Sonic Unleashed

Cooljerk · Dec 14, 2008

So, not review bitching I promise, but IGN has a head to head comparison of all the versions of Unleashed available to insiders:

Since most don't have insider, here's what's said:

Content and Control
There are two prevailing gameplay styles across all versions of Sonic Unleashed. There are daytime levels where you'll steer Sonic through on-rails tracks focusing on ring collection, quick reactions, and enjoying the full-throttle Sonic experience the series is known for. Then there are the nighttime levels which have Sonic transforming into a slower Werehog who'll claw and brawl through a series of arenas and traditional platforming segments. In the PS3 and 360 version these two segments are connected by a hubworld in which Sonic, and his cuddly amnesiac friend Chip, talk to townfolk, collect hidden items and find portals to unlock new levels. The Wii and PS2 dispense with the 3D hubworld and offer a 2D map with conversation points featuring short dialogue boxes and a static 2D image of an NPC offering some friendly advice. The hubworld doesn't add much to the PS3 and 360 versions of the game, but having to fiddle around with 2D text boxes in between levels is tedious and disconnected. The PS3 version offers Trophy support to counter the 360's achievements.
The 360 and PS3 versions control equally well. You'll steer Sonic in the racing stages with the left stick, jump with the X/A button, perform homing attacks with the Square/X button, and slide under obstacles with the Circle/B button. You can also shift Sonic left or right with L1/R1 or the left and right bumpers. The game does a good job training players with an easy and unobtrusive tutorial stage, and you should be able to control Sonic with ease on both platforms. The Wii version offers the most variety in controls. You can play with the Wii remote and nunchuk, using the Classic controller, or with a good old GameCube controller for your diehards. The Wii and nunchuk configuration is fun during the racing levels. You'll steer with the analog stick, drift around tight turns (a la Mario Kart) with the Z button, and perform homing attacks with a simple but always satisfying shake of the Wii remote. During the Werehog sections of the game, you'll swing the remote and nunchuk to perform left paw and right paw attacks. This is initially fun, but quickly becomes repetitive since there isn't much variation in the core combat. Swinging the nunchuk to attack while also using the analog stick for movement can create some moderately frustrating moments as well. The PS2 version controls similarly to the PS3 and 360 versions.
Ultimately the PS3 and 360 versions offer a little more content with the 3D hubworlds and achievements/Trophies. The racing levels are most fun to control in the Wii version with the nifty waggle gesture for the homing attack, but the clunky gestural controls during the Werehog segments are more of a chore than the other versions. The PS3 and 360 versions offer the most consistent controls and the most content making them the winner in this category.

Overall

1. PS3 & Xbox 360
2. PS2
3. Wii

Presentation
Sonic Unleashed is a bright and cheery game with an impressive amount of environmental detail across all platforms. The different game environments are colorful and earnestly imaginative, spanning tropical islands and craggy Chinese-style mountain locales. The PS3 and 360 versions look terrific, but both have noticeable framerate issues that mar the otherwise terrific visuals. The 360 version runs most smoothly, but in the Werehog stages the engine chugs dramatically when more than seven or eight enemies are on screen at once. You'll frequently face off with 20 or more enemies at once and the framerate will drop noticeably, which can make it tough to properly time some of Sonic's combos. The PS3 version has the same framerate issues, but they happen even more frequently, sometimes even hitching as Sonic enters a new room, which I didn't experience at all in the 360 version. The PS3 version also has some hitching and dropped frames in the racing segments that didn't happen in the 360 version. Neither version is a shining example of framerate stability, but the 360 runs just a bit more smoothly. There is also no install on the PS3, in case you're averse to waiting the extra 5-10 minutes to start playing after you get your game.
The Wii version is the next best looking with a mostly steady framerate and some nicely detailed character models. Environments, especially the daytime racing stages, are big and detailed. Textures look pretty lackluster when you come to a full stop, but they present quite nicely in motion. The game is dramatically aliased, however, especially when playing in 480p. You'll see jaggies everywhere, which is disappointing. The PS2 version is a downscaled version of the Wii game. The character models are less detailed, the color palate is dull and muddy, and the aliasing issue is even worse. The PS2 version does support progressive scan, which is nice.
Aside from the hub world issue, the menu layouts are similar and intuitive across all versions. The Wii game allows you to use the Wii remote pointer to navigate menus, which is a nice touch. Ultimately, the 360 version looks and runs the best. The PS3 is pretty, but technically inconsistent. The Wii version looks decent for the system, but the jaggy image is a disappointment.

Overall

1. Xbox 360
2. PS3
3. Wii
4. PS2

The Verdict
Sonic Unleashed is a pretty similar experience across all four platforms. The racing sections are good fun in every version. It looks fantastic on the 360 and PS3, but controls best on Wii with the simple amusement of waggle homing attacks. The Werehog stages are equally plodding on all platforms, but the Wii version is the least enjoyable with its jumbled motion controls for melee attacks that exacerbates the repetitive nature of the combat.

The 360 version looks and runs the best. It offers the most consistently intuitive control scheme making it my choice for the overall best version. The PS3 version is the next best bet with the same great visuals and control scheme, but a much more variable framerate. The Wii version is fun and younger gamers might enjoy the motion controls in short bursts, but the less detailed visuals and inconsistent controls take it down a notch. The PS2 version controls as well as the 360 and PS3 games, but the visuals are a dramatic downgrade from the Wii version. Ultimately, the 360 version offers the most consistently rewarding and technically stable Sonic of them all.

Overall

1. Xbox 360
2. PS3
3. Wii
4. PS2
Click to expand...

To sum it up, they recommend the version they gave a 4.5 to over the version they gave a 7.2 to. Great consistency.

Hodgy · Dec 14, 2008

Urge to review bitch rising.............

That article is a bit hypocritical isn't it?

GeneHF are you ok?

You have been "replying" for the lsat Hour O.o

Sonic Warrior TJ · Dec 14, 2008

This obviously wasn't written by Goldstein.

How come nobody ever points out how expansive the Werehog's moveset is in the 360/PS3 version compared to the other two? I know I've just stood there in an Entrance Stage before playing with the X and Y buttons, and had a lot of...simple fun. Like "this is pretty neat" fun.

GeneHF · Dec 14, 2008

Hodgy said:

GeneHF are you ok?

You have been "replying" for the lsat Hour O.o
Click to expand...

Yeah, but something else more important came up that distracted me.

I was just going to ask if this was written by a member or one of the editors.

Shadix · Dec 14, 2008

I think that's the IGN Insider comparison article.

Cooljerk · Dec 14, 2008

It is. It's from IGN, not a member.

GeneHF · Dec 14, 2008

Good to see double standards are still as much a part of their creed as always, then.

Cooljerk · Dec 14, 2008

I'd say it's better to see at least recognition that the 360 version is indeed superior. All other reviews made it sound the opposite.

Ell678 · Dec 14, 2008

Anyone got an idea where to unlock the opening movie on the 360? Because the slot is there, and I really want to watch it again without restarting.

synchronizer · Dec 14, 2008

The opening movie? Go to windmill isle 2, and when you reach the last launcher that shoots you into a few robots before the last 2d to 3d shift which leads to a qte ramp, don't switch to 3d, instead, backtrack on the lowest level to get the video tape. Sorry for the lack of a better description, but these guys get the tape at around 5:38.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDC4lYiNUPc...re=channel_page

Authur · Dec 15, 2008

Cooljerk said:

I'd say it's better to see at least recognition that the 360 version is indeed superior. All other reviews made it sound the opposite.
Click to expand...

I'm just glad that ign isn't being a total dick this time. They sound like they actually sat down and played it! And if it's their opinion and you guys' opinion that the Xbox360 version is indeed superior, I'll probably cave in and agree, too. I just don't wanna play it on that system becuase I'm scared of it blowing up from the inside (aka red lights of death) again.

Endri · Dec 15, 2008

GeneHF said:

-Punch the meteors in the first part if they're directly in your path. This is especially true in the later two stages. They give enemy bonuses
Click to expand...

!O_O!

Today I replayed this battle to show to a friend of mine (got another S-rank by the way, hehe), but I kept breaking all the meteorites (and I mean a lot of then) in the third part, and, know how many enemy bonus points I got? Fucking 9000! No matter what I do I aways get those 9000! I died, and know how many enemy bonus points I got? Still fucking 9000! I'm starting to belive there is something wrong with my disk.

However that friend of mine teached something neat to me. In the Super Sonic battle he could beat those snake heads with just two blows! He just paraloop around the snake head thing, then, when he hits the snake thing Super Sonic deals half damage in the snake. After the recoil, he paraloops again and charge into the monster and it is done for. He also uses it to break the meteorites which are difficulting your path (!?).

The thing is, even he played, and still 9000 enemy bonus points... >_> However, in his home, in his console and in his disk, he could put together awesome 250.000 enemy bonus points!

Lobotomy · Dec 15, 2008

Can anyone tell me where the Third cutscene (Chip: "So this is what you really look like?") is?

Sokaris · Dec 15, 2008

It's in Rooftop Run, you have to grab it when you're free falling down that sewer opening.

Sonic Warrior TJ · Dec 15, 2008

Oh awesome, I needed that tape too. I just...never really cared enough to ask, I figured I'd come across it eventually. So thanks I guess.

corneliab · Dec 15, 2008

Ugh. I'm trying to get the secret video in Holoska, but my game keeps crashing when I'm giving Chip food. Anyone else having this problem?

GeneHF · Dec 15, 2008

Change locations. It happened to me in Mazuri recently. When I fed him in Adabat, though, it worked.

Also, no luck on finding Video Tape 27, anyone?

Lobotomy · Dec 15, 2008

GeneHF said:

Change locations. It happened to me in Mazuri recently. When I fed him in Adabat, though, it worked.

Also, no luck on finding Video Tape 27, anyone?
Click to expand...

I got it from the Empire City Reporter.

GeneHF · Dec 15, 2008

Already did that mission, didn't get it from her. To be more clear, the video should be called Holaskan Temple, or something.

RGX · Dec 15, 2008

Sorry to ask, but I'm missing 5 tapes. I can't seem to find them..

I'm missing 2 (#11,#12) between "Eggman Again" and "Temple activated!" and 3 (#27,#28,#29) between "A Monster On Ice" and "Chip's change".

Help would be appreciated.

Sonic Unleashed

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