Sonic Unleashed?

[Dasher]

Darn, no demo was available for this game.

Where is a demo when you need 1?

Question, how many Eggman battles are in this game? and how many do you fight them as Sonic?

PS. The whole Sonic vs Chip clip was really funny, specially since it was on Japanese, I cant stand Silver as Chip... oh! and Dan Green is everywhere on the English version. >_>

[Shadow Hog]

Although at least Eggman never backs down and starts helping Sonic, like he did in SA2, Shadow, and 2K6. He's a villain through-and-through. And Chip's Punch-Out!! moment was pretty neat, if laughably easy. Although Super Sonic's rings no longer drain. o_0

I'd really like Eggman to be the final boss again sometime, though. I mean, he (sort of) was in Rush and all, so...

[G.Silver]

It is most certainly not the return that its most vocal fanbase was clamoring for, but oddly enough, it ends up being something better than that. Instead of the same old same old, Unleashed treads new, refreshing ground while respecting Sonic’s roots at best, and being mostly harmless at worst. Best of all, instead of making you think only of what Sonic should be, this title makes you wonder what Sonic can be.

That is the opposite of what this game does.. well, I guess it does exactly that, but not in a way that is positive for Unleashed. I think Sonic can be new and refreshing while still being a game that I want to play (a 2.5D remake of the original is definitely NOT something I want to see). I don't see how anyone who has ever thought about what makes games fun and how to make a "better" game could play this and not drive themselves absolutely crazy.

Now would be a wonderful time for some shit like Rocky Rodent, Awesome Possum, or High Seas Havoc to come along and pick up on what that "vocal fanbase" wants.

[Esrever]

Well, to be fair, he IS talking about the 360 version and not the Wii one. Maybe some of the biggest aggravations you mentioned -- like the almost tank-esque Sonic controls -- are not present in the game's big brother? That would be nice!

[G.Silver]

Locit made it sound like they were, but they might be tweaked a bit in the Village areas at least? Just trying to navigate the Temple hubs with Sonic was quite a chore (probably my fault for wanting to look around a bit instead of moving straight ahead), it's nothing like SA was. The 2D segments on 360 sound just like the Wii ones, which is where I take particular issue with the controls. Far from an homage to any of the 2D games (even Rush), the 2D segments are exactly the same as the 3D ones with a layer of depth removed, the only difference besides the camera is that you press left or right instead of up to move forward.

[Esrever]

I thought Locit was only talking about the Wii version too! Or am I just terribly confused?

[Esrever]

Sonic seems to be able to stop and go backwards pretty normally in this stage of the 360 version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfI0aA-jaYI

There's quite a few extended 2D platforming sequences in here... the first one is at 1:47, and a pretty clear shot of him skidding to a stop at 2:27. (Accompanied by the traditional SCREECH!)

[Baba O'Riley]

I've played the 360 version and the Wii version. There's a bit more meat to the 360, and the controls are slightly less horrendous. If I had to compare, it's about the difference between Taco Bell and your local Mexican dump.

[Dasher]

Man, Taco Bell used to taste good but ever since the Chihuahua adds came the meat started tasting like dog. They just don't cook the meat well enough and its appearance looks pale and not brown like before (did I mention it tastes like dog?), so what I do is take it home put it on microwave and viola! it tastes like it did what 17 years ago and the meat looks brown and cooked, a hard taco turned soft also tastes interesting.

Mmm mmm good! go retro style baby!

[Esrever]

It started reading Dasher's post thinking it was all still meant to be a euphemism for the Sonic franchise. It got very confusing very quickly!

[Rob-Bert]

You know what bothers me about the game after watching the video Baba just posted? The fact that the game is linear instead of a free roamer. Look at that background and tell me you wouldn't want to get off the stinkin' one-way path and run somewhere else instead. If this Hedgehog Engine can generate those kinds of environments, then they ought to let us run around in them and do whatever we want. It would be like a playable version of the Sonic CD intro animation.

[G.Silver]

There's quite a few extended 2D platforming sequences in here... the first one is at 1:47, and a pretty clear shot of him skidding to a stop at 2:27. (Accompanied by the traditional SCREECH!)

I think I see the spot you're talking about but I don't hear the screech. The gameplay looks the same to me though, this player is using the boost to counter Sonic's otherwise dismal acceleration. I haven't seen any 2D structures that complex in the Wii version as of yet.

I'm seeing how the 360 version, having what, 3 times the number of Sonic stages, could actually feel a bit like a Sonic game. I'm warming up to the Werehog, but it's like, that's all the Wii one has.

[Esrever]

Maybe there is something totally wrong with me -- and there may well be -- but I really liked what I saw in that Shamar level! Lots of neat looking 2d bits and platforming sequences, lots of signs of various different routes and level tiers, and some generally sensible level design that guides you to slow down or stop completely when you are about to face some kind of dangerous obstacle sequence or reflexive challenge.

It certainly makes me want to play it, which is more than I can say for what I've seen of the Wii version.

[Rob-Bert]

I can't imagine them being that bad, but I suppose people just hate it that much when one game bears similarities to other games of it's own genre.

[Delphine]

Super Sonic's rings no longer drain. o_0

What.

Is nothing sacred?

so what I do is take it home put it on microwave and viola!

So... if we microwave Sonic games... they'll play like the old games? SOMEONE TEST THIS.

[Locit]

Guys, I sat down six hours ago to play Sonic Unleashed for the 360 and write it off as an even worse experience than its little brother on the Wii.

I was absolutely, completely, and utterly wrong.

Sonic Unleashed for the 360 (and presumably PS3) is just stupidly fun. The Sonic levels are in full supply, and miles better than their Wii counterparts. The Werehog levels range from serviceable to, believe it or not, incredibly solid platforming experiences that use the stretchy arms in pretty creative ways. If this is not enough, you can take two enemies, one in each hand, and use them as living boxing gloves. The option to use Japanese audio takes the lion's share of the game's cheese and beats it to death behind the shed out back. There are problems, like having to figure out which stage has opened up to play, and having to pick up enough sun/moon coins to access the next (uniformly excellent) Sonic level. But when you're playing them, my God when you're playing them, it's actually a fucking blast.

If you want to play a new, good Sonic title, buy this game. Seriously. It's the best since Sonic Adventure, and may be quite a lot better than that if the quality I've seen thus far holds up. Shane Bettenhausen can go die in a fire, because this game rocks.

[Locit]

Here is a video of Chun Nan for the 360 version. It's actually pretty close to how my first playthrough went, so it's not like one of those kids who got really good at Sonic 06 so they could show off on YouTube is playing or something.

[CM August]

That was... an unexpected turnaround, to say the least. You've brought my hopes up quite a bit.

I assume there is still some crap you have to slog through just like the Wii version though, such as the painfully long, dull and mandatory tutorials at the beginning. Or Chip's interruptions of gameplay to give hints, etc. Or am I wrong?

[Locit]

I assume there is still some crap you have to slog through just like the Wii version though, such as the painfully long, dull and mandatory tutorials at the beginning. Or Chip's interruptions of gameplay to give hints, etc. Or am I wrong?

Actually, no! About the only thing you really have to slog through (besides a few of the less polished werehog stages) is unskippable cutscenes that include Chip, made extremely bearable by the fact that any advice/tutorial segments you get from him elsewhere in the game are entirely optional.

Jesus Christ people, I played and enjoyed a new Sonic game today! Do you have any idea how great it feels? Because it feels really great!

[Wooduck51]

So Dimps has created a crummy PS2 game and ported it to the wii, whilst the 360 version resembles the possibility of a return to glory. I really wish the effing PS2 would die, and that an angry mob goes and torches dimp's headquarters.

Good to hear that one of the versions is good though.

[G.Silver]

Dang Locit, all this time I thought you were talking about the 360 version in the first place. How did I get that idea? xD

[Dasher]

Ah...i see...i see.

[Ngangbius]

Jesus Christ people, I played and enjoyed a new Sonic game today! Do you have any idea how great it feels? Because it feels really great!

I also remembering you enjoying Sonic Chronicles, and when I played it I came away being disappointed.

I haven't like a major Sonic game on the console since the first Sonic Adventure, and I'm still suspicious if it will really deliver an enjoyable experience or is it just people lowering their standards now, only come 3-6 months later people will say "Yeah, that game wasn't really that great."

We'll see when I rent the "so-called" superior version.

[P.P.A.]

Positive reactions to a new Sonic game? The end is near!
But really all the videos of the next-gen version thus far have made me interested too. As soon as I'm done being busy with 8 tests in school starting tomorrow, I'll be sure to pick it up.

[Dash]

Locit speaks truth. I just got the game as a B-day present(Kind of fun to get a "kids gift" amongst the straight up cash and clothes.), and I've been glued to it the past few days.

It blew me away how much fun it was right at the get-go! I expect to have to put up with some crap in a Sonic game when I pop in a disc these days, but there's a lot of instant gratification here. Yes, like Secret Rings, there is a leveling system in place, but controls are pretty good from the start and it's not like you need to grind to be able to play well. New abilities are found just like in Sonic Adventure, as power-ups in the adventure field.

Sonic Unleashed's speed levels still are not "Classic Sonic". It follows the Rush school of design, to the point where I don't think you can even do a spin dash. BUT there are quite a few spots where you'll have to slow down, pay attention to what you're doing , and y'know, do some platforming. Stages like Empire City will certainly destroy you if you try to just blast through it. You can do these sections fast, but you have to get good at it. That's a good sign to me.

The Werehog is a fun little God of War knockoff! Anyone who gives the game a low grade just because of it is a douche, because it's really solid and there's a ton of good gaming to be had.

As far as flaws go, both level types have areas where you're likely to die a lot by falling off the edge of something, but they've actually thrown 1-ups in the way right before most of them. It may be a cheap fix, but it's there. It shows me that someone quality checked this thing. Also, normal Sonic's controls are a little... off. It's tough to describe. He just doesn't seem to move as naturally as in previous 3D ventures. It doesn't make the game terrible by any means, it just seems odd.

Give this game a rental at least. It's probably a solid B overall, but it's one of the best console offerings in years.