Gamespot was lucky enough to interview Sega of America team producer Patrick Rileyk during Sega’s Gamer’s Day on May 14th, and Patrick was kind enough to share a few things we haven’t heard before.
Since the first screenshots for Sonic Unleashed were revealed, there was a lot of speculation as to where some of the locations were in the game. Some suggested that one of the levels looked a lot like Greece, which was later confirmed to be true by Sega. In the interview, Patrick reveals that the level is actually the very first daytime level in the game, and is more specifically Mykonos, Greece.
During the first few stages (such as Mykonos and a level based on Europe — which is confirmed to be about the 4th level), the player will spend time learning Sonic’s new abilities, such as the the Sonic Drift and Quick Step. Throughout the game, as Sonic gains experience, he will be able to learn new abilities as in previous titles. All stages are said to be based off real world locations.
There have been other concerns in the Sonic community in regards to the new Ring Energy Meter that shows in the HUD of several Unleashed screenshots. According to Patrick, ring energy is filled by collecting rings, but the rate at which you collect rings also plays a role in how fast the meter is filled. Using ring energy will allow Sonic to “engage another new mechanic called Sonic Boost“, which will essentially send Sonic soaring at speeds up to 300mph.
“It’s kind of a turbo for Sonic“. Yeah… Kind of.
It was reiterated in the interview that Sonic Unleashed is about Sonic. There will be times that you play as other characters throughout the game, but about 95% of the time, Sonic will take the stage.
Chao Gardens, Night Stages, Weresonic… What say you Patrick?
“We’re not talking about that yet…”
“Um, uh, we’ll be talking about that at a later date…“
“Closer to E3…“
YES. That’s not too long a wait folks. Remember, the Summit gathers between July 15-17th this year!
Thanks for the heads up Mike!
I try to be type 2,...
Oh, and thanks hannah.
Sega, will there be a adventure mode that we can explore
the Town? And will we only play as sonic in this game?
@Jonny
1. Possibly.
2. Probably Knuckles & Tails. For they said “His Best Friends will appear in the story.”
7. They’re working on it.
8. They are trying to make them as similar as possible to 360/PS3 versions.
They are really the only questions I can answer. We are still reasonably low on the Important information.
1. Will there be a Chao Garden?
2. What characters are going to be playable?
3. Will there be hubs?
4. What kind of action stages are going to be in this game?
5. What kind of bosses will be in this game?
6. Is Sonic Unleashed for Nintendo Wii going to be a good version that Dimps is creating?
7. Will Sonic Unleashed for Nintendo Wii support a Wii Remote/Nunchuk, Nintendo GameCube controller, and Classic Controller for Nintendo Wii?
8. Will Sonic Unleashed for Nintendo Wii have good graphics?
9. How will I get the seven Chaos Emeralds in Sonic Unleashed?
@ Jonny:
They might rename it, after all they did change Wildfire to Secret Rings. Other than that nobody knows any of the things you’re asking.
How will I get Chaos Emeralds? Will the Chaos Emeralds appear itself after completing a stage?
Is Sega going to rename this game to Sonic Adventure 3?
What new characters will be playable and included?
Will there be a Chao Garden with the races, raising a Chao?
What kind of levels will be?
What kind of bosses will there be?
@ mike the Bora Bora beach that u mentioned looks like wave ocean from sonic 360
@ Hannah:
Well after looking through Google Earth. I think the obvious choice for a beach level would have to be in Bora Bora. The place itself is just so surreal.
@aubery: Of course we’re going to play as the werehog! They have night levels for a reason…
@mike:
Emerald Coast = San Diego! XD
I think this sonic game is really going to be really fun!!!!!!!!!!!
And mostly when you collect rings in this game, Makes sonic even faster than ever!! And that’s what we like about sonic, Speed, Rails, Hops, Dash Boads, And all that stuff. And I really hope that we play as Sonic’s wereHog form! Because I really want to! Come on sega! Let us play as sonic’s werehog form!! Please!
The first screens showed a base,so that will be a stage to I think.
casino level,,,yea….i like that…
in retro and handleds sonic games, casi siempre we have..
1st beach level,,,
2 a toxic, fabric, level
3 ruin, mystic level
4 casino, park, music level
5 sometimes fire level
6 ice or water level
7 eggman stage, in earth or space stage, or maybe cibernetic levels
well, in this game, will be much more ralistic in that fact…for now we saw europe-greci-african (in trailer), and some artworks see like china/japan. i hope see, a city level too.
@ everyone talking about Chao gardens - Patrick was referring to several different items when he said they’d talk about more at a later date. Don’t jump to conclusions just yet.
@ Mike - If they made a Casino styled level in Vegas, I’d be thrilled =)
Levels will be based on real world locations? Lets all guess what they’ll be.
Casino level = Vegas
Ice Cap = Antarctica
Emerald Coast = Where’s the greatest beach on Earth?
AHA! The fact that SEGA didn’t openly say no to the inclusion of Chao Gardens/Chao Garden-esque areas is a sendoff that they WILL be in the game.
I’m starting to wonder if SEGA’s going to rename this game Sonic Adventure 3. I honestly hope so. I expect a whole lot to be revealed at E3.
wow, I can’t wait until we get more info on chao gardens, night stages, weresonic, etc…
I think the “turbo” will be an excellent addition to the gameplay, adding more speed =]
Judging the game’s engine,the guest characters will most likely be tails and knuckels.
I don’t really see shadow fitting in a major role.
1/20 of the levels would be a guest role..
That most likely means that %95 was meant as”almost always sonic”
We already know that the game will have 7 words with an emerald.
I think those worlds will have 2 day levels and 1 night level each.
Most likely they will have bossfights to.
Bossfights…what will those be?2-d? 3-d? mix? Adventure style free movement?
I can’r wait for this game! I woundering wich other characters is playable. I hope Tails and Knuckles is Playable. And does anyone know if it a adventure mode like in Sonic Adventure, if it is a adventure mode it will ber really fun.
Sorry for my bad englsih.
the speed of ring collecting affects the rising of the meter..
This practically means that if one wants an S rank,you most likely have to boost at the right parts,and keep a ”flow” up.
I hope the levels play well then…