The Last Time Sega Cared About Sonic? | Why Sonic Unleashed Still Matters in 2024

Timestamps:
Intro-0:00
Game/Story Overview-2:16
Day Stages-9:27
Night Stages 14:42
Sun and Moon Medals-24:50
Conclusion-27:45
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Sonic as a brand is probably in the best state it's been in since the late 2000s. We’ve got a string of successful movies, a new cartoon, the games are breaking series sales records, all in all I’d say its an exciting time to be a sonic fan. But for some reason, I can't shake this feeling that something about the newer games is….off. I enjoyed Frontiers for what it was, but something about it just never sat right with me, and for a while I couldn't really figure out why. So, in pursuit of answers, and because I’ve lost control of my life, I decided to replay a bunch of older sonic games to try and figure out what had changed between now and then. For the most part, my thoughts on these games have stayed pretty much the same over the years, and as time has gone on I’ve come to appreciate more and more aspects of each respective game. But one game in particular stood out to me during these replays, and helped me come to terms with what I think the series is missing at present. That game, of course, was Sonic Unleashed.
Sonic Unleashed was the first Sonic game I ever played, and it's been my favorite game in the series for over a decade at this point. I grew up primarily with the Wii version, so you can imagine my surprise when I later got a PS3 and realized there was a completely different version of this game I was already playing a lot of. My 9 year old brain was blown. But I haven't sat down and played either version from start to finish in a few years, and upon doing so recently, I found myself noticing a lot more of this game's nuances than I had before. There's a lot of things in this game that I think the series has been lacking in recently, and I think taking some of those ideas and practices and applying them to the modern stuff would help the series flourish even more that it is right now. So let's all take an extended look at Sonic Unleashed, and talk about why it still matters in 2024.

[@kalemuncher9425]

2 whole console generations later and machines still can't process the complexity of Eggman's sandwich

[@cliffturbo2146]

Gonna need an 8K machine for that one.

[@FellaJ12]

Still find it hard to believe how he destroyed that foot long sandwich in like 3 bites

[@jovani6044]

The subway sponsorship we didn't know but needed in our Sonic game. Next to Pizza hut

[@DaHeis]

Good thing emulation exist and it's getting better and better by the day.

[@andersonsansonowski5644]

agreed

[@Kingmationproductionz]

I’m a keep it real. I’m just convinced that half of the sonic fans are just fans of certain eras rather than a fan of the franchise as a whole

[@BlueEyedVibeChecker]

I'm the other half, the only game I actively hate in the series is Sonic Skating Simulato-I mean Sonic Heroes. It isn't a "bad" game, but it's incredibly boring which is much worse imo. (Imagine the whole game is just the first quarter of the game 4 times over, to unlock a seizure simulator at the end.) It was a cool concept with poor execution. I love the rest of them. (I did count the GOAT Sonic's Schoolhouse, thanks for asking)

[@thefastcommenter7774]

Yep

[@cashbrady4074]

I like all of it

[@storm_wolfBH]

I'm in love with the franchise which is the story behind it don't even play the games like that i just need the story for it

[@stormycd392]

This is something you need to be convinced of? Considering the wide array of different gameplay styles, it was *certain* that this was going to happen. Inevitable even. This franchise is like 30 years old. That means the Sonic games you played as a Kid are so far removed from the current games that kids are playing now. If you were born on the same day as Sonic The Hedgehog (1991), you could have gone to college and had kids. This game now spans 2 generations.

[@jovani6044]

They set the bar so high after Unleashed it's been almost impossible to replicate with teams changing so much, visions, and budgets.

[@thefastcommenter7774]

Midleashed

[@uisonic5008]

​@@thefastcommenter7774 themidcommented774

[@Sharpteeth32]

Unleashed is the GOAT of Sonic games. It just...man, does so much right. The gameplay, the presentation, the story, the MUSIC. It's so good, dude. SEGA seriously needs look back at Unleashed and replicate it for future games. Just imagine what a modern Unleashed style Sonic game could be.

[@WadeWalker22]

Generations better

[@Sharpteeth32]

@@WadeWalker22 Okay, bud.

[@samuraix2328]

@@WadeWalker22I played generation but unleashed when you boost you feel faster. And generation the boost it feels like they tone down the speed a bit.

[@WadeWalker22]

@@samuraix2328 gotta replay it then wished emulation for it was better on smaller pcs

[@samuraix2328]

@@WadeWalker22 I do play unleashed from time to time on my Xbox one . The last time I played was before my graduation day in high school and it was the final battle with dark Gaia.

[@etherealhatred]

SEGA clearly doesn't care, that's why the rumor of Frontiers being Sonic Team's last chance was and still is so strong and allegedly confirmed by SEGA employees, but Sonic Team genuinely cares, they try to compensate for the lack of budget, time, team, resources and experience they have compared at what they had with Unleashed, Unleashed had brilliant minds at their disposal, people who loved and understood Sonic from years, help from external technology and graphic teams to make the Hedgehog Engine the demon of an engine it is even today and so much much more Is such a shame we can't get this sort of things today and the main team needs to prove the company they can still keep going when most lay offs come from SEGA's questionable management, poor decision making and sometimes anti-consumer strategies Btw the strechy nature of Werehog is due the influence of Dark Gaia, Nightmares do the same but they barely use attacks that stretch their bodies reason why almost no one knows about it

[@xemnasxiii3992]

For some reason, I always figured the strecthy nature of Werehog Sonic's body came from his speed that went all in his arms lol

[@mart5610]

Sonic Unleashed was so well animated. Not just the cgi but the in game cutscenes and gameplay too. Like you said all is very expressive. Somehow the cutscene quality started to dip for later games, especially in Sonic Forces.

[@zarloplayz]

16 YEARS?!? godddd i feel old LMAO. Sonic unleashed will always be a fave to me

[@squarethinkingdude]

SEGA doesn't care about sonic, but i see sonic team genuinely does, and it can be seen trough games like frontiers or superstars, i can write the reasons i think my point stands, but i'm too lazy to do that lol Edit: Wow this really did the numbers lmao, i got a whole comment section of my own

[@thedredayshow9246]

S.T. always tried their best with the scraps Sega gave them regarding Sonic. That's why I admire Sonic Team so much.

[@squarethinkingdude]

@@thedredayshow9246 me too, like i atleast hope one day these guys separate from sega and begin an indie studio, because they are clearly talented, they just aren't let work in peace

[@SonicTheBlueBlur15]

@@squarethinkingdudeif they do tho then what will happen to sonic franchise? The team obviously wants sonic games to be made amazingly but they cant if they leave, also recently i heard that after frontiers succes sega is giving sonic team a bigger budget and resources as well as more people being hired, so their starting to care again

[@squarethinkingdude]

@@SonicTheBlueBlur15 While i still think sega doesnt care for sonic (see sonic superstars wich is missing levels because arzest didn't ave time to finish), i think there are 2 good outcomes, they begin an indie studio and make a sonic-like to compete against sega, or they actually get the resources and launch sonic to succes, but i still think we will have good not amazing products for a while

[@Rusty_Spy]

@@thedredayshow9246I don't. They can have all the good will and love in the world; doesn't change the fact they're painfully _mid_ developers. If anything it makes them look worse than if they just didn't care, cause this means this is really all the best they can do.

[@realnova7429]

this video is a love letter to Sonic Unleashed and I'm all for it

[@afhamdanish1957]

The last big budget sonic game ever made that introducing the hedgehog engine also using until this day and the first 3d boost game and also the first game that makes IGN embarrassing themselves

[@raphaelsouza8234]

Sonic Unleashed will always be the best game for me.

[@BoomSonicSuper]

I have not yet seen this video as of writing this, but I would say that The main thing with Sonic is managing expectations. Frontiers was solid, nothing ground breaking, but solid. Sonic Unleashed is still the best Modern Sonic one to this day in my opinion.

[@ssg-eggunner]

I'd say it's the best sonic in general

[@PlayPodOG]

@@ssg-eggunner fucking ew

[@ssg-eggunner]

@@PlayPodOG what's better than unleashed then?

[@russiafart21]

@@ssg-eggunnerNOTHING MY BROTHER UNLEASHED ON TOP 👆💯💯💯🗣🗣🗣

[@sb14andmore50]

​@@PlayPodOGIf it's because of the werehog then let me tell you that Unleashed and SA1(or even 06)weren't the first to make Sonic slow, the classic games didn't feel that fast either, only when you got the "Speed Shoes" powerup, this is *ESPECIALLY* true when you get to levels like Marble Zone where it's platforming central

[@RR-08]

This video is my thoughts exactly.. Just last night I was thinking how unfulfilling the franchise has been for the last 12ish years and how I always seem to fall back to peak.. (unleashed is my goat always and forever)

[@Scottishboy3693]

This game was meant to be the last sonic game from what ive been told

[@michaelbullen3104]

Lol it was a last ditch effort to save the franchise but there was no concrete intent for it to be the “final game” ever in the game’s development, and no sonic game has been either

[@joshuvuh8118]

Possibly the best opening cut scene to a sonic game that’s for sure

[@JosueRojas-sh1bh]

This video encapsulated exactly how I think this game is. Out of all the sonic games that I continue to come back to, it’s always this one. Because almost EVERYTHING about it screams: “We do care”. Remember, this was the game after 06, so obviously they had to pull all the stops to ensure to fans that they CAN make something amazing, and this game just absolutely SELLS it. An amazing game (while not perfect) that stands the test of time

[@strideytidey8665]

One of the things that really grips me about the older 3d Sonic games is how seriously they took themselves. Games like Colors, Generations, the Boom series, etc. do this weird ironic thing where the games almost make fun of how ridiculous they are. Meanwhile the older games like SA2 and Shadow do have absolutely bonkers plots. But because they're so earnest in telling those stories I can't help but appreciate them.

[@RobloxIsCool5000]

my favourite game of all time ❤️

[@Rzon-jk4pz]

Unleashed saved the Sonic franchise cuz nobody liked Sonic 06 or Shadow the Hedgehog, intro was peak combat system was peak voice acting was peak, music was peak I can't really find anything bad to say about the game other than some of the Werehog stages it was overall a fun game it's personally the best Sonic game I've played so far and it was unappreciated at it's time

[@coolgas456]

YOU MY MAN ARE UNDERRATED AS F*CK. And yes, I also don't think Sega will ever be able to create a Sonic game again that was as good as Unleashed. The models, the gameplay, the graphics, the music, the good (and even at the end, the depressing and sad) story and most important: the cutscenes. It's quite sad to hear and I but I really do think Sonic and Sega were at their prime during Sonic Unleashed. Still looking foreward to an even more improved Unleashed 'ultimate' with PC port!

[@JustJacy_]

Sonic unleashed is the best sonic game. No game will ever top it

[@leonardowynnwidodo9704]

Love how you explained each version of Sonic Unleashed. Watching the entire game gives me the right to call out the GOAT of all Sonic games; with Frontiers, I’ll give it the queen. SEGA should definitely make a remaster of Unleashed soon cause I want to experience the adventure

[@PkmnTCG615]

I meant to comment on this a few days ago upon first watching. I just want to say I love your take on this game and I agree with most of what you said. To me I feel this is Sonic's biggest and most grand adventure in the sense that Sega put lots of love into it. The cutscenes, the graphics, the globe throtting, the symphonic score. It's all beautiful. This feels like what Mario Odyssey was. A grand adventure with beautiful music and a huge love for what makes this character amazing. The cast was small but it allowed the game to be more focused after several games of having large casts. The representation of world countries and their cultures which actually inspired me to travel as I do now (I live in Asia now, originally from America) and just the beautiful detail and attention to everything. The hub world's look nice, Sonic is faster than he's ever been, even more so than Frontiers, going so fast he blurs everything. I love this game, despite always having difficulties with it due to long night stages and difficulty. I hope one day Sega makes another game of this quality. Sonic games have felt so cheap, uninspired and generic the last decade or so. The last game I really liked was Generations and nothing has impressed since then (except Mania). I hope with the success of the movies and Frontiers that Sega becomes more confident in Sonic. Despite the mixed reviews of the games from the early 2000s, the games in that period are so memorable and enjoyable because Sega took risks and made fan favorite characters and made amazing music.

[@ssg-eggunner]

Funny cuz odyssey devs were unleashed devs too

[@bubbletea_]

something something ambition and passion

[@gameappreciation]

And polish

[@r3i960]

30 min summed up by this yea

[@KnucklestheEcidna]

@@gameappreciation Ambition, Passion and Polish. the 3 main points that the entire industry is missing these days. everybody is too scared to actually stick to their guns. and thus their mediocre products get a lot of hate for good reason. Which ends up scaring the companies even MORE and it turns them away from opting for safer routes and getting rid of the very elements their products NEED.

[@lauridsen1381]

@@KnucklestheEcidna how are they any less scared to stick to their guns now than back then? They revized the whole movement system sonic had had for 15 years in Unleasehed, and people hated it. Now one of their main points of criticism from fans is that they rely too heavily on nostalgia, and you try to say that they are afraid to stick to their guns???? They are sticking too much to them bro. Pick one. You can't use both criticisms, they are literally opposites.

[@EvadeEXE]

YOU WANNA KNOW WHO ELSE HAD AMBITION??? stalin

[@gx4012]

I’ve always said Id rather see an animated movie like the intro cut Scene to Unleashed than a live action movie. That cut scene is so beautiful, I remember getting goosebumps watching it as a kid

[@LowTierMarston]

Glad to see some respect finally being put on the *GOAT's* name after years of unnecessary hate

[@ThisisTheUltimate]

Sonic Unleashed wasn't the last time Sonic Team cared for Sonic Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations were going for a desperate new direction because it's what the series needed, Sonic Unleashed, as ambitious and big as it is, was still a negative reviewed game like most of the mid and late 2000 games were The direction change worked, Sonic Colors and Generations were both recieved better than most of the 2000s games released after Sonic Adventure 2, of course, right after we got Lost World and Forces, but that's already a different story I also think Frontiers was still experimenting with stuff, not because it isn't ambitious, but because they're trying to go further and show they care for the series, Frontiers WAS an important game for the series, it was trying to reach "new frontiers", and for the effort and passion Sonic Team tried putting on it, it rightfully got what it deserved, it surpassed Heroes, the best selling 3D Sonic game for almost 20 years, and it was super well recieved in general, even Kishimoto was getting feedback from the public, applying into the game, taking it in consideration, saying he'll try to apply them in the next games It's impossible to know what will the future games be like and the future of the series in general, I'm not a fortune-teller, but no matter if it's good or bad, Frontiers still is an important game, and I really hope Sonic gets a hopeful future thanks to what Frontiers wanted to stablish, Sonic deserves the world

[@nightzzmixx]

This video is so well edited and structured! I was surprised when I looked at your channel. Your subscriber count does not reflect the amount of effort you put into your videos at all. I’m looking forward to your future videos!

[@kb9996]

Thank you bro for showing Sonic Unleashed the love and praise it deserves, I just wish SEGA could watch this video and see what an impact this game had on me and a lot of other people, really hope it gets a remaster for latest gen consoles and pc.

[@adem.3782]

great video, nice writing. I usually don't comment but you really managed to make it interesting and entertaining. And thanks for covering the banger that is the Wii version

[@Koolers20]

While Unleashed wasn’t my first Sonic game, that being Adventure DX, Unleashed instantly became my favorite game in the franchise after my first playthrough. There just hasn’t been another Sonic game thats given me the same feel or thrill I still feel whenever I go back to it; especially if we’re talking about the day stages. Frontiers was a good attempt at course correction, but I feel SEGA needs to put more passion into their next title if we’re ever gonna get anything close to if not better than what they managed to cook up with Unleashed.

[@reddeath5791]

I’m playing through this game on and off and, no matter if I’m loving this game or raging at it, I’ll forever be grateful for this game’s theme song for indirectly introducing me to Bowling For Soup

[@juanweasley8101]

my brother was really into unleashed, cool dive down memory lane

[@jboyathegamer]

Sonic unleashed is a great game it was my second sonic game its my second favorite 06 was my first and favorite and its been like that for 10 years and nothing changed so im glad

[@TRN_SIRIS]

ong bro first its 06, then unleashed, adventure 2, frontiers, generations

[@TRN_SIRIS]

06 caught my heart as a kid nd same with unleashed, they were my first introduction to the sonic franchise especially since im born in 04

[@PlayPodOG]

06 being a favorite? what?

[@jboyathegamer]

@@PlayPodOG oh my favorite sonic game

[@AbielAureliusTamtomo]

bro sonic unleashed is the only sonic game that made me cry lmao

[@_SparkHere]

Wow, this is like the first video in a while that I ever gave a like to. You only have 957 subs? You deserve like 1 mill from how HQ your vids are.

[@tituslee2153]

Siiiiiick editing maaaan! This was like a movie. I love this game so much. Always been my favorite Sonic game. I actually just picked it up two days ago! The ps3 version, which I still have NEVER played before. I grew up on the wii version. But man…gotta try the HD! Great vid bro! Keep up the excellent work and editing skills!

[@penance6998]

amazing video man! thoroughly enjoyed, subbed

[@gabrielt1fe818]

the nostalgia hit me too hard when i saw the cutscenes in the video. man it hurts knowing people hated on this! though i wasn't one of them. my family and i spent over multitudes of hours (and probably days lol) on boss fights and levels while playing the game. i got it on my ps3 a year after the game's launch so we were glad our patience to get it was worth the anticipation without the fanbase clouding our thoughts. and we have enough memories to recall about them that we come back together to play it once in a while. ( despite it being a single player title).

[@Sakaki_mp4]

You can't imagine how happy it made me seeing someone finaly giving Unleashed the praise it deserves without any bias or using misinformation made by people blindly following the popular opinion like many journalists and reviewers tend to do. From every standpoint, you are absolutly 100% right! Unleashed is the only "true AAA" and Sonic game and the amount of blind hate it still gets it's utterly infuriating. From the excellent challenging gameplay, the story, the Warehog to how well made it was not to mention, how polished one fact is clear: Unleashed is a underappreciated masterpiece of a game, and while it got it's fair share of flaws they don't get in the way of the positives like many want you to believe. We seriously need more AAA like quality bangers like Unleashed as even Frontiers (And even the classics and Mania) couldn't come close to it's greatness and probably never will, especially considering what came after the meta era was either mediocre or downright terrible until Frontiers but i'll stay optimistic until then. In conclusion, you have my full respect and thank you for being one of the few people in the fanbase with some actual critical thinking instead of blindly following the popular opinion like many do.

[@ssg-eggunner]

Agreed but werehog was ehhhh

[@Sakaki_mp4]

@@ssg-eggunnerSo It's not really your thing? That's fine, more power to you. My main problem really is that people have this habit of dismissing the entire game just for the Warehog but it's expected when they are the same people that blindly follow popular opinions like sheep do.

[@ssg-eggunner]

@@Sakaki_mp4 i mean unleashed was definitely the best sonic game ever released when compared to other sonic games heck I think it's way better than generations but the werehog and medals made it not reach quite there if it wasn't for those factors the "sonic was never good" phrase wouldn't have existed nowadays

[@HellboyBr11]

​@@Sakaki_mp4It's exactly like that, people just follow the majority's opinion because it's the majority's opinion, they don't have their own opinion and already follow a pre-established bias, they don't have an open mind, which is why we see people reproducing the same opinion without depth. Of course, people still have opinions and can genuinely hate something, but there is still a bias

[@PlayPodOG]

the " hate" isn't blind. level progression is annoying with the medals. it introduced boost sonic into 3d sonic which turned into a cancer for the series. adding 2d sections as a crutch for level design. and the absolute worst thing, the werehog. which is like 75% of the game.

[@kinggalactix]

I'm saving this video for later, but I know this is going to be gooood. Also, Sonic Unleashed still has one of the best combat systems to this day. All it needed was another moment to shine, and updated for different characters.

[@rickster008]

imo sonic unleashed was the peak of the sonic series for me after this game the sonic has never been the same ever again. i loved unleashed. it was Colors that made fall out of the series

[@officialthomasjames]

Colors was so empty. Just a bunch of repeated levels. 0 effort was put into the story.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

Why? What about Generations? That was a love letter to Sonic.

[@salt20xX]

@@user-vi4xy1jw7e don't mess with sonic fans, they never think before saying anything.

[@birdquest8695]

I always thought the play style of the night stages would fit Knuckles really well.

[@pikminarmy7538]

I honestly think it would be better suited for chaos 0 honestly.

[@anotheryoutubeaccount5259]

Wade Whipple you mean

[@danielreyesmusic]

“aw u know casual weekend shit” took me out 😂

[@cameron8909]

that was a very good video, I wanna hear u say more things and edit the way u do thanks

[@georgehoback3732]

I don't understand why the reviews are so mixed. I was blown away when I played it, but I was expecting it to be kinda bad.

[@Blue_Velocityy]

That intro was FIRE 14:42

16 years man, my soul went “wait, HOW MUCH TIME PASSED?”

[@PackedMouse]

Superb video 👏long live the original Hedgehog engine and Unleashed. A remake one day would be a dream come true

[@SonicX4v2]

They lost the devs that made it fun, they left and went to work for Nintendo and other companies just like what happened with the Mania team. Sega is not good at management

[@Curlyfries237]

The ending was absolutely beautiful and so many chills

[@dragonballmaster5324]

Don’t forget it has leveling up system that levels up all of the were hogs and regular sonic aspects of combat. It shows up each time you finish a stage to upgrade songs c abilities and werehogs abilities 16:47

[@gb_oreo]

masterful video, I loved it!

[@Studio_4]

Peak Cinema. Great vid!

[@aoto8897]

Amazing video!

[@AlanJonesu]

Great video! This is easily my favorite Sonic game, too. Anyway, I also must be a contrarian. By playing DMC3, Ninja Gaiden, Bayonetta, and God of War, I immediately embraced the Werehog gameplay with open arms. My only gripe is that the same battle music is used.

[@Cerberus589]

Yea they should’ve used different battle themes for each of the night stages

[@krub1124]

i loved the werehog so much in the wii version. even though it was very slippery and took some time to get used to, it was really fun. seriously, on the earlier levels i wasnt doing well but in the later stages i was doing so well and getting s ranks constantly. i guess its just that i have a knack for platforming. for combat it was pretty fun as well despite it very limiting, and honestly i prefer the leveling system on the wii version because its technically automatic, its kinda annoying to learn which is the most important ones to level up. but still, it looks like werehog is even more interesting on the hd version (cant play it because i have a bad computer lol)

[@PlayPodOG]

ew. the werehog makes this game unplayable

[@_manooo]

Loved the video!! :D

[@FeddaCheezy]

Great video, I miss this game

[@TheGoldenPlatoon757]

I beat the Wii version and recently gotten the XBox 360 version and still haven't beaten it yet. Maybe I should get back to it. Sometimes I need to open up the internet and look up how to progress it, lol.

[@dingowing6650]

the werehog has so much aura bro

[@SpekUL8Gaming]

i played the ps3 version of the game , was blown away by it . though i'm pretty sure its the game that started the modern playstyle we still see today , sonics mechanic felt more polished in unleashed lol not to mention it had a star fox dinosaur planet aspect to it with the whole planet being broken apart lol

[@danielendless]

Bless the Kings who made Unleashed Project so PC players can experience Peak Sonic gameplay

[@Bakedninjet]

the reason the where hogs arms stretch is because the dark Gaia enemies arms and limbs stretch when they attack him. Sonic becomes one of dark gaias monsters but he stays who he truly is

[@tophat9462]

The ending of video gave me chills, like god DAMN

[@Jaymez2012]

What I would give for a Sonic & Knuckles game that has the gameplay styles of this game. Imagine a combat system like this game's night stages tailored to Knuckles's character while giving Sonic more day time stages like this game's. I think that would be the honest-to-god logical sequel to this game, gameplay-wise anyway. The games already flirt with playing with different characters and having different gameplay styles since, like the Adventure games, but all we've gotten since this game is just 2D Sonic against 3D Sonic and whatever Frontiers is doing. I find it so strange that the first time Sonic Team designs a fully-fledged action brawler combat system they give it to a Werehog form of Sonic instead of the obvious recipient in Knuckles.

[@ManuPlays05]

Back in the day i played the ps2 version in 2009 I want to try this if i ever get an xbox series (game has no lag on that console) P.s: after unleashed the cutscenes has like no expression on characters faces P.s2: sonic's model does not have chip's bracalet

[@riddlingnote8847]

I grew up watching cobanermani456 play this game mario bros u and those games back then and i loved it

[@xXNeOnSwAgXx]

I just want the chao garden back lol

[@fvndz]

amazing video bro

[@kyurei4478]

You can clearly see a pattern that started with Sonic Colors with more simple story and lighter tone. But I would argue that Colors was still a good game despite that. But yeah, having only that until Sonic Frontiers so for around 10 years has been pretty bad honestly. But I feel like they cared again with Frontiers. Generations was cheating by reusing past great Sonic games but it was cool too. It's clear that they seem to have taken this more light-hearted aoproach to Sonic games clearly because of the Sonic 06 drama and the ultra edginess of Shadow the Hedgehog so they took the opposite route during the 2010s but it probably wasn't for the best because serious tone isn't the problem, it's how it's handled and they went too far and on a game that had other major flaws so I'm not surprised if they took it as the actual reason probably comforted by Shadow the Hedgehog when it wasn't.

[@GoodGirlPeruru]

Before i watched this, i found myself frustrated at even seeing the title, because it feels like I've seen an increasingly prevalent trend where it feels like people who were disappointed by Superstars, or who think that Frontiers is being too heavily praised for being a game that isn't _completely_ exceptional, seem to talk about the series like it's still 2020, we have no known direction and the last game to release was Team Sonic Racing, which would never see any content updates. It feels like I've seen people talk about how 'Sega isn't doing good enough' or 'Sega doesn't care' even after we've gotten more releases in two years than we did in almost a decade _already,_ and after a mainline game that promised for the first time in 16 years promised multiple playable characters, albeit in a content update. Bottom line is that Sega absolutely cares, or at least Sonic Team does [it's debatable if Sega the conglomerate even cared about _Unleashed_ even] and i was frustrated because it feels like all this time after the final patch for Frontiers, people forgot, or even ignored that Sega _has_ started caring again. I think i understand a lot more, now, though. I myself could easily realise that the newer games feel different, sure, but i figured that was just a matter of times changing- after all, it'd been more than a decade since we'd had a proper game with the confidence of Unleashed. Maybe it was just confident in something else, something that's a little bit less familiar to what i had in my childhood. But, i think that's wrong, and for everything Sonic Frontiers does right, i think it's trying... too hard to be an apology for games like Boom and Forces. Even down to its best aspects, like its lore and plot and character development, it all felt so sudden that we were just now getting the lore equivalent of Sonic Adventure 3 and everyone in the game was undergoing some... radical character development from the moment they entered the screen after the intro. It's part of why i love the game so much, don't get me wrong- I love how aware it is and how aware the whole series has become of who we are and the history we have with the rest of the series, and i wouldn't have it any other way now that we have the game we have- but i think we'll probably look back on Frontiers _even more_ fondly further down the track. The series is growing up, and... growing up is always a little ugly, and you always have to go through some terrible mistakes to become the person you deserve to be. And the first steps out of that pit are awkward, and you spend so much of that time thinking about your mistakes, and just trying to do... _not_ that. And for all the good it does for the game, for a while Frontiers is just going to be not much more than... _not that._ We don't _know_ the path forward yet. We don't _know_ the end point yet, what it'll be like when the series can really be confident in itself yet. And i think Frontiers is going to be an even better game when we _do_ have that, when we can see what it was really growing into and trying to represent. People talk about 'dark era this', '2010s' that, 'adventure era' this, but i feel like at this point the series is best defined by two different eras, which i won't name myself but span from Sonic 1 to 2005, and from Unleashed to now- with 06 not belonging in either, and just as a singular point in between the two, a defining event, a cataclysmic reset of the maturity the series had reached. It's practically two different whole _franchises,_ at any rate. The series has had to reach maturity twice passing through phases of innocence and pure belief in its ability to rise above the challenges set for it- compare Sonic 1-2 to Unleashed and Colours in that regard- and a phase of pure downfall and hubris getting the better of it- compare the WHOLE CONSOLE GENERATION Classic Sonic missed and its inability to save the dreamcast [which i know, was Adventure's time but was the mistake of the previous generation largely] vs the 10 years of barely any releases, one of which being Sonic Boom which was so horribly confident in all the wrong things- and now we're here, in this spot best compared to Sonic Adventure, which itself was bound by its limited environment and limited knowledge, desperately trying to claw its way into maturity and out of its mistakes with what it had- and Sonic Frontiers, which is bound entirely by its past, trying so hard to just be _not that,_ taking the path of imitating those who _had_ succeeded before it in so doing- whether that be the analogical 'classics' in the boost games formula and style, or the story of the Adventure games which are already so beloved. ...Which is why, imagining that separation and the very similar uphill battle, i'm _very_ hopeful for the future. Sonic Adventure and Frontiers alike received a lot of praise for their innovation within their contexts, and that positive feedback was what led to them leaning so heavily into the character and charm they did in Adventure 2, which _oozed_ confidence from every pore. I don't mean to say what comes next will match Adventure 2, but i _am_ saying that if the analogy stands, Frontiers has done a lot for the confidence and morale of the developers... something i'm sure they're itching to test on their new frontier. 👀

[@dragonballmaster5324]

That’s how you get more combos for the werehig you upgrade his aspects and how you make regular sonic faster and make it easier him to gain rings and have stronger ring gauge 17:52

[@jordyyaboi]

This video is what I’ve been thinking when it comes to Sonic as a whole it the reason it was so peak and high quality was because Sega thought it was their very last Sonic game they could ever make so they decided to go all out hence why it was really pushing the 360 and PS3 capabilities with its sheer quality

[@tlst94]

What if in an alternate timeline, Sonic did end after Unleashed? How'd the world have been like without any subsequent games?

[@God-xd1wr]

It’s not impossible for SEGA to make something like this again. I guarantee it’s _far_ from impossible. Yes, this is the _only_ time the pre-rendered cutscenes, the animations, the cinematography, the drama, the gameplay, the bosses, the soundtrack, the characterisations and the story and themes are all THIS good, let alone all at the _same time_ in the _same game._ But that doesn’t mean they can’t capture lightning in a bottle twice. Besides, the quality _definitely_ dived when they drifted their production and attention further away from their Japanese audience. Everything that goes into this series alone is so palpably elevated compared to their later, more western-oriented works.

[@dragonballmaster5324]

Me too I know that in total their are 200 moon medals and sun medals you can get these thought the game and from shops and post game in different places to get accessories that you give to professor pickles to revive hidden moon medals and sun medals you wouldn’t get in any stage and their are also some side mission that gives you moon medals and sun medals through you the game that happen in different places in unleashed 26:05

[@elijahverchon6229]

Sonic I loved sonic generation and being able to free run super sonic but I never played past first 3 levels of unleashed when I was younger I’m 25 now so I’ll replay em all on my WII!

[@dollmaker6599]

Another nitpick I would give to the night stages is the combat ost, it gets repetitive FAST, it would’ve been better if each zone had 1 or 2 unique combat ost that fits its culture, probably even have them been dynamic and increase in intensity has you defeat enemies

[@ArcueidBrunestuddo]

Sonic would've died if Sega didn't care, considering before Unleashed was the infamous Sonic '06. Kinda sad it took a disaster like that to wake Sega up.

[@lupettogamerblackwolf7166]

3:33 NAH man i can understand the vibe as a mod and watching this i played this on wii too

[@dragonballmaster5324]

That end of what you said really hit different tithe song endless possibilities out of every song in unleashed endless possibilities was my favorite and in my opinion the most nostalgic sonic song ever 32:23

[@unclegrandpagaming165]

Amazing review

[@the_dead_knight3]

Frontiers was a step in the right direction for 3d sonic, hopefully sega dose something with it. ALSO unleashed was suposed to have a PC port but they thought it wpuldnt do well or somthn

[@DH-yz3cr]

When i was a kid i liked the warehog stages but i always find myself wishing they just gave regular sonic combat levels even if it didnt make sense for his speed

[@Jesusisgoodpraisethelord]

Had my ass running with my hands behind my back all around the house when i was a kid

[@riglowkun]

Yeah even with Shadow The Hedgehog; i havent gottem that feeling except with maybe a little bit with Generations, Colors, and as of recently Frontiers.

[@purpwl]

the way you say such funny things in a monotone voice is so funny XD

[@josephscottlawrence]

Unleashed was fun but Heroes and 06 stuck with me more since I played them first

[@DearMink_X]

I just don't like the werehog being in a sonic game, or at least how it is currently. I wish it was instead focused on sonic running on all fours, as fast as like adventure 1's running speed. Wish it was more about platforming instead of walking through hallways of enemies. It's stupid to me that the werehog is focused on so much combat when he's weaker than normal sonic, like you have to do an entire combo to destroy the standard egg pawns but normal sonic can just jump on them and they explode. Should've just kept it too fast and powerful feeling combat where it's more about you dodging attacks, should've kept actual battles to minibosses throughout the level and a boss at the end. Also, I think that the day time stage doesn't control perfectly, but it's excuseable for being the first boost game. Obviously the boost and homing attack are the same button, but sonic also just feels so much more slipperly and hard to turn in unleashed. That makes dragon road my least favorite stage because of all of the platforming you have to do. Besides from all of that, the game is legit peak. It even has my favorite ost in gaming I won't lie.

[@dragonballmaster5324]

I do agree with that I have played sonic unleashed since was 8 to 9 years old back in 2016 and I got to say it truly was very difficult to max out the progression level up as pets I think they for the werehog had of 99 levels for each aspect while day time sonic progression leveling gauge system only had max to get a max of 6 to 7 levels in his aspects of abilities. The problem is true it’s not the level of the progression system traits of combat upgrades but it’s lack of giving enough experience points on we’re stages to support that 19:27

[@dragonballmaster5324]

I thinking this is the case I kind don’t remember to well all Ik ow is I played game a lot times even after finishing it I think that is why this game still matters it attractive to other people these days it is what keep it alive and this probably what future sonic games need to make you want to play it constantly over and over again that’s unleashed did for me maybe others may feel the same way let me know you agree 19:41

[@Mwchael]

well thank god its been confirmed that they are finally going to be making high budget sonic games again

[@janitoalevic]

Sonic Unleashed is the best Sonic game, period.

[@starsmash420]

i think sonic team still cares so much about its series, but sega’s been denying them. Frontiers was basically their last chance at making a full 3D sonic game (which they thankfully succeeded with) and I think sega’s starting to care about the series more now. Even if Frontiers doesn’t have the same kind of charm as Unleashed, I still like it a lot and I have so much hope for the future of the series.

[@RatchetClankFan112]

I love Sonic Unleashed and I miss the series it made me cry through bad Sonic, and i’m glad Frontiers is successful. open world is the right way for 3D Sonic games

[@moister3727]

I'd say is production values

[@dragonballmaster5324]

My first sonic game was sonic rush for the Nintendo dds 3:52

[@v-lighdra4566]

You dont think frontiers is the same as the old games because you yourself on a cellular level are NOT the same person. What you really missed in frontiers is the feeling unleashed gave you ,which is fsir but will get you nowhere. And by all means hold sega accountable for its flops but cut them some slack

[@HellboyBr11]

Wtf

[@v-lighdra4566]

@@HellboyBr11 im replying to his first few minutes in the video where he says "the games just dont feel the same" and his statement that unleashed is "the last time Sega cared" and i think thats just purely unfair and harsh even for a company like Sega

[@JudaBoi]

Honestly I feel like you didn't do enough research about recent Sega news. It was actually SEGAS idea to make frontiers 3 dlc free as a good will to fans. Sega is giving sonic team a bigger budget for future installments to the series. Sega does care.

[@JLMetak]

It's a lot simpler to claim "current day thing bad because not the same as thing I had when I was 10 and I miss my blissfully ignorant childhood" and point at one evil entity than having a semblance of nuance.

[@lauridsen1381]

@@JLMetak yeah he just made a 30 min video filled completely with buzz words and cliche opinions/statements.

[@CorruptFox92]

@@lauridsen1381 That's honestly why I hate people like J's Reviews. Instead of keeping things neutral when realizing people can have their own opinions, while still stating their own, big reviewers like him go full on ballistic when you say Adventure 2 wasn't the best game ever made.

[@Codyiguess]

i think he meant less of "they dont care" and more of "they used to care so much more"

[@lemon5000-tj6nv]

​​@@CorruptFox92literally what are you talking about j doesnt enforce his opinions onto ither, did you not watch his sonic retrospective series he doesnt even care about the whole era war thing anymore an came to realise how pointless it is

[@TheAlphazoneYT]

Sonic Unleashed is the best Sonic game ever made. The sheer detail, ambition, & passion poured into this game has not been topped. The risk/reward gameplay has not been topped. The standard for an opening cutscene has not been topped. Level aesthetics have not been topped. Eggmanland, a true final level that actually tests the skills you built up over a playthrough has not been topped. To me, Unleashed is the only Sonic game that truly feels like a AAA game.

[@AkameGaKillfan777]

Ambition and Passion were just as high, if not better in the Adventure games. What exactly is the reward for doing well in difficult levels? Not just getting good Ranks, WHAT does getting good Ranks do? In SA2 all A-ranks gave you an extra Emblem to get better Chao Market items, and in Heroes you unlocked multiplayer content. Level aesthetics again are just as if not better in the Adventure games and Heroes. Even Shadow the Hedgehog has you going through a computer system and outer space. Super Hard and Expert Mode in Heroes and Shadow are lengthy challenges in their own right. And that doesn't include things like the story, but especially the characters which most of the past games blow Unleashed out of the water with. Everything else is just graphics, graphics, graphics with your comment. You're dickriding the game so hard I feel like I'm reading a porno.

[@TheAlphazoneYT]

@@AkameGaKillfan777 If you disagree, you can just say so instead of being a complete ass hat about it. Ranks don’t have to do anything at all. People care about ranks because it marks your skill at the game. That’s common sense in any video game with a ranking system & that shouldn’t have to be explained. But with all crack you’re smoking I’m not surprised it escapes you. It must be something strong for you to think the adventure games, Heroes/Shadow, or any Sonic game is on par with Unleashed level aesthetics whether you consider graphics or not. And I never said Unleashed had the best story. It’s arguably between SA1 & SA2 and I personally give it to SA2. But Unleashed has something in regard to story over both those games, and that is Sonic’s characterization. The only game to top Unleashed portrayal of Sonic is Black Knight. And no other Sonic game has the quality of presentation Unleashed does. I could just as easily say you’re dick riding Heroes because it is definitely a product of its time whereas Shadow actually did have great aesthetics for the time. Yeah Heroes & Shadow had extra challenges but that’s irrelevant to my point which is that the final levels Sonic games haven’t hit the same since Eggmanland and the one’s prior don’t really reach that level either.

[@Cerberus589]

@@TheAlphazoneYTIgnore him, I’ve seen that guy on multiple Sonic videos and he gets angry whenever he sees a comment of someone praising Unleashed.

[@AkameGaKillfan777]

​@@Cerberus589 Name one video where I only respond to comments of people praising the game. And I don't just mean dumb comments like this one trying to make an objective statement like it's true, I mean people who are just praising the game and nothing more.

[@sb14andmore50]

​@@AkameGaKillfan777Well, for one, SA1 gives you the Meral Sonic skin to use in trial mode after you get all emblems, secondly, SA2 gives you Green Hill Zone for all A ranks and finally, Shadow gives you expert mode for all A ranks, which is also a continuation of the ending because of the fact that each character you've met(excluding the unnamed G.U.N soldiers)talk to you during it

[@joshuaB.Nicholas]

Yeah Unleashed was one of the best ones I played.