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IGN Sonic Unleashed Blog: Hedgehog Engine
- Thread starter ShadiWulf
- Start date
Sega1991 said:
I agree, but I also agree with all of your reservations about the game that you posted earlier. I fear that those will get in the way of this being a good game.
The "gameplay" seems to get more and more passive. Though I'd like to see a traditional 3D Sonic title...taking him into a different direction wasn't my main problem, it was the fact that the games ended up sucking. And so if they went back to his roots, I'm sure the game would be fantastic.
I know magazine scans aren't allowed to be posted so ill just give some quick quotes
"This is the most fun we've had with Sonic in years" - Official XBOX Magazine UK
"Could this be the first 3D Sonic game that isn't utterly dreadful?" - Official XBOX Magazine UK
"Will this be a true return to form for the blue blur, Sonic?" - Gamesmaster
"This is the most fun we've had with Sonic in years" - Official XBOX Magazine UK
"Could this be the first 3D Sonic game that isn't utterly dreadful?" - Official XBOX Magazine UK
"Will this be a true return to form for the blue blur, Sonic?" - Gamesmaster
BlazeHedgehog
Member
Zen said:
Eh, I dunno if you're insane. Did you ever see the Shenmue Saturn video? That's supposedly running in real-time on a stock Sega Saturn. Looks leagues better (visually) than anything on the PS1 or N64, if you ask me. Burning Rangers also looked pretty impressive.
The Saturn was a beast but it was extremely difficult to tap in to that power. Games later in its lifecycle (Shining Force 3) actually started using things like the sound processor to help with GPU stuff.
Hitlersaurus Christ
Banned
you know, I actually recall hearing that Sonic Adventure, which was orinally a Saturn game, was based in the Sonic Jam engine.
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
ShadiWulf said:
I hope they put that one on the boxart.
Guybrush Threepwood
Banned
ShadiWulf said:
Okay, WHAT THE FUCK
Crumpet Trumpet
Banned
"Will this be a true return to form for the blue blur, Sonic?" - Gamesmaster
I swear, if I hear this phrase one more time, I'm gonna bust a nut (or something to that effect). They use that phrase for every game after Sonic Heroes :lol
I swear, if I hear this phrase one more time, I'm gonna bust a nut (or something to that effect). They use that phrase for every game after Sonic Heroes :lol
Aaron Strife
Banned
To be fair, here are all of the Sonic games that were released on Microsoft consoles:Guybrush Threepwood said:
- Sonic Heroes
- Sonic Mega Collection Plus
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Sonic Riders
- Sonic the Hedgehog
A staff for an Xbox exclusive magazine probably hasn't had the most enjoyable experience with 3D Sonic games.
Death_Born
Banned
It's unbelievable how much wrong can be contained in a single sentence.
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
I'm not sure why you guys are shocked by that quote. They aren't the only ones who view all the 3D Sonic games are pure awful. And these criticisms honestly aren't without merit either.
youngleaves
Banned
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/923/923923p1.html
Sonic Unleashed UK Hands-on
Is Sonic's return going to make us blue again? Hands-on with the near final build.
by Martin Robinson, IGN UK
UK, October 28, 2008 - You have to feel for SEGA's spiky blue mascot – the days when he went toe-to-toe with Mario for the crown of console king are drifting further and further away, and while Nintendo's moustached wonder continues to be the embodiment of platforming finesse, Sonic's been subjected to a seemingly endless procession of humiliations.
A nadir was well and truly reached with 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog, an unmitigated disaster of a game that managed to be both stupendously dull – thanks to its archane hub world – and stupendously brutal, thanks to one of the most disobedient cameras ever to grace a 3D game. If that wasn't enough to sully the hedgehog's once good name, its plot also made a truly regrettable detour into the realms of bestiality.
In using pseudo-2D, Sonic Team has recaputred the series' magic.
Of course it's not merely a case of abject misery for Sonic, but flashes of his former glory have been all too fleeting of late, coming only briefly in the likes of Wii outing Sonic and The Secret Rings and the consistently excellent Sonic Rush games on the DS. It's a good job, then, that it's from these games that Sonic Unleashed, the hedgehog's latest outing, is taking many of its cues, serving a generous helping of the fast-paced thrills that helped define the series.
At its best, Sonic Unleashed makes good on its promise of delivering a return to the series' heyday, chiefly in the game's spectacular platform dashes. Gone is the errant camera that muddied the last HD outing, replaced by a dynamic perspective that's got far more in common with the one used to such good effect in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sticking closely to the hedgehog's behind, it's remarkably well-behaved and does an excellent job of keeping up with the action, as Sonic blasts his way through levels that stay true to the series' remit of azure skies and vibrant backdrops.
While the action by and large takes place in three dimensions, occasionally the camera will swoop to a pseudo-2D view, and it's here that the game most closely resembles the Sonic Rush series – and considering the DS games' calibre such borrowings can only be encouraged.
In returning to a fast and simple approach, Sonic Unleashed shares more DNA with racing games than it does traditional platformers. A boost ability that's topped up by collecting rings accentuates this, acting as an accelerator for Sonic as he picks his way through the levels. The frantic dashes from point to point are broken up by a light sprinkling of platforming, as well as a little dose of Quick Time events that facilitate some of the larger leaps. What's most impressive is the speed at which Sonic attacks each stage – yes, we know Sonic games are meant to be fast, but they haven't displayed this kind of pace for some time.
If we were feeling mean spirited we'd blast the platforming for being a little too prescribed, but it's hard to think ill of the game when it manages to be so evocative of some of the series crowning moments.
Mazuri makes good on the promise of the first trailer, marking a return to Sonic's roots.
The locales which host the platforming sections are many and varied, taking real-life locations as a starting point for some spectacular levels. From Africa to Italy, each one exudes its own character, punctuated by set-pieces that go from a breathtaking freefall to skating down the back of a winding dragon. It all looks absolutely gorgeous throughout as well, the previously reported frame-rate issues having been deftly dealt with, and the scenery rushing forwards at a steady 30 frames per second.
So, is Sonic Unleashed set to be the full-on revival that fans have been waiting for? Unfortunately, for all the promise of the platforming sections, it's still looking hobbled in a number of key areas. Firstly, the often interminable hub world that's been a blight on Sonic games since its introduction in Sonic Adventure returns, and though we caught only the briefest of glimpses of this section it feels as unwelcome as ever. At least the populace has lost its eerily realistic features that proved so disturbing in Sonic 360, being painted here in a more exaggerated fashion that makes the character's presence a little less jarring. Regardless, the backtracking and mindless conversations with non-playable characters are still nothing more than a hindrance to the action.
Chun-nan features a jet-set tour of the Great Wall of China.
And then, of course, there's the combat sections. Having bewitched fans with initial trailers of the stellar platforming, expectation was soon dulled by the revelation of the werehog, Sonic's feral alter-ego that stars in the game's nocturnal levels. In practice it's not quite the disaster we feared, with the brawling proving competent if never sparkling, Sonic disposing of an endless parade of enemies with deft combinations and QTE triggered finishing moves. Think of it as God of War lite – a concession to Sonic's younger audience, it's nevertheless a strange change of pace that's sure to form a weak point in the overall package for more aged fans.
But with the core platforming looking so assured – and we're told by SEGA that these sections will form the bulk of the game – it seems that Sonic's detour into brawler territory won't be enough to taint what's set to be a return to grace for the hedgehog. Sonic's not yet ready just yet to reclaim his former crown, but from our experience with Sonic Unleashed he's certainly looking to be fighting fit again.
Sonic Unleashed UK Hands-on
Is Sonic's return going to make us blue again? Hands-on with the near final build.
by Martin Robinson, IGN UK
UK, October 28, 2008 - You have to feel for SEGA's spiky blue mascot – the days when he went toe-to-toe with Mario for the crown of console king are drifting further and further away, and while Nintendo's moustached wonder continues to be the embodiment of platforming finesse, Sonic's been subjected to a seemingly endless procession of humiliations.
A nadir was well and truly reached with 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog, an unmitigated disaster of a game that managed to be both stupendously dull – thanks to its archane hub world – and stupendously brutal, thanks to one of the most disobedient cameras ever to grace a 3D game. If that wasn't enough to sully the hedgehog's once good name, its plot also made a truly regrettable detour into the realms of bestiality.
In using pseudo-2D, Sonic Team has recaputred the series' magic.
Of course it's not merely a case of abject misery for Sonic, but flashes of his former glory have been all too fleeting of late, coming only briefly in the likes of Wii outing Sonic and The Secret Rings and the consistently excellent Sonic Rush games on the DS. It's a good job, then, that it's from these games that Sonic Unleashed, the hedgehog's latest outing, is taking many of its cues, serving a generous helping of the fast-paced thrills that helped define the series.
At its best, Sonic Unleashed makes good on its promise of delivering a return to the series' heyday, chiefly in the game's spectacular platform dashes. Gone is the errant camera that muddied the last HD outing, replaced by a dynamic perspective that's got far more in common with the one used to such good effect in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sticking closely to the hedgehog's behind, it's remarkably well-behaved and does an excellent job of keeping up with the action, as Sonic blasts his way through levels that stay true to the series' remit of azure skies and vibrant backdrops.
While the action by and large takes place in three dimensions, occasionally the camera will swoop to a pseudo-2D view, and it's here that the game most closely resembles the Sonic Rush series – and considering the DS games' calibre such borrowings can only be encouraged.
In returning to a fast and simple approach, Sonic Unleashed shares more DNA with racing games than it does traditional platformers. A boost ability that's topped up by collecting rings accentuates this, acting as an accelerator for Sonic as he picks his way through the levels. The frantic dashes from point to point are broken up by a light sprinkling of platforming, as well as a little dose of Quick Time events that facilitate some of the larger leaps. What's most impressive is the speed at which Sonic attacks each stage – yes, we know Sonic games are meant to be fast, but they haven't displayed this kind of pace for some time.
If we were feeling mean spirited we'd blast the platforming for being a little too prescribed, but it's hard to think ill of the game when it manages to be so evocative of some of the series crowning moments.
Mazuri makes good on the promise of the first trailer, marking a return to Sonic's roots.
The locales which host the platforming sections are many and varied, taking real-life locations as a starting point for some spectacular levels. From Africa to Italy, each one exudes its own character, punctuated by set-pieces that go from a breathtaking freefall to skating down the back of a winding dragon. It all looks absolutely gorgeous throughout as well, the previously reported frame-rate issues having been deftly dealt with, and the scenery rushing forwards at a steady 30 frames per second.
So, is Sonic Unleashed set to be the full-on revival that fans have been waiting for? Unfortunately, for all the promise of the platforming sections, it's still looking hobbled in a number of key areas. Firstly, the often interminable hub world that's been a blight on Sonic games since its introduction in Sonic Adventure returns, and though we caught only the briefest of glimpses of this section it feels as unwelcome as ever. At least the populace has lost its eerily realistic features that proved so disturbing in Sonic 360, being painted here in a more exaggerated fashion that makes the character's presence a little less jarring. Regardless, the backtracking and mindless conversations with non-playable characters are still nothing more than a hindrance to the action.
Chun-nan features a jet-set tour of the Great Wall of China.
And then, of course, there's the combat sections. Having bewitched fans with initial trailers of the stellar platforming, expectation was soon dulled by the revelation of the werehog, Sonic's feral alter-ego that stars in the game's nocturnal levels. In practice it's not quite the disaster we feared, with the brawling proving competent if never sparkling, Sonic disposing of an endless parade of enemies with deft combinations and QTE triggered finishing moves. Think of it as God of War lite – a concession to Sonic's younger audience, it's nevertheless a strange change of pace that's sure to form a weak point in the overall package for more aged fans.
But with the core platforming looking so assured – and we're told by SEGA that these sections will form the bulk of the game – it seems that Sonic's detour into brawler territory won't be enough to taint what's set to be a return to grace for the hedgehog. Sonic's not yet ready just yet to reclaim his former crown, but from our experience with Sonic Unleashed he's certainly looking to be fighting fit again.
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
Dude, check the thread before you post. Specifically 3 posts above yours in this caseTeknoman said:
As for the preview:
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
Teknoman said:
Pros -- It's not going to be as awful and sad as Sonic 2006. Then again I don't think anyone was expecting that anyway.
Cons -- All our worst fears are being confirmed.
grandjedi6 said:Pros -- It's not going to be as awful and sad as Sonic 2006. Then again I don't think anyone was expecting that anyway.
Cons -- All our worst fears are being confirmed.
I just hope the PS3 version doesnt suffer from framerate drops and the game doesnt have abnormally long load times.
Fixed. This could be at the very least the best 3D sonic since Sonic Adventure 2, which will be good enough for some (like me) but not good enough for others (almost everyone else).grandjedi6 said:Pros -- It's not going to be as awful and sad as Sonic 2006, Shadow the Hedgehog or Sonic Heroes.
(some would argue that Secret Rings was the last decent sonic 3D game, but personally it drove me up the wall with frustration. Unleashed looks like it has taken elements from that and improved them a good deal, namely by letting you STOP).
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
Any news of a demo?
Sonic Adventure's hub was actually pretty bad. You should go back and try it again without Dreamcast launch goggles on. I played SA2 and then SA1. SA1 was a terrible game. SA2 I liked. Yes, I didn't even mind the Knuckles/Rogue levels. I was more disappointed in the Tails/Eggman levels actually as Tails is my favourite Sonic character.Teknoman said:
Firestorm said:
The Tails/Eggman mechanics aren't really bad at all, but it's completely out of place in a Sonic game and it's hurt by the fact that 5 of the 9 levels don't even reach mediocre in quality.
Eternal Engine shouldn't have made it out of the conception stage, much less into the final game.
It was my first Sonic game after years of not getting any (I went Genesis -> N64 -> GCN) so it holds a special place in my heart. I was totally hyped for it. The Sonic/Shadow levels were a blast and there was no horribly done overworld. No level in SA2 reached the lows of Big the Cat levels. I also found the Sonic/Shadow levels to be more fun in SA2 than the Sonic/Tails/Amy levels in SA1. I can't even remember the Knuckles levels.Sciz said:
I made modified my Dreamgoggles into Cubegoggles. Still liked the overworld. It wasnt oddly stretched out, and I liked how the game made it feel like the zones actually tied together with each other.
I think they started that trend with Sonic 3 and how the end of each stage leads believably to the next.
Oh and I only enjoyed playing as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Didnt like how they just stuck Super Sonic in for the true final boss though.
I think they started that trend with Sonic 3 and how the end of each stage leads believably to the next.
Oh and I only enjoyed playing as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Didnt like how they just stuck Super Sonic in for the true final boss though.
Death_Born
Banned
Firestorm said:
I barely remember SA1, but from what I do remember, SA2 was a lot more fun. The only thing that SA1 got right was E-102, he was awesome.
The Hermit
Member
:lol ...
Death_Born
Banned
Baiano19 said:
Someone needs to make a montage of that quote, the Unleashed Trailer, and that song.
"Born freee....freeee as the wind bloowwws....."
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
Hey now, there is still a very good chance this game will be as bad as Sonic HeroesGagaman said:
Sonic Adventure was 5/6 crap, Sonic Adventure 2 was 2/3 crap. The math is obvious.Sciz said:
You has to play as Big to get the "true" ending and battle.Flink said:
AwakenedCloud
Member
Regardless of what most thing, emerald hunting was fun once you got the mechanics down...until you try to get all A ranks and play hard mode that is.
Warren Ellis
Banned
I really liked sonic 1, sonic 2 was meh, sonic 3 and s&k are two of my favorite games ever.
Why they can't just create a new sonic like these two.. with a simple,yet emotional story, big levels with many paths, no shitty friends.. and release it on psn/wiiware/live for 15 euros..is it that hard ?
Why they can't just create a new sonic like these two.. with a simple,yet emotional story, big levels with many paths, no shitty friends.. and release it on psn/wiiware/live for 15 euros..is it that hard ?
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
1.) I doubt Sonic Team has the skill to do so effectivelyWarren Ellis said:
2.) They've already come out saying they have no plans to do so.
Its time to move on sadly. The current Sonic Team views the Adventure games as the pinnacle of the series and has no plans to go back :/