2012-05-15  ? ?
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network
EU
2012-05-16  ? ?
Xbox Live Arcade
US
2012-05-16  ? ?
Xbox Live Arcade
EU
2012-05-16  ? ?
Xbox Live Arcade
JP
2012-05-16  ? ?
iOS
US
2012-05-17  ? ?
iOS
EU
2012-05-17 €1,79+€5,99 ?
iOS
JP
2012-05-17  ? ?
Google Android OS
US
2012-06-26  ? ?
Google Android OS
EU
2012-06-26  ? ?
Google Android OS
JP
2012-06-26  ? ?

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal is a free downloadable "Lock-On" part of the episodic game Sonic the Hedgehog 4, released along side of Episode II. It enables any player who owns both Episode I and Episode II on the same console to play Episode Metal, thereby acting very similar to the Lock-On Technology pioneered by Sonic and Knuckles. Episode Metal explains the backstory to Metal Sonic's return in Episode II and also serves to connect Sonic 4 to Sonic the Hedgehog CD, befitting the latter game's recent re-release on digital download services.

To access Episode Metal, the player must beat at least one Act (so, for example, you could simply play only Sylvania Castle Zone Act 1) of Sonic 4: Episode II, and then again choose Single Player; now, Episode Metal can be selected from the stage select map by switching to the Sonic 4: Episode I map.

Plot

Sonic 4: Episode Metal is set after the events of Sonic 4: Episode I and before Sonic 4: Episode II. Dr. Eggman sends a probe out to the fabled Little Planet to find the remains of Metal Sonic, who is languishing in Stardust Speedway after having been defeated there by his target and the inspiration for his design, Sonic the Hedgehog. After locating Metal Sonic, Eggman remotely shocks him back to activity and instructs him to return to Sonic's world, which in Episode II is at its closest point to the Little Planet since the time of Sonic CD. Metal flies to the world, and there he begins his journey to return to full power and face Sonic once more.

Acts

Each of Episode Metal's four Acts occurs in one of the four main Zones of Sonic 4: Episode I. However, the Zones occur in the reverse order compared to their original appearance. Each Zone's single Act contributes to revealing some of the reasons behind their appearance in Episode I:

  • Act 1: Metal Sonic Returns – Mad Gear
This act shows that Mad Gear was built to help restore Metal to a battle-worthy state.
At the end of the act, Metal Sonic finds a hidden power in the labyrinth that gives him his purple charge attacks.
At the end of this Act, Metal Sonic finds the rocket that Sonic used in Episode I to reach the E.G.G. Station; Metal Sonic then uses it to catch up to Sonic, who is now in Episode II's second Zone, White Park.

Gameplay

Episode Metal implements Episode II's physics in Episode I's Zones. The new Acts have layouts modified from those of Episode I, making Episode Metal something of a 'hard mode' version of Episode I. This could be considered similar to Knuckles the Echidna's routes in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Artwork

External links


Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Sonic4EpI PC title.png

Main page (I|II|Metal)
Comparisons
Maps
Achievements
Downloadable content
Credits


Magazine articles
Reception


Development
Hidden content
Bugs
Hacking guide


Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network
PS3
 2010  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic Adventure     2011  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog Anniversary Bundle | Sonic the Hedgehog CD     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic Adventure 2 | Classic Sonic Bundle | Sonic the Fighters     2013  Sonic the Hedgehog Master Collection    
Xbox Live Arcade
 2007  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog 2     2009  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles     2010  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic Adventure     2011  Sonic the Hedgehog CD     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic Adventure 2 | Sonic the Fighters    
filler
Google Android OS
 2011  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Advance | Sonic the Hedgehog CD     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic Jump     2013  Sonic the Hedgehog | Happy Sonic! Live Wallpaper | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic Dash | Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed     2014  Sonic Jump Fever     2015  Sonic Runners | Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom     2017  Sonic Runners Adventure | Sonic Forces: Speed Battle     2020  Sonic at the Olympic Games     2022  Sonic Speed Simulator     2023  Sonic Prime Dash    
 Unreleased  Sonic Central | Sonic Demo
iOS
 2007  Sonic the Hedgehog (iPod)     2009  Sonic the Hedgehog (iPhone)     2010  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic Spinball | Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games | Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic Comics     2011  Sonic 20th Anniversary | Sonic the Sketchhog | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing | Sonic the Hedgehog CD     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic the Hedgehog Skins | Sonic Jump     2013  Sonic Dash | Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed     2014  Sonic Jump Fever     2015  Sonic Runners | Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom     2017  Sonic Forces: Speed Battle | Sonic Runners Adventure     2019  Sonic Racing     2020  Sonic at the Olympic Games     2022  Sonic Speed Simulator     2023  Sonic Prime Dash | Sonic Dream Team    
 Unreleased  Sonic Central | Sonic Demo
filler
Steam
 2010  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Spinball | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing     2011  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles | Sonic Adventure | Sonic Generations     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic Adventure 2     2013  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed     2015  Sonic Lost World     2017  Sonic Mania | Sonic Forces     2019  Team Sonic Racing     2022  Sonic Origins | Sonic Frontiers     2023  Sonic Colours: Ultimate | The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Superstars     2024  Sonic X Shadow Generations