While it has the appearance of a quick cash-in, making a retro revival is actually a tricky proposition. There are the callbacks and the in-jokes, sure, but designers must also have a keen understanding of what made the game so great in the first place.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 takes a slightly different approach than games like New Super Mario Bros. and Mega Man 9. For better or worse, both of those games eschewed established mechanics (like charge shots and flight) for a more classic feel — Sonic 4, on the other hand, behaves more like a true sequel. At the same time, the level design riffs heavily on all three of the 16-bit games, and Sonic’s ward, Tails, is missing in action.
