Sonic Unleashed

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 809 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 649 out of 809
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 809
  3. Negative: 54 out of 809
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  1. haterofallgames
    Aug 23, 2023
    0
    it's a sonic game, don't buy. don't let the bigger furry fool you. this **** is unacceptable.
  2. PedroLamar
    Aug 14, 2023
    10
    Não tenho nem muito o que comentar, é 10 na lata, zerei mais de 4 vezes e em 3 plataformas diferentes, simplesmente a masterpiece da era moderna do ouriço, musicas fenomenais, fases marcantes e personagens memoráveis, historia simples porém interessante e mesmo as fases do werehog são muito legais e diversifica bastante a gameplay, é GOTY
  3. JustF3wzan
    Aug 13, 2023
    8
    Its 2023. And in my personal opinion, this game is still one of the best games to blow some steam off or to just reminisce on the older sonics. This game has surpassed boundaries for its time. The were-hog stages are an interesting concept though. And I will admit, they took way too long to complete. Something felt off with the enemy too, almost as if they did not want to fight. You alsoIts 2023. And in my personal opinion, this game is still one of the best games to blow some steam off or to just reminisce on the older sonics. This game has surpassed boundaries for its time. The were-hog stages are an interesting concept though. And I will admit, they took way too long to complete. Something felt off with the enemy too, almost as if they did not want to fight. You also had a set combo list to your arsenal. Either you use em' or you don't. You do eventually unlock new moves but then its all the same again. Finding all the day and night medals were a pain too. Yet with all these setbacks, I think SEGA struck pure gold with every other aspect of the game. The story isn't as bad as these critics say it is, the music is outstanding and the hub lobbies are pieces of art. You feel unstoppable while dashing through obstacles and enemies. Again, the medals were a pain to get but lets say you aren't actively hunting them. The day stages are nothing short of a destructive joyride. Unfortunately though, SEGA completely wasted that final boss fight. I saw so much potential with that, especially with super sonic. Overall, this game does have its ups and downs and it was an absolute blast for me.… Expand
  4. Valen64
    Aug 7, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me gusto el juego lo quería pero ahora lo tengo y me gusto tengo la versión de xbox 360 y de la de wii… Expand
  5. anesss
    Aug 6, 2023
    9
    Day levels review:
    Take Guitar Hero, Need for Speed and Classic Sonic, and put them all in a blender. The result is what might seem like a mess, but is one of the industry's finest work. The concept is very unique, and the originality pays off very well, as the execution is stellar. A sense of spectacle carries these levels. And as if there wasn't enough adrenaline, the game allows you to    Day levels review:
    Take Guitar Hero, Need for Speed and Classic Sonic, and put them all in a blender. The result is what might seem like a mess, but is one of the industry's finest work. The concept is very unique, and the originality pays off very well, as the execution is stellar. A sense of spectacle carries these levels. And as if there wasn't enough adrenaline, the game allows you to "boost": unstoppably running at a huge speed, obliterating everything on your way. And while that may seem like a click-to-win button, it's actually not. The challenge is to manage that speed, to avoid falling in pits or going the wrong way. Being that fast, the game doesn't want you to think for too long, nor does it slow you down with intricate platforming: Instead, it testes your reflexes, and does so with such commitment that it becomes the highlight of these levels. Overall, 9.5/10. It's not a perfect score because there are occasional very annoying frame drops.

    Night:
    Now these levels are a less interesting to talk about because quite frankly, they're just okay. You play as Sonic, but for some reason he's a "Werehog" with stretchy hands? The idea is quite strange, yes. The execution, on the other hand, is far less unique: Most of the levels consist in combat sections, where you beat up all sorts of weird glowing monsters, alongside platforming sections that are actually pretty solid. The combat is itself is also quite solid: it's responsive, visually satisfying and the combos are great. You unlock more combos the more you play, which helps adapting to the increasing difficulty. The biggest issue is the repetitiveness of it. It's everywhere, so much so that it gets very boring. Another issue is the lack of strategy: teach your cat to click on buttons and it'll beat the level for you. Of course, I'll give credit where it's due: there are combos, and they're satisfying to learn and use, but that's still no strategy because all the combos have the same outcome. The other big part of these levels is the platforming, and it's solid. It makes a huge use of your weird, stretchy arms, in a decent way. There are a few puzzles, and there's not much to talk about because they're just alright, serviceable at best.
    Overall, night levels are good. Just good, nothing more nothing less, a 7.5/10.

    (9.5+7.5)/2=8.5

    Presentation: Graphics:
    Unleashed is arguably one of the best looking games on old gen consoles. In fact, its visuals still hold up very well among modern games. After releasing the mess that is Sonic 2006, Sonic Team made a brand new game engine, The Hedgehog Engine, that was specifically made to imitate CGI animation, and it paid off. It's still being used in other Sonic and SEGA games nowadays. The shadows and lighting are incredible. There is a great sense of spectacle in day levels, and a great atmosphere in night levels. The graphics are somewhere between realistic and cartoonish, which is a balance all Sonic games should aim for. My favourite levels in terms of visuals are Act 2 of Apotos and Act 1 of Chun-Nan. If I had to complain about something, it would be the blurry textures (you don't notice them very often because you're either going too fast to see every texture or it's too dark to see them, but they're very obvious in cutscenes), and the frame drops. Yeah, this game looks so good that the 360 and (especially) the PS3 can't handle it apparently. There are going to be moments where the framerate drops horrendously, luckily however there are very few of these moments. One last thing: The opening cinematic is GORGEOUS, it looks absolutely stunning, I'm not even going to waste my time describing it, just watch it yourself.
    Graphics get a well deserved 9/10. Music: It's a Sonic The Hedgehog soundtrack we're talking about, of course it's going to be great. You know the deal already, day levels are energetic, night ones are jazzy, hub ones fit the theme of the town, and they're all great, no exceptions. Unfortunately Sonic has abandoned his rock n roll roots in favour of more simple music that you'd actually expect from a video game. This isn't a bad thing, because it's well executed, but we just kind of miss those crazy guitar riffs from Jun Senoue. It's a shame his band Crush 40 didn't compose the game's theme song, "Endless Possibilities" (for some reason it's made by the band that did the Phineas and Ferb theme?). My personal highlights are Spagonia (Night) and Dark Phoenix.
    Sound design is great as well, Sega's sound team, as always, definitely knows what's up.
    The music and sound design get a solid 9/10. Story:
    I skipped most of the cutscenes so I'm not too sure, but it's relatively cartoonish, and it suddenly gets pretty epic and serious by the end which is a change I appreciated.

    Total: (9+9)/2=9

    Overall? a very mixed experience, a love it or hate it game. Fortunately, I loved it. It's pretty cheap nowadays, so I highly recommend you give it a shot.    … Expand
  6. LuisDef
    Jul 31, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El mejor juego de la saga en mi opinión ♥️, bellísimo, el juego en si está muy bien, no te aburres (bueno, al menos yo no me aburrí en ningún momento) Ademas los nieveles con el erizo lobo son muy entretenidos, el jefe final, es el que si me costó mas completar, pero me encanta todo, 9/10.… Expand
  7. dylansgaming48
    Jul 28, 2023
    6
    this one is really not the best but not the worst the graphics are not bad even for a 2008 game im really not a big sonic fun my self but i dont hate
  8. Yaman_NJ
    Jul 18, 2023
    10
    One off the best sonic games have a lot off new features and has the best graphics
  9. Darxeus
    Jul 16, 2023
    0
    This is my personal favorite Sonic Game, the story is just phonomenal, I understand why people don't like the Werehog, but it's not bad because you're at least having fun with the Werehog, but the daytime Sonic stages are fun as hell
  10. azuuu
    Jul 11, 2023
    3
    jogar algo da minha infância foi um erro.
    os estágios do Sonic Lobo são longos, chatos, repetitivos.
    eu não aguento mais a mesma música de combate toda hora.
  11. Hellacia
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    If you can, play on a Series X/S or Xenia. Uncapped framerates really do help out this game.
  12. secrethideout
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    I love this game and always did as to why I love it the soundtrack of this game is the best they did an amazing job. The level design for both daytime and nighttime stages. I really love the fast paced gameplay for the daytime stages and their quite long as well even though you're boosting through them like crazy. I don't know what's the fuss but the nighttime stages they aren't bad ofI love this game and always did as to why I love it the soundtrack of this game is the best they did an amazing job. The level design for both daytime and nighttime stages. I really love the fast paced gameplay for the daytime stages and their quite long as well even though you're boosting through them like crazy. I don't know what's the fuss but the nighttime stages they aren't bad of course I prefer the daytime ones but there's nothing bad about the nighttime stages. The story is quite good as well nothing to hype about but it's good I also love how they tie the chaos emeralds to the story. And these are only the few of the many reasons why I love this game so much like for example how good they base the locations in the game compared to the real life location. So yeah this is my rating of the game I love this game and always will… Expand
  13. JohnWolf
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    This game is amazing The critics are stupid go watch the IGN review I don't need to tell you anything else
  14. Myakudoyoru
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    This is my perfect Sonic game. And yes, before you bring it up, I really enjoy the Werehog levels, sometimes just as much as the Hedgehog levels! Rooftop Run Act 1 and Windmill Isle Act 2 are ones I really like, just to name a few.

    Also I love speedrunning Eggmanland. My current best time for that is 11 minutes and 35 seconds.
  15. C4RL312
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    Sonic Unleashed is a masterpiece, rushing through the day stages with Sonic feels great, doing all the fancy combos with the Werehog is extremely satisfying, history is great and has a lot of charm, overall a great experience from beginning to end
  16. Doughnutbro123
    Apr 11, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best game in the series werehog 8.10 level design one shots Any game in the franchise EVEN Better than sonic generations… Expand
  17. SonicBABY28
    May 4, 2023
    10
    the game was the best thing I could ever ask for it always got my hopes up I will never stop playing this game best s tier for me didn't deserve a meh rating
  18. Jimbok3rr178
    Apr 13, 2023
    9
    Unleashed is a great sonic game and personally I don’t think the werehog is that bad but the level can be a bit too long but the day levels are excellent the story is great the cinematic cutscenes look beautiful but another thing I dislike if the fact you are forced to collect sun and moon medals
  19. supermarycyute
    Apr 6, 2023
    10
    Underrated game, idk why people hate it but I'm glad to see it has a high fan score
  20. diealegend
    Apr 6, 2023
    0
    Worst mechanics and game style I’ve seen from a sonic game yet.. sonic forces was better than this horrible game. The only thing this game had that was interesting was a story. But besides that I hated playing this game too difficult and werid to play for players.
  21. TUNN
    Apr 3, 2023
    10
    Good! Great! Awesome! Outstanding! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamazing!
  22. CustardPuff
    Mar 23, 2023
    7
    While the werehog stages can be incredibly frustrating at times, the exhillarating daytime stages, the decent story, the fantastic art/sound design and polish all partially make up for it.
  23. NairMcgee
    Mar 11, 2023
    0
    The most overrated game of all time. This game is nowhere near the masterpiece that all the Unleashed fanboys want you to believe it is. I would give it a 7/10 but this game is way too overrated so I'm giving it a 0
  24. sackydzNG
    Mar 8, 2023
    10
    As someone who emulated this game on Xenia on a relatively weak gaming laptop with a mod that removes the lighting and stuff (and yet the game still ran at 30 FPS or below), I can confidently say that despite all those painful roadblocks, this game is a near-perfect masterpiece. It has well-crafted and challenging boost and werehog stages (except for Arid Sands Night, **** that level),As someone who emulated this game on Xenia on a relatively weak gaming laptop with a mod that removes the lighting and stuff (and yet the game still ran at 30 FPS or below), I can confidently say that despite all those painful roadblocks, this game is a near-perfect masterpiece. It has well-crafted and challenging boost and werehog stages (except for Arid Sands Night, **** that level), great music, and a fun story to tie it all together. What more do you want. This game was only trashed on because incompetent game journalists can't even play Sonic games half-decently to save their life.… Expand
  25. ZXSth
    Feb 25, 2023
    5
    I found Sonic Unleashed a challenge to enjoy. Neither the daytime "Boost" levels nor the nighttime "Werehog" sections were particularly fun, and gating levels behind the collection of Sun and Moon medals felt like an arbitrary and frustrating decision that actively made me not want to play the game. While quite pretty and possessing solid sound design, very little about Sonic's transitionI found Sonic Unleashed a challenge to enjoy. Neither the daytime "Boost" levels nor the nighttime "Werehog" sections were particularly fun, and gating levels behind the collection of Sun and Moon medals felt like an arbitrary and frustrating decision that actively made me not want to play the game. While quite pretty and possessing solid sound design, very little about Sonic's transition to this style of movement excited me, and I left this game unfinished due to my personal gripes with it. A disappointing experience overall that I truly wish I had found more enjoyable than I did.… Expand
  26. ChaseGamingPro
    Jan 21, 2023
    10
    My absolute most favorite game of all time. That's all I gotta say, really.
  27. Dragon_X
    Jan 6, 2023
    10
    I think that this game Didn't get a fair chance and got treated harshly by most of the people Super underrated + i believe that it did age to be liked by the community From my prospective its the best sonic game

    And it's the only sonic game that can be considered as a AAA sonic game It has great gameplay great game design Bosses levels and cutscene's are great Most of the people hated    I think that this game Didn't get a fair chance and got treated harshly by most of the people Super underrated + i believe that it did age to be liked by the community From my prospective its the best sonic game

    And it's the only sonic game that can be considered as a AAA sonic game It has great gameplay great game design Bosses levels and cutscene's are great Most of the people hated the werehog but I think it has a good mechanic and a fun gameplay And I think people hated it cuz they were used to a short, fast levels/gameplay    … Expand
  28. BonzaiTheHost
    Dec 29, 2022
    8
    Would be a solid 9 or even 10 if it didn't suffer from pacing and padding issues and had better handling and button mapping for Sonic. Probably the greatest cinematic masterpiece Sonic has ever produced.
  29. EmeTeY
    Dec 26, 2022
    9
    Excelente juego y mejor apartado gráfico! La historia está super bien guiada y en ningún momento el juego se torna tedioso.
  30. Kdog152
    Dec 13, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sonic Unleashed is a masterpiece, say what you want about the werehog night stages, idc, they are amazing. People usually say they are bad bc they are long and hard. Well the levels are only long when you don't know what your doing, once you get used to them, they're easy enough. The day stages are the best boosting stages in the series with its absolutely amazing level design, the soundtrack is fire and the story is amazing. The opening cutscene really empowers the player and makes them want to play those amazing game, and the super sonic transformation in this game is absolutely amazing. All in all, this game is great. The graphics are also great for a 2008 game. The only critical comment I can make is that some of the medals you have to collect in this game are in stupid places. Another thing that is so good about this game is how all the places you go to are based off of real life locations, Apotos, (the first place you visit when you start the game) Is based of Greece and is a spitting image of it, Spagonia is based off of England, Italy and France, with a dash of Spain in it, Empire city is based of New York etc. It was such a great idea that really worked. This game has the best story in the series and it shows Sonic in a new light that we hadn't seen in the series before and less like the usual cocky hedgehog he is. He has more of a developed personality and is willing to die at the end of the game (but ofc he is saved). He is a true hero in this game. This is the best Sonic game to date.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 50 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 50
  3. Negative: 10 out of 50
  1. Game Informer
    60
    As much as I disliked lumbering through levels as Sonic’s hulky Werehog, I disliked hunting through the hub worlds looking for coins even more. Sega, if you really want to fix Sonic, the first thing you should do is stop trying to fix him.
    Read full review
  2. 1UP
    50
    Ultimately, this simply isn't the fresh start Sonic fans were so desperately hoping for...but at least it's not as execrable as the last two efforts.
    Read full review
  3. Hardcore Gamer
    90
    Sonic Unleashed is a glorious return to true console form for Sonic.
    Read full review
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