Since the unveiling of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, Sega has been extremely careful to point out how the latest installment in the “Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Saga” has improved over its predecessor, and that they have been listening. From the physics to the art style to the implementation of new ideas, it is clear that the people behind the game are trying more than they did the first go-round. Sure, you can argue for hours on end if they have been succeeding, but regardless, there is one component of the game that has, until now, been missing from public scrutiny. I am talking, of course, about the original soundtrack to the game. There’s no need to repeat the jokes hurled at Episode 1‘s final score, but people have been wondering what sort of instrumentation the next episode would contain. Would it be a repeat of Episode 1, would it be something much closer to the classic Mega Drive sound, or would it attempt to be a bit more high definition? While bits and pieces could be heard over convention noise during the last time a playable build was available to the public, YouTube channel WounChannel have upload yet another runthrough of the beginning to Sylvania Castle, this time with no ambient noise of excited cell phone enthusiasts.
There you have it, the music to Act 1 of Sylvania Castle. While it might not be the huge change some people were hoping for, at the very least it clues us in as to how the rest of the game should be sounding.
36 Comments on this post
Leave a CommentWow, I know the instrumentation isn’t much better, but it sounds amazing to me! Similar to mad gear IMO.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Jaseman
It’s not bad, but it’s too upbeat for an ancient ruins level.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Rockman Zero
But it’s much better than the music from Episode 1.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Rockman Zero
well, i didnt like episode 1′s sound track. lets hope this time they do better.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by sprong4
I actually really like this! This sounds nice, even if the cats dying are still sort of the main instrument.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Limey
This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I like it. I think it’s catchy and a huge improvement over last episodes music. It has layers and the synth doesn’t sound like a dying cat anymore, imo.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Alex
It couldn’t be so different, because it’s just another Episode of the same game… theorically.
Either way, I don’t like the music, you get enough of it in the first minute… as well as Splash Hill’s song.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by LHTheHedgehog
This junk is the same instrumentation as Episode One. I can’t believe how RETARD Iizuka can be.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Zero Dozer
Somebody should stop this from being released… Seriously… This is atrocious.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Axel
A definite improvement to say the least.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Model M
it seems too errrrr plain, aquatic ruin or marble garden zone’s style would fit better, but this isall opinion of course
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by sonicplayer
No sir, I don’t like it.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by JaxTH
I definitely will not be buying this…
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Katie
I was more interested in watching the physics instead of the music. Seriously, it looks just as horrible as the first episode. Is it really that hard to replicate original style physics/music? Its pretty sad when a team of independent developers (S2HD Team) can show up Sonic Team, a so called “professional” group of programmers. (Good job on S2HD, BTW.) Iizuka needs to be stopped.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by RedYelBlu
This music is pretty good, I like how they are still using the old instruments, but in a new way…and what’s with people not getting a game because of MUSIC? Just mute the dang thing if it bothers you so much.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Haden
… Think I’d rather have the music switched off and play my Sonic Cd album instead. But I doubt I’ll be getting this anyway.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Andy
Sounds fairly soulless. And the gameplay doesn’t look like it’s had any improvements.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by B. Phoenix
I can’t hear it clearly enough to tell if there are subtle improvements in the overall instrumentation or not, but what I can hear sounds like Episode 1 fare. It’s also too short a clip to say whether the problem of BREVITY has been answered yet.
But if the music sucks, I can cover it up with Custom Soundtracks. That’s the least of Episode 1′s problems, I say. The big things are the gameplay, the stage concepts, and the graphics–all of which seem to have been improved to at least an acceptable level.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Solaris Paradox
*saw the graphics first* Hmm… Good…
*gameplay later* Interesting.
*gave a look at the physics* Hey! It’s doing great!
*then I listened that music* … It’s not SEGA that doesn’t learn. It’s myself…
But, yeah, I still have some hope. That’s not in high-quality loud-volume after all.
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by SkySlider
Other than the outrageous amounts of springs and boosters I say this looks alright?
Comment left on 4.4.2012 by Doctor Rover
Guys, can we get this reply thing fixed on the site? Unless it’s just Firefox, but still. I can’t see half of what I’m typing when I want to reply to someone on here. I imagine it’d be an easy enough fix through word press.
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by Zycor
Horrid generic music doesn’t fit castle theme. Sounds like someone just mashing keys on a midi keyboard during an autoplay demo song. With oddly enough luck to have it sound like its a “song” and not clashing noise. Just one step higher than that for sure.
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by shadow1w2
Well, I was expecting more, BUT this is an amazing improvement. There’s some actual /life/ being plugged into this song. And, if the same pattern as Episode 1 holds true, this is lower caliber than the best the game has to offer (I can’t wait to hear that Oil Ocean -esque zone!) Dying cats or not, this screams effort far more than the original!
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by AustinOnSugar
I thought they learned after Episode 1 that this new instrumentation sucks! Sonic CD had realistic music and that was a 2D game, what’s the excuse for this music that clearly takes repetetive vibes from Splash Hill?
I was so excited for the music but this has just put a hammer through the excitement. I now dread the other acts, White Park, that oil level as well as any other level or boss which has the misfortune to rest under this awful music…
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by Bonehead
The first thing I noticed is that the Spindash sounds are reversed. When Sonic rolls into a ball while moving, he makes the sound that should be used for revving up the spindash, & vice versa.
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by Synok
not bad. honestly, the only thing wrong with Episode 1′s music was the presentation/synth voices. The actual writing was lovely.
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by dorodot
It’s not very memorable to say the least, and it really doesn’t suit an ancient ruins level. The drums are really bad though. I didn’t really mind the style of Episode 1, apart from those horrible synthesised drums.
Comment left on 4.5.2012 by FallenNocturne
Ew. The music doesn’t fit ANYTHING, really. Not the level, not the games’ atmosphere, and not the 7th generation. The instruments still sound stupid.
Comment left on 4.7.2012 by negiWDJr
Sounds like someone just mashing keys on a midi keyboard during an autoplay demo song. With oddly enough luck to have it sound like its a “song” and not clashing noise. Just one step higher than that for sure. [2]
Comment left on 4.7.2012 by TidalTempest
its such an unfitting song…… im sorry…… i just…… idk…… losing faith i guess.
Comment left on 4.9.2012 by sprong4
So in this video we get:
Synthesiser overload with even less of a catchy theme than Splash Hill,
Spring bouncing auto-tour, now in even more unnecessary places.
Return of Bubbles badnik chaining.
Booster pads preventing you from staying still.
They need to stop play-testing these games on 5-year olds or retards that never touched a controller before.
Comment left on 4.10.2012 by Piers Mearns
Yay more dying cats!
Comment left on 4.10.2012 by sonicdude558
Not the best thing, but I like it a lot more than Ep 1 music.
Comment left on 4.13.2012 by CplFoley94
I was told this stage would have a remix of Bloody Tears, I am disapoint, with all seriousness though it is a nice song
Comment left on 4.16.2012 by theshredder39
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWW0PTkjR8 - just so you don't walk away empty handed
Reply left on 4.16.2012 by GeneHF
The physics appear to be just as broken.
Comment left on 4.17.2012 by ffiti