Sonic Unleashed

Nope, wii version doesn't let you change language to jap. Unless when the text switched the voices did too, but I didn't check, because the text would have got me lost trying to change it back to English D:


The iso has the Jap voices in it though, and videos, so maybe it switches the whole game to jap.

 

I'd love to say get the Wii version after seeing the gameplay videos, but at around $50 I can't recommend it. If it was $30 or a little less I would.

Incidentally that's the issue that I have with score-based game reviews -- they don't necessarily factor in the price of a certain game. Unlike with a movie review where a ticket is a ticket and the only difference is the length of a movie and its actual quality, a game costs different depending on certain factors. I could go on but I don't want to.

I'm just wondering what, besides the fact that there's a huge market share and they want as much money as they can get, would require the Wii version to be so much more expensive than the PS2 version -- especially consdering PS2 sales are high in general inasmuch as it's a long-lasting system that still sells.

However, the game is pretty stable and seems to be very low on the death pits compared to the other titles. They have improved some things. I even think the night gameplay looks pretty fun overall, even though it doesn't lend itself well to an exciting gameplay video*, though I will agree there seems to be too much of it.
* For once the game seems to be low on cinematics, something Iizuka seemed to abuse. Made the game fun to watch sometimes, though, if not play.

 

After playing the wii version a while, I think I'd compare it to Mario Sunshine. That is, there are some levels that are holy fucking awesome that, if expanded into a full game, would be excellent ("the secret of" levels in mario sunshine, daytime levels in Sonic unleashed). But unfortunately, just like in Mario Sunshine, there is an overwhelming abundance of levels that aren't bad (they're good, actually), but just don't hold a candle to the awesome levels.

I'm anticipating the 360 version, though. My line of reasoning is that, if Dimps couldn't even complete the MAIN daytime levels, then I doubt they had much time to create interesting sublevels. In other words, I think the 360 version will include a lot more day-time sonic.

 

After seeing several movies from both versions, it's starting to feel that the PS2/Wii and PS3/360 are almost as different as Sonic The Hedgehog for the Sega Master System and for the Sega Genesis. The simple fact that there are two countries missing (I'd count Mazuri as missing since a boss fight hardly counts) and that the daytime levels are all severally lacking in terms of designs and gameplay is really disappointing. I'm starting to think that even though I only own a Wii, I won't even bother with the inferior version when a superior one exists, especially if it's sold at 50$ like most new Wii games.

 

Most likely the Xbox 360 and Ps3 are given more attention (something like what a certain someone said like 5 or 7 times.) because of the hedgehog engine. Since they're trying to make something which they could sell to make money depending on how well it works, of course they would give more attention to the versions using the engine rather than the ones that aren't using it. Another reason could be how some game developers doubt the engine power of the Wii.

Let's hope that next Sonic game they won't make versions that you'll have one thing, but miss a ton of better stuff.

 

Actually, I'm kind of curious if the PS2 version also has Japanese audio in it, but unaccessable... Which'll be weird considering it was never planned for a Japanese release.

 

Destructiod is going to be talking about Sonic Unleashed in their "Retroforce GO!" podcast, including Jim Sterling (I think that's his name) who has actually played the 360 version. I'm listening to it now.

 

The ADX files that are easily accessible from the BGM menu include a bunch of tracks that are English and used in game (Chip's Tips, Sonic's Ejaculations, Robotnik's Curses, etc.) but don't seem to have a Japanese language equivalent as well. Therefore I think that I'm going to have to say no on that one, which while unfortunate seems fairly understandable.

 

The game is a lot more momentum based than people give it credit for. In classic sonic games, you built speed by strategically rolling in correct spots and letting the gravity take over.

This still feels present in the game, but works a bit differently. Rather than gravity pulling you down, you're working with the boost to create forward momentum. A lot of the better platforming bits are built off this forward momentum. For example, there are a lot of parts where you have to slide correctly or hurl yourself off the right spot to thrust yourself onto a correctly placed spring. Where as in the classic sonic games you'd press down to roll into a ball at the right time to crash through a wall, now you're pressing the crouch button at the right time to slide through a low pass.

 

I don't believe SEGA ever announced anything remotely suggesting future plans to license Hedgehog Engine.

 

They advertised the crap out of it and gave a presentation about it at this Japanese game developer convention thing. I'm pretty sure that they're going to be licensing it.

 

THe Wii is essentially a tweaked gamecube so they're right to.

 

Good, maybe some other group will make an all Sonic game.

 

Don't forget that outsourced Sonic games include Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic 2 GG, Sonic Advance 2, Sonic Chronicles, and now Unleashed Wii. I don't think some random gaming company -- even a high profile one -- could do it.

The only company I would dare trust with Sonic IMO would be Namco, because Yasuhara works there and because they've got the team that did Klonoa, both of which make me think that they could do a good Sonic game in a style similar to Unleashed's day stages.

Hal, responsible for Brawl? Don't make me laugh -- the resulting game would be on the order of Heroes, from my impressions of Brawl, right down to the uncreative reuse of areas in SSE, even if it was pretty. Also there'd be a bunch of features that everyone would hate in both concept and execution (even the critics of modern Sonic games will often admit the ideas are good, just poorly executed).

Konami? They would try too hard to stick to the formula and as a result the game they'd give would be very similar to the original, but there wouldn't be anything notable about it either. It would probably end up even lower profile than Pocket Adventure. This is of course assuming that they pull it off well; don't forget that Castlevania, though it hasn't changed much, has probably seen better days.

Nintendo? Maybe, at least they'd be a reasonable choice after Namco. I'll concede that.

 

Some on NeoGAF got the game early (pretty common, your Walmart might have it right now if you're on the west coast). Copypsta from Sonic Stadium:

Wow, not one but two people on GAF who aren't Nintendrones.

And my dream team would be the current one, only Yasuhara is either the director or lead designer. If Yasuhara becomes the Director, the current director could be the lead programmer. I have to be honest, I haven't seen anything out of Namco in a while. Tetsuya Mizuguchi should design the Special Stage.

From what I've seen, 3D is rather limited in this game, so I'm hoping that for the next game they carefully add more stuff to do within the 3D sections. It seems to me that it's not a good idea to try and create a Sonic game with no 2D elements whatsoever.

 

yes, the games need some yasuhara treatment again. That guys incredible design abilities knew how to make a good game.

 

I'm just going to say right now that I highly doubt this engine will ever be used by anyone who isn't making a Sonic game... And in the off chance that they are actually going to try to license it to other developers, if the review scores don't start perking up, I doubt the prospects will be that great.

 

So someone with the 360 version has said that it's more balanced with about 50-50 werehog and sonic levels. He's played 6 levels so far and they've been:

sonic
sonic
werehog
werehog
sonic
werehog

That's extremely good news if true.

 

Extremely is a bit much. Good news sure. But just because the giant gorilla in the room only takes up half the room instead of 70% of the room doesn't mean you can just ignore the giant gorilla in the room.

 

Thank god. The pacing in the WiiS2 version was ludicrous. Hour long tutorial sequence, one short Sonic level, then like four werehog stages and a boss.

Not to mention the level design looks horrendous and empty in said version. Makes Knuckles Chaotix's levels seem like Grand Central Station.

This is great news, I'm very enthused by it. I like the Werehog gameplay, but not in such a ridiculous ratio. This is good news, balanced out even further by the non-linear nature of the PS360 version and better level design.