Sonic Unleashed (PS3/X360) delayed in Japan to improve quality

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Sega have announced that they have delayed the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Sonic Unleashed in Japan only (the Wii version is unaffected). The game was scheduled for release on December 18th 2008 but will now it will hit Spring 2009. The game is set to hit North America next week so it is unclear if Sega USA will also announce a delay. It is also possible that Japan will be getting a vastly different version of the game.

Source: http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=33591

Could this be the sign of Team Sonic butchering yet ANOTHER Sonic game?

[gigapixels Veteran]

Could this be the sign of Team Sonic butchering yet ANOTHER Sonic game?

Unless we get a delay for everywhere else, I doubt it. Or at least I hope not. This was supposed to be the savior of the series.

[Antaris Veteran]

I hope not, I believe its being developed by Sonic Team in Japan, not America who seem to be the ones who butcher everything.

I'm looking forward to it, but I'd give anything for a 3D/HD remake of Sonic 2 or Sonic3+K

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Unless we get a delay for everywhere else, I doubt it. Or at least I hope not. This was supposed to be the savior of the series.

That's why I'm annoyed...

The game seemed to look good on paper/from videos.

However the Sonic track record hasn't been to great as of late (aside from DS games).

Really hope it's good (Y)

And I hope the reason the Wii game isn't delayed is because it's up to scratch and not because another 3rd party dev doesn't care what crap they throw at it.

[Antaris Veteran]

The Wii and PS2 versions of the game are using a different engine, so might be because of some issue with the Hedgehog engine that they are using specifically for the PS3/XBox360 versions?

[t0mbi]

wow, didnt relize there was a new sonic game, just checked it out on youtube..looks pretty schmicko.. what do you guys reckon of the original sonic adventure? i bought a DC just for that game!

[gigapixels Veteran]

Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 were absolutely awesome. Not exactly like the originals, but they were an excellent translation to a 3D world. I would love to see some more like them, and, from what I can tell, this one should go in that direction.

[t0mbi]

was number 2 made by the people who made the original? cuz all i remember bout that game (never played it) was soap shoes..Sonic wearing soap shoes, carving up the streets of san fran

[Antaris Veteran]

wow, didnt relize there was a new sonic game, just checked it out on youtube..looks pretty schmicko.. what do you guys reckon of the original sonic adventure? i bought a DC just for that game!

For its day, Sonic Adenture was the best looking game on any platform, mainly because the pumped up DC was out before everything else. Was a brilliant game, just a little too much 'adventuring'. Sonic Adventure 2, for me anyways, built and exceeded the original in every way, plus had a kick ass soundtrack. I might break out my DC tonight and play it again :D

[Coldgunner]

I think Sonic 3 + Knuckles was the pinnacle of Sonic greatness. Capture that experience in a modern iteration and I'm sold.

couple of other points:

Its "Robotnik", not bloody "Eggman"!

Keep it simple, Sonic don't need superpowers, upgrades etc.

[The Teej]

I look forward to Sonic Unleashed, but I am somewhat worried about the Werehog side of things. The gameplay seems to turn around completely in Werehog mode. It definitely won't be traditional Sonic gameplay, but I can imagine ways they could keep the gameplay still feel like Sonic.

I hope not, I believe its being developed by Sonic Team in Japan, not America who seem to be the ones who butcher everything.

I'm looking forward to it, but I'd give anything for a 3D/HD remake of Sonic 2 or Sonic3+K

http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=12292

Bring tissues.

[Antaris Veteran]

I think Sonic 3 + Knuckles was the pinnacle of Sonic greatness. Capture that experience in a modern iteration and I'm sold.

couple of other points:

Its "Robotnik", not bloody "Eggman"!

Keep it simple, Sonic don't need superpowers, upgrades etc.

Man after my own heart. Sonic3+K was my fav all time game.. The storyline was engaging, the lock-on tech was brilliant. For its age, the game was massive too :).

I agree with keeping it simple, Sonic/Tails/Knuckles + Emeralds + Robotnik. It worked out so well on the 16 bit platforms, why do they struggle so much now?

And you're right, Robotnik is the correct name, unforetunately Eggman seems to have become the norm, even in official games and tv shows. I still call him Robotnik.

I look forward to Sonic Unleashed, but I am somewhat worried about the Werehog side of things. The gameplay seems to turn around completely in Werehog mode. It definitely won't be traditional Sonic gameplay, but I can imagine ways they could keep the gameplay still feel like Sonic.

http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=12292

Bring tissues.

Lol, tissues well spent.

[Pajter]

I'd probably pay a buttload of money for a Sonic 3 & Knuckles remake.

If SEGA won't do it, I will! Unfortunately, I can't do more than the soundtrack. :laugh:

But, Sonic Unleashed hasn't let me down yet. Still waiting for a demo to hit the marketplace.

edit: woah! I just saw this: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/42498.html

Ice Cap Zone anyone? :D

Edited November 11, 2008 by status-seeker

[Michael1406]

Looks good, but I'm not too sure about the werehog thing either.

I think they should do a Megaman 9 with Sonic soon.

[Antaris Veteran]

Yeah, the werehog idea is a bit off putting, and i do realise they are trying to add a new dynamic in game play, but they tried that with Tails/Robotnik and Knuckles/Rouge levels in SA2 and those modes just weren't as good.

The whole concept behind Sonic is to run fast, and its something which has been sadly lacking from recent games. Some of the biggest issues with cameras and clipping are caused because they are trying to make sonic run faster than the engine can cope, it it seems to cause the camera to flip out, Sonic to run through stuff into a 'dead' zone OR make it appear that he's not really running fast at all :(

One of my biggest concerns for Sonic Unleashed is release quality. Sonic's first next-gen outing was plagued by serious frame rate issues, when apparently nothing was happening on screens. Makes you wonder how SEGA even released it in that state.

[Si Veteran]

http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=12292

Bring tissues.

:|

Dude

[Antaris Veteran]

I've been following that for a few months now. Really awesome work. If they can do the same fo Sonic3+K HD i'd be a nearly orgasmic man!

[Pajter]

I'm not so sure yet about that Sonic 2 HD project. From the screenshot on the page, it looks so.. bulky. They should zoom it out. That way the graphics would increase heavily, because you can't see the lack of details. You'll also get a much better field of view.

Another thing I noticed is the soundtrack in the youtube vids. That could really use some more polishing. The samples used in those songs are sub-par imo. It needs to pack some more punch.

The way it is now, I'd still prefer the good old version. :p But I don't know what the future will bring.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

This guys has some points...

Sega Sinks the Sonic Ship

Yes, that?s a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog with a sword? and yes, this is going to be a good old fashioned rant? so if you?re one of the morons who REALLY LOVES Sonic?s new style; stop reading now.

Otherwise? Hit the jump and find out whats rubbing my hedgehog the wrong way.

They gave Shadow a gun in his game, and it was predictably horrible. What makes them think a sword will turn the tide of popular opinion for Sonic? The last good Sonic game was Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast. Nothing since then has lived up to the Sonic name. Take for example Sonic the Hedgehog, on the 360. It was riddled with glitches, slow load times (in a game that?s all about speed, this problem is only exacerbated), camera and control issues. Secret Rings on the Wii was criticized, albeit not as harshly, for the exact same problems. Both titles saw comparatively low sales for for Sonic games, and the team began to panic. They decided that the best course of action would be to add more elements (read: bull****) to the gameplay. The results are the cluster****s you see above. The one at the top is from Sonic & the Black Night, and the second one is from Sonic Unleashed. One will feature our blue hero dueling evil knights to the death, and the other will have him transforming into a ?werehog?, complete with super stretchy arms?. Ummmmm? WTF?!?! Apparently the developers don?t understand simple physics. When a ship is sinking, don?t add more superfluous junk that will only make it heavier, thereby sinking the ship even faster. Removing unnecessary material and stripping the ship to it?s hull and deck gives those aloft a better chance of survival. Get my awesome analogy? As it turns out, Sonic Unleashed was delayed in Japan until spring 2009, to allow the Team further time to ?improve the quality of the game?. Hopefully that means ?remove junk? rather than ?add more junk?. Honestly, just let the poor rodent die with whatever shred of dignity he has left.

Source: http://www.pushingplay.com/2008/11/11/newe...d-and-pathetic/

I would like to see who is making some of these decisions behind Sonic.

I mean, is any of the team from the 2D Sonic days still working with Team Sonic, can't they see how much they're raping the franchise?

Look at LBP, why can't Sonic go back to impressive lookikeep it simpleamcast games), and keep it simple. We don't need swords/werewolfs and all that crap. There's a reason people love Sonic:yes:ed, coin collecting and simplicity :yes:

[afusion]

As a devout Sonic fan we demand a proper next-gen game. I just hope this game doesn't flop.

It was kind of crazy what you could do w. S&K you could play as Knuckles in Sonic 2 and find so many goodies that you couldn't get to as Sonic (example: glide mode in Chemical Plant Zone 1 near the goal post in the sky has 5 lives you can get to) You could almost say 3D takes away the element of surprise and hidden booty, but I don't want to admit it :laugh:

The most epic part in S3&K was when you got to Sky Sanctuary you'd have to fight Mecha Sonic 2.0 if you played between Sonic or Knuckles the story between them would change but you'd still get to fight him.

Man I can still remember my jaw dropping @ the awesomeness :D

[Antaris Veteran]

S3&K remains to this very day, my favourite game of ALL time. Nothing else comes close for me.

My fav. part is also Sky Sanctuary, playing through those retro bosses and them coming to Mecha Sonic. The Knuckles gameplay was awesome, and if you played it as much as I did, you'd be Super Sonic a long time before the end of S3, and Hyper Sonic a long time before the end of the Doomsday Zone.

I love that game.

[afusion]

S3&K remains to this very day, my favourite game of ALL time. Nothing else comes close for me.

My fav. part is also Sky Sanctuary, playing through those retro bosses and them coming to Mecha Sonic. The Knuckles gameplay was awesome, and if you played it as much as I did, you'd be Super Sonic a long time before the end of S3, and Hyper Sonic a long time before the end of the Doomsday Zone.

I love that game.

You and I share a similar trait, I would get all 7 Chaos Emeralds in the 1st 2 zones. I spent hours memorizing special stage patterns in S3&K and it got way harder when you tried to get Super Emeralds. It's a true art form imo.

[Pajter]

S3&K remains to this very day, my favourite game of ALL time. Nothing else comes close for me.

My fav. part is also Sky Sanctuary, playing through those retro bosses and them coming to Mecha Sonic. The Knuckles gameplay was awesome, and if you played it as much as I did, you'd be Super Sonic a long time before the end of S3, and Hyper Sonic a long time before the end of the Doomsday Zone.

I love that game.

You are my new best friend. :p

I couldn't agree more with this post.

[Antaris Veteran]

You are my new best friend. :p

I couldn't agree more with this post.

I think my dream present, would be a high quality S3&K using HD/2D + 3D elements (imagine those special stages rendered on the PS3/XBox) complete with anime style FMVs and a classic sound track.

Toot toot Sonic Warrior!

[Pajter]

That really does sound like a dream. Let's hope it becomes reality one day. :p