My Half-Hearted Defense of Sonic Unleashed’s Werehog Sections

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As a dedicated Sonic fan, I’ve been absolutely thrilled by the Sonic Unleashed Recompiled project. For years, we’ve been longing for a remastered version of Sonic Unleashed on PC and Steam Deck, but SEGA seemed to be taking its time. Thankfully, this passionate community stepped up and delivered what we’ve been yearning for. Now, I can relive the underappreciated and often misunderstood Sonic adventure that is Sonic Unleashed. It’s truly been a gift to us fans!

Typically, enthusiasts of Unleashed often praise the game’s boost segments, while criticizing the Werehog segments severely. Nevertheless, after trying out several stages, I must admit that the combat sections aren’t as terrible as they’re often made out to be.

Allow me to clarify, certain aspects within this game aren’t without their flaws. For instance, the scarcity of diverse adversaries becomes noticeable right from the start, with Werehog Sonic frequently encountering tiny blobs as opponents. The platforming experience as a Werehog is not without its challenges, especially when you have to transition from one pole to another because you can’t adjust your position until after the leap has been made. Additionally, some of these levels are excessively lengthy, contrary to the popular boost stages.

And that battle music is so repetitive. BAM BOP BAM BAM DADARANAAAAAA, please make it stop.

Despite my initial reservations, I actually found enjoyment in the Werehog segments of Sonic Unleashed. To be honest, I quite enjoyed them.

Initially, the Werehog maneuvers quite well, except for those pole jumps. The sensation of running and punching as Werehog Sonic is enjoyable. Watching Sonic’s limbs extend and knock out enemies provides a sense of satisfaction. Sprinting on all fours to traverse stages quicker is a delightful addition that makes me yearn for more games to incorporate a run button. Perhaps I merely miss the fast-paced action of contemporary Ninja Gaiden or classic God of War, but these segments instill a sense of joy in me.

Additionally, I found myself quite taken with the jazz melodies that accompanied my adventure as Werehog Sonic. Despite the frequent and somewhat grating battle music, the soothing tunes that followed were definitely worth the experience. I was hoping that the Sonic Unleashed Recompiled project would offer an option to remove the battle music, but doing so might have altered the essence of Sonic Unleashed, for good or ill.

Although the extended stages might seem tedious at times, it simplifies the hunt for the necessary Sun and Moon Medals. Regrettably, Unleashed obliges players to gather these medals or they won’t advance to subsequent stages. It’s particularly frustrating in the boost sections because of the rapid speed, making it almost impossible to avoid missing these medals, necessitating multiple retries. On the other hand, collecting them during the Werehog stages is less troublesome due to smaller levels and smoother navigation.

Fans seeking abridged versions of these game levels might find inspiration in how the PS2 or Wii adaptations were handled. Developed by Dimps, known for the Sonic Rush and Advance series, they managed to shorten the Werehog levels and make them more manageable. Plus, completing levels earns Sun and Moon medals, eliminating the need for extensive exploration during boost stages.

If you found the Werehog parts in Sonic Unleashed challenging, it might be worth revisiting them now. For instance, if you prefer playing on PC or Steam Deck, consider checking out the Unleashed Recompiled project for a seamless 60 frames per second (FPS) experience. On the other hand, if you own an Xbox Series console, just play your existing Xbox 360 version of the game since it also received a complimentary 60 FPS upgrade.

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2025-03-06 14:20