New interview may give a little more insight into Episode Metal.

[AutoSaver]

Uh... using Knuckles in Sonic 2 as an example is terrible.

And Tails as a lead probably wouldn't be fun since there are over 40,000 homing attack chains.

[MrHaru]

Uh... using Knuckles in Sonic 2 as an example is terrible.

And Tails as a lead probably wouldn't be fun since there are over 40,000 homing attack chains.

The point I was trying to make is that I don't recall them ever worrying about it: it was just a fun extra to get with the price of the game that they did because they could and maybe the fans would enjoy it.

[BaronGrackle]

Can you tell me - explicitly, tell me why - Tails was not a stand alone character in his own right, ala Sonic 2 and 3 & Knuckles, in the first place?

Oh, I can answer that one. The reason is, they wanted to focus on "Sonic & Tails" together this time around. Flight is mandatory. Cooperative attacking is mandatory.

Neither Sonic nor Tails can be a standalone character because:

1) The game cannot be completed without the powers of "Flight" and "Breaking Strong Stuff".
2) The power of "Breaking Strong Stuff" is exclusive to Sonic and Tails together.

[IndigoRush101]

Tails as the lead?! Count me in!

Are we talking as DLC for Episode 2, or for future installments?

[Ken Balough]

Oh, I can answer that one. The reason is, they wanted to focus on "Sonic & Tails" together this time around. Flight is mandatory. Cooperative attacking is mandatory.

Neither Sonic nor Tails can be a standalone character because:

1) The game cannot be completed without the powers of "Flight" and "Breaking Strong Stuff".
2) The power of "Breaking Strong Stuff" is exclusive to Sonic and Tails together.

Bingo - you cannot complete the game without both Characters - period.

YEs Knuckles was unlockable in 2, but there was no Sonic or Sonic/Tails specific ability that prevented you from completeing the levels without them. So Knuckles is anawesome unlockable.

[Ken Balough]

Well - Knuckles is aweosme anyway! hahah

[Ken Balough]

So how is this response any different to that two years ago regarding the physics and other issues in Episode I?

I'm sitting here wondering what has actually changed.

So we get Episode I, and you come out Ken, asking for feedback, saying it'll be implemented as best it can in the next episode. Here you're asking for feedback again, saying it'll be implemented as best it can.

You said last time around that patching, or editing the game, would "break it" - and here, two years later, with the next episode, you are saying the same thing.

I only have one real question, because I'm fairly certain that nothing has really changed in Sonic 4 - still got some serious gameplay issues, most of the cracks are papered up, the music so far has failed to impress and the "exclusive four zones" is now four acts in a much shortened DLC (still, it's free right? Unless you're a Wii owner).

So here's my question.

Can you tell me - explicitly, tell me why - Tails was not a stand alone character in his own right, ala Sonic 2 and 3 & Knuckles, in the first place?

Just a simple "the development team decided against this because...etc" will do, because for the life of me, I cannot understand how the limited, gimmick centric gameplay of Sonic 4, Episode II, can have anywhere near the replay value of its predecessors.

I mean - who two years ago thought that asking for Tails as a playable character was going to end up without a Tails alone mode? Who would have thought that? Seriously?

I don't know what else to tell you anymore man. If you can't see how much has changed - I am just stunned. Since I took the game to PAX East last week nearly everyone who played it was able to see the massive changes on graphics, level design and physics. Press too.

The physics in Ep I are still the same - we can't change the Ep I physics without rebuilding the game. Nothing has changed. As Ep II was built from scratch then the physics have changed.

That said - if you don't like Sonic 4, there are plenty of other games out there. No harm, no foul. That the great thing - you have a choice, and I'm happy your exersising it

[Saberclaws]

I appologise for reposting this Ken, but im unsure if you saw these set of questions

@ Ken

Thanks for the info regarding Nintendo platforms ^^.
I know this is off-topic but i have some questions regarding how tails play in Co-up and non Co-up in this Game that i would enjoy beeing answered (if possible )

So Co-up wise

1) If say, Sonic dies, will both be instantly be teleported to the latest sign post, or will the Sonic player have to reach up with Tails?
2) In a boss fight, if Sonic Dies, will the boss reset and you will be teleported to the Sign post, or will Sonic instantly respawn?

Non Co-up wise
How does Tails behave in Special stages, simmilar to Sonic 2? Personaly i have an bad experience due to tails Slow response, making you loose all those gorgeous rings :<

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METAL- wise question

Is he playable in 4 individual acts, or 4 zones 4 acts each? We're only recently comming to the conclusion he's beeing set up for only 4 levels, which, im already set up to hear
(OH and many thanks for this Lock-on fesature, alot of fans, myself included, are happy with this outcome ).

[EDIT - ANSWERED]
http://forums.sega.com/showthread.ph...30#post7244130 thanks
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Thanks in advance, even if you can't straight-foward answer these questions.

[Ken Balough]

Ohh yeah - ok let me get to that give me a sec

[chunkybeef31]

playable Metal Sonic was an unexpected delight. I can't wait to see how he plays