Apparently, Sega has trademarked a brand new name in their Sonic series, "Sonic Unleashed". This coming months after reports of a new "true" Sonic game being quietly worked on by Sega.

After almost two years since the release of Sonic '06, all my signs are pointing to the next game in the "storyline" series, picking up after, or before, if you will, the aforementioned title. Whatever it is, Sega has been pretty quiet about their flagship series, aside from the occasional blurb about Chronicles, and the release of Zero Gravity. Don't be surprised if 1Up.com, a usually untrustworthy site, actually got it right this time.

But this is just my take on the matter. Your thoughts?

Every time I see "new 'true' Sonic game", I think of how the people in charge of BOTH Sonic Heroes and Sonic 2006 said that each game was going to be a return to Sonic's roots. And then I remember how much "fun" I had while playing Heroes, and how horrificly horrible the entire story idea behind Sonic 2006 was (as well as how CPoC really really disliked his experience with the game).

...

I really hope whatever this game is, it turns out to be good... :hs:

Sonic Adventure. It was a great game, wasn't it? But so radically different. In many ways, SA2 surpassed it, but was kinda still the same game.

Enter Sonic Heroes. I actually don't think SH was too bad of a game, myself, but it really failed to hook me in like SA1 and SA2 did. Then we get Shadow the Hedgehog. I'll admit, I did kinda like the game, but I don't think a dark story fits the Sonic universe very well. Add to that the fact that there's more deserving characters that should have had their own game AND the fact that even though you play as Shadow, you still get the same Sonic cast (they should have tried to make it seem more like a spin-off than a continuation), and the excessive amount of curse words coming from fuzzy talking animals... I'm sure that sentence was probably structured all wrong, but ya.

But ya, around the time Sonic Heroes came out, Sonic games have slowly been going down in quality. Now we get to Sonic 2006 (I refuse to call it "Sonic the Hedgehog", as Sega has so pretentiously named it) and we come across the very first time I've ever admitted to hating a Sonic game. When I realized what I had said, I felt uneasy. I actually hated a Sonic game. Even Sonic Spinball could keep me entertained and Sonic's Schoolhouse was bad in a good way.

I'll admit, I do still enjoy Sonic's handheld adventures and Sonic and the Secret Rings was fun, as well... but none of those compare to what we had even as far back as Sonic Adventure 2, let alone the legendary Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Sega is always saying Sonic is returning to his roots when, if anything, he's only straying further from them. I'm not going to get my hopes up, guys. :(

Firstly, sorry for my Last FM banner thing. I'll get it fixed ASAP.

Anyways, I don't hate Sonic '06 by any means. Granted, I hated the story, aside from the intro of Silver and Mephiles, but gameplay wise, I enjoyed it about as much as I did Heroes and Shadow. And really, I enjoyed them more than SA2. I know that sounds really, really weird, but I really had some problems with SA2, such as the lack of speed levels, featuring Sonic and Shadow, and the real cheapness of some of the levels. Thats not to say it was a bad game, though. I still loved it. Just not enough of what I loved, though.

As for the state of the series, yes, its in a rut. The games haven't been as good as the could've, and should've, been. My hope for the series' return to glory has been renewed with Zero Gravity, which exceeded my expectations in every way.

You just reminded me of something I hated from SA2... the treasure hunting levels. Now I realize SA2 isn't as great as I remember it. :heh: But I still like it more than the games that came after it.

As for Sonic 2006, I hated the story and I hated the realistic looking humans (since they totally clashed with the cartoony looking animal characters). The controls were a little weird for me and I wasn't able to get used to them, for some reason. It's not the first time that I've had control issues with a Sonic game, but I hated the story so much that I really didn't feel any desire to try and stick with it. :(

I hated that part too. Aside from Robotnik, there really shouldn't be any humans in the Sonicverse.

Which brings up another point: Sega. If this really is a new storyline game, for the love of God, do NOT redesign Robotnik again. And please, please, PLEASE call him Robotnik again.

I don't mind other humans, but it seems like they've gone overboard. I miss the days when Sonic and friends were on their animal populated islands instead of the human populated mainlands. Plus, the whole "technology versus nature" aspect of the original (as in pre-Adventure) games is pretty much gone now.

I *loved* Shadow, Heroes, and '06... until I read the reviews. Then I started criticizing them too. And maybe they weren't that good after all, because replaying them never interested me... but I loved them while I was playing them.

And of course, I thought Sonic Adventure was just the bee's knees. Treasure, E102, everything-- except that cat. I was waiting for the Rescue Rangers to come save me from those horrendous fishing levels...

I think "Sonic Unleashed" is the next 'big' game, because you don't 'unleash' something unless it's been held back, and while SEGA's spinoffs have been doing fine, its mainstay hasn't.

A victim of those high school dropout reviewers, eh Rushie?

Thats why I never listen to reviewers. I play em and form my own opinion. Of course, my opinion seems to be the reverse of alot of reviews, though. Example?

Sonic '06: Reviewers loathed it. I think its pretty good.
Final Fantasy XII: Magazines and podcasts called it a game of the year candidate. I think its the worst game ever made, and the reason I have lost any hope for a Final Fantasy game ever reaching the peak that the X series reached.

But I digress. Yeah, this almost has to be the big game. Your point about the series being "held back" seems to do the name alot of justice. The games have been decent, but Sonic needs a revival, and I think, with all the quietness surrounding the title, and the name itself, this will be that revival.

And hopefully, now that Naka is gone, we'll get a game thats as good on the other consoles as they are on Nintendo consoles.

I want it to be a great new game, I really do, but for some reason I recon it'll end up as something for the PSP or something.
How on Earth are Sega gonna get the 'wow' factor back :/

Ah, a good, valid point, though I hope you're wrong about that. I'm a little sick of the handheld consoles getting all the love. (Especially since I don't have anything past the first-gen GBA.)

What really intrigues me is this: How are they planning to "unleash" Sonic? Does this mean a whole new control setup? A complete reboot of the series in everyway, much like SA1 was? For those who really want to read into this title, like I'm assuming BR and myself, the many ways you can interpret this are a good discussion topic in their own right.

Here's a strange thought that just came to me. Sega should take a good look at the Crash Bandicoot games on the PSX, namely CB2 and CB: Warped. Those games were able to mix the sidescrolling style with the "current" platforming style, which the peeps at Naughty Dog dubbed "Sonic's Ass View". (There. Some videogame trivia for you.) Those games, with their many, many levels, good level of difficulty, and various play-styles, are classics in my eyes, and really, what I'd like to see Sega take some cues from.

Oh, and another quick note: Please don't make us play as characters that we don't want to play as! Rouge? Omega? Cream? They should just be supporters in cutscenes at most. Sonic? Shadow? Silver? Knux? Tails? Give us them in playable form. Everyone else either needs canned or dropped back to the cutscenes.

And one last thing: If you go with new actors, at least keep Silver's VA. I really can't imagine someone else doing Silver's "YEAH!".

You really like silver, Don't cha Avenger :heh:
Anyways, I'm guessing they're giving the title of Sonic Unleashed because of the fact that they are going to make him 'faster than ever before!'
...
Come on, remember this is Sega here. They seem to be kinda one track minded now >.>
Do you know what I think could be though? The game being done in Sandbox. a Free roaming element to the game could give the title 'Sonic Unleashed' more to it, in the way that he is not restricted to levels going by one track.
Now that I think about it, it could mean levels with more than just one route. You know, multiple paths or ways to complete each level.
Anyways, characters that I would like to see as playables are;
Sonic (obviously)
Tails
Knuckles

Unlockables:
Amy
Shadow
Super Sonic
...
and I guess should give Silver another chance u_u'

Ya, that's just my opinion.

A mix between Side scrolling and the current platforming style would be very interesting... could bring a lot more speed back to the sonic games ^_^

Wow, I hope you're wrong... and right. In that order.

They've already done "faster than ever before" several times. They would probably do it again... but what they don't get is that the idea to give gamers the sensation of speed, just as Nights was made to give them the sensation of flight, was an innovation. Sega got its big success through innovating and doing it well, and it needs to pull that off again.

Your second idea was great, tinman! That was my favorite part of Sonic Adventure. I hope they do it more like that (like Sonic Heroes too, I suppose) but make it more like a level.

The characters would probably be:
Sonic
Eggman 3.0! Now with hair!
Vixie the Weasel (or whatever the new character is...)
Shadow

:LOL:
True unfortunately. Alas, Tinman can dream of better and classic characters u_u

I hope they could get Sonia and Manic. I know, Avenger, they belong to Dic, but I can dream, can't I?

Some playable characters I would hope for is:
Sonic
Tails
Knuckles
Shadow
Mario (XD just joking)
Silver
Blaze (I miss her)
Some old character that should be in a video game
and Weird Al (that would be fun!)

You know, I'd take this opportunity to crack-wise on you for that, but, since you're one of the very rare Pro-Silver people, I'll let that slide.

Will you just shut up with all these constant comments trying to make fun of knuxsonia all the d*** time? It's getting really annoying, is beginning to piss me off, and certainly is against the rules...

It's abundantly clear you don't like her, so try completely ignoring her and not posting in reply to her. And maybe knuxsonia could do the same and ignore Avenger and not post in reply to him. Either that, or just get along and play nice without all this f***ing stupid bickering and commenting all the d*** time.

Isn't SRB where everyone's supposed to be nice and get along and all that? Make everyone feel welcome and good that they're here?

Isn't that the reason you like this place so much, Avenger?

Isn't that the reason you've said on many occasions that this is why you've stayed here for so long?

Isn't that the reason why you're so glad this place was here through all the troubles you had last year involving school and your former girlfriend?

Could you just please try to get along nicely? Or ignore each other to avoid having to deal with the problems you have between each other?

And I apologize for my tone and my mini-modding, but I'm already not in a great mood, and in lieu of most of the admins being MIA a whole lot lately, I feel like something needed to be said. :mellow:

~EDIT~

Well, that changes things, I suppose. I'll never get those fifteen minutes - half an hour back, but it was worth it if everything's okay. :heh:

In sum-- I don't think Avenger dislikes KxS in any way, but I do agree he can do a better job of conveying that. Thanks for caring enough about this place to try to stop a seemingly long-standing disagreement, DP, you're awesome. *high fives* But as I said, I would've said something myself if I thought there was any ill will there. :)

Well, I sent DP a message to hopefully clear this whole thing up.

As I told him, it just hasn't been my weekend, and because of this, I've been a little bit of a prick to almost everybody.

If anybody wants to talk about this whole thing further, you know how to PM me. I'm done talking about it in public, especially in a thread that could represent something great.

Well, I went ahead and PMed ya, Avenger. Please read what I sent you. :hs:

Okay, people, let's get back on topic. No more of this, okay? Let's get back to talking about Sonic Unleashed (whatever the heck it may or may not be).

HUGE UPDATE

Seems we have our first shots of Sonic Unleashed, from Sega's FTP portal.

The opening cutscene APPARENTLY starts with Robotnik defeating Super Sonic. Talk about a shock to the system...

So...this IS their next big title...hope it comes to the Wii.

Even if the graphics are a bit beyond its standard capabilities. They can just tone them down, right? Riiiiiiiiight?


But yeah, interesting start.

To that, I can only say one thing...



XD

But seriously, it looks interesting, but at this point (with no other info released yet), I'll wait to get too excited.

WII EXCLUSIVE?!? NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Us Sony loyalists need new Sonic action too, y'know.

You know, I'm quite interested to know what this is. This is the second game I have on my radar with a Bahamut looking character. (The other being Tekken 6's final boss, Azazel.)

I said nothing of Wii-exclusiveness. I merely expressed a concern that the Wii would not be left out.

And as for what that thing is, well, apparently, Sega's story writers have been busy...or it could just be a "Eggman-finds-another-horrible-monster-to-try-to-control-and-Sonic-must-run-through-unrelated-locations-fighting-random-bosses-to-stop-him" plot device...which I hope it isn't.

Well, I hope thats not it. Starting the story off with Super Sonic being defeated by Robotnik is a great, great start. It establishes him as a major villain again, finally. However, I really, really hope that it doesn't go the way you've mentioned, that not-so-surprsing-anymore surprise twist.

And if the Wii is left out of this one, chances are it'll get a similar game still. Kind of like the '06/SatSR thing.

The graphics look awesome, and it looks like these are Wii screenshots. Although, knowing Sega's latest performance, I'm not getting my hopes up quite yet.

I like that it seems Eggman has beaten Sonic. It's an interesting twist, and hopefully a good plot device.

I found another site with images

Secret Rings is not-at-all similar to Sonic 2006. :p

Though to me, this looks more like a follow up to the SatSR game, based solely on how the locations don't look like they fit in the Sonic-world (outside of the opening part involving Robotnik). But of course, stuff like Lotus Elise and skinny-Eggman and time traveling hedgehogs and cats shouldn't fit in the Sonic-world, either (at least the game one), so, yeah, that doesn't mean much.

*crosses fingers and hopes for the best*

NEW INFO!

OH CRAP!

Yes.

So we're getting Sonic: Twilight Princess, then? :p Heh, while I'm only joking, ya can't help but notice that interesting parallel.

Hmmm, I'm really not sure what to think at this point. It's still too early to make many assumptions. I noticed Sonic himself looks like a mix between his post-SA design and his pre-SA design. A nice new look, if you ask me. Speaking of which, I am SO glad that Robotnik looks cartoony again.

And while it's cool to see Robotnik being shown as more of a threat by being able to defeat Super Sonic... it seems odd. There never before has been anything that can defeat Super Sonic and I feel that in some ways this is only downplaying the power of Super Sonic.

Oh, snap... looks like we'll be getting Super Sonic 2 and Super Sonic 3... and maybe a Sonic and Shadow fusion.

Or up-playing the power of Robotnik!! Which I am totally FOR. I also like the 2.5D thing, I watched the video and it looked pretty rockin'. Good play style, I think, though I didn't hate the 3D or have camera issues like most people, so I would be happy no matter what.

Ooh, werewolf Sonic! You hear that? That clicking? That's a hundred thousand Sonic fans drawing the same parallell CPoC (and I) did. Seriously... werewolf... why? At least a werehedgehog!

Oh, and throwaway new character too... yaaay... but at least the gameplay seems cool.

BTW, Avenger, looks like we called it. :D

Aw man, I wanted to poke fun at the Twilight Princess similarities.

But, I like the 2.5D thing, it seems like Sega realized Sonic Rush series = liked by the fanbase, 3D games = not. So the levels looked like a 3D Sonic Rush, I really LOVE that.

The graphics... I may just buy the game because of how awesome Super Sonic looks! Seriously XD

And I promised myself I wouldn't get worked up once I found out about this thing, now look at me.

One thing that ticks me off. Werewolf/werehog. What the heck?? Does this have an affect of that machiney thingy Eggman used on Sonic to beat him when he was Super? Seriously... a machine that makes you a werewolf... weird.

But, my fingers are crossed. I want this game to be good, I really do.

I'm not against making Robotnik more of a threat, it's just that beating Super Sonic happens at the BEGINNING of the game... somehow, I don't think Robotnik will be the last guy in the game, especially after seeing that Bahamut lookalike.

And if Super Sonic was no match for Robotnik at the START of the game... what are we expecting to see Sonic use at the end of the game?

Look! Sonic released his Bankai!

I'm just sayin', is all...

I believe that the solution to this is going to be some cheesy bull during the storyline and Sonic will conquer his were-wolf self and use that. Just saying, I think that's how they'll remedy it.

Kinda like how you had Darkspine Sonic in SatSR instead of Super Sonic, maybe in this game we get Were-Sonic instead of Super Sonic, for the final boss. Just throwing something out there.

Of course, we'll have to wait and see.

Ahh, so you're crying foul on the potential Giant Robotness of this...

Hopefully, they would just have Super Sonic try harder or something... you know, because if there is one thing anime has taught me, is that if you just BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, anything is possible. However, believing in himself just might turn him into Hyper Sonic, which we've seen before I believe(?). As long as they don't go the route of calling in Ultra Sonic (or Eco Sonic XD!! Cojo, you might get this reference, think #76... 77?) I think it won't be too bad.

Luckily, after his third Super Saiyan upgrade and Bankai, Sonic is actually a jinchuuriki for the seven-tailed wolf, which he'll use the power of the eighth super emerald to control. Then, he'll bring in Megas.

"Werehog" is definitely a better word... and it reminded me of Sonic Rush too? Anyone out there think a 2(ish)D game is a step back in today's day and age? Sure, there are travesties out there, like Megaman Transmission, but there's also Smash and SoCal to prove it's okay...

Wow, updates sure came fast, huh? Next update: the game actually shipped yesterday.

Well, this is Sonic we're talking about...

To tell you the truth, I think that's one big reason why the Sonic games aren't as good as they could be. Barring aside all the storyline related stuff I hated about Sonic 2006, I believe all the newer games could be much, MUCH better if Sega would stop trying to rush them and have them out as soon as possible. I'm sure the gameplay problems most people have with the Sonic series could be resolved if Sega just took a little extra time while working on the games.

As for Hyper Sonic... I doubt we'll ever see him again. For starters, he was never truly canon, anyway. As far as I can figure, he was actually closer to what Super Sonic is like in the canon storyline. Gameplay-wise, Super Sonic has never really been shown to be quite as powerful as the storyline makes him out to be... which is already part of the reason I'm a little worried about them all of a sudden making light of such a powerful form (and at the START of the game, at that!).

However, it was never shown whether or not DarkSpine was more or less powerful. To me, it just seems like an alternate form and I'm making the assumption, based on what I've seen, that Super Sonic might still be more powerful.

I was saying how Darkspines Sonic was an alternate form, rather then a stronger form then Super Sonic. I was implying that possibly the Were-Sonic would be the "super form" you use at the end of the game, and it is possibly stronger then Super Sonic. I just used Darkspines as an example of when an alternate super form was used in a game.

In the end, Who's on your side
Who can you trust, in the middle of the night
here will you be, if ya can't find you
There's no-place to go, Nothing to do
If ya gotta do something, gotta do something
Believe in yourself - Yourself - Yourself - HEY !

Extraordinary thing can happen
if you believe in yourself
You've got to have some faith in yourself,
if you want respect from your friends
(Believe in what you want to do)

Don't re-arrange - No need to change
Stay like you are - Keep it all the same
But as you move along in your life
Keep and open mind and don't forget
That if ya gotta do something, gotta do something
Believe in yourself - Yourself - Yourself - HEY !

Extraordinary thing can happen
if you believe in yourself
You've got to have some faith in yourself,
if you want respect from your friends
(Believe in what you want to do)

When you feel tight, Look at yourself
Inside your heart you will find
a special place to unwind
When you feel right, Look at yourself
Inside your mind you will see, Cosmic Eternity

When you feel tight, Look at yourself
Inside your heart you will find
a special place to unwind
When you feel right, Look at yourself
Inside your mind you will see, Cosmic Eternity