Exclusive: Our First Look at Sonic Unleashed
[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.
109 Comments
@Quik: whoa that’s really cool how do you do that?
http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicWorldAdventure/
NEW WEBSITE on Sonic World Adventure
i think the ps2 version will be crappier….
Ok, I am much more relieved. It looks like even though this game is very fast, it is still a platformer, giving you time to think, and not just hold the boost button down. This game looks more and more massive and just plain awsome as things go on.
He admin have you notice that the Japan has its own sonic unleashed page. I found out on The Sonic Stadium.
Well I think we should try to use google translate to find out if there is any info on Sonic Unleashed.
http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicWorldAdventure/#/index
Also I think I noticed that there is some different pictures on japanese website.
Here is the link
http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicWorldAdventure/#/index/screen/020
Another thing I wanted to say is that I think the a new rumour now is that the release date is November 18 and there is a tutorial magzine for 20 dollars.
Note: When will the fact sheet be updated?
oops
sorry for my repeating comment.
how come my comment won’t show?
@Sonic The Hedgehog:
How did you get your comment to show?
I try to show the same thing about the japanese website but it won’t show.
@dragonite: Thats prettty cool dragonite. I think like most people I’m tails and sonic. As i’ve said before hence the name. Propbably a little more tails.
@Sonicman: That japanese site was kinda weird. I tried it but prefered here. The trailers take ages to load at that site and there are no interesting facts or headlines. But I’m sure it will get better.
Thanks james for the write-up. Only thing I’m slightly weirded out about is that you dont lose all your rings when you hit an enemy. Though this is a good thing just very different. and instead of homing with A,A u home with A,X. But hey wont be hard once I get out of the habit
Sonic Team’s Sonic Unleashed (Sonic World Adventure) website http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicWorldAdventure/#/index
@Sonic The Hedgehog:
The twilit shots of Mykonos have me wondering about how exactly time will flow in-game. They most likely aren’t from cutscenes or part of a hubworld, due to the loop-de-loop seen in one of pics. I know that we’ve already found out that there will be parts of stages that will feature the passing of time, we haven’t seen it in actual gameplay form. Here’s to hoping it shows up at TGS.
^Not to mention Chao. (Doesn’t look good for those little blue blobs.) X(
The “Endless Possibility” trailer runs much smoother on that website, it has more frames and looks more awesome on that Japanese site! Why the hell did they give a choppy, unsmooth version to us!? I hope they release a smoother version of it soon! :-/
It’s kinda freaky. I come on here looking to see if there’s anything new and then there’s this new post saying my name when I didn’t submit anything….is that freaky or what?
Wow this game.. is gonna be so epic…. Come on SEGA! Bring Sonic back because I don’t want to lose my hero for 7 years!! T_T
Demo info?wii demo?
Yeah, I really want some info on the wii version of this game.
too bad silver isnt in it
this is gonna be good i can tell
looks good so far. but I want to see more info on the PS2 version, what they said about the PS2 version being different from the other 3…just makes me more anxious for info on the PS2 version.
@David Leggett: Have you ever thought that SEGA might actually be using the Hedgehog engine for Wii and PS2? Like, said said there will be no online or multiplayer modes of any kind. Maybe SEGA is doing the same thing but with the Hedgehog engine. What do you think about my opinion?
@David Leggett: Have you ever thought that SEGA might actually be using the Hedgehog engine for Wii and PS2? Like, SEGA said there will be no online or multiplayer modes of any kind, right? Maybe SEGA is doing the same thing but with the Hedgehog engine. What do you think about my opinion?
oops, sorry for the reupload =P
Woot! I get to use Sonic with my ol’ Gamecube controller again after such a long time! SEGA, your doing a great job! Keep it up! XD
Wow, this is really exciting for me. I’m a big sonic fan. And its cool that their adding a new game to rest of the collection.
But i have a really big question about the game.
Will it be like the rest of the games and have a hidden story?…
probly, even SR did *stunning*
I designed the Sonic the Cereal box in a combination of Photoshop and Illustrator.
Ah, the GameCube-controller support is the tibbit I’ve been waiting for to hear confirmed, since I wasn’t sure about Sega + motion controls (they did work quite good in Secret Rings, though).
Good hands-on by the way. :)
@YumeTakato: I don’t want to be cruel on the PS2 fans/users here, but we Wii fans/users have been suffering from the PS2 for some time now. Mainly because the PS2-version of a game usually means the Wii-version will not be using the Wii’s hardware to its full extend.
For example: If Secret Rings had been released for both Wii and PS2 at the time, like Sonic ‘06 was released for 360/PS3 (and failed -_-), I can bet that because of the PS2, the Wii version of Secret Rings wouldn’t have looked as good as it does now.
@jorenmartijn:
that could be right.
When does the ps2 at least stop getting games?
It is like the gameboy and gameboy colour now.
I hope the priority is the Wii version, because I don’t want to be playing a crappy PS2 port.
i hope the werehog is in sonic games 2 come that would make me happy
do you know fi Sonic Unleashed is having a Chao Garden is just that they are fun and cute xD and i fel in love with them since sonic adventure 2 battle please tell me if there are any chances on a chao garden :)
Thanks for the information, James.
Did you see any cutscene? If so, how did Sonic sound? Like in Riders Zero Gravity, or a bit more young? I suppose Robotnik is called Eggman in this game too, right?
I still can’t understand how the 2D to 3D switch works. From what I’ve seen, when Sonic is in a loop, the gameplay is in 2D, pressing the right button, and when he’s in an open road, it can be both.
So they take the good of Sonic adventure 2 and Sonic and the secret rings, nice.
I mean that you can get new moves on the form of Hidden secret items and you can level up your moves by using them a lot.
They are really going all out, if this game fails it won’t be for the lack of trying.
It’s a Sonic Adventure, Rush, Rivals and Secret Rings Game! How can it fail? :D
I really hope this is the game that saves the series.
Well! Sega’s sure doing their homework now! They’re currently solving the problems in the previous titles (e.g. uncooperative camera system, slower gameplay). Plus, a while ago, people were asking for the Gamecube Controller to be used for the Wii version, and now it does. So far, Sonic has made an incredible comeback on Sonic Rush Adventure. Can Sega keep it up?
@Mystery the Hedgehog:
Sure they can! They’re just as capable of developing a top game as Nintendo. They’ve just been in a bad stage lately. I’m not sure, but it seems that with this game, they’re passing through that stage.
Ah! I almost forgot. In Shadow the Hedgehog, if you get hit, you don’t lose all of your rings. This is a recurring element!
Any news as to when they will show some PS3 footage?
Yay im so happy :D i found some cool wii screenshots and if you don’t believe me the plants on the wall they look like they are pasted but anyway that graphics are awesome!! im so happy :D
check the pics here: http://wii.kombo.com/article.php?artid=11751#
@RockerDuDe:
Sorry. Those are Xbox 360 screenshots. I don’t know why they’re there.
“And unlike some previous games, being hit by an enemy won’t make Sonic lose all of his rings.”
Then what DOES happen?
@RockerDuDe: yeah dude that article is from April 11th! those are xbox and PS3 screenshots NOT wii here are the wii screenshots: http://www.campsonic.com/nintendo-power-sonic-unleashed-wii-scans-2
so dont get your hopes up i have a wii too so im not too excited by the graphics but the gameplay will make up for it! that and i also have a PS3 so im buying both here but on the brightside atleast it’s coming out for the wii too otherwise it’d be only PS3 and 360 which was the original intention so your lucky they decided to make the game for other console owners
@Kev:
And yet at the same time unlucky if it turns out that the Wii version is held back by the PS2 version.
A Bit random, but I did a Sonic – Werehog morph on Morpheous. Unfortunately, it was the free trial, which happened to expire, so It may not be the best ever. I needed to slow it downa bit.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll194/SpectralArc/WerehogMorph.gif
gawd no one is gonna see this comment
well im thinkin or getting the wii for the full experience
i hope they make a “hard mode” where u loose all your rings after getting hit once…..or at least bring back the missions like in in the sonic adventure 2(100 rings,lost chao,clear within time limit, clear hard mode etc.)
oh i have a 360 already
@Chaos Blast:
it looks intresting..
love the way the face changes.
dang no news on chao why sega. Though since their is no online multy player mabye their is an online chao store for the might be there chao garden. With an online chao store replayability because of chao will go on for a long time don’t you agree? I mean they cvan put up new chao images and mabye even character eggs!!! that would be cool!!!