Sadness Unleashed!! (Sonic Unleashed (PS3))

Member Name: joeytomtom

Product:	Sonic Unleashed (PS3)
Date:	03/11/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It has Sonic.

Disadvantages: The ill-thought out combat sections and muddlesome controls.

In 1991 Sonic Team unveiled their fledgeling creation onto the Sega Megadrive/Genesis in North America, Europe and Japan. It was seen not only as a flagship title for Sega, but was hailed by many as a revolution in platform gaming. The incredible graphics, lush backdrops and superbly animated characters truly made for a jaw-dropping experience. Since then of course Sonic and co have become gaming icons, and have existed in the hearts and minds of the public for many years now, a fact that is sure to please their original creators and is a testament to their creative genius.

It's a few years on now and Sonic himself has been through many changes, most notable is his transition into 3D, which is the cause for much consternation among fans. Sonic Unleashed was released by the original developers Sonic Team in 1998, using their new core technology the "sonic engine". Early leaked screen-shots depicted Sonic in a pseudo-2d world, sparking rumours and hopes that the game had gone back to it's original 2d roots, but with a 3d twist. On release however the community found that the game had been split into two distinct styles of gameplay. In the Daylight mode, you play Sonic who blazes around very 3d levels, reminiscent of the Sonic Adventure trials which originated on the Sega Dreamcast. The camera moves in sweeps, and at times the view looks 2d (you can see where the 2d/3d confusion came from). Although impressive technically, it's just more of the same, along with all the bad usual negatives. Bad controls, which make even the simplest task an ordeal, linear level design, and newly added button sequences, a little like the quick-time events seen in many early games. The new addition here is Werehog mode, a snarling, growling beast which Sonic turns into at night time. Here we see a marked change not only in pace but also in gameplay. The levels are now are based on exploration and combat, with new Werehog-specific moves which help you swing and pound enemies to dust. It's all very well introducing new gameplay elements, and I'm all for that, but here the effect is jarring. Especially as the annoying button combinations which in many cases you must complete will put most players off from the outset, and make it nigh on impossible for younger players to get to grips with.

The plot is fairly standard: Your old nemesis Dr. Eggman is up to no good again, only this time he has split the world into pieces, and it's up to our intrepid, and unfortunately tiresome blue hero to sort the whole mess out. Queue speedy, if repetitive speed sections which give way to Werehog swinging/combat sections, which quite honestly the game could well do without. I'd have been more than satisfied with a 2d rehash of the original, only with modern graphics and 3D characters (whoah, Green Hill Zone!!)

On the whole Unleashed is just another in a long line of disappointments. It seems that some games are made for good old 2d, and since Sonic Team seem to be flogging a dead horse and are clearly not listening to what the gaming community want (a return to 2d) I bear no hope for the future, and can also not recommend this title in any way. I suspect that even the die-hardest of Sonic fans will wonder what's going on, and likewise wonder what the future holds if Sonic Team keep going in this direction?

Summary: Wait with baited breath and hope Sonic Team realise that Sonic fans were fans of the 2d game. Don't