Sonic Unleashed: Wow, or WTF?

Remember back on the Genesis, when Sonic games were still good? Super-fast-paced, platformer action, when all you had to worry about was kicking ass and taking rings? Sega remembers, too, and Sonic Unleashed is supposedly about bringing Sonic back to his roots. …Except for the whole Sonic-turns-into-a-werehog part. Right. What’s going on over there, Sega?

Sonic Unleashed is set to be let out of its cage this November on Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, and PS2. The 360 and PS3 versions are being developed by Sonic Team and will utilize the appropriately named “Hedgehog Engine.” The engine has been in development for 3 years and allows a quick switch to and from 2D and 3D, and allows levels to be loaded quickly. Instead of using the new engine, the Wii and PS2 versions will use a modified version of a different Sega engine. The Wii version is being tailored to allow motion-control, but you will also be able to use a GameCube or classic controller to play.

“By combining rich and vibrant scenery with dynamic viewpoints Sonic Unleashed will provide an immersive 3D experience whilst keeping alive the 2D gameplay elements and fantastic worlds that Sonic fans know and love,” commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director for SEGA Europe. “In addition to this classic Sonic gaming experience, when darkness sets in Sonic Unleashed players will be able to experience a completely new way to play as Sonic… making this his most exciting adventure yet!”

The only part of this quote that I have a beef with is the last bit. Sonic is going to turn into a werehog? WTF is that? Imagine one of those in real life. What if you were a werehog? I’d rather be the more traditional werewolfhog…I suppose if the game is good, Sega can do whatever the hell they want—so we’ll keep our fingers crossed, by the light of the moon.