Kotaku
The time for legal threats is at an end, as Sega officially confirms Sonic Unleashed for the PS2, Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 in late 2008. Along with a video and screenshots that we've already seen, Sega reveals a bit about the plot of the game, which features the vile Dr. Eggman breaking apart the entire world, with Sonic and the power of the chaos emeralds the only hope of putting things right. It combines classic 2D gameplay elements with an immersive 3D experience, utilizing the all new Hedgehog Engine.
The time for Under development for three years, the Hedgehog Engine produces a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay mechanics. The Hedgehog engine will help re-define the gameplay experience for Sonic fans and newcomers to the franchise alike.The announcement hints at the new 3D portions of the game in which Sonic turns into a werewolf, another well-known secret I'm sure they'll officially reveal somewhere down the line. For now, enjoy the extended version of the video you've already watched, now with extra-added Sonic goodness!
Sonic Is Unleashed!SEGA's newest Sonic title is set to combine amazing next gen capabilities with classic Sonic 2D gameplay!
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (April 3, 2008) - SEGA® of America and SEGA of Europe Ltd., today announced that everyone's favourite hedgehog will be breaking new ground yet maintaining his roots, in the upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed™. Developed by renowned studio Sonic Team, the latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise, will take players on an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe in a way never before experienced in the world of Sonic. The game is set for release later this year and will be available for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and PLAYSTATION®2.
Sonic Unleashed is built on a powerful new "Hedgehog Engine", which introduces seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, whilst delivering a rich and expansive world with multiple paths to choose from. Under development for three years, the Hedgehog Engine produces a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay mechanics. The Hedgehog engine will help re-define the gameplay experience for Sonic fans and newcomers to the franchise alike.
"By combining rich and vibrant scenery with dynamic viewpoints Sonic Unleashed will provide an immersive 3D experience whilst keeping alive the 2D gameplay elements and fantastic worlds that Sonic fans know and love" commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director for SEGA Europe. "In addition to this classic Sonic gaming experience, when darkness sets in Sonic Unleashed players will be able to experience a completely new way to play as Sonic... making this his most exciting adventure yet!"
Having been broken apart by the evil Dr Eggman, it's down to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds. In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic's amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!
The opportunity to engage in Sonic in different ways during the day and night time levels brings a completely original way of playing to the Sonic franchise, in addition to running at high speeds in classic Sonic style, combat fighting will become possible. Super quick Sonic's speed skills will be highlighted by four new modes, whilst the all new combat, movement and functional abilities will offer depth and variety to the game. As the sun sets in Sonic Unleashed, a different type of adventure will awaken in Sonic's newest quest....
Sonic Unleashed is scheduled for release worldwide in late 2008.
Comments
The headgehog engine = 2 1/2 D?
Game looks great, but i hope it doesn't play like "hold the direction your moving in while the entire level zips by.
and again, wii gets lumped with PS2... meh.
I still think there are too many camera angles to make this a legit Sonic game. You won't know where you're going half of the time. If the reviews are good I'll check it out.
Greece looks wonderful.. this video made me nostalgic :'(
I'm sorry but it's not Dr. Eggman it's Dr. Robotnick, his name will never be Eggman!
Is it foolish to hope that this might be a good-- no, I'm not even going to finish that sentence and jinx it.
@diablodevil2: Quiet Dorkator! It only matters that this game return to the glory days!
Now if we could just do away with this "werewolf" mechanic.
Heres hoping they bring back the Chao mini game in this one. It was one of my favorite parts of Sonic Adventure. Which was easily my favorite Sonic game series.
-Niric
Okay, fine Sega! I'll be optimistic about this one. Don't let me down!
Here is hoping the werewolf segments don't blow and ruin the game like they did in Twilight Princess.
*sigh* Just like Megaman X7 fused 2D and 3D elements and received a 10/10 by Ohfucknotanotherrevisionsequel.com
It LOOKS great, but by my reckoning that's way too fast to be able to control properly. I think it will be a button-mashers paradise.
I'll probably get it. Hopefully the Wii controls wont suck.
Hey this looks good. Sonic is fast. And it seems fun. On my radar now, despite the werewolf thingie.
Looks like they combined the two things that have ever worked for Sonic. 2-D side scrolling and 3-D railed like in The Secret Rings.
The closer we get to 2D games again, the closer I get to purchasing. I for one am REALLY happy to see this video, because I had no idea they were going for a 2.5D thing. This game went from "Oh great, another Sonic game" on my radar to "Wow, I really gotta follow this one and see what happens". Maybe Sonic RPG won't be the only good Sonic on the horizon after all :)
This is gonna be more awesome than the latest Radiohead album.
"which features the vile Dr. Eggman breaking apart the entire world"
Dr. Eggman? Wow, Dr. Robotnik was way cooler, albeit also retarded. When did his name change?
looks fun.
Sonic games must be the easiest games to design.
1. hold right button
2. throw in wall/spikes/bumper to break up level
3. repeat
...
* throw in dramatic camera angle as desired
Please don't suck. Please don't suck. Please don't suck.
Please make me a happy Sonic fan again.
@NightMystic: the original had 2 true directions of user movement left or right though you could jump, duck/look down, look up so technically as long as it has those elements it should success.
If this is bad like sonic 06 was this has to be the end of the line for this. I'm going to wet myself laughing if the werewolf segments do this in.
You wont just hold down "right" on the stick/d-pad anymore!
God I miss Sonic. It's like my life died when the 32x had that terrible terrible chaotix. Side note... The first Dreamcast Sonic was awesome.
*sigh*
I'm....I'm excited about that one. But...the history. My god the history.
@weeoo: His name will never be Robotnick either =P
I was kinda hoping Sonic Team weren't behind this, but hopefully they'll pull their weight this time.
How to do chaos? answer DS/PSP functionality. Do it!!!! I need to raise and Race chaos at work, and play memory and give them presents!!!!
I loved the original sonics and the Adventures/Advance/Rush Series... not so much the spin offs and the PS3/360 one. Sonic and the Secret Rings brought back the fast pace.
Werewolf... I guess everybody is doing something with wolves these days.
*goes to preorder Okami for the Wii off amazon* (can't believe i forgot)
@Derigor: Remote Play would probably work nicely with the PSP if it just moved the Chaos games over... The DS can adopt some Pokemon Battle Revolution connectivity via download play to do that... Wow... This might be awesome (Glares at the 360.)
What's up with the UNLEASHED posts today?
Sonic Unleashed, Force Unleashed, Any hope for a Nintendogs Unleashed or a Professor Layton Unleashed.
*Fingers crossed*
I haven't been this giddy for a Sonic game in a long time! Like, Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast-giddy or even Sonic & Knuckles for the Genesis-giddy. And while the werewolf concept is one to be left for skepticism I just hope it doesn't end up putting what seems to be a great Sonic game down the shithole.
@NightMystic:
That's what to expect, if you dislike that then obviously Sonic isn't for you.
@lilaliendog: look at what hondo is saying. Thats exactly the problem I'm fearing from this game. Yes the originals did have left and right movement and that was perfect. There was also jumping around and actually having control of Sonic himself. In the later versions it was all about speed. Yes Sonic is known for his speed, but i want to play as Sonic the Hedgehog, not watch him run across a screen and press the jump button to jump on a trampoline which will just send him flying into more watching and less playing.
Star Wars Unleashed, Sonic Unleashed.....
So Unleashed is the "Super" of the new dacade? Super Mario, Super Metroid, Super Street Fighter
I hope so! It will bring me many laughs...
Katamary Unleashed
Yoshi Unleashed
Needs more Sky Sanctuary rail grinding.
I wouldn't be blazing through pretty levels. This looks good.
@silenthill4vid: I loved the original Sonics on the genesis, but what followed was a mess.
The Sonic segments of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast were GREAT, FANTASTIC! Ever since ... not so much.
So, if this can recapture the magic of THOSE games (which, as much as I loved the Genesis games, I couldn't go back after the SA ones on the DC) then it will be a valued purchase for me come crowded late 2008.
And then I see the word 'werewolf' ........
@weeoo: EXACTLY
@Wyld: I'd play Yoshi Unleashed! That would be like a wii zapper update of Yoshi Safari.
Were-Sonic? 0_o
But I have say, that's a nice video. The "shorter" one didn't impress me, but that one definitely did.
@hondo: "im hondo, ive never played anything besides sonic rush/advanced."
first of all... as much as i LOVE the sonic rush/advanced games, thats a big minus for those games. you only hold forward and jump at random intervals. but go back and play sonic 3 or sonic and knuckles. LOTS of platforming. jumping up to catch this thing, push that thing, or break those things. although the 3d games are largely dismissed from older fans, they also have alot of platforming. actually too much platforming in my book (mainly because it isnt good platforming). now if they find a balance between super fast run and jump (in the latest 2d), and platform with terrible camera angles in 3d, it would be pefect.
anyone else that has played the rush series feel like THIS should have been called sonic rush adventure? it really looks like hes doing that speed burst that you constantly do in the rush series. me thinks sega realized that dimps had ppl defending the sonic series, while sonic team had ppl trashing it. so they got dimps to work with sonic team to show them how to make better 3d sonics.
This barely looks any different from Sonic Adventure. It's the same old thing of the level being extremely linear and propelling Sonic through gimmick after gimmick with very little player control.
@symeon6:
If it helps, I heard Rockstar is working on something called "Barbie Unleashed".
@Wyld:
lol.
That's what I was saying.
Wii Fit Unleashed!
Echochrome Unleashed!
WWF RAW Unleashed! Wait... that actually fits.
Wow, this one looks like a buy.
@SuperMaxZero: No that's "Barbie Leashed."
I dunno...I kinda like the sound of "Symeon6 Unleashed." I should change my user name.
I just wish they would be honest about naming Sonic games. Sonic Re-hashed is more accurate, I think.
@Wyld: I was thinking it was the new extreme. I assume misspelling will ensue with the next round of games, although I'm not entirely sure how they will do this. So you're probably right it is this generation's super.
god i hope they dont backtrack on the wii version for the sake of the ps2 version. if you made sonic and the secret rings, you can make this better than what seems like it will be a port. just fix the jumping mechanics please.