Sega today released an update to its classic gaming title Sonic the Hedgehog. The update brings Apple TV support to the table, adding more value to the universal app.
Those of you who’ve already purchased Sonic the Hedgehog on iOS will therefore be able to enjoy the game on the 4th generation Apple TV free of charge. Everyone else will need to pony up $2.99 for the privilege of playing the classic game, but your money goes a long way, as it’s playable on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
I was able to spend a few minutes playing Sonic on the Apple TV, and the game is very true to form. If you grew up with a Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in your household, then you’ll know exactly what to expect.
Sega has added some bonus feature to the table, such as the ability to choose between displaying EU, US, or JP box arts, a time attack mode, Game Center support, and other settings. At its root, though, it’s still the 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog that we all know and love.
Unlike some classic titles, which are updated to take advantage of modern hardware, Sonic the Hedgehog retains its 16-bit look and feel. Although it supports the Siri Remote, as per Apple rules, the game is without a doubt suited best for a third-party controller like the SteelSeries Nimbus.
During my hands-on time, I didn’t even bother trying to play with the inferior control scheme offered by the Siri Remote. I suggest that you too invest in a Nimbus or other third-party controller if you wish to enjoy Sonic or any other traditional platformer the way it was meant to be played.
One thing that disappointed me during my hands-on session with Sonic is that saves don’t appear to sync between platforms. For instance, the progress made on the Apple TV didn’t show up on the iOS version of the game, even though other games like Alto’s Adventure successfully do this. I suppose that Sega could opt to include the ability to sync saves in a future update, but as of now, that sticks out as a glaring flaw.
All in all, Sonic the Hedgehog is a good value at $2.99. You get the game available on multiple platforms, and gameplay that’s true to Sonic Team and Yuji Naka’s original vision. Even better is the fact that Sonic 2 and Sonic CD will be making appearances on the Apple TV on the 24th and 31st of this month respectively. Just be sure to invest in a controller before playing.
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I may have to go ahead an get a remote. Sega could make the Siri control a little better by allowing you to rotate the remote, as it now is only used in the same orientation that you use in video apps
How can I say it? This is an incomplete review by the simple fact that the reviewer decided not to bother even trying using the Siri Remote. Apple mandates Siri Remote, so an important part of how Apple TV apps and games work is how they interact with the universally available (to ATV4 owners) and universally compatible controller works. I played Sega Genesis during my formative years, on a controller with a D-Pad and two buttons (my buddy had the six-button controller, that bastard). Siri Remote doesn’t really change much about the experience, with a D-Pad on the left (or right, it’s ambidextrous and sensitive to orientation changes) and two buttons on the right, it’s not different. A better review would help me identify the problems or solutions that sort of gamepad affords the casual gamer on Apple TV. Especially since the target market for Sonic the Hedgehog is not gamers who accessorize their smart-TV boxes with $50 gamepads for games that don’t use it.
Besides telling me how the Siri Remote is inadequate for Sonic, without even using it, perhaps you could tell me how spending $52.99 on a game changes the experience? $50 for the controller, $2.99 for the game. If the game is shit with the Siri controller, though the reviewer never spent any time using the game with the controller that EVERY APPLE TV 4 OWNER GETS and is REQUIRED BY EVERY APP AND GAME TO BE SUPPORTED, tell me why its better with a third party accessory!
Or, tell me that Steelseries paid 9to5Mac for positive coverage of their gaming controllers for Apple TV 4, and let me know that this is sponsored content.
As someone who’s grown up playing games, and who has played games for the last 30 years on a regular basis; trust me when I say that I don’t need to try the Siri Remote to know it’s a terrible gameplay experience for a game like Sonic. For other games, sure the Siri Remote is fine. You don’t need to test everything to know that it’s a terrible idea from the get go. Just like I don’t need to taste gasoline to know it’s stupid to do so.
Surely, though, you should test the basics. Those being the basic controller that every Apple TV owner has. This review is one for people who bought a third party controller, not Apple TV owners as a group. Most of those will never jailbreak an iPhone to use a PS3 controller, let alone pay $50 for one for their Netflix box. Especially when the games (like Sonic) that they want to play on Apple TV never used analog sticks or buttons outside of A and B. The Siri Remote, from someone who doesn’t own one, seems to be directly analogous to the controllers this game was originally played with, with a clickable D-Pad and two buttons that can be used within the game. And without you even trying it, I learn nothing from this article. Except, “If you want to play Sonic on Apple TV, you’d better buy a dual analog stick, dual trigger, four button, d-pad enhanced Xbox controller (that only works with Apple TV) to do it.”
A comprehensive review would have you telling me how the finger tracking on the Siri Remote touchpad interfered with the normal D-Pad use of an original Sega controller, which dictates the need for a dedicated D-Pad without capacitive touch sensors. Or perhaps, you might find it’s ok to do with both, but the Amazon referral link might see a few less clicks.
Even a first impressions video would have those first impressions come from the standard Siri Remote, as that is the first impression the vast (nay, overwhelming) majority of Apple TV owners will have. Who si this review catering to? The audience that owns Apple TVs that needs a reason to buy a Steelseries controller from your Amazon link (bonus income from that referral!) or the audience that wants to know if Sonic (for $2.99) is a good buy with what they have now. The end of the article might, after thorough examination of the failings of the Siri Remote (which your bias precluded you from even trying, and will now preclude you from giving a straight opinion on), include a discussion about how the Siri Remote is not a good game controller, using examples from your testing. Perhaps you might go further and give Steelseries your adoration by mentioning how the limitations of the Siri Remote (which ALL of your viewers who have Apple TVs will have) might make one go pick up a Steelseries Nimbus, but you don’t provide that sort of analysis.
Essentially, this review is of an App that Apple TV 4 owners can buy and test. Most will only have the Siri Remote as a controller, because $50 on top of ATV4, and the general consensus (provided here at 9to5Mac and elsewhere) that Apple TV (perhaps because of the Siri Remote limitations) will never be a good gaming console. So, your audience has a stock Apple TV 4. You even fail advertising needs because you don’t mention how Steelseries’ Nimbus is better than Siri Remote, because you failed to test one of them due to your own bias (not even time constraints or another reasonable explanation). Instead, this review is now one for people who both own an Apple TV 4 and own a Steelseries Nimbus AND who are biased like yourself into thinking that a controller more resembling and functionally more equivalent to the original controller is worse than a third party accessory.
Please, for the love of all things being equal, just try it with the Siri Remote and give us another video showing how one is inferior/superior to the other. Especially before telling us to go buy a controller that’s an additional $50 without even trying the one that every one gets in the box.
It would have been a nice little add-in for the more casual gaming user not looking for a controller but just a little fun to kill time on occasion…..just a thought for future reviews.
Fair enough, I’ll keep that in mind for next time. If it makes you feel any better though, I went ahead and gave it a shot. It’s pretty bad, but you’re right, I should have given it a mention initially.
The Sega Genesis (16-bit) did not have a controller with two buttons. It had a 3 button and a 6 button controller. The Sega Master System (8-bit), which pre-dates the Genesis, had a controller with two buttons. I believe Sonic 1 and 2 came out for both systems, but the Master System was basically the same as the Game Gear version which was 8 bit and much less popular.
The Apple TV version is the 16-bit Genesis version.
It also had a very responsive d-pad which the Apple TV lacks. Clicking on the touchpad is nothing like using a d-pad.
If you’re feeling masochistic try playing an FPS (such as Gameloft’s awful Call of Duty clones) on the Siri remote. Controls so awful they make Kinect look like a good idea.
Oh I most definitely wasn’t advocating the Siri remote, just waxing on about the Genesis. Haha
Nobody in their right mind would use a Siri remote to play a video game. It’s uncomfortable and imprecise enough for navigating Netflix let alone a game which requires precise and rapid controls. Apple made a huge mistake in mandating Siri remote support for games. Shows how they still fail to understand gaming at all.
Jeff was completely right to ignore the Siri controller for this, as it’s a worthless item for gaming.
The Siri remote is great as a driving type game using the gyro to steer the car. But I agree for games like sonic no way will it work right. I really wish someone can make a game pad that also has gyros so we still have the exstra buttons and can just turn the controller to turn the car like I do in asphalt 8 with the Siri remote.
I didn’t initially realise that the universal apps I bought previously for my iPhone and iPad would be available for the Apple TV. I think that’s fantastic! and I think every app developer should take advantage to get their app onto the Apple TV and into the living room (especially education apps)
It is always a very nice surprise.
Check out the Purchased section of the Apple TV App Store.
Sadly some deves want to make a totally separate app. Take iheart radio they finally released an Apple TV app but instead of just updating their current iOS app they released a separate version. Makes no sence.