sonic-unleashed
Latest
Sonic's Shoes Unleashed
The real attraction to these Sonic Unleashed scans is what seem to be tiny screens of the Wii version in action, including a couple we've seen and many we haven't. But we found two somewhat ancillary news bits related to these scans too distracting to ignore.First, the Japanese title for the game is Sonic World Adventure, which ties the new game more closely in with its Dreamcast predecessors. Second, like Bruce Banner, who gained the ability not only to transform into the Incredible Hulk, but also to involuntarily turn his pants purple, Sonic has acquired shoes that change when he becomes a "Werehog." Whenever the moon is full, his shoes sprout cleats.%Gallery-19031%
Sega realizes Sonic games haven't been very good
In an interview with GameDaily, Sega's VP of marketing, Sean Ratcliffe, formally acknowledged something that, oh, every gamer and members of the media have known for the past decade: the Sonic franchise has largely gone to poop. Well, Ratcliffe didn't go that far. He did offer explanations, promises, and gently worded ways of saying that Sega is going to continue doing ... the same old thing with the Blue Blur (except for the, um, "werehog" part). In summary:"Some of that criticism is probably warranted. We definitely recognize that a franchise that has been going as long as Sonic, you really have to put a huge amount of effort in to make sure that you maintain that quality ... which is why you're seeing us this year taking the first steps in making sure the quality is right, and we're constantly looking at innovation ... you know, blending classic 2D gameplay with 3D, beautiful landscapes, rich environments. Then with a nice innovative twist, we're taking Sonic in a different direction, slow him down and he transforms into a 'Werehog.' And that changes the gameplay again. For fans of Sonic that have been looking for a next-gen experience, this is the game they've been waiting for."Slow him down? ... *facepalm* (Oh BioWare, save us now!)
Even Sega thinks Sonic needs saving
It's not just everybody in the world but Sega who thinks Sonic games have lost their way. The company itself thinks it, and not just in its quieter, more private moments -- Sega of America Marketing veep Sean Ratcliffe has admitted to GameDaily that "some of the criticism" for years of janky 3D Sonic titles is "probably warranted." Some? Probably? Fortunately for us, the Nintendo platforms have so far escaped with okay Sonic games -- Sonic and the Secret Rings was decent, while the Sonic Rush titles on the DS were enjoyable romps. Elsewhere, things are bleaker, but Ratcliffe hopes the likes of Sonic Unleashed and Sonic and the Black Knight can kickstart the rescue mission. "I would say we recognize [the dip in quality], which is why you're seeing us this year taking the first steps in making sure the quality is right, and we're constantly looking at innovation."Sega, it really could not be simpler: Hand-drawn 2D. 30 stages. Just Sonic and maybe Tails. WiiWare. 500 Points. Bam.%Gallery-19031%
Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Sonic Unleashed
Sonic has had a hard time since he discovered the third dimension. Not only is he now chubbier, but his adventures in 3D-land have been met with lukewarm reception. The general consensus is that the last great Sonic game was on the Sega Genesis. With Sonic Unleashed Sega are hoping to reinvigorate the franchise with a focus on speed and platforming, as well as evolving the character (literally) into something unique.The first thing you notice about Unleashed is that it's very pretty. Even with rough shadows and unfinished lighting physics, the game looks gorgeous. It looks like it might also play quite nicely, depending on controls. There are two different styles of gameplay in Unleashed which, together, could satisfy most Sonic fans. For a lot of people the name Sonic is synonymous with "speed," and the day-time missions in Unleashed reflect this. The first level seemed simple enough -- hold the analog stick in the right direction and watch Sonic go, making sure to jump in time. Obviously, this won't be true throughout the game, later levels will feature more precise platforming sections and less non-stop running. There are also different routes to take throughout the levels, which require a specific button combination press in order to reach.%Gallery-19737%
PS3 Fanboy eyes-on: Sonic Unleashed
Sonic has had a hard time since he discovered the third dimension. Not only is he now chubbier, but his adventures in 3D-land have been met with lukewarm reception. The general consensus is that the last great Sonic game was on the Mega Drive. With Sonic Unleashed Sega are hoping to reinvigorate the franchise with a focus on speed and platforming, as well as evolving the character (literally) into something unique.The first thing you notice about Unleashed is that it's very pretty. Even with rough shadows and unfinished lighting physics, the game looks gorgeous. It looks like it might also play quite nicely, depending on controls. There are two different styles of gameplay in Unleashed which, together, could satisfy most Sonic fans. For a lot of people the name Sonic is synonymous with "speed," and the day-time missions in Unleashed reflect this. The first level seemed simple enough -- hold the analogue stick in the right direction and watch Sonic go, making sure to jump in time. Obviously, this won't be true throughout the game, later levels will feature more precise platforming sections and less non-stop running. There are also different routes to take throughout the levels, which require a specific button combination press in order to reach. Gallery: Sonic Unleashed
E308: Viewing the crummy half of Sonic Unleashed [update]
Update: Old trailer was removed from YouTube, so we scrounged up this replacement.In a lot of ways, Sonic Unleashed looks like a traditional Sonic title. That is, until you peel back the outer shell and find that half of the game is pretty generic and crappy. To quote my partner in crime here at E3, JC Fletcher, "isn't of making more crummy friends for Sonic, they made him his own crummy friend." It's a statement that could not be more true.So, half of the game is played in the daytime, which has Sonic doing his usual thing: running fast and collecting rings. During the night, however, he transforms into a beast and the game becomes a generic button-mashing brawler/platformer. It's sad, because the promising daytime stuff really got us excited about Sonic again.[Via Go Nintendo]
This is what Sonic being 'Unleashed' looks like
For the first time, we get to see just exactly what happens when Sonic turns into his Werehog form in Sonic Unleashed. The blazing blue hero undergoes quite a transformation, not only physically, but also control/gameplay-wise. It seems platforming and combat are the strong points here, while Sonic's regular form will focus on speed. It's nice to finally see what the other half of Sonic Unleashed will look like. If you missed yesterday's interview on Joystiq, with US producer Patrick Riley, we suggest you check it out for more details on Sonic's Werehog form, nighttime stages, and more.
Joystiq gets Unleashed with Sonic interview
We've heard it before but Sonic's latest title is the franchise's attempt to return the hedgehog to his roots. Looking for more details? Our friends at Joystiq sat down with US Producer for Sonic Unleashed, Patrick Riley, to talk about the little blue bomber and try to get as much information about the series' reboot as possible. Covering everything from night time stages to Werehog Sonic this is a must read for Sonic fans. Could this finally be the triumphant return of Sonic? So far, the game looks great so we're hoping his time in the mud is over!
Joystiq interview: Sonic Unleashed producer on nighttime stages, Werehog Sonic, more
We've been wondering what everyone's favorite Sega mascot, Sonic, has been up to lately. Since Sega's Gamers Day in May, the company has been pretty quiet regarding Sonic Unleashed -- the latest console adventure for the speeding hedgehog. To find out, we caught up with the US Producer for Sonic Unleashed, Patrick Riley, to see what sort of information he could tell us. As it turns out, we've got tons more info on the blue hero. Here's but a small taste; we've got the full interview after the break.Joystiq: We're most interested in the day and night gameplay, specifically when Sonic changes into an unleashed beast. We're wondering if this will play out in real-time as players go through a stage, or are there set stages specifically for night time?Patrick Riley: Certain parts of the action stages are built for both day and night gameplay. When in these areas and when in the villages, in-game time will pass and Sonic will transform. However, we're making sure that the player won't be "stuck" in a form they don't want and it will be easy to automatically advance the clock. Other parts of the action stages are built specifically for day or night gameplay. While Sonic is in these areas, in-game time will not pass. How many stages are there? We've seen "Greece" and "Europe" but what other themes are there? We'll be talking about the number of environments later but there are plenty we haven't touched on at all, and of course we'll be reserving some of them to be found by the players. In addition to Greece and Europe, however, players will visit China and Africa, as well. There are daytime and nighttime stages in each environment, in addition to unlockable mini-stages. Players will explore numerous locations throughout the globe, each of which has been rendered like never before in a Sonic game.
New details on Sonic Unleashed: nighttime stages, Werehog Sonic
An interview on Joystiq unveiled many juicy tidbits about the upcoming Sonic console game known as Sonic Unleashed. A number of new revelations have been mentioned, including that the game will also take players to China and Africa in addition to revealed stages Greece and "Europe." There will only be one other playable character which is used briefly for short sections (like mini-games) as the game is played for "99% Sonic in his two forms" (regular and Werehog).The most striking details come from the day and night gameplay. Nighttime stages, the time when Sonic transforms into a Werehog, will appear in some stages as both real-time day-to-night changes and also fixed night or day stages. One last tasty morsel is info on a demo: "Yes, the current plan is to release a playable demo shortly before or right around release." There's a lot more info to read up on at the Joystiq interview so go read it up!
Sonic gets 'Unleashed' on the real world in new trailer
A partial list of things that the below trailer could be used for (with only minor edits to the end): A new Rayman: Raving Rabbids game (BWAAAAAAH!) The Dark Night movie The new season of Heroes A new alternate reality game The sequel to Wii Fit (OK, this one might be a stretch) No, as the title of this post suggests, this video is actually a mysterious trip through some of the real-world style locales that it seems the newly hulkified Sonic will be grinding all over in Sonic Unleashed. It's a shame, too. We really love those Rabbids.
Sonic Unleashed deets reveal more on level design
The current edition of UK magazine GamesTM has a bunch of new details for Sonic Unleashed, mostly gleaned from chatting to lead designer Yoshihisa Hashimoto. In the four-page piece, we learn that the game eschews traditional Sonic locales in favor of nine different worlds, each set in a themed geographical location -- so instead of Green Hill Zone, we'll be guiding the blue one through levels based on The Great Wall of China, an African plain, New York City, and a Spanish villa.Stages are short (apparently, no stage lasts more than five minutes), and will contain both 2D and 3D sections that last for around 15 to 30 seconds each (this snappy level design, explains Hashimoto, is intended to prevent players from growing bored). Perhaps most importantly of all, the 3D sections will only use techniques that have proved successful in the past -- so there's the rail grinding from Sonic Adventure, and the ability to switch lanes, a la Sonic And The Secret Rings.Of course, the Wii version is being outsourced to Dimps, so we'll just have to wait and see how much of this applies to the game on Nintendo's console.%Gallery-19031%[Via videogaming247]
Sega presents: When Sonics Attack!
We are unsure what message this COPS-style video is trying to convey, but it sounds like Sega is pleading with gamers to give the blue hedgehog yet another chance. Unlike the previous trailer, this Sonic Unleashed teaser features no gameplay footage and a more serious tone. The voice-over tells us a creature with blue hair and seemingly the shape of Sonic has been attacking (or at least waking up) unsuspecting citizens from all over the world, complete with an exact time and date. Is this Sonic gone evil? Is it Scourge? Is it Shadow? We'll find out more at E3 next week.[Via 1UP]
More imagery of Sonic Unleashed
Gamekyo (formerly known as Jeux-France) posted up some new scans for the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed, which show us a handful of new screens for the blue hedgehog's upcoming title. Considering that the images are based on scans, they actually look pretty nice. There's only a handful, but they show Sonic doing what he does best -- attacking robots and collecting coins.We're curious to see what the "very different" Wii version of the game will be like when compared to the 360 and PS3 ones, but at least it looks like it's going to be okay. We'll just have to wait until this fall (specifically November, according to Gamekyo) to find out for ourselves. Gallery: Sonic Unleashed
Sonic is leashed
As usual, our razor-sharp instincts were correct -- Sonic Unleashed will not be coming to the DS, as confirmed by Sega. This was probably the fault of Jimmy, the work-experience kid at the Sega offices. When Jimmy was notified of two completely different Sonic games and asked to write a release list, it all became a bit much for him and he made an honest mistake.Don't blame poor Jimmy, we're none of us perfect. Instead, sit back and embrace the fact that Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is still on its way, and Sonic Unleashed was, and always will be, a full-fledged console game for the Wii.%Gallery-16398%[Via Videogaming24/7]
DS Daily: A tale of two Sonics
Following yesterday's big list of release dates for Europe, everyone is wondering what the deal is with Sonic. Is he starring in two upcoming games on the DS, or is Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood enough for him? What is the deal, exactly?Well, we don't know, right now. We're of the mind that the thing is nothing but a typo. But, should it be true, would you want Sonic Unleashed on the handheld? The game seems to be going back to its roots, but we've been fooled before. Also, with Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood releasing soon, we're not sure we have enough in us to get excited for two games starring the spiny little fellow.What say you all?%Gallery-16398%
Long list of DS titles headed for Europe
Europeans, rejoice! Today brings news regarding release dates for DS titles up until the beginning of next year. The list is populated with plenty of high-profile titles, yet is woefully absent of a certain Professor Layton. There's also a concrete confirmation that Trials & Tribulations is headed your way, even though we kind of knew that already.Even more odd is the inclusion of Sonic Unleashed in the list past the break. Is the game coming to the DS? Maybe, but it seems more likely that this is nothing more than a typo.
Sonic Unleashed footage gives us hope
Sonic the Hedgehog is kind of like that old friend who keeps letting you down. You just know he's going to fail again but, because you remember the good old days, you really hope he finally gets it right again. As such, it is with trepidation that we announce that the latest footage from Sonic Unleashed actually looks pretty good, at times even great. It calls up memories of Sonic games past, the old Sonic games, which is a good thing. Purists will no doubt smile at the 2D sections of gameplay and the complete lack of Sonic's cohorts. Find the footage after break. Now, say it with us -- if we say it loud enough, maybe it will come true -- please be good!
New Sonic Unleashed clip highlights speedy foot-age
Well, that was terrible. The headline, we mean. IGN's new video of Sonic Unleashed gameplay (check it after the break!), on the other hand, is actually quite exciting. Though gameplay looks a little on the simplistic side, the side-scrolling shots of Sonic speeding through a colorful city certainly show off a solid graphics engine, not to mention an electric pace. And no grating sidekicks in sight! We'll have more of this, please.
Sonic races through new Unleashed trailer
This new Sonic Unleashed gameplay trailer looks... awesome. It has all the makings of a 90s great Sonic game -- speed, color and more speed. The stage design is classic Sonic and the visuals look gorgeous. Can this be the Sonic game to revitalize the aging franchise? After the glitches and control problems with Sega's last attempt on the PS3, did we run out of optimism for the beloved blue video game icon? We're keeping our fingers crossed.
