Metareview -- Sonic Unleashed (360 vs. Wii)
by Randy Nelson 
{ Nov 25th 2008 at 9:15PM }
Oh, Sonic. You little blue symbol of better days for Sega platformers. This whole Unleashed thing is your latest chance to prove, well, everyone wrong and get back on top of Mascot Mountain. To get there by not starring in another suck-fest of a console Sonic the Hedgehog game (see: Sonic the Hedgehog, 2006, among countless others).
The scores are in and they're ... not horrible. Not amazing, either. Sort of what the reviews of the game are saying. It's out on PS2, Wii, and 360 now, with the PS3 version coming next month. We've assembled a twofer of a metareview, with reviewer thoughts on both the 360 and Wii versions of the game. Have you played it? Share your thoughts in comments.
Xbox 360
The scores are in and they're ... not horrible. Not amazing, either. Sort of what the reviews of the game are saying. It's out on PS2, Wii, and 360 now, with the PS3 version coming next month. We've assembled a twofer of a metareview, with reviewer thoughts on both the 360 and Wii versions of the game. Have you played it? Share your thoughts in comments.
Xbox 360
- GamePro (60/100): "I love Sonic because his speedy style of platforming is fun, and Sega should have just developed a game around that and left everything else out."
- Game Informer (60/100): "As much as I disliked lumbering through levels as Sonic's hulky Werehog, I disliked hunting through the hub worlds looking for coins even more. Sega, if you really want to fix Sonic, the first thing you should do is stop trying to fix him."
- 1UP (C): "Ultimately, this simply isn't the fresh start Sonic fans were so desperately hoping for ... but at least it's not as execrable as the last two efforts."
- IGN (72/100): "Sonic Unleashed is half great game and half tedious gimmick."
- GameDaily (70/100): "A sequel with more speed and less gimmicks would make us happy, but for now, Unleashed is a step above the awful games that came before it. Good to have you back, Sonic."
- Game Informer (65/100): "The Wii version has less annoying traits than the others and still retains all the usual mediocrity. The motion-control elements in the Werehog levels add an extra dimension to the action, and the hub worlds are entirely text-based and aren't nearly as annoying. If you can stand the diminished graphics, the Wii version actually edges out the PS3 and 360 entries."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mark @ Nov 25th 2008 9:23PM
Aaaahahahahaha, another sucky Sonic game. The cycle continues...
Obie @ Nov 25th 2008 9:50PM
To be honest it is a bit better than the last one, so at least it is crawling back up there.
Aero @ Nov 25th 2008 10:25PM
My personal theory is that Sega knew they were losing it so they made Sonic 06 are worse as they possibly could. That way it would make any future games look better.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 10:30PM
hahaha naaa they just try to make the game coincide with Sonic 15 anniversary but end up selling a game in Beta stage, worst Sonic game I ever played.
Kokomadeta @ Nov 25th 2008 11:08PM
Sega makes 3 good Sonic games: SA1, SA2, and Sonic Heroes, and you people bitch. They try to re-do it with Sonic the Hedgehog, and you bitch. Now, they give you exactly what you asked for, and you bitch.
How about shutting the hell up and letting Sega make Sonic games? You people didn't bitch when Halo 2 sucked ass. You didn't bitch when Gears of War 2 was full of glitches. But no, a Sonic game has one problem and you give Sega hell about it.
Shut the hell up all of you. Ass holes.
Donald @ Nov 25th 2008 11:20PM
I don't think you said "bitch" enough.
Giroro @ Nov 25th 2008 11:28PM
@kokomadeta
You misspelled asshole.Its asshole, not ass hole. Jeeze asshole, learn how to spell asshole.
Asshole.
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 25th 2008 11:30PM
"How about shutting the hell up and letting Sega make Sonic games? You people didn't bitch when Halo 2 sucked ass. You didn't bitch when Gears of War 2 was full of glitches. But no, a Sonic game has one problem and you give Sega hell about it."
Hey look, a fanboy.
If you think the Adventure series was good (Heroes was passable, I'll give ya that one) and Halo 2 'sucked ass', well, I can't really take you seriously.
And don't talk about Gears having lots of bugs and glitches. Not in the same breath as 3D Sonic praise. That's just idiocy.
The difference between Sonic 3D sequels and, say, Halo sequels, is that, while Halo never went past the mundane in terms of story, Halo 2 did improve and tighten the core gameplay and offered a more robust multiplayer mode.
What did Sonic Adventure 2 do for the series? I'll just touch on a few of the issues I had with the game...
Decidedly un-Sonic, clunky gameplay for the good part of the game
Laughable soundtrack (I like Live and Learn, but Crush 40 fails it hard for the most part, as do many of the MIDI tunes)
The worst VO work since, well, any game in the Tales series
Clunky controls
A god awful camera
A chest slappingly stupid story
Yeah, yeah, it's my opinion, whatever. Dispute it 'til the cows come home. The fact of the matter, though, is that SEGA doesn't make Sonic games anymore. They start Sonic games, sure, but then they get a bunch of people together, and they begin to ask 'how can we fuck this game up as hard as possible'?
I was really hoping to enjoy Sonic Unleashed, but as it stands (and I'm at Chun-nan now), I've played two four minute long speedy levels, and nine ten minute long slow dumbed down Werehog levels.
What the fuck is wrong with Sega?
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 11:37PM
I would go as far XD, Gears and Halo definitively deserve their fans and scores and Sonic Heroes was passable,Shadow was a bad spin-off and shouldn't be mentioned withing the series (like the final fantasy FPS)and Sonic 06 was a crappy mess.
The handhelds games were consistently good and there's 7 of them and this game isn't bad at all I'll give it a 7.9.
but like I said if your not into this type of game don't bother. ( worthy renting though).
Tiptup300 @ Nov 25th 2008 11:39PM
Sonic Heroes was abysmal. I just want sega to make their ultra 3d suckfests while still making 2d classics.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 11:43PM
But tiptup the 2D Advance and DS game were pretty good with the worse being Sonic Advance 2.
Shane @ Nov 26th 2008 1:21AM
Hey, Giroro:
"You misspelled asshole.Its asshole, not ass hole."
Someone who isn't aware of the difference between "it's" and "its" is really in no position to be anointing themselves spelling and grammar police.
Also, two spaces after a period, please. Thanks so much :)
chispito @ Nov 26th 2008 1:53AM
@Shane - You're right--you had best triple-check your own spelling, grammar, and puncuation before correcting that of another.*
However, in his defense, whether you use one or two spaces after a period, question mark, or exclamation point, is a matter of style and not a hard set rule of the English language. Google produced the following link, even though I do not care for MLA formatting: http://www.mla.org/style_faq3
*If I make any typos, I apologize. Nobody is perfect.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 26th 2008 5:17AM
Mobile games don't count. I require games on my TV. I like using the 32" HD tv I bought as opposed to the medium resolution 2-5?"-ish screen on a gameboy.
Duke @ Nov 26th 2008 10:24AM
Kokomadeta
I really was hoping your post was a joke.
Please, tell me you weren't serious.
FrankDrebin @ Nov 26th 2008 10:36AM
I NEED SONIC 4, for the Genesis.
deaftly @ Nov 26th 2008 10:55AM
Robosonic, Giant Pink Thing, Tails, Black Sonic with Guns and the number of other retarded characters in the sonic series is what made it stupid. Its sad when Knuckles is your coolest character.
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 26th 2008 2:46PM
Lisent to Giroro he is an assman.
Mr.ESC Original Flavor Now Low on Sodium (May contain Win) @ Nov 26th 2008 2:53PM
To be honest I like most Sonic games except for 3D blast (We know is Flicky 3D Sega you are not fooling anyone) Shadow (Obvious reasons) and Sonic for teh xbaucks and Ps3 because the camera was friggin bad,ignoring that (And the framerate issues) is not a bad game.
The only problem with this one are the friggin controlers.The same problem that stops me from playing Secret rings.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Nov 25th 2008 9:24PM
There's always the next Sonic right?
Markez @ Nov 25th 2008 9:24PM
ITS HEEEAAAAAD TOOOO HEEEAAAAAAAD ACTION!!! THIS SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY! ITS 12 BUCKS, AND 12 TRUCKS, THATS A BUCK A TRUCK!!!
I just got my Sonic collection for the GC so I'll be too busy ripping through Sonic CD for the first time to cheat on it with any other Sonic. (Sonic Fighters looks effing weird)
Still wish either of these would've gotten better reviews though ;_;
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:33PM
Play the game for yourself you won't be dissapointed.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:35PM
Play the game for yourself you won't be dissapointed.
Markez @ Nov 25th 2008 9:44PM
Yes, I will play the game for myself and not be disappointed.
Meloche @ Nov 25th 2008 9:25PM
Hey, it's not that bad on the Wii...
Foetoid @ Nov 25th 2008 9:41PM
I've always thought Sonic and the Secret Rings was pretty good, mainly because it shares simlar control schemes to the extremely underrated Tony Hawk Downhill Jam.
Snowblind @ Nov 26th 2008 6:49AM
I don't really understand those scores. All of them agree that the werehog sections are the only thing bringing the game down, yet the Wii version has far more of those levels, they had to remove some of the Sonic levels because the Wii couldn't handle them.
In the 360/PS3 versions the majority of the levels focus on Sonic, were as with the Wii there's more werehog levels.
I'd stay away from the Wii version if you really want to play the game.. But I don't understand why anyone would play it at all.
Cj @ Nov 25th 2008 9:27PM
Instead of making Shenmue 3 they still continue to make these craptacular Sonic games.
Kizzle @ Nov 25th 2008 10:10PM
As much as I'd like to see it, Shenmue 3 wouldn't sell. It's an internet darling, but check out LBP's sales to give you an idea of how much the hardcore gamer/internet savvy gamer opinion matters.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 10:33PM
Shenmue make SEGA lose so much money :( I doubt the game will ever return but you can always imagine that Yakuza 3 for the PS3 is Shenmue 3.
Eh @ Nov 26th 2008 12:34AM
Im sure sega would love to make a new Shenmue. The problem is the creator has gone insane and thinks the game should only be a crappy MMORPG.
Shenmue wasnt a bad seller at all, it was one of the best selling titles on the Dreamcast, the problem was that it costed so much to make that there werent enough Dreamcast owners to buy it for it to turn a profit. If they made a PS3/360 Shenmue a small install base wouldnt be a problem.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 25th 2008 9:29PM
Do you wanna know why these games do decent enough that Sega decides to not listen to it's old school fanbase(you know the ones enjoying the game since the genesis, not fucking sonic adventure). Because of all the creepy fangirls who continually buy these games again and again. And when I mean creepy, I mean sick, emotionally damaged individuals who make me lose faith in humanity. There even worst than the FF7 fanbase.
Also shocking to see the Wii version do a bit better than the 360 version.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:41PM
It didn't wii version is terrible, don't fall for those reviews poor Sonic Unleashed this game didn't have a chance.
MisterSquared @ Nov 26th 2008 1:31PM
Browse DeviantArt sometime. This guy speaks truth...
*shudders*
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:31PM
This game is heavily underrated if you are a Sonic fan this one is a must have, the Sonic levels are fantastic and you have a lot of extras missions,scores,achievements etc.. this should keep you entertained for hours.
Far behind are the crappy camera,bad controls and glitchy mess this one puts the last Sonic games to shame.
The werehog mechanic is actually pretty good but levels tend to drag on too much, don't listen to reviewers about the wii version it's terrible and your should avoid it at all cost, 360 is the way to go.
Overall is a game for Sonic fans and the best 3D sonic game so far if you don't like Sonic this game won't make you change your mind but for Sonic fans this is a God send.
For and In depth review go here.
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&id_rubrique=1&type=article&id_article=228
Markez @ Nov 25th 2008 9:47PM
Didn't you recently say on a different post that you only have a DS?
Moptimus Slime @ Nov 25th 2008 9:55PM
Sonic Unleashed on the 360: Why save money when you can watch a game suck in HIGH DEFINITION?
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 10:00PM
Yes I have play both games but I don't own any of them =/.
Otimus @ Nov 25th 2008 9:45PM
I'm conflicted.
I loathed Sonic '06 and Shadow.
BUT... this DOES seem to be as good, or better than SA/SA2.
I can recall SA2 getting a critic's beating in reviews.. and SA1 also did too in "Later" reviews (Like when SADX came out).
So... it seems like it to me.. that if you liked SA or SA2, you'll probably like this, if not, you probably won't.
Is that right? Anyone with the game got anything to say?
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:48PM
Yes man, this game is on par with Adventure games if not succeed them in everway.
ZaxCG2 @ Nov 26th 2008 8:34AM
Ah good news. The Adventures were the last good Sonic games in my opinion... Sonic Heroes was like... eh, and then Shadow the Hedgehog came out and ruined my Sonic fandom for eternity. I have refused to buy a Sonic game since (sans-Sonic Dash).
Halwende @ Nov 25th 2008 9:43PM
They should just re-make Sonic CD in HD like they did with Street Fighter II, heck I'd buy it for the nostalgic value alone
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 25th 2008 11:59PM
No. Sega can't even port/remake games good anymore.
See: Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis on GBA.
doom saber @ Nov 26th 2008 2:45AM
A fansite is doin a hd fangame of sonic 2
Superstar90 @ Nov 25th 2008 9:43PM
How about making Sonic Rush 3 now :P Those games are pretty good.
Roto13 @ Nov 26th 2008 10:11AM
^^^ Yes, this.
Foetoid @ Nov 25th 2008 9:47PM
Why would you say the Wii version should be avoided at all costs when the review you linked to mentions nothing about the Wii version being inferior? All they mention is the 360/Ps3 versions are extremely hard and the Wii/Ps2 versions aren't as hard.
Foetoid @ Nov 25th 2008 9:52PM
That reply was meant for Wiinterfang
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:53PM
I have play both and I can safely tell you the HD version triumphs the SD ones in all.
here's the Key differences.
PS2 version doesn't support widescreen and has a very bad lighting systems and worse character models than the wii version.
the wii version has great graphics for the wii but doesn't surpass mario galaxy or brawl, but you can't say the port was lazy because it has great production values.
however here is the problem, the wii version has up to 4 werehog stages per Sonic one not only that but the Sonic stages are pretty short and can last 1 or 3 minutes while the werehog stages can last up to 15 minutes each, while the werehog gameplay isn't terrible by any means after a while you just want to play as Sonic.
Sonic stages are also pretty barren and looks less like a platformer and more like a Racing game and the game is overall almost too easy and lacks challenge.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 9:58PM
While the wii version isn't super bad comparing to the Xbox 360 is really lacking.
the 360 version has better graphics and the has more stages than the wii version.
also the stages are more challenging I don't know how to describe it but it's pretty intense the last stage is the hardest Sonic stage so far. ( yes harder than scrapbrain zone yes harder than Sonic 2 for game year) not only that but the ratio of sonic and werehog is more forgiving giving you more sonic gameplay.
Also the werehog levels had more platforming that battling so it's pretty much like prince of persia, the game, both games however has a bunch of extras and collectibles and great replay value.