[Editors Note: James had the wonderful opportunity of seeing Sonic Unleashed, first-hand at E3. Be sure to thank him for this detailed writeup of Sonic's new adventure! He's pretty beat from all the events this week!]
Sonic Unleashed is a unique experience because Sega has decided to return to Sonic’s original winning formula: fast paced gaming with occasional platforming qualities, bosses, lots of jumping and Chaos Emeralds.
As you well know, the story goes like this. Dr. Eggman (still Dr. Robotnik in my heart) managed to collect all the Chaos Emeralds and used their power on Sonic, causing him to turn into Weresonic at night. Sonic must cure himself and get back at Eggman for his devious ways.
There are several important changes that have been made to Sonic Unleashed. For starters, rings don’t simply act as 1-Up counters and health-bars anymore. Now collecting enough will enable Sonic to have speed bursts. And unlike some previous games, being hit by an enemy won’t make Sonic lose all of his rings.
As Sonic, Sega is utilizing a proprietary engine that they’ve worked on since 2005 called the Hedgehog Engine, made specifically to stream architecture quickly for high-speed movement in-game. While the current build is still a little sluggish, it proved to be very good at what it’s made to do while keeping the framerate steady most of the time.
With Sonic running so fast much of the time, the problem previous titles had was that people couldn’t keep up because the game wasn’t accommodating to them. It simply let sonic run along and players were left wondering what was going on. Not anymore. Now when Sonic runs at the speed of sound, the camera goes into 2-D mode, either from a side angle (as we’ve seen in the trailers) or from behind Sonic. When looking at Sonic from behind, the controls switch from using the left analog stick for movement to using the right and left bumpers (on the 360 version) to perform “quick steps”. Hitting the right bumper will move Sonic one space to the right, and the left bumper to the left.
At the same time, when not running, Sonic Unleashed acts as a platformer. The demo I saw first-hand had Sonic jumping up a set of ledges on moving platforms with rotating spikes looking for blood, just like the good ol’ days. Sonic has his typical running gameplay, and pushing the X button is a homing attack that becomes very useful and necessary when getting through levels. B is for crouch and A is for jump (Xbox 360 version was shown).
As Weresonic, the rules change drastically. Controls change to the Y button being attack, X being an attack throw and B being a grab. Weresonic doesn’t run nearly as fast as Sonic does, even if he’s on all fours. However, Weresonic has many other qualities that Sonic doesn’t have that change the pace of gameplay significantly.
Weresonic has long arms that stretch, making him an excellent climber. Much of the game as Weresonic will have him climbing different areas, making his sections of the game more vertical as opposed to Sonic’s horizontal gameplay. Weresonic is also a fighter; as explained by the controls, he’s got three different attack buttons that can be performed on enemies at any given time, and he fights lots of enemies. All in all, Weresonic has over 30 different fighting combos’, many of which are unlocked after gaining experience points. He also won’t lose rings because Weresonic uses a health bar, though to compliment that he also has a shield bar. This bar is for blocking attacks. The more attacks Weresonic blocks, the lower his shield gets, but he won’t lose health while blocking.
There is no online multiplayer, so don’t expect to be running next to friends playing as Tails or Knuckles. Also, don’t expect to be playing as other characters; this one is purely Sonic or Weresonic, though mini-games will have players as other characters in the Sonic universe.
Sonic Unleashed is set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PS2 November of this year in the US and Europe. No release date has been set for Japan or other regions. The Wii version will of course have motion controls, but will also allow players to use their Gamecube or Classic controllers. The PS2 version will be completely different from the others, though no details were given on what those differences are.
I hope the Wii version would support Nintendo WFC. I think it would be pretty cool.
Great overview. So long as they fix the sluggishness at times, this game has a lot of potential. <3
@Sonicdp: Yes, he’s probably faster, and probably equally as strong.
@dragonite: Ooo, interesting list you got there. I’m in between a Shadow and a Tails. Maybe a bit of Sonic. It’s not a definative one, everybody is different, but still, a great idea.
I’d personally like some PS2 shots.. because darnnit, we’re the most screwed… the only up is that those of us stuck at the PS2 level can play this game for once since… Shadow the Hedgehog (I think?). I won’t talk about Sonic Riders.
it might have online 2 players cause when he was asked if it had regeler 2 players he answerd with a online answer and this isnt the first time sega lied
@Quik: Thanks mate
I’m not much of an artist, but I’ve been really interested in design for a long time. I actually *try* to teach it over at Tutorial9.net 
@dragonite: Well, the rules will be quite simple, very straightforward. Most of them will just cover ways you can be insta-banned from Camp Sonic. Others will just be explanations for WHY a comment may have been deleted. Don’t worry too much about them at this point.
@Sonicdp: Weresonic seems like he can move rather quick on all fours. Just not nearly as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog.
@Aregulardude:
they are stereotypes,we are carry a bit of those types within us,nobody is purely one type.
It is more like taking a orginal take on creating rules.
WereSonic is fast, but not as fast as Sonic. Which is good, in the night stages it would be a detriment to run too fast.
I hope the PS2/Wii versions aren’t equal graphically, because that means the Wii version is being gimped. The Gamecube is more powerful than the PS2, and the Wii is a souped up Gamecube.
@dragonite:
Wow…I honestly like what you’ve got there!
Basing what kinds of characters the commenter are by looking at the comments that they post up and deciding from there!
Seems like a good idea, but probably a little prejudice if you ask me, classifying different types of comments, but that’s me…
@David Leggett:
yeah,that isn’t really a sharp thing to do.
Be sure to watch out with rules,I dislike that stiff feel at some forums…
As for people,I see a few sonic types popping up.
people can be …:
Sonic: witty,and a nice talker.
has humor,irony and sarcastic comments at times,but is never really offending.
Overall friendy and smart.
david legget is this type,you murdered the sega factsheet.:P
Tails: much like the sonic type,but somewhat more humble.
Has often good new views in comments.
Not really that common,as on internet it blends somewhat with the sonic type.I think I belong to this,and also a bit of the sonic type.
Knuckles:
”I think this is *****.Sega,you won’t do this or ELSE!”
Okay,I am overdoing it a bit:P
you get the picture,this are davids feared ”angry people”.
Rude,and generally lightly unflamable.
Nobody is 100% a knuckles of course,and I only mean knuckles negative side,but if I see a **** comment,I always think ”knucklehead”.
People like this need to relax a bit,and try to act a bit less rude.
Just chill out.
Shadow:
Always serious,looking at the facts,and often boasting a neutral,fact based view that can be pessimistic at times.
I partially agree with them,but it never hurts to hope.
Charmy bee:
OMG!!FIRST COMMENTORS WHEE!
I LIEK THIS GAME!!/I COMPLETELY THINK THIS IS GOING TO SUCK!!
Charmy bees are hyper people with their heart on their tongue.
can be possively or negatively meaning.
Really outspoken,but it does´t hurt to type without the caps button and think before you type.
Eggman
People who are not well meaning at all.
Perhaps they are sonic haters,or they are just bored and looking for a fight.
Trolling and insulting all the way,this are the rotten eggs of the bunch.
Of course this are stereotypes,and they overlap all the time,but this are the general people that are coming to this site,however we haven´t seen a real mean troll/eggman yet.
Sonic and tails are favorable,while the other types save for eggman mostly also can blend with them.
Can you place this in the rules david?
Knowing extreme examples,people will realise a bit who they are,and realise what they are doing.
No sense creating a long list of regulations.
This list is most likely out of place here I think,and the comments pile must have grown a bit now I fear…
question.does were sonic feel faster then big the cat from sonic adventure.cause bigs pretty slow in that game and were sonic seems lil faster.just curious
correction: aspiring designer
Great stuff you have here, David. Been reading since before the redesign and I just wanted to compliment you on not only the content, but your graphic design. I’m a designer and I’m constantly impressed by your graphic headers and wallpapers. Cheers.
I am rather excited for this game, but I wonder what they mean by the PS2 being different from them all? I am fairly certain the graphics should be similar to the Wii and there is no sense in cropping it since there would be the amount of space usable on the disc. My only guess is that there maybe different bonus material on the PS2 version to encourage the sales of that version, but it still doesn’t sound quite right.
And just to add my own comment on the posting what number commenter you are. There is no reason to ban them for saying they are first when they aren’t, because there is something called lag for many internet users still, but please stop, it is a pointless thing to point out because everyone will see that you are first or whatever number when they read the posts in order. I don’t mean to be rude by this. I am simply giving an opinion.
You can stop and turn around
http://www.campsonic.com/2008/07/16/gamespots-live-demonstration-of-sonic-unleashed
NO! That sucks! Nothing new about the chaos I hope there will be a choa garden. PLZ SEGA!
Wait!? Interview?!
Opps. Sorry, I forgot to ask. In Daytime play were you able to charge up a spindash, and are you able to stop and turn around?
Thanks!
Cool stuff, thanks James!
Also, I agree, stop with the 1st post thing! What’s the point?!?
@David Leggett: You’re not the only one… and it would be really nice if people would keep CAPS LOCK off most of the time.
That’s a good preview. It did answer to few things I wasn’t sure about.
Thanks for the writer
@David Leggett:
For fun, why not allow users to say “1st,” if their post is first. But if their post is 2nd or 3rd, and they say “1st…” BAN THEM.
This way, the banned users will go home with a sense of humor.
So Nothing significantly new?
Bummer…
Oh well, here’s hoping for that coveted Chao Garden!