The Last Amazing 3D Sonic Game was 17 years ago

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The last amazing 3D Sonic game was 17 years ago!

Sonic Unleashed to this day is one of the best Sonic games ever made. This time Eggman splits the earth into pieces to awaken Dark Gaia, to aid in his ambition to rule over the earth. Sonic, who was present when Eggman split the planet into pieces, is infected by Dark Gaia’s energy, adopting a werewolf transformation known as the werehog. Sonic and his amnesic companion, Chip, explore different temples across the globe to put the planet back together using the chaos emeralds. This is the set up for Sonic’s World Adventure.

The game is split into two distinct gameplay loops. By day players are able to boost through levels at break neck speeds. This was first introduced in Sonic Rush on the DS and is the first time this formula is translated into 3D. These levels are outstanding, gameplay is more focused on the player's ability to react to oncoming obstacles rather than the necessary depth perception required to play traditional platformers. These levels are difficult the first time you play them, because obstacles come at you so fast that you won’t always be able to react to them when they’re in front of you. However, through replaying levels you become more accustomed to Sonic’s speed and the level design. Soon after, you’re moving much faster than the first time you played. It’s exhilarating! Not just because you feel like Sonic through moving so fast. You have also earned the right to move at those high speeds. Compared to previous Sonic games where speed was earned through momentum, it is earned by your ability to accurately use the boost to maintain the speed already given.

The prevalence of Dark Gaia’s energy at night transforms Sonic into the werehog, the other gameplay loop. The platforming in these levels make up for the fact that in the day they are few and far between. Combat is prevalent at night, while it isn’t my favourite, I like how you’re able to access and unlock a range of different combos. I find it satisfying that every encounter is different based on how you choose to approach enemies, for a gameplay type not expected of the blue blur, there are a staggering amount of ways to approach battles.

The game encourages players to interact with the world besides its two main gameplay loops, possessing hub worlds on different continents. One hub world type lets you interact with the locals, buy items from shops and do mini challenges. Whereas the other hub world type lets you access the game’s stages, containing additional ones you can do besides what is required. Characters have their own stories to tell and give some flavor text about their lives, some actively changing as you progress through the game’s narrative.

Unleashed avoids being an inconsistent mess like Sonic 06, deescalating the story’s scale and characters. While many of my favourite Sonic characters are missing, I don’t mind this change. The simple nature of the narrative allowed Sonic Team to invest in making the experience something meaningful. The way the game blends with the cutscenes make this an unforgettable emotional journey and while I appreciate games like Sonic Adventure 2 for the scale and ambition in its story. Here everything flows together way better.

The aforementioned hub worlds give a wonderful introduction to new locations, so you're more appreciative when playing the levels thereafter. The blend between regular Sonic and the werehog in EggmanLand is a satisfying beginning to the game’s climax testing everything players have learnt before this level. And the way the music is able to perfectly capture every location you visit, whether it be day or night. This positions Unleashed to standout among the other games in the Sonic anthology.

Sonic’s adventures preceding Unleashed do not consistently capture this game’s thrills, only giving them in short bursts. Games like Sonic Frontiers and Sonic X Shadow Generations seem to put the series on a better trajectory following disappointments like Sonic Lost World and the abysmal Sonic Boom Rise of Lyric.

Frontier's Super Sonic boss battles do rival Unleashed’s best moments; however it simultaneously, gives open zones and cyberspace levels that leave much to be desired.

Sonic X Shadows Generations is a much more consistent adventure that builds upon Unleashed’s formula, creating some of the best Sonic levels and bosses I have ever played. Though the adventure is ultimately still just an add on to Sonic Generations, a game that is celebrating Sonic’s history. I don’t want Sonic to be remembered as a highlight reel of moments captured across many games. I want it to at least be remembered as one whole packaged experience! We were graced with that in 2008.

This is why I can definitively say that…