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There's a new Unleashed preview up on IGN (bear with me), and it's not pretty. They have no issue with the level design or the 2D/3D schizophrenia, but the game failed in the one most cripplingly objective measurement of suck: the frame rate. According to them, the 360 version strives for 30fps in the day levels but more normally ends up batting 15-20, while the night levels struggle to score double digits. If these issues end up making their way to the final product, and I don't see much reason to believe that they won't, then SEGA is delivering us a busted game, I won't be buying it and neither should you.

edit: SJ said it mockingly, but it's worth pointing out that the Wii/PS2 build is completely separate from the 360/PS3 build on display here, so it may or may not be affected by the same problems. (edit: but I'm not holding my breath)

Check it out check it out check it out.

You'll notice the first couple levels have mostly minor changes, but play through them and some significant improvements start cropping up. Development ended under a cloud of smoke, so it's not quite as polished as a true final release, but it's still worth your time.

The Nintendo Power article on Sonic and the Search for SEGA's Sanity is in the wild, and we can confirm that:

"Each stage has multiple branching paths and searching for townsfolk and treasure chests provides an element of exploration that recalls Sonic’s early Genesis days."

Which means that...

Jul 19 18:56:48 <Rolken> also how many hours to the first "returning to his roots" pr quote!?!
Jul 19 18:57:10 <mike89> returning to his roots? with a sword? I don't think even sega PR could spin that far
Jul 19 18:57:12 <Stefan> 48
...
Jul 21 19:53:38 <Doduo> ”Each stage has multiple branching paths and searching for townsfolk and treasure chests provides an element of exploration that recalls Sonic’s early Genesis days.”

With the final answer clocking in at 48 hours and 56 minutes, Stefan is the winner of the latest TSC contest to determine how much SEGA fails! His prize is a bump in TSC fame and social status and an insertion into SkyL's next fanfic. Give him a round of applause!

edit: Also, to clear up some misunderstanding... we're scheduled to get three primary Sonic games in the next year.

Fall 08 - PS3/360 - Sonic Unleashed on the "Hedgehog Engine"; all the screenshots and videos so far are this version
Fall 08 - PS2/Wii - Unleashed lite, with the same motifs but different level design by Dimps and worse graphics
Spring 09 - Wii - Sonic and the Black Knight, the sequel to Secret Rings with waggle swordplay

Just when it almost looked like Sonic might be tiptoeing towards a sane direction for a change, SEGA executives noticed his insubordination and enacted their swift retribution. Restrain your emotions, oh downtrodden Sonic fans, as the scourging of our icon is made manifest!



There are no words. I've probably said that before about previous Sonic games, but this time there's even less wordage than there was then. This topic is locked as a memorial to Sonic's dignity; the funeral procession starts here.

UPDATE: My earlier pronouncement of lack of words has been nullified, for words have been found!

<CherryMay> a picture says a thousand words
<CherryMay> and all of them are 'fail' :(

UPDATE2: If there remained any doubt, a SEGA site admin has kindly removed it.

"I can confirm the game is indeed real, however you won't get any info on it from me, you'll have to wait until we post the product page tomorrow [Monday] on SEGA.com and read the Nintendo Power article."

UPDATE3: SEGA.com page and Europe press release: it's a Secret Rings sequel, or as they're apparently now calling it, the "Storybook Series", due out in spring. The game consists of running + swordplay in King Arthur.

Gamespot has a 25 minute video of discussion with a SEGA representative and copious amounts of gameplay demonstration. You can skip the first two minutes if you just want to see the game.

I haven't watched it with sound on, and it's difficult to pass judgment on controls and such with a veteran SEGA rep playing, but the game actually appears to resemble fun. There's plenty of good platforming, Sonic's movement is very clearly not on rails, and unlike previous 3D sonic, all the gameplay is actually under player control. Check it out.

The controls as diagrammed in the video-
A:Jump B:Crouch X:Homing/Boost Bumper:Quickstep

Weresonic has a Vitality bar instead of a ring counter, so rings are treated like health points a-la SA2 mechs. The gameplay looks more like Dynasty Warriors than anything, with Sonic doing lots of weird stretchy arm attacks. The Weresonic stuff starts at 10 minutes in.