sonic-unleashed
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Trophies: Sonic Unleashed
Read more 'Sonic Unleashed' stories Hedgehog by day ... Werehog by night. Are you ready for Sonic's latest foray into 3D platforming? View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
Shipping this week: Deep Breath edition
Take a deep breath. That's it. Nice and easy. The worst of it is behind us. After weeks of being assaulted by top shelf games, it looks like things are finally slowing down. In fact, about the only notable 360 game this week is the delayed release of Sonic Unleashed (and if early reviews are any indication, even that might be a stretch). So, now that we've been given this respite, we suggest you go play your games in a hurry. After all, Prince of Persia is only a week away. Sonic Unleashed Winter Sports 2 The Ultimate Challenge NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 [Image: Rodrigo Paoletti]
Video: Sonic's 'Night of the Werehog' CG short
If you wish to preserve even the slightest chance of appreciating Sega's animated short, Night of the Werehog, there are a few things you'll need to accept: Sonic (a blue, cartoon hedgehog, as you'll recall) transforms into a mutant lycanthrope with stretchy limbs. We have no idea why. Sonic and his diminutive sidekick are haunted by a pair of ghostly voyeurs. Aside from the mascot's metamorphosis, it's difficult to decipher any connection with the story presented in Sonic Unleashed. We'll venture that it's probably a good thing. Sorry, it's still distinctly lacking in Jaleelitude. With that out of the way, head past the break and enjoy the show.
Sonic not-so-Unleashed, coming in December
If for some reason you're waiting for the PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed, be prepared to wait a bit longer. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game will be available tomorrow as planned. However, the Xbox 360 and PS3 version have been delayed. The 360 version of Unleashed will be available next week -- but the PS3 version is inexplicably delayed to December. We're not sure for the reasons behind the delay, but we doubt anyone is truly crushed by a few weeks of wait for the hedgehog's upcoming game.[Via Joystiq]
Sonic Unleashed staggers release dates
Oh, semantics. Although it may have been believed that Sonic Unleashed was hitting retail tomorrow for all consoles, apparently those dates weren't "official." Sega has rectified that by announcing official launch dates today (via IGN) stating that the Wii and PS2 versions will be available tomorrow, while the Xbox 360 gets its werehog on next week. As for the PS3's Sonic Unleashed, it has been relegated to an indeterminate December date. Yes, we know, dear Xbox 360 and PS3 owners, whatever else shall you play while waiting for Sonic Unleashed?!
Shipping this week: Braaaains edition
You've read the headline and you're probably thinking, "Oh, great. Just what we need. Another article effusing praise for Left 4 Dead. Thanks. Thank you so much." In truth, yes, we're excited that Left 4 Dead is coming out this week, but the reality of the headline is best understood by glancing at the list below. There are twelve, twelve new games being released this week. If that's not enough to metamorphose every respectable gamer into a gibbering, cash-starved zombie, we're not sure what is. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have suddenly developed an irresistible craving for braaains gaaames. Left 4 Dead The Last Remnant Shaun White Snowboarding Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe You're in the Movies with Camera Tomb Raider Underworld NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 LIPS Karaoke Revolution: American Idol 2 Disney's Bolt Sonic Unleashed Need For Speed: Undercover
Retail and download releases for the week of November 17th
Just as we all found out last week, today marks the release of the fourth episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Oh, and we're also getting a bunch of other games. This week, seriously, has a lot of games. Head on past the break for the full list. Also, our apologies. There likely won't be a VC Monday Madness video today, but we'll try to get it up as soon as we can. Sorry! %Gallery-27704%
Sega delays Sonic's unleashing in Japan [update]
Sega has announced that the Japanese-bound Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Sonic World Adventure, better known elsewhere as Sonic Unle- wait, why is he a werewolf?, has been delayed until Spring 2009. According to the game's website (translation via our friends at Siliconera), the delay is to "further improve the quality of the game." The Wii version is purportedly still on track for December 18. Not to worry, North American gamers, your Sonic experience won't be delayed or hampered by pesky quality improvements. Sonic Unleashed is coming out here next week. Update: Sega has released a new statement (via CVG) clarifying that the delay is for marketing purposes only.
Sonic Unleashed trailer is mostly the game we want
IGN has uploaded a new video for Sonic Unleashed, showing off plenty of Sonic doing what Sonic does best: running at high speeds and collecting rings. Of course, because it's Sonic Unleashed, we're also forced to be reminded that there's a whole different game in this package: the Werehog battle and platforming segments. Thankfully, that's kept to a minimum in the video above, so feel free to enjoy.As critical of the game as we are, we still hold out hope that we're wrong and the game will be really good. Of course, history tells us to expect something else ...%Gallery-19031%[Via Go Nintendo]
Dreamcast still alive in Sonic Unleashed
The keen-eyed Sega fanatics over at Sega Nerds picked up on something interesting. See the image above? Notice anything? There's a Dreamcast! Apparently, Robotnik likes to take a break from hunting down Chaos Emeralds every now and then with a game of Lucky Hit. We may be a Wii-based gaming blog, but we love the Dreamcast. And we're glad that Sega took the time to toss the system into Sonic Unleashed like they did. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some people to question about a black car. You know, the one on the day of the incident? Have you seen it?%Gallery-19031%[Via Kotaku]
Sonic Unleashed trailer is half the game we want
Look, you can be excited all you want about Sonic Unleashed. We're excited for it, too, and we know how long you've been waiting to play a decent Sonic game again. But, we're only excited for half of the game. You know, the parts where Sonic runs around. The stretchy-armed, night-time battle portions of the game? Yeah, we couldn't care less.%Gallery-19031%
Sonic busts ghosts in upcoming 'Night of the Werehog' short
If you're a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog's non-video game outings, you'd be wise to check out the trailer for an upcoming animated short featuring Sega's spiny mascot, titled Night of the Werehog. The movie, which will be available online sometime before the launch of Sonic Unleashed, features the speedster (in his new, lupine form) battling all manner of unmannerly ghosts. Though the trailer (which we've courteously posted after the break), doesn't do much to tell how the short relates to the story of Unleashed, the CGI is extremely well done -- though we're somewhat disappointed by the movie's apparent lack of Jaleelitude.
Sonic Unleashed trailer features contrasting Sonics
The latest trailer for the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed depicts the two aspects of Sonic's latest game. The good news is that those of you who complained that the world seemed too realistic, Sonic's daytime adventures are full of the loops and giant springs that make Sonic's world what it is. The buildings may look kind of European, but the looping sidewalk is classic Sonic.And then there's the nighttime, which is less "classic Sonic" and more ... Dragon Blade? God of War? Some kind of 3d brawler with two long-range weapons. We kind of like the idea of using Sonic the Werehog's big stretchy arms to swing around, since it's a sort of Bionic Commando grappling, but we have yet to be sold on the idea of a brawling Sonic. How about that music, though?%Gallery-19031%
TGS 08: Sonic Unleashed meets us halfway
Comparing Sonic Unleashed to 2006's Sonic The Hedgehog nightmare is an utterly useless endeavor. Yes, Sonic Unleashed (or Sonic World Adventure, as it's known in Japan) is observably the superior game, but this confirmation is worthless when the previous adventure not only failed to raise the bar, but rather buried it somewhere deep within an abandoned mineshaft. The question then isn't whether Sonic Unleashed is better, but whether it's any good. And ... well, it's not bad. %Gallery-19737%
TGS08: Sonic Unleashed and unbelievably cool
Hey, Sonic Unleashed on the Wii looks great! Sure, this level appears to pretty much play itself, requiring only occasional input from the player, but it's fast, the graphics are incredible, and the music is classic Sonic silliness. It looks much better than that other Sonic game in which he turns into a werehog with stretchy arms for some reason.... what? That's this game? Oh, crumbs. This is how we'd want a 3D Sonic to be --not terribly 3D, and starring Sonic. Even the simplistic "hold right" gameplay is enough to sustain us for the single level we'll enjoy before the werehog, or Sonic's friends, or mandatory Rouge the Bat level, or cutscene, or whatever else shows up to ruin it.%Gallery-19031%
TGS 08: We love Sonic Unleashed's Werehog ... costume
As much as we hate how Sonic's roots have been clawed out by some furry, fanged and stretchy-limbed abomination, we must grudgingly admit that the Werehog is -- at least on the Tokyo Game Show floor -- almost bordering on sort of cool. As is the case with most obnoxious, product-peddling mascots, we ultimately have to go with the one we'd prefer to hug. And just look at that guy's huge arms! (Our next TGS goal: to capture an image of both Sonics together.)
What is this Sonic Unleashed trailer missing? 2D
Download to PSP Remember when people were cautiously optimistic about Sonic Unleashed? Finally, we thought: a return to Sonic's 2D roots. None of this crazy mascot 3D nonsense! Well, looks like Sonic Team is up to their old (not not so old) ways: this new trailer for Sonic Unleashed includes tons of 3D platforming sections, brawling areas (with combo meter) and almost zero 2D gameplay. Are you still excited for this? %Gallery-31931%
Sonic's bad side shows in Sonic Unleashed vid
Oh Sonic. For years we've followed your adventures as a rubber-armed, lumbering Werehog with childish wonderment. Wait. A. Second. You're not Sonic! He's the zippy little blue guy in the really cool, actually Sonic the Hedgehog looking first half of the new Sonic Unleashed trailer we've got after the break. You're ... you're a monster. You probably ate him.What. That's Sonic? And you play as him like this at night? Why? We see ... no one knows. Great. Well, we'll just have to set our system clocks ahead 12 hours every time we play. It's ... not tied to the system clock? Then we'll just skip those levels. Please tell us you can skip those levels.
Latest Sonic Unleashed screens focus on the positives
What the latest screens of Sonic Unleashed lack in variety (they're all taken from the desert level, or one of the game's town stages) they make up for with some fairly rad track design -- track design like this, for instance. There's also a pleasing omission of the Sonic Werehog sections, though that part of the game is, sadly, definitely still real. Make like a blue blur into our gallery for 23 new shots of the Wii version in action. It's looking purdy.%Gallery-19031%
Sega shows off new Sonic Unleashed screens
Click for embiggened image Despite being told otherwise like right to my face at E3, it appears that Sega's newest Sonic game on Wii will be very much like the Xbox 360 title, in that it's essentially two different games in one. The first game, which is very reminiscent of the Sonic you know and love, is competent and could provide hours of fun. The other is a darker and far less forgiving affair, as you control the Sonic Werehog and mash buttons in a generic brawler, all the while engaging in some mediocre platforming segments sprinkled in between the fighting. But hey, let's not focus on the bad, let's focus on the half of the game you want to play. Check out the new screens in our gallery below.%Gallery-19031%
