Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal

"A long time has passed..."

- Introduction


 * You may also be looking for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I or Episode II

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal is an additional episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 available for free to those who have purchased both Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I as well as Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II on the same device. The extra episode ties together the events of Sonic CD to those of Sonic 4, beginning with Metal Sonic's revival.

The extra episode is the result of Episode II detecting Episode I on the same console, being lock-on content not unlike Sonic & Knuckles onto Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with Knuckles in Sonic 2, and Sonic the Hedgehog (or any other Mega Drive/Genesis title) with Blue Sphere.

Once Episode I and Episode II are on the same system, players can access Episode Metal as an extension of the world map on Episode II.

Plot
Immediately following his crushing and brutal defeat to Sonic on Stardust Speedway, a severely damaged and powerless Metal Sonic falls as he is left behind on Little Planet. A long time has passed as a screen floats down to the robot's remains. The screen, showing Doctor Eggman as he finds the ruined Metal Sonic, electrocutes and reactivates him. Eggman then commands the still crippled Metal Sonic to leave Little Planet and summons him to Mad Gear Zone, which was built for the specific purpose of repairing and enhancing Metal Sonic. Reborn, Metal Sonic is sent off to eliminate Sonic once and for all.

He soon arrives at the Lost Labyrinth Zone, and explores the deeper parts of the ruins. Once he reaches an altar in a secret room hidden within the darkness, he finds a mysterious orb comprised of powerful energy, which is exactly what Eggman was searching the Labyrinth for. Metal Sonic approaches the orb and absorbs it into his system. With a massive surge of power, his body erupts with purple sparks and a purple aura as he tears through the stone walls of the Labyrinth with ease, leaving for the electric roads of Casino Street Zone.

In pursuit of Sonic, Metal Sonic finally reaches Splash Hill Zone. However, though he manages to locate his organic counterpart, he reaches the end of the Zone only to find Sonic and Tails taking off on the Tornado, heading for Sylvania Castle. Metal Sonic quickly notices the Rocket that Sonic used to get to the E.G.G. Station Zone standing not too far from an open Egg Capsule. Metal Sonic unleashes his special attack to scare the surrounding animals away as he then takes the rocket for himself, flying off to trail the brotherly duo.

Sonic and Tails confront Metal Sonic in the White Park Zone in Episode II, just as the robotic double arrives with the stolen rocket, beginning the boss battle against him.

Gameplay
Being an extension of the Sonic 4 saga, the game is handled the same way as the other Episodes, with a few differences.

Metal Sonic bears nearly the exact same gameplay mechanics as Sonic does in Episode I. However, due to the additional episode being built from Episode II, it shares the same modified physics engine.

The Acts are reworked versions of pre-existing levels from Episode I, specifically all of the "Act 1" stages of the four main Zones. The Zone order is in reverse compared to Episode I, with the first stage being Mad Gear Zone to the final one being Splash Hill Zone.The level desgin is also more difficult than usual; having more enemies, fallouts, and spikes.

Interestingly, when Metal Sonic clears an Act and dashes past a Goal Plate, the signpost spins and changes from displaying an image of Sonic to an image of Metal Sonic. This mimics the same action that occurs when Sonic clears an Act and zooms by a Goal Plate, which normally changes the image of Eggman to one of Sonic. Additionally, the picture of the Power Sneakers box, which once shows Sonic's shoes, now shows Metal Sonic's foot.

Title(s)

 * Act 1 - Metal Sonic Returns!
 * Act 2 - The Altar's Hidden Treasure
 * Act 3 - Electric Road
 * Act 4 - In Pursuit of Sonic...

Playable

 * Metal Sonic
 * Satan

Non-Playable

 * Dr. Eggman
 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower

Enemies

 * Bubbles
 * Buzzer
 * Chopper
 * Motobug
 * Newtron
 * Batbot
 * Burrobot
 * Jaws
 * Orbinaut
 * Shellcracker
 * Slicer

Zones

 * Stardust Speedway (cutscene only)
 * Mad Gear Zone - Act 1
 * Lost Labyrinth Zone - Act 2
 * Casino Street Zone - Act 3
 * Splash Hill Zone - Act 4

Trailers
Video:Trailer that Reveals Episode Metal

Trivia

 * Stardust Speedway, as it is depicted in Episode Metal, is the same as it was in Sonic Generations.
 * The introductory cutscene begins with the Stardust Speedway Zone 3 title card from Sonic CD, the same Round and Zone the memorable race took place.
 * As Metal Sonic reactivates, the music turns into an instrumental version of "Sonic Boom", which is the main theme of Sonic CD in the US. When Metal departs Little Planet and flies towards Mad Gear Zone in Sonic's homeworld, "You Can Do Anything" plays, being the same game's main theme in the Japanese and Europe version.
 * Additionally, the song that plays when Metal Sonic steals Tails' Rocket is a more robotic reprise of the Cutscene Before the E.G.G. Station theme.
 * The physics of Episode II are used in the game but the gameplay elements are from Episode I.
 * This is the first game to star Metal Sonic as a main character.
 * A Beta version of Episode II was leaked on Steam in April, though it was quickly removed. As a result, those who have owned Episode I had access to Episode Metal as well.
 * Interestingly, after every stage Metal Sonic completes, the sign image changes from Sonic to Metal Sonic, rather than Doctor Eggman to Sonic.
 * Even though the stages are from Episode I, the signpost of Sonic is in the style of Episode II's signpost, not Episode I's style.
 * All of Metal Sonic's sound effects are taken from Sonic Adventure DX from when he was playable.
 * The sound that Black Doom had made when he appeared to Shadow was reused when Metal Sonic had obtained the energy in Lost Labyrinth Zone.

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