In recent memory, I’ve noticed a trend to where films, shows, and games that was originally regarded as bad or weak has now being sealed with the light of reappraisal. Whether that reappraisal is genuine or just done for the sake of attention and “sticking” to whatever is popular to hate at the moment, that seems to be a common trope nowadays. The Star Wars prequels were looked down upon when they came out but now have seen it’s fair amount of reappraisal in recent years. The fourth and fifth season of Spongebob were torn apart and seen as the beginning of the show’s end but now is seen by some as the last glimmer of the “best” days for the sponge. And heck, I’m now seeing reappraisal to that godawful Fantastic Four movie that found it’s way to theaters in 2015 as more info about the newest films with Marvel’s first family is in the works. As the old saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
While I have no problem with previously hated products being seen more positively many years down the road, what really grinds my gears is that a lot of it comes across as fake, phony, and just trying to be a contrarian. It doesn’t so much come across as earnest but more of being done just for the sake of jumping on bandwagons. When it comes to the Sonic franchise, while there have been number of entries that certainly fits what I just talked about, I don’t think there’s been a game in the series that meets that mark perfectly than Sonic Unleashed. However, in this case, the reappraisal for the game which I’m about to talk about does feel more real and earnest than any examples I just mentioned.
Sonic Unleashed came out back in November 2008. It was the first major Sonic game in the series to come out after the critically panned Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), regarded as one of the biggest letdowns in gaming history. Despite having a handful of successful titles on handheld devices such as Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush, many considered the franchise as good as dead around this time because of the amount of lackluster home console titles that was released in the mid 2000s such as Shadow the Hedgehog, the previously mentioned Sonic (2006), and Sonic and the Secret Rings. However, when the first bit of gameplay for the next upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed, was shown, it gave a good sense of the franchise returning back to it’s roots. With the amount of footage shown of Sonic running around at the speed of sound in broad daylight, it gave a sense that Unleashed would offer an incredible level of speed for Sonic that he hasn’t had before, offering a fresh sense of fast-paced platforming. While the game ended up being a commercial hit, it received very polarizing response from critics and fans alike.
There are many reasons as to why the game was as divisive as it was when it came out back in 2008. It was coming off the high heel of Sonic 06, that basically shattered the remaining good will that the franchise still had up to that point, it was at that point where professional critics was basically in full “2D Sonic=Good, 3D Sonic=Bad” mode, and of course there was the inclusion of the controversial gameplay style that was the Werehog. While the daytime stages with Sonic were met with high praise, the nighttime stages with the Werehog were panned across the board, being compared unfavorably to games such as God of War and Prince of Persia. While there were a couple other factors that contributed to the game’s mixed reviews such as the inclusion of hub worlds and the required metal collecting, the Werehog was the main factor of the gameplay that made Unleashed so incredibly infamous.
When it comes to the response from fans, it’s quite complicated. While there were plenty of those that took issues with similar problems that critics has, most notably the Werehog, there were those that were singing those games praises back when this game came out in 2008. Whether that was for the Wii/PS2 version or 360/PS3 version, Sonic Unleashed has had it’s own group of fans from the very beginning and has only grown since it’s release 15 years later. It’s gotten to the point that there are those that regarded it as their favorite Sonic game and even the last legit great one, even in the wakes of other fan favorites and commercial successes such as Colors, Generations, Mania, and Frontiers. While I don’t quite agree with any of those statements made, I can think of a good reason or two that those people have come to those opinions.
When it comes to my own experience of Unleashed, I first played the game on my PlayStation 2 around the holidays of 2008. I played through that game numerous times and was always able to find enjoyment in it. I found myself being thrilled during Sonic’s daytime stages/missions and was able to find some entertainment in the nighttime section as well with the Werehog. There were definitely things that did bug me about the game such as there being WAY too many Werehog levels in the second half of the game along with being forced to collect extra lives at the Gaia temples instead of just y’know collecting 100 rings but I still thoroughly enjoyed it overall.
When it comes to the HD port, my feelings were complicated. During my first playthrough, I found myself satisfied but also immensely frustrated at the game. I thought the Werehog stages were way too long, the hub worlds themselves to be way too tedious, some of the level designs to be quite bulls*it, and the amount of medal collecting you are forced to do was beyond ridiculous. While there were definitely fun parts about the game, the frustrating parts of the game were beyond awful. However, for whatever reason, I found myself wanting to play through the game again and it somehow was IMMENSIELY better the second time around.
Once I figured out how the game “works”, how the designs of each levels were operated, and where the majority of medals I needed to collect where, I found myself liking and even loving Sonic Unleashed the more I played through the game. While some of the flaws I mentioned were still present, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment in the slightest. It all just felt so satisfying to play through the game once again, going along with an adventure with Sonic and Chip as the two attempt to put the entire planet back together.
I loved running as fast as I could with Sonic and being able to master the hell out of the level design, I enjoyed exploring the hub worlds and getting to know the people involved in each town I visited, I liked going out of my way to playing side missions and searching for unlockable items, I embraced the day and night cycle that the game itself provided, I found myself engaged in the story and laughing quite a bit at some of the cutscenes, and once I was able to properly upgrade my skill set, increasing his power, and unlocking dozen of awesome moves, I even find myself enjoying the Werehog stages this time around and was able to beat them much quicker than before. Even the medal collecting, which I still believe is a big flaw with the game, isn’t as bad once you keep an eye out and know the proper time to collect all of them. To put it simply, once I was able to “figure out” the game, Sonic Unleashed became a much more rewarding experience for me.
As the years have gone on, I’ve noticed that more and more people seem to share the same opinion on Sonic Unleashed as I do. While there are still plenty of those that hate it, there are plenty of others that have no problem of admitting their love and fondness for the game whenever they get the chance. Certain folks have been scratching their heads as to why that is and why there are those that regard Unleashed as one of the last great Sonic games. While I’m sure many people have their reasons, the main answer I got is what I just mentioned in the last paragraph, Unleashed is a game that rewards the player once they are able to get the hang of everything.
Regardless of one’s opinion on Unleashed, they can’t deny the amount of content, variety, and replay value that the game itself provides. The kind of content, variety, and replay value that most Sonic games since then have lacked until arguably Frontiers. It’s not a game you can beat in a mere three to four hours with a story that feels paper thin or non-existent like Colors or Generations. It’s a game that 100% tries to make you go on a complete journey with Sonic and his friends along with providing enough gameplay styles and designs to give the player their full money’s worth. Whether you are playing to get through the main campaign or to 100% the whole thing, Unleashed offers plenty to do for the players to make it’s 60 dollar price tag worth it. While there were plenty of reviewers that viewed that as a major con, to plenty of fans, that is a major pro.
Perhaps that was why Unleashed got such a split reaction when it came out and it’s been received more favorably. Because a number of critics and players couldn’t “get” into the game on it’s first playthrough, it was dismissed upon it’s release. However, because enough time has passed and more and more fans revisit the game while being able to finally “get” the game, Unleashed has been able to gain the cult following it has in recent memory. While it’s always important for games to make for a good first impression, Unleashed proves that if you give a game a second chance, you can be rewarded for it.
Perhaps the biggest factor that should be taken into the reappraisal for Unleashed was how important that game was for the franchises’ future. It was after this game which SEGA and Sonic Team took the elements that the majority of fans and critics praised with the daytime stages with Sonic and build upon that formula even further. There was no more Werehogs or giant hub worlds, it was just Sonic doing was he does best, running around as fast as he can with platforming and exploration thrown into the mix. It’s then we got Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, two of the best reviewed and received Sonic games to date! To put it simply, Unleashed walked so Colors and Generations can run! If that’s not worth giving credit where it’s due, then I don’t know what is.
Speaking as someone that’s getting sick to death of the “reappraisal” time we are living in, I’m more than okay with Sonic Unleashed receiving that treatment. It’s a game that has plenty of great elements to it that is easier to appreciate now than ever before. From the amazing graphics (that still hold up INCREDIBLY well today) to the engaging story to the incredibly fun stages to the fantastic soundtrack to the enormous amount of replay value, there’s a lot to recommend Sonic Unleashed for. Even if I can’t promise you’ll be fond of the Werehog, hub worlds, or metal collecting, they are still there for those that like a little more variety in their Sonic games.
I think most would agree that Sonic Unleashed was a very important game for the series and basically help give it a second leash on life. It’s this game that would eventually lead to more casual and critic friendly games in Colors and Generations, further perfecting the gameplay style that Unleashed started that helped move the franchise back into good graces. Yes, Sonic Team would eventually kill all that good will and momentum in the future with the likes of Lost World and Forces and then later regain it (somewhat) with Frontiers with a new set of gameplay entirely. However, 15 years ago, it felt appropriate and proved that Sonic still had some life to him when it comes to the main installments. While it’s importance might not have been felt back in 2008, it is certainly solidified now if the cult following has anything to say about.
To quote Marty McFly from Back to the Future: I guess you guys aren’t ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it.
And I’m sure Sonic Unleashed was EXACTLY what he was referring to without a shadow of a doubt!
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