Review of Sonic Unleashed

This is the version no one ever seems to talk about...the lowly PS2 port of Sonic Unleashed.

And, having never played the other versions, I must say I'm pretty impressed.Perhaps my lack of experience with the PS3 and Xbox versions allows me a truly unbiased perspective...allowing me to evaluate the PS2 on it's own merit.And, it has a lot of merit.

The daytime speed levels are really fun.Never before has a sonic game truly captured the feeling of BEING Sonic the hedgehog.Phases melt seamlessly into each other as first person perspective shifts to side view to front view and back.These levels have mastered the concept of "flow" that the original Genesis Sonic games made famous.

What many people don't seem to realize is that the controversial night levels (featuring Sonic the Werehog) are just as reminiscent of the old Genesis games as the daytime levels.NONE of the original 16-bit Sonic games was 100% speed.In fact, a large fraction ofthe average Sonic zone was PLATFORMING.And, that is precisely what the werehog levels offer.Platforming, puzzles, and some Streets of Rage style beat 'em up action.If games like God of War and Heavenly Sword can receive widespread acclaim, I don't see why the werehog levels should offend anyone...because they're the same thing.

Plus, the werehog levels provide balance for the frenetic pace of the speed levels.Just as the original 16-bit Sonic games were balanced between speed and platforming, Sonic Unleashed is balanced between daytime levels and night levels.This is nothing new people.I don't see why the official game reviews are so bothered by a concept introduced by Sonic the Hedghog 1: "balance".

The levels (both day time and night time) are well designed and engaging.Victory is very satisfying.Werehog levels, while slower than the speed levels, are not really THAT slow (he can run by double tapping a direction).The semi-frequent fights may become repetitive to some, but honestly, the Final Fight fan in me enjoyed them.

And, besides, if you absolutely HATE the werehog levels, you only have to play them once.After encountering a stage, you are free to choose it again from the menu.So, feel free to replay those unlocked daytime stages exclusively.Even alone they're worth the price of admission.

Bottom line:The game is fun.Colorful and energetic, while paced between high speed excitement and methodical exploration.

An impressive PS2 game.And, hopefully (if enough people give the game a try) this will be the first step towards Sonic's long overdue rebirth.



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