SONIC 4 RERUN ~ the official H.T.I. thread for yet another sonic 4 remake

[tailsmonster12]

Sonic 4 ReRun is an unoffical 2D Sonic the Hedgehog fan game currently in development. ReRun aims to reinvent not only what Sonic 4 could've been like, but to try and evolve the basic classic 2D Sonic formula in a meaningful way. It's going about this goal by re-imagining and retooling the levels and stories of 2010's Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I and 2012's Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II, taking many creative liberties along the way.

Development initially started in 2018, the passion project was formerly known as Another Sonic 4 Remake, and it merely began as petty competition to UsagiDood's then Sonic 4 1995 Edition. It was a gateway for me (Tailsmonster) to get into making fangames. Initially using the Simple Sonic Worlds framework, the game began as a simple Sonic 4 remake that tried to improve the original's with expanded level design and updated visuals similar to 2017's Sonic Mania. Eventually, the game slowly began to evolve into a much bigger project, with my ideas and experience constantly growing, I decided to stray away from AS4R being merely a "mania" styled take on S4. Instead, ReRun puts more emphasis on exploration and story.

It's supposed to be a weird and different take on Sonic 4.

PS: As of right now, ReRun exists more so as a collection of ideas and assets slowly being churned out inside of aknetk's OpenMania framework, powered by his Hatch Engine. After abandoning Clickteam Fusion, I experimented with GameMaker but found the UI and subscription model overwhelming. I was interested in making my own engine from scratch, but that would take a really long time. After discovering OpenMania, I've decided to use that for now. I apologize for the inconvenience

~STORY INTRODUCTION~

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Some time has passed after the events of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and many smaller adventures have occurred since. Sonic is currently relaxing on South Island when he spots Dr. Robotnik flying by with the Master Emerald. Deciding to give chase, Sonic notices a mysterious and well populated island seemingly just fading into existence, with an odd, magenta fog that surrounds it. Soon enough, even the Green Hill below Sonic's feet begins to transform too. Welcome to the Simulacrum Isles. Just what is the good doctor up to this time?

Close by, a damaged and deactivated Metal Sonic is currently being repaired by a now retired engineer living out the rest of his days on the coastline of Splash Hill Zone. Metal Sonic wakes up to find himself in a cozy and tropical shack filled with tools. He is suffering from amnesia, last thing he remembers is Sonic, and how he was beaten back on Stardust Speedway. With no recollection of Dr. Robotnik, and his tracking device being long since destroyed, a now neutral Metal Sonic finds himself with no leads on what to do now. This is, until he sees a blue blur speed past the workshop's window. He immediately jumps off the operating table and nods at the professor as a thanks, before zooming out the window and giving chase to Sonic. Now a master of his own fate, what will Metal Sonic do now?

Dr. Robotnik returns to his new Death Egg mk. III flying high in the sky. In his hand is a magenta ruby that contains the power to alter reality based on one's thoughts. Unfortunately for him, the gem is incomplete, with several shards scattered all throughout the Simulacrum Isles. Fortunately for him, he has a new partner helping him complete the "Phantom Ruby". She seems to know a lot about the ruby and it's ties to the island and it's people, and is seemingly willing to help Robotnik complete the gem. If the Ruby is fully completed, a user could literally bend all of reality to their will.

It's up to our heroes to stop Eggman and his new partner from completing the Ruby! Explore the mysterious Simulacrum Isles and take down new enemies with unexpected allies!

~PICTURES/MOCKUPS~

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~Splash Hill Zone Act 1 (WIP)~


~Lost Labyrinth Zone(HEAVY WIP)~


~Casino Street Zone(HEAVY WIP)~

~CREDITS~

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Project Lead
Tailsmonster12

Musicians
Nuclear
Rosyko / ayden.

Hatch Engine & OpenMania
Aurum (aknetk)

Special Thanks
UsagiDood
_SrPaloma_
ZekeZurita
The crash bandicoot DUBSTEP GC
The Hedgeland Oldbies

~Q/A~

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Q: When will this game be finished? (Did you really spend 5 years on Splash Hill?)
A: When it's done. I know it's been a long time since I started, and most of that time was spent growing as a spriter, as well as maturing my idea for this project. I have a goal to get a demo out by the end of 2023, but no promises!

Q: What are the levels like?
A: They're structured like a mix between the openness of S3 and the exploration aspect of SCD. Scattered around the levels are NPC's you can help out, and you'll be rewarded if you help enough of them. I'll go more into it at a later date, but for now you can use your imagination!

Q: Who else is working on the game (can I join the fabled S4R Team?)
A: For the most part, I'm making almost everything for the game. I am open to the possibility of forming a team so development won't be tethered down to how I'm feeling on a particular day and if I have school or not. But I want to get more done so I don't just feel like an idea guy hunting laborers.

Q: Will the game feature original zones? What is the zone order in general?
A: The game will indeed feature four original zones. Sorta making up an "episode III" of sorts. Zone order, and episode plot structure in a sense is unchanged from the original Sonic 4. I think it'll help push my narrative along.

Q: Where does this take place on the timeline?
A: It's a direct prequel to Sonic Mania, also serving as a new origin story for the Phantom Ruby. It's supposed to take place after all the Sonic spin offs, those in themselves taking place after Sonic 3.

Q: I have another question that's not listed on here?
A: Feel free to ask down below! I don't bite.

This thread will have updates pushed alongside ReRun's Twitter page and DIscord Server. so keep your eyes peeled! I hope you're interested in the development of Sonic 4 ReRun!

[Flapperultra]

This looks like a really interesting and fun project! The concept of stages having NPCs you can help intrigues me; I also like the art style you've gone for. looking forward to seeing more updates on this!

[tailsmonster12]

This looks like a really interesting and fun project! The concept of stages having NPCs you can help intrigues me; I also like the art style you've gone for. looking forward to seeing more updates on this!

Thanks!! Can't wait to show off more!

[Giga6152]

As a big fan of Sonic 4, I can't wait to see how you go with this. Looks like there could be some fancy new ideas here that Dimps never came up with. Well done.

[tailsmonster12]

New Tweet Posted on the Twitter.com. Its been a while since the last update, but since I graduated high school I have more free time to work on my game. With how informal a wip picture is though, it might be best for now to just link to the twitter page lol.

WIP Dream Cordillera Image

[Flapperultra]

This looks amazing! I've attached the image here because it's not exactly fair to redirect folk to twitter for an image.

F0XjKNJWAAsLOt6.png (157.25 KiB) Viewed 11792 times

F0XjKNJWAAsLOt6.png (157.25 KiB) Viewed 11792 times

[tailsmonster12]

This looks amazing! I've attached the image here because it's not exactly fair to redirect folk to twitter for an image.

F0XjKNJWAAsLOt6.png

Whoops, sorry about that. I forgot about the chaos that was ensuing on twitter rn for non-users. I won't do that again lol.

[tailsmonster12]

Also, we have a new logo for the project now!

[tailsmonster12]

A final goodbye to the older temp logo. You've served me well my son.

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And also a shoutout to the OLD logo from 2019, when this project was called Another Sonic 4 Remake. It's fun to compare the logos. I think I've come a long way in making logos.

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[Flapperultra]

the old logo looked super good but this new one is just mwah chefs kiss