Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal

"A long time has passed..."

- Introduction

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal is the lock-on content of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, which is available to those who also have Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I on the same device. The extra episode ties together the events of Sonic the Hedgehog CD to those of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, beginning with the formal return of Metal Sonic.

The extra episode is the result of Episode II detecting Episode I on the same system, similar to the lock-on catridge feature of Sonic & Knuckles onto Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2) and Sonic the Hedgehog or any other Mega Drive/Genesis title (Blue Sphere).

Once Sylvania Castle Zone Act 1 is completed in Episode II, the game will check for a save file of Episode I with at least Splash Hill Zone Act 1 cleared the next time the player continues the main game. If that requirement is met, the player can access Episode Metal as an extension of the Episode II world map.

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 Dr. Eggman as he finds the ruined Metal Sonic, electrocutes and reactivates him. Eggman then commands the 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. Revitalized, 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 Zone. Metal Sonic quickly notices a rocket with Tails' insignia placed not too far from an open Capsule. Metal Sonic unleashes his new special attack to scare the surrounding animals away as he then takes the rocket for himself, flying off to trail the brotherly duo.

Gameplay
Being an extension of the Sonic the Hedgehog 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 content being built from Episode II, it shares the same modified physics engine.

The Acts are reworked versions of pre-existing Zones 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 design is also more difficult than usual, having more enemies, fallouts, and spikes.

Interestingly, when Metal Sonic clears an Act and dashes past a Signpost, it 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 usually shows Sonic's shoes, now shows Metal Sonic's foot.

Titles

 * 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

Non-Playable

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

Enemies

 * Bubbles
 * Buzzer
 * Chopper
 * Moto Bug
 * 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

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 the North American version of Sonic the Hedgehog CD. When Metal departs Little Planet and flies towards Mad Gear Zone in Sonic's world, a rendition of "You Can Do Anything" plays, being the same game's main theme in the Japanese and European versions.
 * 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 from console and PC versions of Episode I.
 * The physics of Episode II are used in the game but the gameplay elements are from Episode I.
 * 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 his added playable appearance from Sonic Adventure DX.
 * The sound that Black Doom had made when he appeared to Shadow in Shadow the Hedgehog was reused when Metal Sonic had obtained the energy in Lost Labyrinth Zone.