Sonic Unleashed

Sonic is a game series which I very much loved as a child, and the best attraction the Sega Master System and Mega Drive had in their line up. Since then however, the games Sonic Team have provided us with what can at best be described as unfulfilling and at worst as gimmicky, childish and poorly designed attempts to flog a long dead horse. You can imagine my excitement, then, when I read that Sonic would be going back to basics with this latest instalment in the franchise, and that we would see arguably the most popular blue hedgehog of the ‘90s racing at high speeds in mostly 2D levels. This is what made Sonic popular in the first place and is the way the designers should push it.

      To begin with, I was treated with a CGI intro which left me with a slight case of drop-jaw. It featured Sonic chasing Dr. Robotnik….I mean “Eggman” through his space ship as his normal self then as Super Sonic and if you watch this on a HD console you stand the risk of your controller being destroyed by drool. Needless to say this set my expectations fairly high for the game, and oh how disappointed I was.

      In its defence, he aforementioned sections which involve Sonic running through 3D and 2D planes are fantastic. The graphics are lush and colourful and the pace at which Sonic can run makes for some outstanding gameplay. It’s an experience which could probably be replicated by driving a Formula One car while under the influence of LSD. I am fully serious when I say that daytime Sonic was one of the video game characters I had the most fun playing in the last year. The only complaints in this regard is the fact that it sometimes feels that you’re not always ‘in control’ of him, rather you’re just watching him run. Also, the speed of this gameplay along with the lives system does not really work when you start incorporating ice levels and other hazards, as you will die very frequently. Overall, however, this aspect of gameplay is extremely enjoyable.

      Which is why I say to Sonic Team: why? Why, after designing half the perfect Sonic game, did you decide to completely destroy the formula with the so called “WereHog” levels? This is the ‘Unleashed’ aspect of the game, where Sonic transforms into a half hedgehog, half wolf and ends any fun you may have been having as normal Sonic. The name itself is a blunder, ‘werehog’ means ‘man-hog’, however it seems no one told Sega. These levels involve furry Sonic fighting weirdly coloured enemies in a method suspiciously like that of Kratos from God of War (the extendable blades replaced with stretchy arms). This gameplay is terrible. The fixed camera makes platforming impossible, the quick time event’s are too quick and it serves simply to slow down the game. The only positive of this Sonic is the fact that you can make him run like a dog, he still runs too slow but it’s funny the first time.

      The horrible WereHog levels, combined with the age it takes to find the actual levels and the horribly cheesy and immature dialogue ruin a game which had so much potential. Had this game just been the normal Sonic levels I would have praised it endlessly. But no, the ‘fun’ part of this game is outweighed by unnecessary filler which is just pure drivel. When will Sega realise that if they remove the gimmicks Sonic games can be really enjoyable? The next game sees him fighting knights with a sword, so it won’t be that soon. As for this one? Avoid.

4/10