
Once all acts and boss battles within each zone are cleared, players gain access to a fifth and final zone. The boss battles, similar to the zones themselves, are inspired by the boss battles from older Sonic titles, although there are variations. Each boss act is unlocked by completing all three acts in that zone. Each of the four zones contain three acts, followed by a separate boss battle act, rather than the boss being included at the end of the third act. Unlike the first three classic Sonic games, after completing the first act, the player is able to freely choose which zone to play via a world map, or choose to play the zones sequentially. Sonic is also able to use a homing attack, which homes in on a targeted enemy or object. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, using mechanics such as the original Spin Dash and power-ups such as shields, invincibility and speed shoes. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is a 2D side-scrolling platformer reminiscent of the original Sonic games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. A direct follow-up, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, was released in 2012. A release for Windows Phone 7 followed in June 2011, for PC (via Steam) and Android in January 2012, for BlackBerry PlayBook in July 2012, and for Ouya in July 2013.

The game was intended to emulate the original Sonic the Hedgehog titles on the Sega Genesis.Įpisode I was released in October 2010 for iOS, PlayStation Network, WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade. The game was developed by Dimps, with assistance from Sonic Team, and published by Sega. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is a 2010 episodic platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
