Chances are the small percentage of you that picked up the PC version of Sonic 4: Episode 1 have gotten a small update to the game. Upon trying the game out, you might have also noticed that your settings were all gone and that your save file was gone as well.

While we could take yet another potshot at Sonic 4, let’s focus on fixing that issue. What this last update did is create a second executable file: one for Windows XP and one for Windows Vista/7. To restore settings, you’ll need to run the settings application included with the game. As for the save file, it’s still there with all your hard work. It just needs a little renaming.

To do so, head into your Steam folder located in Program Files, click on the folder named “steamapps” and then “common”. Click on the Sonic 4 folder and you should see a file named “Sonic_save.dat”. Simply rename this to “Sonic_vis_save.dat” and all your hard work will be restored.

Despite Sonic 4 being readily available to iOS and Windows Phone 7 users for quite some time now, it seems Sega has finally decided that those of the Android persuasion should be so fortunate to finally get Sonic 4: Episode 1 for general consumption, launching on the Android Marketplace for only $3.99/£2.56/€3.05.

Actually, this version of Sonic 4 is once again an oddity compared to the others. Like its mobile brethren, it shares the same stages. That’s right, that means everyone’s favorite minecart level and 100,000 point pinball challenge are back. It also includes the console version’s overworld, though in a much more static variety. Curiously enough, the game also uses the graphical assets of the iPad version, which makes Sonic and his environs look more detailed.

A word of caution for those of you with tinfoil hats: Sonic 4, for some reason, requires permissions to have access to your phone number, potentially knowing who you’re calling. Why a game of all things would need this is beyond us, but we are guessing it may have something to do with a potential phone database where Sonic Brand Manager Ken Balough will personally call you to tell you about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Insider sources!

A lot of you have no doubt been enjoying the fruits of The Taxman’s labor now that Sonic CD for Everything is out (we know we certainly have) and we can only hope you’re also spreading the love to those around you that, yes, Sonic CD is not too shabby a game.

But one of the most endearing traits from the game is that the music, be it the American or International version, is catchy as hell! So when I get linked to a remix of the music from the game, you bet I take a listen and every now and then am pleasantly surprised to find one awesome remix, such as the one above by youtuber mattj2217.

Of course, matt’s not the only one to have put together Will Smith’s rapping talents with a Sonic CD song. Enter the Fresh Prince.

Made by forum member QJimbo years ago, it showed that distinctly ’90s music goes quite well with distinctly ’90s hip hop… which also caused a kick off of lesser derivatives of getting Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to fit into other songs.

Never one from backing away talking up the fanbase, Sega’s own Sonic Digital Brand Manager Ken Balough has been busy chatting with the folks over on Sega’s Sonic forums. Usually, this isn’t enough to draw enough attention–after all, if it was the case, we’d be writing up every time Sega’s own Aaron “Ruby Eclipse” Webber shows up on here in his quest to be the Fastest Sega Employee on Sonic Generations speed runs.

But when Sonic 4: Episode II teases begin to fly, you can bet people will be listening.

Talking to fans in a post made Nov. 30, Balough confirmed once more that after Sonic CD launches some time this month, he will be more at liberty to talk Episode II.

As for when I can talk about Ep 2? ahaha Its like making an announcement for an announcement. Most people are right – after CD launches, I’ll be able to dive and talk about Episode II. In fact I’ll come on the forums and give you a hint of where you’ll get the first reveal.

He further assured fans earlier today that a hint was incoming:

Once CD launches, I can drop a brief hint on what you guys want to know

Excited to see what Episode II holds in store? With how divisive Episode I was amongst the fans, who are now riding on a high wave from Sonic Generations and Sonic CD, let’s see if Episode II will continue the upward momentum.

[Courtesy of: Sonic Stadium]

Although GameStop’s tablets include a copy of the game already on them, new video on YouTube of the Xbox Live Arcade build of the game gives us a crisper look at the game running, as well as laying any fears to rest of the Spencer Nilsen soundtrack being excluded for those preferring the more rock and synth U.S. soundtrack.

The video gives us glimpses at the main menus, Tails as an unlockable character, and a new instrumental remix of the original International opening theme, “Sonic – You Can Do Anything”. Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead’s Retro Engine can be seen in full force as the game animates at a smooth 60FPS on a 16:9 aspect ratio, allowing more of the action to be seen by the player.

The big stunner of the video comes at the end when the player goes through the Special Stage, now significantly smoother to any other experience of Sonic CD to date. It’s almost disorienting after playing it at its chugging Mode 7-esque pace.

Sonic CD is due out by year’s end on every platform under the sun except for the Wii and 3DS. Sorry, Nintenation.

For those of you that slept in or really had no desire to put up with show tunes, marching bands and pop stars, you too can check out the small bit of time in which Sonic streaked by briskly through the crisp New York skies over 34th Street.

Nothing much to note other than the usual plug for Sonic Generations and some ham-fisted anchorman dialog. The music Sonic floated in with is the Splash Hill Zone remix featured in Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. And no, the balloon did not come crashing down onto innocent bystanders again.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Americans out there and a hello, we love you all to the rest of the world. Save us some stuffing!

UPDATE: For those who want Sonic for all time on your hard drive, Retro member Spazz, who put the clear version of the footage you see above on YouTube, has also encoded the Sonic moment for convenient download. Sure, the links are already in the comments, but hey. Why not?

1080: http://goo.gl/6bQFU
720: http://goo.gl/SUzmM

If the headline itself wasn’t enough of a deterrent, proceed at your own discretion.

For those not keeping track of level reveals, there are seven stages the two Sonics go through: Green Hill Zone, Casino Night Zone, Mushroom Hill Zone, Emerald Coast, Radical Highway, Water Palace, and Tropical Resort. While the console version has Sonic and a ton of his friends, the portable version keeps it simple with just Sonic, Tails, Eggman, and the three rivals.

Beating Green Hill Zone automatically unlocks every level in the era, allowing you to pick and choose which zone and act you want to do first. Eventually, you’ll be challenged to face the rival of that particular area; Metal Sonic in Casino Night Zone for Genesis, Shadow in Radical Highway for Dreamcast, and Silver rounds out the three at Tropical Resort for the Modern Era. Beating them unlocks the big boss of the particular era.

An aside, don’t expect all new remixes for the rivals. They’re all packing their console version music.

The Big Bosses are Big Arm (Sonic 3), Biolizard (Sonic Adventure 2), and Egg Emperor (Sonic Heroes.) Your guess is as good as ours as to why the “Dreamcast Era” got two bosses. All of them feature remixes of their original songs, so expect the inevitable rip of the Supporting Me remix to hit the interwebs.

As seen, Chaos Emeralds are chased down in Sonic Heroes-styled special stages. Collecting orbs builds up the boost meter, allowing Sonic to chase down the Emerald within a limit of 1:30. As an aside, Classic Sonic gains the homing attack upon completion of the Genesis Era, and Modern Sonic gains the Stomp attack after clearing the Dreamcast Era. Classic Sonic can also pick up the Lightning Shield, functioning as it does in the Advance and Rush games (no double jump.)

Here are some additional level notes:

Level info:
*The Whale in Classic Emerald Coast destroys the path behind you kind of like the Truck in the HD Version does
*In Modern Emerald Coast, he jumps out of the water and you have to do a little quick time event to make him crash against the wall (poor guy)
*Modern Radical Highway has lots of grinding parts on the bridge
*In Water Palace Classic Sonic needs to activate the switches to make the water pumps, that shoot you up, work (could be gramatically false, sorry) The level also has a bubble maschine that creates bubbles you can jump on so you can cross holes
*The Back 2 Back remix in the Modern Level seems more funky and has more rock elements
*Classic Tropical Resort seems to be based more on the DS Version of Colors designwise, he also has the DS exclusive Red Wisp and has a Rocket Part at the end where so jump from rocket to rocket before they explode to get up
*Modern Tropical Resort is more based on the Wii Version and has the Cyan Wisp, at the end you grind on rails and you have to avoide falling meteors

There are also 100 missions to play through, but to access them, you’ll either need to use the game’s StreetPass function or spend five Play Coins per mission. Better get walking.

Lastly, and this will no doubt be a deal breaker for a lot of you reading this, while beating the console version unlocks (severely nerfed) playable Super Sonics in stages, no such thing occurs in the 3DS version. From the looks of it, Super Sonic is not allowed in stages, sticking exclusively to the Time Eater battle.

But let’s not send you home on a sour note. Thanks to Mario and Sonic 2012, we actually have a pretty high quality version of Modern Emerald Coast’s remix of Windy and Ripply.

With Sonic CD getting a re-release done by The Taxman next month, SEGA has started a fan-art contest with 50 prizes being given away in North America, Mexico and the United Kingdom each, so that makes 150 winners in total. The five best winners in each territory will get a copy of Sonic CD on XBLA, PSN or Steam and a copy of the Japanese soundtrack signed by Takashi Iizuka, Jun Senoue, Naofumi Hataya and Kazuyuki Hoshino, something any fan would appreciate. All the other winners will get the same except the soundtrack isn’t signed.

There are a few things you need to know before entering the contest: your submission needs to be related to Sonic CD. If it isn’t, your entry will not count and you’ve done all that work for nothing. It needs to be original, created by you and it can’t have appeared anywhere else, so it can’t be something you’ve already put on websites like DeviantArt or on forums, and you can’t show it off before the contest ends. You also need to be 13 years or older to take part in the contest. The deadline is 10:00 AM PT/18:00 GMT November 29th, 2011.

To find out how you can enter the contest and for more information regarding the rules go to the SEGA Blog.

According to Sega, that amount waiting is one of the largest crowds the series has ever seen, with the developer touting that the game “exceeded all previous pre-order records from the 20-year Sonic catalog, making it the most anticipated title in Sonic the Hedgehog’s iconic history.”

Certainly not a claim to scoff at, even considering the concept of “pre-ordering” a title may not have applied back in the 16-bit Era. Given impressions from the few that have their hands on the game, the wait looks to be worth it.

[Via Joystiq]

The tale of two Sonics will be hitting U.S. shores in its downsized form on Nov. 22, with Europeans getting the game shortly after on Nov. 25, somewhat lagging behind its HD big brother launching at the start of the month.