Sonic Unleashed confirmed

By Oli Welsh Published 3 April, 2008

"2D gameplay" on 360, Wii, PS3 and PS2.

Sega has confirmed the leaks and backed up its lawyers by officially announcing its next major Sonic the Hedgehog title: Sonic Unleashed.

Sonic Unleashed is being developed by Sonic Team, and will be released late this year for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2. It features "classic Sonic 2D gameplay" rendered by the all-new Hedgehog engine, which apparently excels at seamless 3D to 2D camera transitions. Observe them in the official, non-leaked, absolutely watertight video.

The engine's been under development for three years, with the intention of blending a next-generation look with classic Sonic gameplay mechanics. Purists rejoice. We certainly are: it looks lovely.

It wouldn't be a Sonic game without a gimmick of some kind, however, and we're promised a "completely new way to play as Sonic" when darkness sets in - lending more than a little weight to the earlier claims that he would transform into a werewolf. Combat will play a much more important role - in the werewolf sections, we're betting - while Sonic's more traditional high-speed skills will be featured in four new modes.

The plot's pretty simple: Dr Eggman has broken the world apart, and Sonic must travel around the seven broken continents, sticking it back together with Chaos Emerald power.

It all sounds appealingly old-school. Consider us cautiously optimistic, and watch out for more details on Sonic Unleashed in the coming months.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (40) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • Arcadiian #1 4 years ago

    "Consider us cautiously optimistic"

    /same.

  • kissthestick #2 4 years ago

    No dreamcast port? :(

  • jambii267 #3 4 years ago

    Sonic and The Secret Rings was awful, here's hoping this one would actually be good.

    Why can't they just make a completely 2D game with lovely 3D graphics?

    Edited by 1 at 03/04/08 @ 16:35

  • DonnieDarko333 #4 4 years ago

    I'm going say it will be brilliant, other then the controls...

  • Waffleaber #5 4 years ago

    Optimism +1

  • The-Bodybuilder #6 4 years ago

    I'm cautiously optimistic too.
    But werewolf sonic? I thought that was called "shadow"?
    Edited by 1 at 03/04/08 @ 16:48

  • monkie_king #7 4 years ago

    'But werewolf sonic? I thought that was called "shaodw"?'

    Shaodw the Hedgeohg?

  • Eighthours #8 4 years ago

    The werewolf idea is quite honestly the shittest thing I've ever heard in my entire life. Anyone seen the concept art for it? Horrendous beyond belief. With that kind of design sensibility across the project, I'm expecting it to be just as horrible as the other recent games.

    I hope I'm wrong...

  • The-Bodybuilder #9 4 years ago

    No need to say it twice, monkie.

    Oh, and shaodw was shadow's south-african cousin.

  • jonsaan #10 4 years ago

    Every time there is a new sonic game (handheld versions aside) we get this promise of a return to the roots of the series. Still, 2d is the way to go, but I won't hold my breath.

  • Vivid #11 4 years ago

    Awesome, so after eleven years they've managed to discover this: [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=eBMq9lprfNM
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=eBMq9lprfNM
    [/link]

    Well done Sega!

  • Kami #12 4 years ago

    The werewolf thing is just a disaster waiting to happen if true. I dunno. Am I the only person who wouldn't mind, for example, a PROPER werewolf game? With day/night transitions and the like? Why shoehorn in something like this into the Sonic universe?

    Still, going back to the old style Klonoa and Pandemonium used is a step in the correct diraction, because whilst Sonic Adventure (and SA2) we're perfectly acceptible games, the collision detection in them and then subsequently the later god-awful attempts was utterly terrible. If you can't iron out the faults in collision detection in such a way then it's best to keep the directional controls as basic as is humanly possible, hence going back to a 2D plain.

    But colour me interested at least, it's possible it could be pretty bloody awesome. This werewolf thing however leaves a huge amount of doubt though...

  • HyperShadow #13 4 years ago

    Werewolf angle NOT NEEDED! The original Sonic games didn't need a gimmick, this one shouldn't.

    Gimmicks have run the Sonic brand into the ground, so a gimmick isn't going to bring it back.

  • Dabs #14 4 years ago

    I wish they'd change his name back to Dr. Robotnik already - Eggman sounds crap.

  • kungphu #15 4 years ago

    I want to be cautiously optimistic, but most sonic games of late have been a let down

  • convercide #16 4 years ago

    I. HAVE. JUST. ORGASMED.THIS. IS. WHAT. I'VE. WANTED. FOR. OVER. TEN. YEARS.

    I'm really quite excited.

  • mcmonkeyplc #17 4 years ago

    Please work!

  • Eighthours #18 4 years ago

    I wish they'd change his name back to Dr. Robotnik already - Eggman sounds crap.

    Yep, it sounds awful.

  • dirigiblebill #19 4 years ago

    It features "classic Sonic 2D gameplay" rendered by the all-new Hedgehog engine, which apparently excels at seamless 3D to 2D camera transitions.

    They've finally got it. Took 'em fucking long enough :D

    EDIT: On the other hand, I note that the stupid rail-grinding has found its way into Unleashed.
    Edited by 1 at 03/04/08 @ 17:53

  • Shrike #20 4 years ago

    It could be worse. He could turn into Big the Cat. Or Tails.

  • FenderMaster #21 4 years ago

    ive said it before, and i'll say it again

    old school sonic games were platformers first

    new sonic games are just rollercoaster rides

    this is not a return to classic sonic gameplay, this is just transposing sonic rush to 3d and adding in a bit of sonic and the secret rings

  • WinterSnowblind #22 4 years ago

    Exactly! People seem to miss the fact the old Sonic games were good because of the platform elements and level design. Where did the idea come from that these games should just focus on speed? Sonic Rush and the Rivals game involve almost nothing beyond hold right, and hoping you don't fall down a hole. It really just isn't any fun, and this doesn't look any better.

  • Kami #23 4 years ago

    I agree - Robotnik is much better, I mean, it's Kintobor backwards, when the good Dr Ovi Kintobor had a little lab accident with a rotten egg he became the evil Dr Ivo Robotnik. Eggman could be a clever little pun, but it's NOT his name and that should be made perfectly clear.

    I'd like to see a Sonic game where we revisit some of the old levels though. The older games had some wonderful highlights and would be nice to see them again... if SEGA can manage not to cock it up.

  • FenderMaster #24 4 years ago

    @ WinterSnowblind

    its the press and the fans, they know the sonic series has gone in the wrong direction, but cant put their finger on just what has changed, so they just say needs more speed/less characters

    most people also seem to be under the illusion that if its 2D it will have classic sonic gameplay

    like you said, the series really needs to return to its platforming roots, with great level design, and a proper sense of momentum

  • CallousB #25 4 years ago

    I have yet to play a Sonic game I thought was decent..be it 2d or 3d. They were simply popular due to the character being seen as a cool alternative to Mario IMO. Gameplay was always lacking.

  • Aretak #26 4 years ago

    "Robotnik is much better, I mean, it's Kintobor backwards, when the good Dr Ovi Kintobor had a little lab accident with a rotten egg he became the evil Dr Ivo Robotnik."

    None of that's actually canon though. It was all dreamed up by Sonic the Comic.

  • ianegg #27 4 years ago

    First Secret of the Rings and now this. It's probably going to suck, but it's a another step in the right direction in which they finally seem to be heading. Can't wait! :)

  • FooAtari #28 4 years ago

    "classic Sonic 2D gameplay"

    Heard that one before...

    I've been burned to many times. This game official sucks until I play it and am proven wrong.


    Things Sega need to do though.

    NO SHITTY NEW CHARACTERS!
    They always suck. Tails is an annoying twat and they have sucked ever since.

    Ditch the cheesy rock tracks.

    And its Dr Robotnik. I don't give a toss what he is called in Japan Dr Eggman sounds bloody stupid.


  • IneptPercy #29 4 years ago

    I am looking forward to this :-)

  • smelly #30 4 years ago

    This looks ace.

    But then so did the wii "rings" game in trailers :-)


    Cant really see it running at this speed on the ps3 either :-)

    (JOKE!)

  • The-Bodybuilder #31 4 years ago

    >"The original Sonic games didn't need a gimmick, this one shouldn't. "

    Like super sonic? Or sonic with tails or knuckles? Those kind of gimmicks (that everyone liked?)
    Sonic games (other than the original) have all had a gimmick in some shape or form, but they tended to be good (well, it looke good when you're between 5-10 years old).
    Edited by 1 at 03/04/08 @ 22:43

  • Nithron #32 4 years ago

    What really amazes me, is that the Sonic/Shadow, fast-action platforming in Sonic Adventure 2 was absolutely superb. But for some absurd reason, since then, they've constantly fiddled with it in different ways and every single time it's been bloody shite.

    First it was guns, now it's werewolves. What the hell, Sega? Why can't you just produce a whole game using the same mechanics as Sonic Adventure 2?

  • ElephantMonkey #33 4 years ago

    Ohh come on! Why the werewolf ?! They should have just gone with Super Sonic sections. Old School all the way!

  • Nikanoru #34 4 years ago

    Why can't they just make a completely 2D game with lovely 2D graphics?


    Fixed. ;D

  • Freek #35 4 years ago

    We were all wondering it: "could this be the one? How can they possibly mess this up?" Well, now we know: werewolf.

  • Zomoniac #36 4 years ago

    FUCKING HELL! Given that the GBA and DS Sonics were shite, why is this going to be good just because it's in 2D. The beauty of Sonic is the level design. Always was. Sonic 1 and 2 had it. Adventure had it, and small sections of Adventure 2 had it. They proved with Adventure that they were capable of making a masterpiece of a 3D Sonic game, as even the odd technical camera glitch couldn't detract from the flawless design of Emerald Coast, Speed Highway, Twinkle Park and the Lost World. Because the levels were so great (and the controls worked, that also helped, unlike the 360 game), even the gimmicky stuff worked. I've played through as all 7 characters at least 10 times and loved all of it.

    Ditch Shadow, Rouge, guns, vehicles, load times and any attempt to made badass characters and spend the leftover time on designing better levels, making it faster and fixing the camera.

  • rudedudejude #37 4 years ago

    Secret Rings was awful +1

    Ahhh Rail grinding! Sonic Hawk it should be called!

  • japstersam #38 4 years ago

    who knows, could be good.
    best thing about old school sonic was just legging it through the level and it then you'd randomly hit somebouncy thing/fall in water/hit a ramp and end up doing a level any 1 out of 100 ways, and when something stopped you you just wanted to get going fast again, but the speed wasnt too insane...this one looks....fast!
    wearwolves = gay but as long as they dont change the gameplay too much, might be cool. i thought sonic and knuckles was ace..

  • TexMurphy01 #39 4 years ago

    You've burned me, Sega, with your shite new characters and shitty soft rock tracks. You expect that I'll come back to you just because you bring out another one?

    Yeah, I know, I will be reading the reviews with great interest when they come.

  • m0thr4 #40 4 years ago

    As a hardocre fan of the first 3 games, plus Sonic & Knuckles, I'm pessimistic about this game until convinced otherwise. Here's why:

    1. Sonic may still speak in this new game... with that horribly annoying voice.
    2. There may still be human beings... oh the sacrilege!
    3. There may be free-roaming 3D adventure bits... yuk!
    4. I can already see some pointless rail-grinding sections....
    5. ... and yet I don't see any of the slower, ingenious platforming gameplay you got in the Scrap Brain Zone, Marble Zone or the other Sonic levels that weren't all about speed.
    4. With the 'saving the world' theme, the levels probably won't have that abstract cartoon-like quality of the original games... which I liked
    5. Good grief... let's hope none of those other redundant characters make an appearance (yes, not even Tails).
    6. Let's hope the music is more like the original and less of that High School Japanese Guitar Rock that cursed the more recent games.

    So I'm yet to be convinced.

    EDIT: Oh, and reading some of the above comments about level design in the first Sonic games literally brought a tear to my eye. Nice to know there are some people here who ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND what was so good about the original Sonic games.

    /sniff, wipes tear away and runs off upstairs to bawl eyes out ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 06/04/08 @ 14:33