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Sonic Unleashed; LAST UPDATE: 11/24/2008
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Topic Started: Mar 23 2008, 07:49 PM (6,552 Views)
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SoniCalvin
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Oct 30 2008, 04:24 PM
Post #511
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Grand Marshal
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Any peeps in Australia who pre-order any version of Sonic Unleashed from EB Games will get a Werehog figurine to go with it.
http://www.ebgames.com.au/Xbox/product.cfm?ID=11763
Yyyyeaahhh... the figurine is creepy. Very, very creepy. The Tails Doll was scarier enough, I don't need this thing haunting me in my nightmares.
EDIT: Also, in one hour from the time this post has been typed up, Sonic Unleashed will be one of the games featured in a special Halloween episode of GameSpot's live show, On the Spot. Fitting, considering the Werehog thing and all. Here's the summary for the episode.
- GameSpot
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This week's lesson is how to mix up a horrifying witch's brew of the scariest, creepiest, most terrifying games that you can't wait to see! In the mix are plenty of zombie parts via Left 4 Dead, a selection of succulent parasitic host creatures from Resident Evil 5, the cartridge casings of bullets used in the fight for freedom from Resistance 2, and the breath of a werehog from Sonic Unleashed. Sprinkle with goo from an undead frog in House of the Dead Wii, and make sure to take a picture when you are done courtesy of Fatal Frame. To wash it all down, we've got some special surprises in store for this week's On the Spot: Hell Night Edition!
We'll see you live right here, each and every Thursday at 4 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. ET, and Friday at midnight for our friends on the west coast of Europe. We're live and On the Spot!
List of games for this episode.
Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360) Dead Space (PlayStation 3) The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii) Resistance 2 (PlayStation 3) Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360) Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Wii) Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360)
Ah yeah. And not surprisingly, GameSpot has some different release dates for the different versions of the game. I can't be certain if these are the official release dates or not, but here goes.
Wii and PS2: Nov. 18, 2008 360: Nov. 24, 2008 PS3: Dec. 12, 2008
So apparently, the Wii and PS2 are coming out earlier than the other two next-gen versions. *tsk* Why?
I've always been planning to get the 360 port of the game, and since the Wii and PS2 games are on that date instead... yeah. Think I'll wait to get the 360 game, or buy the WALL-E DVD instead, which is also being released on the 18th.
Oh yeah. And the IGN guys in the UK have posted their latest preview of the game. Don't know how I missed this.
- IGN
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You have to feel for SEGA's spiky blue mascot -- the days when he went toe-to-toe with Mario for the crown of console king are drifting further and further away, and while Nintendo's moustached wonder continues to be the embodiment of platforming finesse, Sonic's been subjected to a seemingly endless procession of humiliations.
A nadir was well and truly reached with 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog, an unmitigated disaster of a game that managed to be both stupendously dull -- thanks to its archane hub world -- and stupendously brutal, thanks to one of the most disobedient cameras ever to grace a 3D game. If that wasn't enough to sully the hedgehog's once good name, its plot also made a truly regrettable detour into the realms of bestiality.
Of course it's not merely a case of abject misery for Sonic, but flashes of his former glory have been all too fleeting of late, coming only briefly in the likes of Wii outing Sonic and The Secret Rings and the consistently excellent Sonic Rush games on the DS. It's a good job, then, that it's from these games that Sonic Unleashed, the hedgehog's latest outing, is taking many of its cues, serving a generous helping of the fast-paced thrills that helped define the series.
At its best, Sonic Unleashed, makes good on its promise of delivering a return to the series' heyday, chiefly in the game's spectacular platform dashes. Gone is the errant camera that muddied the last HD outing, replaced by a dynamic perspective that's got far more in common with the one used to such good effect in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sticking closely to the hedgehog's behind, it's remarkably well-behaved and does an excellent job of keeping up with the action, as Sonic blasts his way through levels that stay true to the series' remit of azure skies and vibrant backdrops.
While the action by and large takes place in three dimensions, occasionally the camera will swoop to a pseudo-2D view, and it's here that the game most closely resembles the Sonic Rush series -- and considering the DS games' calibre such borrowings can only be encouraged.
In returning to a fast and simple approach, Sonic Unleashed shares more DNA with racing games than it does traditional platformers. A boost ability that's topped up by collecting rings accentuates this, acting as an accelerator for Sonic as he picks his way through the levels. The frantic dashes from point to point are broken up by a light sprinkling of platforming, as well as a little dose of Quick Time events that facilitate some of the larger leaps. What's most impressive is the speed at which Sonic attacks each stage -- yes, we know Sonic games are meant to be fast, but they haven't displayed this kind of pace for some time.
If we were feeling mean spirited we'd blast the platforming for being a little too prescribed, but it's hard to think ill of the game when it manages to be so evocative of some of the series crowning moments.
The locales which host the platforming sections are many and varied, taking real-life locations as a starting point for some spectacular levels. From Africa to Italy, each one exudes its own character, punctuated by set-pieces that go from a breathtaking freefall to skating down the back of a winding dragon. It all looks absolutely gorgeous throughout as well, the previously reported frame-rate issues having been deftly dealt with, and the scenery rushing forwards at a steady 30 frames per second.
So, is Sonic Unleashed set to be the full-on revival that fans have been waiting for? Unfortunately, for all the promise of the platforming sections, it's still looking hobbled in a number of key areas. Firstly, the often interminable hub world that's been a blight on Sonic games since its introduction in Sonic Adventure returns, and though we caught only the briefest of glimpses of this section it feels as unwelcome as ever. At least the populace has lost its eerily realistic features that proved so disturbing in Sonic 360, being painted here in a more exaggerated fashion that makes the character's presence a little less jarring. Regardless, the backtracking and mindless conversations with non-playable characters are still nothing more than a hindrance to the action.
And then, of course, there's the combat sections. Having bewitched fans with initial trailers of the stellar platforming, expectation was soon dulled by the revelation of the werehog, Sonic's feral alter-ego that stars in the game's nocturnal levels. In practice it's not quite the disaster we feared, with the brawling proving competent if never sparkling, Sonic disposing of an endless parade of enemies with deft combinations and QTE triggered finishing moves. Think of it as God of War lite -- a concession to Sonic's younger audience, it's nevertheless a strange change of pace that's sure to form a weak point in the overall package for more aged fans.
But with the core platforming looking so assured -- and we're told by SEGA that these sections will form the bulk of the game -- it seems that Sonic's detour into brawler territory won't be enough to taint what's set to be a return to grace for the hedgehog. Sonic's not yet ready just yet to reclaim his former crown, but from our experience with Sonic Unleashed he's certainly looking to be fighting fit again.
EDIT: ...
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwMx_b0PF6g[/YOUTUBE]
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WHAT IN THE BLEEEEEP?!?
Okay. I knew this game was getting a lot of hype. But now there's gonna be a Halloween-themed short film based on the game?! Ha ha ha! Ohhhh... holy spit.
The short film's called "Sonic: Night of the Werehog". From what I see, it looks like the story takes place during the game. Sonic and his new friend Chip find themselves inside... a haunted house. Ffffffffffffun.
Here, they come across a bunch of ghosts, ghouls, and goblins that try to do the duo in. But once the full moon comes out, they're all in deep sh#t, because Sonic transforms into the Werehog, and he wants to play. Yeah. Play. By beating their heads in.
And what's up with Sonic's face at the end?! It's weirder than the one shown in one of the first screenshots of the game, waaaaay back when they were leaked onto the Internet.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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SoniCalvin
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Oct 31 2008, 06:26 AM
Post #512
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Grand Marshal
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A new gameplay trailer of the Wii port of the game, this one featuring the China level, Chun-Nan. Both daytime and nighttime.
http://www.tssznews.com/2008/10/30/new-chu...ed-wii-trailer/
Also, let's talk a bit about GameSpot's On the Spot episode from yesterday. Again, Sonic Unleashed was one of the games that was featured on their Halloween special.
Also, remember Dark Gaia's minions that you fight in the nighttime stages. Apparently, they're called Frights. Yeah. Frights. No joke.
- TSSZ News
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GameSpot recently released their latest episode of On the Spot, featuring a 7-minute segment on Sonic Unleashed. GameSpot has a chat with Sega's Judy Gilbertson about the different gameplay features of Sonic Unleashed while a person dressed up in a excellent looking Werehog costume sweats it out in the background. The episode doesn't give us any real new information, but it does feature some footage from both nighttime and daytime stages of the game.
What Judy explains as a "relaunch of the Sonic franchise", the first gameplay footage shown are of Werehog battling Frights in the Dragon Road stage. The gameplay footage also shows Werehog finding a hidden area in the stage by smashing through a wall, which he then finds the Sun Medal, which unlocks a daytime stage.
Of course it's once again mentioned that Sega is mostly just concentrating on single player gameplay, mulitplayer is likely not happening, unless it's added later as downloadable-content.
The daytime level shown is the Africa inspired Savannah Citadel stage, showing off Sonic's speedy gameplay, which seems to end when Sonic falls to his death.
Sonic's many friends are also brought into question during the interview, which Judy explains that many will make a appearance during the game's storyline. Sonic's friends are also hinted to be included in some mini-games as well.
The interview ends with a promised holiday 2008 release date and some well deserved Werehog loving, save some for me. Thanks to our pal Kevin for the tip, check out the video below:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgFauOj7f2E[/YOUTUBE]
Also, according to Amazon, apparently the game's prices have dropped down.
360, PS3, and Wii: $49.99 PS2: $29.99
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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dl316bh
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Oct 31 2008, 05:27 PM
Post #513
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Boy, has it been a while since I saw a game run for the old standby of fifty dollars. I like it. The whole "sixty dollars for next gen games" thing has always kind of pissed me off.
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Damiens Omens: My review blog
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SoniCalvin
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Oct 31 2008, 06:38 PM
Post #514
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Grand Marshal
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I always thought it was a bit understandable that next-gen games were priced at sixty dollars. 'Cause when the 360, PS3, and Wii first came around, they were a lot more advanced than their predecessors. So, I thought the price was a bit understandable.
Yet, to this day, I still see 360 games priced at sixty bucks. Shouldn't they put a stop to that, unless it's like some limited edition of a game?
EDIT: Well, it's Halloween everybody. And what do I have for another update? Another level from the game being showcased in a trailer. Anyone recognize it?
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRMpsKJAZ8[/YOUTUBE]
That's right. It's the African-inspired stage we first saw, back, waaaaay back when the very first trailer of this game was leaked onto the Internet. Not too long after that, the level was shown again in another trailer.
This time, it's making another trailer comeback, with some nighttime footage this time around. And I think I can hear Sonic's Werehog voice (which unfortunately might be voiced by Jason Griffith again).
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Doesn't sound like him at all. I know it's supposed to be distorted, but it still doesn't sound like him. Heh.
Also, you might notice that the music for the daytime stage was tweaked a bit.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 1 2008, 09:01 PM
Post #515
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Grand Marshal
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For this update, we have some new gameplay footage. This time, we're getting a first look at Holoska, the Arctic-themed level of the game.
http://www.gamersyde.com/stream_9265_lq_en.html
There wasn't any Werehog footage for this level, but I wouldn't rule out Sonic climbing up some cliffs, and beating up some frosty Frights at night.
This level kind of reminds me of Sonic 3's Ice Cap, especially when the camera moves into that 2D perspective.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 2 2008, 08:32 AM
Post #516
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Grand Marshal
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People be gettin' preview copies of the game, and we've already got two pieces of video footage up on YouTube. The full opening cut scene, and another cut scene that takes place in Apotos, as well as a look at the hub world, and a look at Apotos' daytime level.
Also, you can switch the voiceovers to Japanese, and have the cut scenes play with English subtitles, if you like. But me, I usually prefer English dubbing, even if the voices are crappy. Because I wanna play my games, not read them. It depends on the game.
Also, what's interesting to note is that there are hints of Eggman's music theme from Sonic Next-Gen at the beginning of the opening cut scene. Considering how poorly that game did, I didn't think I'd hear any of its music in another game again.
EDIT: Sega don't like their cut scenes being leaked on to the Internet. So, if you want, you can download these two videos here.
http://ruliweb.empas.com/data/rulinews/read.htm?num=16554
The site's in Korean, so if you want to download these two videos, they're the last two videos in both the HD, and the SD lists.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 3 2008, 06:48 AM
Post #517
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Grand Marshal
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Only a couple of weeks before the game's release, and all the Sonic Unleashed-related stuff just keep on coming. With the opening cutscene and Apotos level and hub world leaked on the Internet and swiftly removed off the Internet by Sega, new levels being revealed, an upcoming animated short film to tie in with the game, and now a new Sonic Unleashed toy line in Australia, this game's certainly getting a lot of hype. However, we all know how hype works. Sometimes, it leads to disappointment. Let's hope that it isn't the case here.
So, with that said, GameSpot's Australian branch have posted their hands-on impressions of the game. Let's have a look.
- GameSpot
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Sega's spiky mascot didn't exactly impress with his last outing--the eponymously titled Sonic The Hedgehog--but early indicators for the upcoming Sonic Unleashed looks to be significantly more positive. Now just weeks away from release, we managed to grab some hands-on time with the 360 version of the new game, including wrangling with some of the bosses Sonic will be going head-to-head against.
For the uninitiated, Sonic Unleashed isn't going to be purely about speed. Unleashed will feature two distinct gameplay styles--daytime levels will be your classic Sonic speed runs, while night levels will be more akin to a beat-em-up brawler (with Sonic transforming into a creature called a Werehog). We're not completely sure how this relates to the game's story, but we do know that the evil Eggman is back, and has somehow got hold of the Chaos Emeralds. Eggman uses the Emeralds to fire up a super weapon which splits the Earth into many different pieces, and it's up to Sonic to get the planet back together.
We played through three different daytime levels in our hands-on--a section set in Greece which was the subject of our previous previews (now called Apotos in the game), the European city inspired Spagonia, and the China-themed Chun-nan. Atopos is all sunshine and Mediterranean housing, while Spagonia features cobbled streets and plenty of tables on sidewalk restaurants to run-through. Chun-nan, on the other hand, starts off with Sonic running along the top of what looks like the Great Wall of China, before heading down into a low-valley flanked by high mountain walls. If we're a little light on the descriptive phrases for these levels, it's because Sonic moves through these areas so quickly that most of it becomes a blur--which is nothing but good news for Sonic fans. That trademark Sonic sense of unbelievable speed is well and truly back in Unleashed, with some cool motion blur effects adding to the feeling of inertia. Best still, the frame rate drops we saw in earlier builds looks to be gone, with the new Hedgehog Engine holding steady during our game session.
And in even more good news for fans of the series, playing through these three daytime levels reminded us most of Sonic's 2D 16-bit days, where speed had to be balanced out with fast reflexes and knowledge of the best paths to take through levels. In the early Atopos level, getting and maintaining top speed was quite easy, but that task grew more difficult in Spagonia and Chun-nan, where quick runs could be stymied by a mistimed jump, environmental dangers such as spikes or moving platforms, and not reacting quickly enough to oncoming obstacles. Sonic has several moves at his disposal to keep the speed up, including quick sidesteps to the left or right (done by using your controller's shoulder buttons) to rapidly move out of the way. The hedgehog also has a homing roll attack which he can use to kill opponents without breaking stride. Finally, Sonic has his own version of NOS in Unleashed--pressing B will give him a temporary speed boost, with this ability being recharged by collecting more gold rings in a level. You'll also have to deal with now quick-time button press events (which are seemingly all the rage in games today)--successfully input the right button combination when these events pop up and Sonic will take a different route that may yield more coins or less enemies. Fail and you'll have to take the less optimum path.
Things are markedly different when Sonic turns into a Werehog during the night levels, with all the speed of daytime replaced by a God of War-lite action brawler where Sonic uses his fists to take on opponents. The night Apotos level is the first you'll come across in Unleashed, and serves as training where you'll be exposed to the Werehog's various attacks. Y and X buttons can be used to string together various combo attacks, A is for jump, while B is to grab enemies. You can also perform special finishing moves on certain opponents--pressing the B button whilst close to a wounded enemy will trigger yet another quick-time button press event, which when successfully inputted will result in the Werehog doing a flashy final hit on his hapless foe. The Apotos night level was mainly populated by lumbering and easily-disposed-of-foes which looked a little like evil versions of the Disney character Stitch, but by the time we got to the night Chun-nan level, much harder foes (including a fiery floating wizard that was more than reminiscent of Orko from He-Man) were on hand to give Sonic a decent challenge.
To close off our game play session we decided to take on some of the bosses Sonic can expect to tangle with when Unleashed releases later this month. Firstly, we took on the end boss of the night time Atopos level, a large shadowy figure armed with a large club which could send large shockwaves along the ground. Battling this creature turned out to be pretty easy (once we got rid of the dozens of minions surrounding our lone Werehog, that is). Much more challenging was the daytime level boss we tackled, a wasp-like ship called Egg Beetle piloted by Eggman himself. This boss battle takes place on what looks like a tree-top highway in the African-themed Mazuri level, and sees Sonic having to chase after the Egg Beetle whilst simultaneously avoiding his various attacks. The Egg Beetle liked to fly in front of our perky little hedgehog, firing out large spiked balls and fireballs directly in his path. You'll have to use Sonic's boost ability in order to catch up to the Beetle, and quickly perform a homing attack to do damage. Eventually, the boss shifts his attack pattern, with the screen moving to a 2D view where Sonic has to avoid missiles being fired at him from above. This boss battle was definitely tense, testing out our skills and reaction time (just as a good Sonic game should).
Based on what we've seen so far, Sonic Unleashed looks like it'll contain plenty of what made Sonic great in the first place, at least where the daytime levels are concerned. We'll have to wait until we get the full game in our hands, however, before we make a call on just how well the slower, brawling night time levels fit into the entire package. Sonic Unleashed is due out on the 360, PS3, PS2, and Wii at the end of November. Check back soon for our full review.
EDIT: Apparently, the Wii port of Sonic Unleashed won't have the hub worlds shown in the 360/PS3 games, according to the latest edition of NGamer magazine.
And also, here's a video from GameKyo, which features a lot of Sonic Unleashed footage.
http://www.tssznews.com/2008/11/03/gamekyo...-and-much-more/
- TSSZ News
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The video begins with Spagonia at night, as the Werehog is tasked with ascending the inside of a clocktower - the whole sequence is very, very heavy on platforming and swinging. After that, the player explores Holoska's stage entrance and town section. After a brief look at the game's map screen we're treated to a cutscene snippet featuring Amy Rose hugging the Werehog. The video ends with a look at how some NPCs in Spagonia react to the Werehog.
- Quote:
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CUTSCENE SNIPPET FEATURING AMY ROSE HUGGING THE WEREHOG.
That should get Damien's attention. =P
EDIT: The first 20 minutes of Sonic Unleashed.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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dl316bh
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Nov 4 2008, 02:00 AM
Post #518
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I hope that's Sonic the Werehog asking Amy Rose who she is (as in some sort of amnesia when in Werehog form) and not Amy mistakenly hugging something without being sure it was Sonic again. That recurring joke ran it's course by the second time they did it. I'd be forced to facepalm.
Still... seeing a good ol' hug is nice...
That Werehog section looks way too platformy for a Sonic game though. I don't think Sonic has ever seen a slower, heavier platforming section than what we saw in the beginning of that video. It's a little unnerving; I just hope the pace is faster in play than it looks in video. After all, most of the people who play these games at the conventions suck so very obviously.
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Damiens Omens: My review blog
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 4 2008, 07:43 AM
Post #519
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Grand Marshal
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Agreed. I know we don't have the game yet so we can see how the game plays, but... God, the people at those conventions suck so bad, are they even trying. Have they never played a game before?
Now, this might be excused for the Wii version of the game. Take a look at this playthrough of the Spagonia level.
http://www.jeuxvideo.tv/video/sonic-unleas...tml#view:263214
Games on the Wii that are available for other consoles usually have controls that are just shoehorned in there, which makes the controls so god-awful, so this is excused.
EDIT: New IGN blog entry.
- Yoshihisa Hashimoto
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Night of the Werehog Hello there, I'm Yoshihisa Hashimoto, the director of Sonic Unleashed.
Last time, I talked about the gameplay for Sonic the Hedgehog, the graphics of"Sonic Unleashed," and the game framework that led to the Hedgehog Engine. This time, I'd like to discuss the entirely-new game elements that went into Sonic the "Werehog."
Another Side of Sonic In "Sonic Unleashed," Sonic gets a bit of a two-faced makeover.
Thanks to the wicked machinations of his eternal rival, Dr. Eggman, Sonic is forced to undergo a strange transformation. By day, he's the normal Sonic the Hedgehog we all know and love, but when the sun sets, he sprouts menacing claws and fangs and his eyes narrow -- his fur grows out, and his muscles ripple all over his body. He is now Sonic the Werehog.
Beyond the obvious outward appearance, the Werehog form has other changes in store for Sonic, as well. As the Werehog, both of his arms can stretch out to extreme lengths, and his power to grab and hurl things is unparalleled.
As night falls, Sonic is now more than capable of holding his own against the other monsters who lurk there in the darkness, waiting to battle.
Making the Transformation Incredible, Yet Credible When we first began devlopment on "Sonic Unleashed," we were still thinking of what elements to include and incorporate, but one of the first things we decided on was, "Let's reduce the number of playable characters."
This isn't to say that having multiple characters is bad, of course, but we wanted to focus on getting more quality out of fewer characters.
So, we decided to have a game the user would play only as Sonic, so that we could focus solely on what makes Sonic an interesting character. And, as I mentioned in the previous developer diary, we first had to make sure that we had really compelling gameplay to support that, to really think, "This is what Sonic the Hedgehog needs to do" as our core design philosophy. And even just with that, we felt that we had some really strong content, and that we could make a fun, enjoyable game just with that alone, and that Sonic fans would have a great time playing it.
But then we also figured, "What can we add to this game that will let newcomers to the Sonic franchise get into the game easily?"
What our goal was, then, was to find a way to get people unfamiliar with Sonic to become familiar with Sonic, to see what made him so fun, and to get to experience that particular style of action game that's so indicative of "Sonic."
Of course, in the process of making Sonic appealing to people who weren't familiar with him, we also wanted to be careful that we didn't alienate people who were familiar with Sonic, by turning him into something completely unrecognizable with "Sonic the Werehog."
So, before beginning development, at the earliest stages of drawing up the concept design, Art Director Sachiko Kawamura and I discussed what to do, and we knew that we could make the "Werehog" concept fun and interesting, but that we needed to balance the pros and cons and stay true to what the core Sonic fans would also want. And I was sure we'd hear a lot of differing opinions on that point.
We imagined what kind of various opinions we'd get, to start. We knew there'd be praise and we knew there'd be criticism and we knew people would wonder if it would even be fun. So we had to put ourselves in the position to question that philosophy so that we could be able to address that sort of thing, first and foremost.
Lastly, we also had to strive to make sure that the long-time, hardcore Sonic fans would look at what we've done and really grasp what it was we wanted to do with the game.
Werehog Gameplay Gameplay as the Werehog can be characterized by a focus on raw power and use of those stretching arms.
-Just like he looks, the Werehog is physically strong and can do battle with other monsters. -Some of the monsters he fights are upwards of 25 feet tall. -We want the battle system to be action-packed yet well-tuned, to be fun for beginner and expert players alike -A set of simple controls allows for a wide variety of different moves and combos. -Defeating monsters causes them to drop Chaos Orbs, which are used to accumulate experience points. -Experience points can be used to develop your attack power, your stamina, to increase your Unleash Gauge or add to your defense capabilities -There are plenty of different actions to pull of, including lobbing monsters through the air, beating them with your fists, hurling them across the battlefield, snatching them out of the air and piledriving them into the ground... -Defeated monsters sometimes release Dark Gaia Force, which lets the Unleash Gauge accumulate, which is used to trigger some of the Werehog's more brutal actions. -When Unleashed, the Werehog enters a temporary state of super-fast movement and increased attack power and ferocity. -Stages include things like ledges, footholds, poles, pillars, balance beams and traps to vary up the terrain that the Werehog has to navigate via jumping and creative use of his stretching arms. -There are also puzzle elements, involving switches, levers, doors, chests, monsters and other stage objects.
So, the Werehog stages are a mix of fighting, platforming, and puzzle gameplay, all combined into one experience.
With this, we like to think that we've created a fun experience for both children and adults, for beginners and for hardcore gamers alike. We really hope that we've made a game that will satisfy both long-time Sonic devotees, as well as people who are getting to know Sonic for the very first time.
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Adam's Leather Punk Blog Update: I am mighty pissed
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dl316bh
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Nov 4 2008, 07:59 PM
Post #520
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Such has been the Wii's biggest downfall. It's ports are greatly inferior to the other systems. Normally, this would be compensated by first party games picking up the slack, but we all know what Nintendo's doing right now.
Not a good situation. Sure, the games make it to the system, but at times they're barely playable.
The Wii version is likely going to be the worst of the ports, so don't be surprised if it gets the worst reviews of the lot thanks to control issues. This game wasn't tailored around the Wii, which is never good news for a Wii port.
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Damiens Omens: My review blog
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 4 2008, 08:09 PM
Post #521
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Grand Marshal
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Yeah. Wii-exclusive games? Fine. Wii ports? I don't think so. They're usually bad news. I say usually, because there are some exceptions, like Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity. A lot of people might not think so, but I actually found the Wii version of Zero Gravity to be playable.
But that's not saying much, because steering in the game is something that the controls don't like. And Sega Superstars Tennis for the Wii was basically... some watered down version of the tennis game in Wii Sports. That's pretty bad.
Just got a pull-out double-sided Sonic Unleashed poster from the latest issue of GamePro. Oh my. The game's first giant pull-out poster, included in magazines. It might be its first, but I'm not sure.
The hype for this game is increasing every minute we speak. I'm not sure if I should be excited, or if I should abide by the rule that hype usually leads to disappointment.
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dl316bh
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Nov 4 2008, 08:16 PM
Post #522
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I wouldn't worry. It doesn't look like it will disappoint. The Werehog sections look to be what is going to get it's criticism. Everyone is saying that the regular Sonic sections look to be a giant step in the right direction. Hell, many are saying that the game looks like it would rock ass if it didn't have the Werehog sections.
That's good news; the Sonic fanbase hasn't had much positive to say about a Sonic game in a long while.
We just have to hope the Werehog portions play faster in-game than they look in video's. The Werehog idea probably sounded good on paper, but not all idea's translate as well from paper to game. If the Werehog sections are at least tolerable, it could be a very good sign.
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 5 2008, 10:56 PM
Post #523
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Grand Marshal
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As we're counting down to the game's release, the hands-on previews just keep coming. This one is another one from IGN. Let's see what they have to say this time.
- IGN
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Sonic the Hedgehog was once so popular he was more recognized worldwide than Mickey Mouse. True story. But SEGA's speedy mascot has fallen on hard times of late. Great Sonic titles have been rare over the past few years, but SEGA is hoping to change that with Sonic Unleashed. The latest Sonic builds on the ideas of Wii's Sonic and the Secret Rings, but adds some gameplay refinements and one big howler of a twist.
Each level of Unleashed is given two phases. Head to a level during the daytime and you get an on-rails speedfest with good ol' Sonic. Head to the same area at night and Sonic goes native, turning into the hideous Werehog and experiencing more traditional bash and smash gameplay.
The daytime Sonic is a solid experience. SEGA has had a tough time moving Sonic from 2D to 3D, but the on-rails experience may be the best route. And indeed in the daytime you do play on rails, forcing you to focus more on reaction time than exploration. This isn't a new idea for Sonic. The Dreamcast Sonic Adventure titles also had similar elements, though Unleashed is most like Sonic and the Secret Rings. Though not a new concept, SEGA is working to improve on past performances.
In the Africa-inspired level Mazuri, most of your time on the ground is spent at full speed. You won't be stopping to push blocks. You'll generally be worrying about grabbing rings, dodging obstacles and taking out enemies. The shoulder buttons are used to sidestep left and right and are essential to rocketing your way through each level. There's also a jump button -- which is also used in conjunction with targeting enemies so you can perform a dash attack. Don't worry, most enemies are dealt with in one blow and are barely noticed.
In Mazuri, you'll have to contend with some narrow alleyways. Avoiding junk and jutting walls is easy stuff, but still fun. As you progress things get a bit more extreme. Loop-the-loops and insane jumps are thrown in, helping add to the sense of speed. As with even the classic Sonic titles, there are some timing puzzles and moments when you'll need to stop and hit platforms at the proper time. These do stall the pace, but add something fresh to the mix. Mazuri -- as is likely with most of the daytime levels -- is over pretty quickly. But you'll have to master a level to earn a good ranking, which should provide incentive to play through multiple times.
By beating levels, you earn experience that can be used to improve Sonic and the Werehog's abilities. This is a very simplistic system, so don't expect this to be Mass Effect. You'll upgrade Sonic's speed and the Werehog's strength and health, among a few other categories. This too will give you a reason to revisit levels as Mazuri at mach 1 is going to be different than racing through Mazuri at mach 5.
For a shot at a nighttime level, I checked out the China-themed Chun-nan level. The Werehog is the opposite of Sonic. Instead of speed, it's about strength. Instead of a slick and thrilling experience, it's about mind-numbing button mashing. The Werehog does all the standard moves of a b-rate arcade brawler. Plus, he can stretch his arms. You know, like the werehogs of mythology. I won't bore you with the details of the Chun-nan level. On top of the very standard button-mashing combat, there are minor platforming elements that best suit a Stretch Armstrong game. I would say more, but thinking about the Werehog only makes me depressed.
By some miracle, SEGA could turn around the night levels and make them into something wonderous. Or perhaps every level other than Chun-nan is brilliant. I hope so, because what I played has no relevance to Sonic whatsoever. SEGA has confirmed that half the game is set at night, which means playing Sonic Unleashed could make you bi-polar -- happy by day, angry by night.
Aside from day and night levels, there are also some boss battles in Sonic Unleashed. The boss battle in Mazuri, Egg Beetle, is a fast-paced fight around a closed-circuit track. The Egg Beetle is a massive beetle looking to destroy Sonic. The ugly beetle has several attacks, including dropping a slew of bombs on the track. You'll need to be a master of side-stepping to avoid these perils. Then you must use your speed boost to get close and bash in the Egg Beetle's face. It takes a while to bring the beetle down and it's not an easy fight. But winning is quite satisfying.
Sonic Unleashed is the tale of two hedgehogs. Its success is going to depend largely on how well SEGA can pull off the nighttime levels. From what I've played, things are looking a little grim. It's too bad, because the daytime areas are a lot of fun. Hopefully SEGA can pull a rabbit out of its hat prior to release and bring Sonic Unleashed together. It's the least the company can do for the little hedgehog who made them famous.
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dl316bh
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Nov 5 2008, 11:22 PM
Post #524
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Yikes. Sounds like the Werehog sections might just be the boat sinker I was afraid they would be.
Not good...
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SoniCalvin
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Nov 5 2008, 11:27 PM
Post #525
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Grand Marshal
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I tried to pass this off as IGN being their usual ignorant selves, but then a lot of other people have similar complaints about the Werehog sections.
Although, their ignorant sides still show in this one. They think Unleashed is actually on-rails? What the f###?
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