Sonic Unleashed may not be perfect. I dont believe that something, be it a game or not, can really be perfect, but it has everything I've ever searched for in my favorite franchise. Great level design, graphics, story and character writing.
Talking about the gameplay, Unleashed has a near-perfect boost formula. Keeps it fun, interesting, and with the help of the good level design and soundtrack, the day levels are super fun and engaging with multiple paths and choices. Unleashed being a "World Adventure" adds a lot to the gameplay too, each location has it's own music played with instruments that resemble it's culture and NPCs that talk with Sonic about typical conversation topics in those regions. The night levels are a simple action game, but the HUGE diversity of possible combos allow you to be creative in how to defeat your enemies and exploit them; my only problem with these levels is the werehog theme that gets really repetitive after some time.
The story has one of the best Sonic characterization I've ever seen in the franchise, maybe losing only to Sonic Adventure 2. Sonic is charming, nice, fun to see and is greatly performed by Jason Griffith whose voice perfectly transmits the fun Sonic is having during he's adventure. Nowadays I smile just from listening he's voice.
Chip and Sonic's friendship is well written and it's easily understandable that they become closer and closer with the story.
This game is really really important to me and even with it's obvious flaws, it will always have a special place in my heart. Hopefully we'll get it on pc someday so more people can play it and the performance issues are fixed.
Talking about the gameplay, Unleashed has a near-perfect boost formula. Keeps it fun, interesting, and with the help of the good level design and soundtrack, the day levels are super fun and engaging with multiple paths and choices. Unleashed being a "World Adventure" adds a lot to the gameplay too, each location has it's own music played with instruments that resemble it's culture and NPCs that talk with Sonic about typical conversation topics in those regions. The night levels are a simple action game, but the HUGE diversity of possible combos allow you to be creative in how to defeat your enemies and exploit them; my only problem with these levels is the werehog theme that gets really repetitive after some time.
The story has one of the best Sonic characterization I've ever seen in the franchise, maybe losing only to Sonic Adventure 2. Sonic is charming, nice, fun to see and is greatly performed by Jason Griffith whose voice perfectly transmits the fun Sonic is having during he's adventure. Nowadays I smile just from listening he's voice.
Chip and Sonic's friendship is well written and it's easily understandable that they become closer and closer with the story.
This game is really really important to me and even with it's obvious flaws, it will always have a special place in my heart. Hopefully we'll get it on pc someday so more people can play it and the performance issues are fixed.