Sonic Unleashed confirmed, mostly

by JC Fletcher { Mar 23rd 2008 at 5:00PM }

Some video and screens came out of what looked like a new Sonic the Hedgehog game, identified as Sonic Unleashed. After this leak, Sega issued a press release to a German magazine called Sega On confirming the existence of the game -- and then Sega On removed it. Which means that we don't know what's real, if anything. We also don't know which platform or platforms the game will come out on -- the information out there says 360 and Wii, at least.

Sega On now says that Unleashed is an unprecedented collaboration between Sega teams in Japan, Europe, and the U.S., designed to "rebuild the Sonic brand and prove that it could work in 3D environments." It involves a werewolf-style Sonic, either as a player transformation or as an enemy. It's all very confusing, but we can at least say with some certainty that some Sonic game is coming to some system. Check Gamersyde for a bunch of (likely) screenshots, and hit the post break for a video! It looks ... really cool, and mostly 2D -- which the game was described to be in some possibly fake gameplay details.

Gallery: Sonic Unleashed

Tags: platform, sega, sonic, sonic-team, sonic-unleashed

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Blue_Falcon @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:12PM

I'm liking what the video is showing, but I'm going to be cautious about this game though.

justin b. @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:27PM

Yeah, I think from that supposed video that it's finally doing what I've been begging Sonic developers to do for years: reverting to 3D. It worked great on the DS and PSP, why not for home consoles? I've automatically rejected every 3D Sonic game since Secret Rings, (which was decent) and was right every time, but I really think Sonic will thrive on Nintendo platforms. He did well with SatSR, Sonic Rush 1 and 2, and I'm really interested in Sonic: the Dark Brotherhood for DS. Maybe this will be the first fun next gen Sonic game.

todde7 @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:18PM

I think you mean reverting to 2D btw. I love how its like 2.5D and then it pops in to 3D for certain parts. I really think this game has a lot of potential. This just might be the game to be the air bubble that drowning Sonic needs.

Croove55 @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:27PM

@todde7

I LIKE THAT METAPHOR.

Game looks good too.

manaman @ Mar 24th 2008 9:00PM

Also @ todde7, I also love that metaphor! :)

Joe Cart @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:04PM

I really like how their implementing the 2D style mixed in with 3D in this game. That was the problem with Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 on the dreamcast, there was too much 3d and NO 2d. They should of gave classic gamers like me a smoother transition from 2d sonic to 3d, and it looks like this game might be the answer to Sonic's problems lately. Maybe this will ressurect the sonic franchise, i'm hoping anyway.

Mr Khan @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:20PM

I hate to sound like a broken record, but i've been saying all this time that, technologically, it could be for Wii, sans the resolution of the screenshots

I say bring it on. Sonic Team is win. I don't care what the haters say

TheOverlord#2 (will beat you with Toon Link!)(1461-5875-9923) @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:38PM

Yay?
Definitely a game to wait for the reviews. But...Thanks Sega! They should of always made Sonic next-gen a 2d/3d game. If they just stick to to the basics(only Sonic, Tails, & Kunckles, 2d rails running, 3d backgrounds) then I will gladly spend my money on Sonic Unleashed.

RupeeClock @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:50PM

Frankly, this needs more of this screenshot.

http://www.1up.com/media/03/5/1/7/lg/044.JPG

jmf @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:07PM

Werewolf sonic = lame

DarkLeaper @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:20PM

I agree with jmf... Sega, just let the friggin' hedgehog run free without stupid powerups and stupid characters. Big the Cat... need I say more?

digital robots @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:52PM

Even though the last few Sonic games really disappointed me... this does look promising!

Tom @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:55PM

Werewolf sonic=FAIL

I hope to God i'm wrong, I really do, but this game will prolly suck. Maybe the gameplay itself will be good, jusdging from the video, but the plotline is sure to be atrocious. I am looking forward to the Dark Brotherhood. That might actually be an awesome sonic game.

Koop @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:24PM

I really hope this game turns out to FINALLY be the game that makes Sonic a worthwhile game franchise again. If they want to fix the franchise, they need to cut the useless characters and stick with the classic ones and get rid of the god awful voices. Reading text is the best option because the voice actors for the Sonic games ALWAYS irritate me. Hopefully this game can bring back the glory days of the 16-bit era Sonic.

jmf @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:50PM

agreed...last time I remember having a good time playing sonic was sonic 3 or sonic cd...rush was good on the ds too though

Perverted @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:35PM

Well Link turned into a Wolf and it worked out allright for him...Why not a werewolf for Sonic?

I quite liked Sonic Rush on DS so 2.5D is the way to go.

But the graphics look...well a bit to good for the Wii, I dunno if the Wii could do that....Apparently it's possible? Maybe their pushing it close to it's limits.....

Oh and it's current-gen not next-gen, It really annoys me how everyone keeps calling it next-gen!

Oh and April is fast approaching so it could be an Aprils fools day prank that slipped a week or so early....

I do hope it's real and good and 2.5D and has a good camera and no annoying characters.....

Eccentric-Servbot @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:44PM

The new sort of "2.5D" style reminds me of the Klonoa games presentation, which is definately a good thing. I haven't touched Sonic in quite a while, but this one may just have me picking up one of the blue blur's game for once.

Wolf Sonic...seems lame after Link already beat him to it in Twilight Princess.

manaman @ Mar 24th 2008 9:03PM

Ha ha!

I was totally thinking of Klonoa as well. I love those games. 2.5-D is really the way to go! I could see Sonic working really well with that setup.

Here's hoping,

manaman

SoshiKitai @ Mar 23rd 2008 11:04PM

I think Wolf-Sonic is kinda' lame to a lot of people because of one thing:
Sonic's already a furry animal...

>_> Turning into a wolf-version wouldn't really make sense...

...A WOLF-HEDGEHOG... O_o

samfish (Brawl: 2793 0291 2277) @ Mar 23rd 2008 11:29PM

I can't wait. If it's like Secret Rings with some side scrolling portions, I'll probably enjoy it.

devriley50755 @ Mar 23rd 2008 11:48PM

Okay, I'm kinda hoping some of that is a debug camera, because some bits look damn awkward in the video...

ManekiNeko @ Mar 24th 2008 6:50AM

It's not what you think. It's far, far WORSE.

...er, anyway. "Eggman" is the new official name for Doctor Robotnik. He was always called that in the Japanese versions of Sonic. Americans were first introduced to the name in Sonic Adventure (where Sonic used it as an insult) and now he's known as Eggman internationally.

For what it's worth, I liked the name Robotnik better myself, but who am I to stand in the way of progress?

ManekiNeko @ Mar 24th 2008 6:51AM

Uh, this was supposed to be for Nathew. Don't know how it wound up here!

manaman @ Mar 24th 2008 9:06PM

@ ManekiNeko,

I totally agree that Dr. Robotnik is a way better name. Why, oh why continually strip Sonic of any and all dignity?!

Sad,

manaman

ChrisCanberg @ Mar 24th 2008 12:18AM

I am praying to god that this game is real.

From the screenshots, I could tell that this was gunna be awesome because it looks like Eggman actually does something effective.

This could very well be the step forward that Sonic needs, and I love the little blue blur to death, so I hope Sonic Team doesn't mess this up.

Nathew @ Mar 24th 2008 6:15AM

who is this eggman i keep hearing of? is he one of dr. robotnik's henchmen?

Jayenkai @ Mar 24th 2008 12:24AM

FFS, I've been saying this since Pandemonium!!

Come on, Sonic.... You can catch up.... There's a good boy!!!

2.5D worked great back then, there's absolutely no reason at all that it wouldn't work just as well, if not better, now. Let's just hope it A) Controls better than Sonic+Secret Rings did, and B) Doesn't get too "Werewolf"d.

Brendon @ Mar 24th 2008 3:01AM

Why is it that Mario can evolve successfully into 3-D, then devolve (Are We Not Men) back into 2-D (again, successfully), yet Sonic is left desperately trying to be the "New Coke"?

The vid looks nice, but I can't help but hear Sonic crying "Wolf!"

Oh, "werewolf". NOW I get it.

Nathew @ Mar 24th 2008 6:14AM

voices and music will still make it hokey as hell.

wud_e @ Mar 24th 2008 9:06AM

^^^ I agree with you on the voices but Sonic games have some of the best music in the Biz.

This clip looks like Sega has been listening to us. We want a side scroller!! Sega make this a long Sonic game and leave the extras out. The only other characters need to be Knuckles not treasure hunting and Tails not in mech. Also make this like Sonic 3 where You can play Sonic, Tails, Sonic and Tails and Knuckles.

Nathew @ Apr 1st 2008 9:35PM

i pray even though i'm agnostic that you're talking about the first few games, because the latter-day sonic music is awful. i have half of the songs on brawl pulled all the way down in the my music options.

darkspines35 @ Mar 24th 2008 10:47AM

I've been a SOnic fan for years now and I believe that this is the game that might acctually give Sonic a break. I'm still trying to figure out why people are haters of the Were-Sonic.

Ed @ Mar 24th 2008 11:26AM

April Fools?

Jayenkai @ Mar 24th 2008 11:28AM

Because Were-Sonic sounds like yet another stupid "Ooh, I know, lets try THIS!!" Idea, when Sega should instead be going "Oooh, look... Sonic!!"

eg..

"Oooh, I know, lets try... "
.. Having all three characters be playable at once.
.. Having all the characters form a single storyline, so the player HAS to play through the shitty character's levels.
.. Having the super sonic "fastest thing alive" strap a hoverboard to his feet so he can whoosh along at about 1/5 of his regular speed.
.. Spinball!!! (I know, it wasn't THAT bad, but.. come on.. it could've been much better!)

Eddie Hopper @ Mar 30th 2008 1:47AM

on many other websites, it says that Sonic Unleashed will be released on the PS3 and 360. It uses graphics that are too powerful for the Wii.

rayiscool @ Mar 30th 2008 1:11PM

Ive actually liked all of sonics games. Just play the game without being negative and it will be fun. plain and simple

Me @ Apr 13th 2008 5:11AM

So you guys, I'm buying a Wii here soon. Should I buy Secret Rings, or wait until Unleashed comes out? I think Secret Rings looks pretty fun and good...and I'm not exactly a big fan of the whole werewolf jargon...but I like the story, and 2D stuff in Unleashed...

DaPrinceVegeta @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:07PM

http://www.sega.com/gamesite/sonicunleashed/us/index.php this is the official site for the game and it says what systems this game is for. Plus, I do agree that it should go back to classic style with only Sonic, Tails, and Knux playable. I don't NEED Shadow, but i wouldn't mind at all if he was also in it(just please, no more weapons). I've been playin sonic for as long as I can remember, so i ain't prepared to let him go because i think he hasn't had a decent game since SA2. And what is Mario and Sonic at the olympic games? great, they're finally together, but wtf, the OLYMPIC GAMES of all things?! they must've been high when they thought that up