Well, that was terrible. The headline, we mean. IGN's new video of Sonic Unleashed gameplay (check it after the break!), on the other hand, is actually quite exciting. Though gameplay looks a little on the simplistic side, the side-scrolling shots of Sonic speeding through a colorful city certainly show off a solid graphics engine, not to mention an electric pace.

And no grating sidekicks in sight! We'll have more of this, please.

If you were hoping that Sega was going to use its recent Gamers Day event to show off the "unleashed" half of Sonic Unleashed, you'll be disappointed to learn that the speedy blue hedgehog is still very much "leashed" ... even after breaking out of his cage some months back. Despite being unwilling to sway from its rigid marketing schedule and share what we're assuming is going to be the game's key selling point – the nighttime (and "unleashed" werewolf Sonic we presume) half – Sega does want us to reconsider a traditional Sonic game working in 3D. That would be the daytime half.

The presentation began with an explanation that, although the game is being developed by Sonic Team – the very same development team that delivered the universally panned next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog in 2006 – it is in fact a different team that "didn't work on the last one." Apparently the game's lead designer, Yoshihisa Hashimoto, "understands well where the failings were there." If you find it comforting that Sega's owning up for the previous title's shortcomings, you're not alone but we're a long way from being sold on the latest outing.

There are many reasons to desire a shirt emblazoned with the countenance of Sega's spiky, azure mascot -- perhaps as a celebratory measure following the formal announcement of Sonic's upcoming 2D/3D adventure, Sonic Unleashed. Maybe you want to want to make your own personal Jaleelitude known to the world. Or just maybe, you want to warn could-be attackers that you've seen the Sonic PSAs, and that you know how to protect your bathing suit area from uncomfortable touches.

Such a shirt exists, as do a number of other garments featuring characters from other Sega mainstays (such as Virtua Fighter and House of the Dead) from a Japanese clothier named UNIQLO -- unfortunately, said tees are only available in Japan. However, as our controller-waggling brethren at Wii Fanboy discovered, UNIQLO has stores in the UK and in New York -- so at least we can hope for a timely port.

[Via Wii Fanboy]

Thanks to Batman Begins, we're now all familiar with the concept of "rebooting" a series -- ignoring one or more of its previous installments to start over with a clean slate. Sega's apparently familiar with the concept as well, as Sonic Unleashed has "no relation" to either Sonic the Hedgehog on PS3 and 360, or Sonic and the Secret Rings, and will instead be more like a Sonic Adventure 3, only with more hulkhogs.

Official Nintendo Magazine talked with lead designer Yoshihisa Hashimoto about the direction of the new title, and learned that the team went back to square one with both the design and engine for the game. The game is said to be comparable to the aging Sonic Adventure games, albeit with a few new tricks and hopefully improved platforming. Regarding the hulkhog, Hashmito reveals that Sonic's altered form controls more slowly (duh), but can knock objects out of the way rather than dodging, and propels himself forward Donkey Kong-style with massive forearms used to swing across the ground.

We're all for rebooting the series, but we personally hope that Unleashed shares more in common with Sonic's pre-Adventure titles, rather than the character-laden, awkward-camera experiences in the Dreamcast outings.

Ignore for about three seconds Sega's laughably broken Sonic Unleashed marketing which released gameplay footage before a teaser trailer (above), and just focus on what we'll soon be calling -- with great frequency -- Sonic the Hulkhog. Sonic done gone and got himself rabies, girrrrrl!

We have no clear idea of what's going on in the teaser, but this probably has something to do with the "unusual situation" Sonic is faced with in Unleashed and the images of Wolf Sonic we've seen. We're sure to get more information soon, unless Sega's marketing keeps up its new reversal trend and releases the game before they give out any more information.

Though we've been feeding it leftovers since last month, Sega of America has finally knocked on our door and confirmed that the adorable stray cat in our care did indeed have its origins in the publisher's bag. Much to our surprise, Sega also informed us that the cat is actually ... a hedgehog. We thought it felt a bit strange petting the dear thing, but are no less alarmed by Sega's evil habit of stuffing small creatures in bags.

Developed by the "renowned" Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed promises a return to the blazing blue mammal's roots in "an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe." Set for release on the Xbox, PlayStation 3, Wii and PlayStation 2, the game ditches low-tech blast processing for the "Hedgehog Engine," which "introduces seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, whilst delivering a rich and expansive world with multiple paths to choose from." It certainly sounds like we're taking a step in the right direction, but given our previous next-gen brush with Sonic, we're not convinced we won't just clip right through the floor and fall out of the level.

Sega further notes that Sonic is faced with an "unusual situation" this time around, with gameplay changing from day to night (must be the wolf thing) and "combat fighting" becoming possible. We'll learn more about what exactly that means closer to the game's late 2008 release. (For now, watch the trailer -- posted after the break.)