The Forgotten PS2 Port of Sonic Unleashed

[@_lemon52]

Hey! this video blew up out of nowhere recently so just a couple things: 1. If you enjoyed this vid check out my new video on Sonic Unleasheds brutal DLC: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3Kae5ZvmpVlqLs 2. A lot of you have corrected this and pointed it out but dimps didn't actually develop this game, they only made the level design for the day stages, the rest was all sonic team. 3. I know my intro is wayyy too long, this video is over 2 years old and i have ditched that intro long ago. Thanks for all the support!

[@mrt9016]

Lemon. Have you tried playing this on a backwards compatible PS3 since you can put it in widescreen and have a smooth option. It still is a very bad looking game but it can still be put in wide-screen and HD. What rating would U give the graphics. For me I would give the ps2 graphics a 2/10. Great video and keep up the good work.

[@Scroteydada]

Dimps didn't make Sonic Unleashed alone it was still mostly Sonic Team

[@yrmmishere]

Another l'il correction, Unleashed PS2 does indeed have full progressive scan support - it's just not in the settings menu, instead requiring a button combo on startup.

[@_lemon52]

@@yrmmishereI tested that myself when I was making the video, it doesn’t. Online info on this games support of progressive scan is really inconsistent, some sites state it does and others say it doesn’t. But in my findings even when using the button combination when the game starts there’s still no progressive scan support.

[@winxclub998wizardmaster]

you know before i ever got an xbox i only knew about sonic unleashed on ps2 didnt know it was on 360 and didnt know it was fully different till i got it on xbox for the first time and i loved the game even more but the ps2 version at the time ithaught it was the only version i did know about the Wii version but both are more or less the same so ididnt care till i learned about the game on xbox and ps3 i still didnt care cause i never saw gameplay of it on those consoles till sonic gen would come out and i went a digging and stumbled across gameplay lol and well the rest was set instone

[@YabukiJoe1111]

I got the PS2 version and I swear I’m not crazy when I say it looked like the 360 version to me back then, when I recently saw gameplay of it I was so confused as to why it looked like this.

[@SlapBassDarius]

Yeah, games like Gran Turismo 3 looked ultra realistic to me back when I was little.

[@TheRedassault36]

It happened the same to me with the Wii version, it was not until i grew up i realised y played a completely different game

[@Katyperryfan0801]

You must be high, I also got the PS2 version. There were literally so many videos showing the PS3/Xbox version and how much better they were. I still 100% it, but it never compared to the next gen versions

[@YabukiJoe1111]

@@Katyperryfan0801 how am I high? I literally just said the PS2 version looked better to me as a child lol

[@banjo9225]

I know exactly what you mean man, my 7 year old eyes deceived me as well, I'm 20 now

[@isenokami7810]

I REALLY like how boost is handled in Wii/PS2 Unleashed. Pretty much the opposite of “boost to win”, it’s much more of a risk/reward mechanic. Especially when going for those S ranks: you have to boost as much as possible, which means really optimizing where you can boost and streamlining your own play to get away with it in risky spots.

[@ericwirfs5578]

As a poor kid who's parents couldn't afford to get a PS3, I will forever be grateful for the PS2 ports of next gen-games. I have so many memories playing this version as a kid, and despite having recently finally played the 360 version, THIS is still my favorite, mainly bc of nostalgia glasses. Also one of the first games I ever 100%ed Great video!

[@PhirePhlame]

Just a note, the Dimps thing is a misconception. While Dimps was who worked on the daytime stage layouts, Sonic Team still did the rest. Also, did you know that the cinematic aspect ratio of the HD version's CG intro is a _crop?_ The 16:9 transfer of the SD version is the full frame as originally mastered.

[@PhirePhlame]

About boosting, two things. First, drifting during your boost makes turning much more manageable. It can feel really good once you're used to it! Second, you can cancel a boost anytime by tapping back/down (whatever you wanna call it) on the analog stick. That way, you don't have to jump or hit a wall.

[@mizzix]

Actually the game does have progressive scan, you just have to press and hold a combination of buttons when you boot the console and when the game finishes loading it will ask you if you wanna activate it.

[@Thelango99]

@@_lemon52 You also have to use the PS2 component (not composite) cables.

[@Thelango99]

@@_lemon52 Hmm, that might be the case. Haven't played the PS2 version in a while.

[@KopperNeoman]

@@Thelango99 You can also use SCART cables, if you have RGB compatible ones and a display that handles Sync-On-Green.

[@ellery860]

I actually grew up playing the ps2 version, loved it. Played it over and over as a kid.

[@BulldogPCs]

I'm new to this channel but hearing Green Hill from Sonic Chronicles immediately after the intro already tells me this is gonna be great; I unironically loved Chronicles and replayed it less than a week ago

[@azurepiphany]

Phew, I thought I was the only one who loved Chronicles. Tbh though I mainly grew up with MC+, the handhelds and Ps2Unleashed (hence said love for Chronicles and Labyrinth)

[@spiritteddy9393]

Circle is the punch button. Hold triangle and x during startup to activate progressive scan mode. Apreciate the video. Great bit of coverage on my favorite version of Unleashed.

[@ridiculoussinner4]

It's so weird. I had the Playstation 2 version as a kid and I didn't find out about the ps3 version until 2017. I honestly really enjoyed the ps2 version. I understand it's definitely probably not as good, but it's just odd to find out it's not that important in the grand scheme.

[@2fernandoc1]

I dont know how to describe it, but it looks like a PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and PS2 game simultaneously.

[@GiovanniKody100]

Calling the PS2 Port “forgotten” is like not knowing there’s a plate of corn from Encanto. Not kidding.

[@L0ILKAS]

This is the version I grew up with, and the only version I've played, I had no idea it was scaled back or anything. Must try it again sometime soon

[@robertlauncher]

Here’s another thing about sprinting, though. On Wii, to my memory, Werehog Sonic also sprints if you continue moving after dropping from a small ledge. I could be wrong, but I remember losing lives from that a lot

[@R4DN4S]

I remember I was FASCINATED with this game when I was a kid I played when I was about 5 or 6 years old and I played it on my PS2 and honestly I am so damn surprised this is what it looked like, I swear to god I remember this game like a 4K experience I thought it looked so good back then and I remember it so vividly, it’s surely just my memory and I was a kid back then I probably didn’t have high stardands and was just happy being able to play sonic, but man I really wish I could play it now on my pc

[@_lemon52]

A lot of people have said the same thing in comments. While I never had any personal ties with the ps2 version of unleashed as a kid, I know the feeling of thinking a game looked amazing as a kid and going back to play it and being surprised at what it actually looked like

[@YarNebrok]

I got the PS2 version when I was a kid. And I thought it was alright. But I didn't know how to play video games and imagined scenarios in games when I was a kid. I tried playing it during 2020 on my PS2 and OH MY GOD the amount of time you spend on loading screens. That within itself could only get me to geg through the tutorial.

[@jaynn44]

All honesty I originally thought this game only came out for the ps2 because we only could afford a ps2 when I was a kid, so for me it was one of greatest games I've owned

[@silverbulletgamer8903]

Sonic Unleashed and Call of Duty World at War Final Fronts are the best games that I played on PS2 I passed real World at War on PC but I never passed master version of Unleashed. Only what I can do is pray for Unleashed to be free on PS4 like Journey.

[@dzeppetto3143]

,,Forgotten PS2 Port" I literally didn't know it even released on anything besides playstation. I have a trailer of it on demo disc

[@guccijo1066]

This was my favorite ps2 game of all time! Like of alll timee. The. Heroes. But unleashed for ps2 was my first experience and later on i played generations along with the mod to play unleashed stages. I felt the night stages were enjoyable to me as well. Especially once you got those crazy combos down pack. Playing I personally feel like i haven’t missed out on too much not playing the ps3 version. Did a good job as a port

[@Aidenatorx99]

It seems like the PS2 version isn’t quite as forgotten as you first thought with all these comments about it haha. I’m going to add to it by saying I also played the PS2 version first at a family friend’s house numerous times. To a 9 year old in 2008, it looked just like the TV ads for the HD version. In 2012, my parents gave me and my brothers a Wii and the couple who owned the PS2 version I played as a kid gave me a Wii copy of Unleashed the same night. Needless to say, I played the ever living crap out of it 🤣 Nowadays, while the PS2 version is graphically inferior, I still group it with the Wii version under the nickname UnWiished for simplicity. It’s the same game to me regardless and I think it’s a pretty good game in its own right, warts and all (though the PS3/360 version is still the definitive version) The medal collecting drags the HD version down a fair bit for me personally and with the simpler mechanics I’d say UnWiished is a pretty good title to start with for someone completely new to the Boost gameplay. Extra side note: I’m pretty sure the Intro isn’t “letterboxed” or made to fit 4:3. After checking PS2 footage, it just looks like it’s the full 16:9 footage shrink down to fit into a 4:3 ratio. I’d say it likely helped with disc storage space as well as insuring that anyway still playing a PS2 on a CRT could see the full cutscene. It looks like crap sure but it’s still technically widescreen

[@hiRyan329329]

I loved the PS2 version as a kid, but eventually I looked it up on youtube around 2009 and saw how different it looked as well as the mysterious hub world and was so intrigued

[@CinemaHog]

As someone who S Ranked all the stages and almost got the 100%. I want to point out how rushed this version was, if you got all the collectables like the pieces of art and music, you will unlock some extra missions for the daytime levels wich contains new unused areas for the main daytime stages especially for jungle joyride and dragon road that are unfortunately (almost all of them) are hidden if you go for the basic game completition; You can see it because how much focus they gave to the Werehog, Using a lot of new environments for the night stages on almost every country, This game port could have been REALLY better if they did gave sonic team more time to polish the game and actually finish it properly

[@Dante...]

The PS2 version was the only one I had access to when the game came out but I loved it regardless. Although I was a bit jealous of how awesome the HD version looked. I did eventually get to experience it in 2011 when I finally got my PS3, and I haven't touched the PS2 version ever since.

[@lucky_dog1228]

38:25 The PS2 port of Sonic Unleashed does actually supports progressive scan, it’s just not in the in game menu. You have to press and hold down the Triangle and Square button when the “PlayStation2” logo appears, according to the PS2 manual of this game.

[@_lemon52]

In my experience it doesn’t. At least not for the PAL version. I’m aware of this method for progressive scan but this game did not support it in any capacity in my findings. Info online about progressive scan support for this game is very inconsistent. Some places say it supports it, some doesn’t.

[@lucky_dog1228]

I’ve managed to get Sonic Unleashed for PS2 and played it on my CECHA01 PS3, and turned on progressive scan, it was hard to get turned on because the PS3 controller turns off when you boot up a PS2 disc game on BC PS3s. And so far even the official back cover of Sonic Unleashed by the devs and Sega says it supports progressive scan, at least only on the NTSC version. Even with progressive scan turned, smoothing on, with the PS3 connected to HDMI to my TV, the game still looks ugly for a PS2 game. Game still has FPS issues since it’s running on full PS2 hardware on the BC PS3, on A01 and B01 PS3s specifically. While the gameplay isn’t bad, I would rather play the Xbox360/PS3 that I already have. The 4 R&C PS2 port games, Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog 2005 have nicer graphics for a PS2 game than Unleashed’s PS2 port

[@LucyDreamzZ]

That is the Unleashed I grew up with on my dying PS2 that could barely run the game so I am excited to see what this video entails!

[@LucyDreamzZ]

Well now that I watched this video, maybe I am glad my Ps2 never loaded past the first night stage because I clearly did not miss much with this version lol I will definitely play the other versions because it is something I have yet to experience

[@frumpysnorfls5088]

28:16 "you did not earn a trophy" seems I'm not the only one who carried over someone else's save cause I wanted to unlock all the content

[@WVMKrimson]

This was the version I grew up with. I was in my early teens at the time. This was the version I was hype for upon release because I didn't have a 360 at the time. My friends told me how much the 7th gen version was better so I ended up getting an Xbox the next year.

[@OmnipotentSaiyan]

This was the port I owned and I loved it. Then again I did play, enjoy, and beat Sonic Heroes on all 4 stories and Secret Ending before I bought this game.

[@justryan6480]

I wish Sonic Unleashed kept the standard for Sonic games, amazing graphics, music, CGI, BUDGET. Sonic Unleashed CGI was PEAK, was on the same level as Disney/Pixar movies. If ever Unleashed got a remake, or remaster, id love for it to feature exploration in the Gaia temples.

[@Kookie_13_]

Dimps did not actually make this game apart from the level designer on sonic rush. I love both versions of unleashed

[@_lemon52]

Yeah ur right, made a mistake there. Thanks for the info👍🏻

[@theguywhomakesstuffbutbetter]

I recommend playing this game the definitive way with the Xenia Canary emulator and a modded ISO of the Xbox 360 version of unleashed,on your PC(it may need a more powerful graphics card however).

[@TruthSeekerMusic]

First game ever. Honestly, will say that I actually prefer the concepts shown in almost all of the levels in the Wii/ps2 port, like traversing through an ice temple in Holaksa day and night is really good. Or traversing through the mountains of Chun-nan and eventually reaching the top. Honestly if there was someone remaking these stages to be closer to hd ports, would be really cool to see.

[@bot-just-bot]

I just wanna say those control scemes seems to fit sonic adventure and adventure 2 so maybe since those are on the ps2 then they decided to make it close to that so that players from that console gen wouldn't get confused

[@FuroskiGoRawr]

Conclusion: the game is shorter than the other versions i beat ps2 version than x360 version

[@GiordanDiodato]

it's structured differently

[@justdandan2]

To be fair I have sentimental value towards the PS2 version of Unleashed given I grew with that version which it was a Christmas gift when I was a kid and I totally did not know at the time there were two versions of the same game. It was night and day (no pun intended) playing through the 360/PS3 version

[@melee9183]

Just a little clarification in case anyone else hasnt but while dimps did make all the day time stages, all the night stages were still made by sonic team.

[@_lemon52]

Yeah I actually missed this when I made this video a couple years ago, you and others have pointed this out tho

[@melee9183]

@_lemon52 no worries mate :) amazing video either way

[@2doges1bong]

Damn no wonder it looks better than I remember and that it really looked like that on the ps2 lol. I would just play it all day

[@ProfessorTayTay]

This is literally how I first experienced the game and I have nothing but fond memories. The wherehog levels were too bloated I remember but that’s it. Finally playing the PlayStation 3 version a few years later was just mind blowing!

[@LinguisticMirage]

Tf you mean the forgotten port thats the only way i got to experience the game back in the day...

[@butholesurfer5335]

This is the one I had growing up, didn’t even know it was on wii or 360 till I was older 😂

[@HB-kx2nm]

This is the version that i played as a kid

[@DeTrollyEye]

I used to own the ps2 version but my disk got messed up over the years. Now I can play it again thanks to free MC boot and it still is how I remember it

[@ghostlygamer345]

This is the version I played of Sonic Unleashed. I never knew it was a "forgotten port" lol.

[@vee2863]

i remember when i was a little kid and didnt understand that the same game can look completely different on two consoles so i kept getting multiple copies of sonic unleashed ps2 thinking i was just getting unlucky and getting the "wrong" one and being very confused why my copy of sonic unleashed didnt look like the version i was seeing on youtube

[@sasquatchwizard]

I got Sonic Unleashed for PS2 from a Video Ezy when I was a kid so I could play something with my dad at the time. Turns out it was only 1 player haha but holy shit this game defined my early gaming days. Played the 360 version years later and I hated the level design, the PS2 port is elite

[@PercyPanleo]

4:06 Before the Dimps devs left SNK to form Dimps they also made Sonic Pocket Adventure, which for whatever reason was given a 10/10 by IGN

[@DarkArmos]

"why do you like sonic" Shadow.

[@brendanwiley253]

I had this as a kid and enjoyed it but was devastated to learn that the version I had was missing content from the 360 version

[@SonGokuTB]

Well, this came out, when I was still a kid with a PS2. I loved Sonic and I wanted to play that game, the instant I saw it. So my parents bought that for me and I was having the time of my life. For me, back then, it looked great. I didn't even know, that other consoles even existed at that time.

[@etonasama]

I got this version years ago. You can imagine my disappointment when it wasn't even close to the PS3 version.

[@Fancy2209Real]

As far as I'm aware, Sonic Team DID make Unwiished, Dimps made the daytime stage design only. Might be wrong tough

[@kyledowning6775]

The. PS2 version was the only one I beat. You got the full game before DLC infected and destroyed console gaming for good. I guarantee if they could rip parts out of old games and resell them they would. We truly live in the dark age of gaming.

[@Matislavio]

EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUSE MEEEEEEEE (princess) but I had THE Playstation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed and only learned it wasn't PS2 game by default from a friend who in turn didn't know this game existed on PS2. PS2 was my only console back then and I loooooved Sonic Unleashed, it definitely has a special place in my heart for being one of the games of my childhood and on that system. I remember sweating literal buckets trying to beat the final boss, and when with a friend we once watched the comparison video of the games and specifically the last boss fight (I don't remember the specifics now but I'm sure there were some differences between the systems) I was saying "yeah the PS2 version is obviously harder!" - I was a kid ok?! :v

[@stevelr64]

I got the PS2 version with the option to get the Wii version simply because I didn't wanna play with the Wii controllers and wanted more games on my PS2

[@Speedblur_]

6:49 is when the video starts

[@jamesbrekke8431]

I grew up with the wii version, and I remember the graphics being like the ps2 and 360 version. But now I’m absolutely certain it was just childhood wonder 🤣

[@pinball-wizard]

I had the PS2 version as my childhood version. I didn’t care at all though, even if I never ended up beating it

[@loweroctavemommy]

So the PS2 version is a port of the Wii but a lower frame rate? Neat.

[@mrbluejay]

boss video man, watching this gave me proper nostalgia because of how the Wii version of sonic unleashed was my very first sonic game seeing footage of it and this PS2 version took me back hahaha great analysis as always, u can really tell this game was a cash grab on a system that couldn't handle it properly imo, would rather just play the Wii version

[@mochamanplays257]

The Gaia Temples alone make the Wii version worth playing in my opinion

[@TheSgtCyrus]

I played the ps2 version along side my friend who played the wii. TBH neither of us ever saw the ps3/360 gameplay so to us it was great lol

[@canadianturtle7240]

I really hope you continue to make this series of downgraded ports. I thought I was the only one who had a bizarre fascination with downgraded ports. Thank you for this!

[@_lemon52]

I definitely should make more in the future. Thanks for the idea!

[@Fastinthewind]

When I was young the only console I had was the PS2 being a sonic fanboy I got it, played it had a blast. I ended up getting a PS3 back in 09 and naturally I also got the PS3 version of the game. I sill play the Ps3 version till this day.

[@solboofguy420]

The graphics looked a lot better on ps2 when i was a kid.

[@wsgamingentertainment1032]

I feel the Wii version of this game is the one that most children, like me, grew up playing. I only just got the Xbox One version months ago.

[@Jurmicc]

huh. so the PS2 port is apparently more like the wii version, but with older-looking graphics

[@STEELZ2000]

Weirdly enough, I am much more familiar with this version of Unleashed than any other.

[@willem6605]

I thought the PS2 version just looked like the Wii version. And dear God, I was wrong. IT'S WORSE

[@vrtillinfinity]

The PS2 version is the one I played because I was too poor to afford an Xbox 360 😂 I remember loving it though

[@RoseihDBTB]

I only played sonic Wii games in hospital 💀

[@randyharrigan4790]

I remember buying this for my ps2 back in the day but never really getting into it like older sonic games

[@EcoReck]

I'm gonna be frank, I don't think you remember what N64 games look like if you think it looks like one.

[@_lemon52]

I think at times the texture quality and poly count can very N64 like. Obviously the overall game has far more going on than any N64 game. But certain areas of the game can look incredibly rough. Im not the only one who has pointed out the n64 like enemy models and textures, exoparadigmgamer said the same thing when he covered the game on xross platform

[@broaderacer833]

When i was a kid i had no access to the internet and only had a ps2, sonic unleashed was by far my favorite game. I didn't knew there was a 360 version until very recently which was honestly mind blowing how i was using a very shitty and downscaled version of the game, like, the 360 version feels so wrong to me.

[@saphi_the_tangerine]

this is the version I grew up with so it just feels wrong whenever I try to play the next gen version

[@Skylancer727]

Personally I always liked the Wii version of Unleashed more than the 360 or PS3 version. I think the Wii version falls far less into the Sonic Team oh so popular obsession with pits of despair and didn't have the absolutely bull***t bonus missions and... the hot dog stand... Plus while it doesn't have the hub worlds, it did have the Gaia Temples which were also fully 3D and lead to more lives and a real reason to collect sun and moon coins. Oh yeah and coins were no longer just scattered aimlessly with most being given just for playing the stages and getting good scores. On a similar note on PS3 while the Werehog was more advanced, in the end if you wanted the A rank you basically threw all that out as the best way to get A ranks is the quick time events; leveling up your attack power just makes it harder to do this. But in the end the Wii and PS3 versions of the game do share most of the abilities, just a few are altered or replaced.

[@HedgehogY2K]

38:05 isn't the Dreamcast more powerful than the PS2? The Dreamcast's real rival was the GameCube. They were polar opposites with the Dreamcast having fewer polygons but higher texture quality due to it's 8 megabytes of VRAM, closest to the OG Xbox in that regard. The GameCube on the other hand has 3 megabytes to work with so the compressed the textures and forced more polygons as an excuse to show off. The PS2 sucked in every category with 4MB of VRAM and being some of the more difficult consoles to develop for.

[@_lemon52]

The dreamcast was the weakest of the 4 6th gen consoles, followed by ps2, then GameCube then Xbox. Your right that the dreamcast had some benefits like sharper textures and image resolution but it was still the weakest console by a semi significant amount. The dreamcasts only ever real rival was the ps2. The GameCube and the Xbox both released in 2001 but sega had already announced on January of that year that they were ending production of the console and going third party.

[@HumFan]

me and my buddy used to john lemon pic as our channel pfp back in like 2010. channel was called "superlemonizer" lol

[@JLWalker101]

I remember the ps2 version still running and looking great

[@RealShadowBunny]

the ps2 version i thought was the original version of the game, as its the version i first played (and was also my first sonic game)

[@miwiki6]

Sonic itself is a franchise i've loved since my childhood and i gotta say Unleashed has always been considered a masterpiece by me but i gotta admit, the ps2 port looks pretty bad lol (maybe just because i'm comparing it to the 360 version)

[@isenokami7810]

For me, while I grew up with the Wii version, I looked into the PS2 version when putting it on my Steam Deck. Basically the same game without the motion controls, which I thought were fine but would not fly on the Deck; not far off in all honesty. Still mostly got the version I grew up with and loved, but with small but appreciated bonuses like being able to appreciate the Werehog combat more and not bust my arm trying to S rank Eggmanland Day.

[@bluevain2255]

It works with classic and GameCube controllers, I played with GameCube myself

[@kingdomkeycrafter]

I could never forget the disappointment of owning a copy of the PS2 version of Sonic Unleashed…

[@boomerpatrol2838]

the ps2 version of this game was my first experience with Unleashed and i thought it was great at the time. but i was 9 so anything would be great to me

[@cursed_by_ghost]

I played and beat the ps2 version as a kid. This was the version I has

[@auxcide]

1:36 I've never heard anyone talk about the "morals" of sonic the hedgehog, aint no WAYYYY,

[@squirq]

dude is really sonic pilled. best game ever? THE ONE WHERE SONIC IS A WEREWOLF

[@shidac39]

The forgotten first release of unleashed

[@IkesDaddelbox]

While Dimps was involved in the Wii/Ps2 version, they only made the level design for the daytime stages. The rest was entirely handled by Sonic Team. Not quite sure if somebody already pointed that out. I'm too lazy to scroll down. Fantastic and much needed video, this version rarely gets even mentioned on the internet. I, personally, feel incredibly nostalgic about the Ps2 version, so I'm glad it gets some recognition.

[@_lemon52]

Wow I did not know that at all, thanks for the info. Thanks for the kind words as well, appreciate it!

[@xan1242]

Sonic Team also handled the bosses. The final boss sections are the only ones with rail switching in the entire game.

[@HedgehogY2K]

I thought the whole thing with both the PS2/Wii was entirely Dimps. Sonic Team did the night stages and the bosses? Whoa, I didn't expect Sega to care much about the Wii let alone the PS2 after the oblivion of the Secret Rings release. Btw, I heard Sonic 06 was actually meant to be released on 6th gen consoles.

[@IkesDaddelbox]

@@HedgehogY2K 06 was supposed to get a Wii port. But when Sonic Team found out the hardware couldn't possibly handle it they made Secret Rings for it. To do that they had to split the team into two teams working on 2 entirely different projects. Not the best idea.

[@infern24]

@@_lemon52 you say its forgotten but you're wrong, because the ps2 version was my original experience of sonic unleashed, and I will always prefer it and the wii version over the hd version, better level design, fun easier werehog, easier/more fun final boss fight, and no medal requirements, I prefer this version.

[@ToonyTails]

I absolutely love the Wii/PS2 version. (I actually grew up with the Wii version but these 2 versions are the same so the same rules apply.) I feel like this version of the game is way underrated and is in someways better compared to the 360/PS3 version. Like the medals aren’t required and you also just get them from doing well in stages. The final boss is much better imo, and isn’t as long and tedious as the PS3/360 version. The night stages are much shorter and have breaks in between. And you get to hear the Gaia Gate music In full.

[@MohammedSG9]

Same opinion 🤝

[@Ubylmoen]

I'm with ya. This is my preferred version, I don't particularly enjoy the 360/PS3 version all that much tbh.

[@SpectacleSpark]

THIS! I preferred playing the wii version because it was more TOLERABLE and easier. I've tried the ps3 version but it unfortunately wasn't fun because most of the werehog levels were just too hard and difficult. The werehog levels on the wii though were actually at least more tolerable and I enjoyed it. I also didn't mind the cutscenes on the wii. As much as I love the 3d worldbuilding on ps3, I preferably like the wii better

[@noshgaming]

​@@SpectacleSparkYou simply suck then lol. This port was child's play for me and I finished the game as a 9 year old. When I played it on my 360 after turning 12, that's when I felt challenged and not to mention the visuals interested me to keep trying and not give up. The egg dragoon boss fight in the ps3/360 version is way superior than any boss fight in this PS2/Wii port. The day stages of sonic are thousands times better level design wise. The werehog stages imo are equally ok in both.

[@HyperShadow991]

@@noshgaming back off dude not everyone is a gaming prodigy ok? i too very much prefer the ps2 version the final boss is WAY more fun on ps2 than xbox and yes i have played both versions in full and i honestly kind of disliked the ps3/xbox version compared to the ps2 version i owned. hell i loved the day stage for eggmanland on ps2 so much i perfected the stage so damn well i could've probably been a competitive world record speedrunner for that stage specifically

[@lunatic_touhou3948]

Man, i have so many memories of the PS2 version of Unleashed i could write a damn essay about it but to keep it short i loved it as a kid and was technically my introduction to the Sonic series. Really good to see somebody talking about this version, especially in 2021. Great review 👍.

[@TechnicalGeorgeYT]

I felt the same in march of this year when i played the wii version on wii u via download and i adored it

[@bogymanthedark]

I still play this version to this day via emulators.

[@stoheha]

Must've been an awesome way to get into the series. I see this game as a fascinating example of how sonic team could've adapted Sonic to the dreamcast if they had a clearer vision of the series and how it would play in 3d. Though, the Sonic Adventure games will always have a special place in my heart and were enjoyable for their time.

[@butvi0663]

The same for me. A beautiful part of my childhood. Love it

[@bluestar5812]

As a brazilian kid who grew up too poor for videogames I'm glad the PS2 version exists. My mom got a pirated disc of it when I returned from my vacation at my grandparents at the beginning if 2009. Back then I had no Internet access, so a new Sonic game was always magical to me. I played a lot of this game, mastering and S ranking every stage, challenge, and all gaia temples, upgrades and extras. I'm not sure if my disc was bugged, but to this day I never unlocked the final challenge. According to many guides there should be one item on Dragon Road Day, but it never spawned to me. I even restarted the entire game to be sure, nothing. The final mission unlocks after 100% the game, it is one extra new level in Jungle Joyride.

[@nisnast]

Same dude, I never played this game, but I have played other games that were advertised as next gen only like Alone in the Dark, Need for Speed Prostreet and Star Wars The Force Unleashed, I never had a PS3/360, so I really appreciated having versions of these games on the PS2.

[@bonixohd3424]

I feel ya man, Sonic Unleashed PS2 is my absolute favorite Sonic games. I started playing it in 2012 and had my PS2 jailbroken and got a pirated disc. No internet and just good memories.

[@ivannn0222]

Perhaps the item never spawned as an anti piracy measure?

[@kirbstagoontheaxolotl]

I feel you. I've got a legitimate version I was 100% completing, but it corrupted a bit over a year ago. Mine was a pack in game with my ps2 my mum got when I was 3, so I was SALTY my save corrupted, as one day it was all good and I was having fun fighting the egg dragoon and trying to set ANOTHER record on the Dark Guardian (I have an under 20 second time on the boss on PS2 on the corrupted file) and the next I boot up the game to 'your save file is corrupted'. Bc of the amount of scratches the disc has from 10 y/o me losing the case a ton the game pauses at certain cutscenes so I can't play it anymore

[@violetsparkles5453]

Omg we had the same experience. I grew up in Colombia and had a modded ps2 so I had a pirated copy of unleashed. I played the shit out of it until my ps2 broke and stopped reading discs.

[@SaiyanABlazeNinja]

This was definitely not forgotten by me. Me & my brother played this version at the Dentist's waiting room everytime we went. They had a PS2 kiosk set up for people to play on.

[@ttttoasty]

That's so wholesome. My brother and I would bring it to the lake or anywhere we went, he would play the night stages and I would play the day

[@LaggyMag]

I wish my dentist had a PS2. Then I’d be inclined to go

[@DontCensorMuah]

😢😢

[@БогданКрименюк]

What kind of fictional dentist did you have, ain't no way 😭😭😭

[@SaiyanABlazeNinja]

@@БогданКрименюк well it was an Optometrist actually so their businesses have a lot of money luckily they spent some of it on entertaining the people waiting.

[@MarkerMurker]

Heck yes I asked for this game. I remember staying up until 2 AM on Christmas playing it. I probably cried with joy. To this day, I'd still choose this version over the PS3/360. Also, both your acceleration and speed are tied to the number of rings you have. The boost is fine, I used to speedrun this game and that involved chaining the boost. It's very possible.

[@WebstersYouTube]

The way you described the PS2 story vs the PS3 / 360 story feels similar to how I feel about manga and anime. My wife doesn't read manga, but she does watch anime, so when she watches Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, or The Promised Neverland, or Bakuman with me there's always this niggling feeling in my mind that she's experiencing a compromised version compared to the manga.

[@earlduran6419]

@@_lemon52, if the HD version's story was an Anime adaptation and the SD version's story was a Manga adaptation, then the Java version's story is a Netflix adaptation.

[@hipstersephiroth3722]

Yeah I need both manga and anime once I watch anime I get into it I need manga to get sink into it it’s makes appreciate the world more

[@roc-noK]

Glad to see people covering this version of the game. This is the one I grew up with and I had no idea there was a different version. The first time I watched a video of the game, I was shocked at how different it was. I also never got very far in the game, I beat the egg beetle and that was it.

[@PaperBanjo64]

In the PlayStation 2's defense barely any games supported 480p, I highly doubt any games after 2009 support it.

[@zidane4028]

Sonic Unleashed did support 480p progressive scan, you just had to hold down X and Triangle while booting up the system and a prompt will appear to enable the mode.

[@KopperNeoman]

Getting progressive scan support out of RGB (SCART) on the PS2 is like pulling teeth. It syncs on GREEN.

[@antoniocolon1567]

As a kid, I only had the ps2. I freaked out when this game came out and cherished it.

[@ultraninja_19]

Sonic Unleashed is such a great game. Best modern Sonic game in my opinion.

[@lucymorrison]

Idk where the “ps2 games around 2008 were usually in widescreen” thing came from, the ps2 library has pretty few games that support widescreen. It was kind of a rare novelty when a game had a 16:9 mode

[@minenhledlamini4206]

Later PS2 Games had default widescreen support (The Ps2 has settings 4:3, 16:9, Full) Since 2001