First off, sorry about the lack of updates, I’ve been busy with working on Nintendo Destination and school. Well a while back some photo’s and a video was apparently leaked about a new Sonic game called Sonic Unleashed. We finally got confirmation that this game would indeed be heading to the PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii.
Sonic and the Secret Rings was the first step towards bringing sonic back to it’s roots. Sonic Unleashed will offer classic Sonic the Hedgehog game play with new flashy 3D graphics.
The the “leaked” video has been removed from YouTube. Below is a few of the “leaked” and not “leaked” images of Sonic Unleashed, followed by the recently released press release.
SONIC IS UNLEASHED! SEGA’s newest Sonic title is set to combine amazing next gen capabilities with classic Sonic 2D gameplay!
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (April 3, 2008) – SEGA®of America and SEGA of Europe Ltd., today announced that everyone’s favourite hedgehog will be breaking new ground yet maintaining his roots, in the upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed™. Developed by renowned studio Sonic Team, the latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise, will take players on an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe in a way never before experienced in the world of Sonic. The game is set for release later this year and will be available for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and PLAYSTATION®2.
Sonic Unleashed is built on a powerful new “Hedgehog Engine”, which introduces seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, whilst delivering a rich and expansive world with multiple paths to choose from. Under development for three years, the Hedgehog Engine produces a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay mechanics. The Hedgehog engine will help re-define the gameplay experience for Sonic fans and newcomers to the franchise alike.
“By combining rich and vibrant scenery with dynamic viewpoints Sonic Unleashedwill 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!”
Having been broken apart by the evil Dr Eggman, it’s down to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds. In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic’s amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!
The opportunity to engage in Sonic in different ways during the day and night time levels brings a completely original way of playing to the Sonic franchise, in addition to running at high speeds in classic Sonic style, combat fighting will become possible. Super quick Sonic’s speed skills will be highlighted by four new modes, whilst the all new combat, movement and functional abilities will offer depth and variety to the game. As the sun sets in Sonic Unleashed, a different type of adventure will awaken in Sonic’s newest quest….
Sonic Unleashed is scheduled for release worldwide in late 2008.
Not surprisingly, Nintendo made the top of that list. Nintendo has been in the industry for a long time, and it would make sense that today they make the most and the best games. Sony took second, and that also is not very surprising. What is surprising, though, is how EA managed to get fourth place. Since they recently bought out many fantastic video game companies, it should bump up quite a lot.
Microsoft and Bioware have announced today that Mass Effect will now include downloadable content. It will cost you 400 Microsoft Points, which is like $5, and will be approx. 90 minutes and includes 50 achievement points. “Bring Down the Sky”, is what the new DLC is, and it is an all-new world to explore.
The day that The Simpsons Game came out, I picked up the Wii version. The graphics for the Xbox 360 and PS3 are superb, both those versions use a really cool flattening technique that makes the game look truly like a cartoon. The Wii and PS2 version however, do not actually use this technique, but emulate it as best the systems can; as a result, the graphics do not impress the same.
The game is pretty sweet. the whole premise of The Simpsons Game is the Simpsons characters discover that they are in a game. The game comes packed with an uncountable number of parodies, particularly the games in the Nintendo universe.
The Wii version and I’m assuming the PS2 version is an only different in terms of graphics; At times the level layout is slightly different. The NeverQuest stage is noticeably altered for the Wii version. The method you use to get passed the dragon statue is different from the Wii Version to the PS3 and Xbox 360 Version, but more importantly there is no balloon fight parody in the Wii version. Which surprises me, because the Wii is Nintendo’s system, despite the fact that Nintendo created balloon Fight. The second to last level, which is, spoilers ignored, Matt Greening’s house; this level is completely different from the Wii version to the Xbox 360 and PS3 version. I don’t know why they did it they must have their reasons, but I wonder what those reasons were, I’m thinking maybe they were going for Scarface in the Wii version of the mansion, but I really don’t know. I didn’t see the robotic Bart Simpson upgrade and that we version, which is required to pass though the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
The Nintendo DS version, it drops the 3-D elements of the game in favor of a 2-D platformer. All the elements of their original game, outside of elements that require 3-D environments, are preserved. The unique upgrades such as Ball Homer and Gummi Homer are still in the game. The game features a surprisingly large amount of cut scenes and audio recordings. The cut scenes appear exactly as they do in the games console equivalents. the game also features leapfrog and Pet Homer, two features that are not in the console Versions of The Simpson Game. the game is not a 100% 2-D platform. the game features other elements such as arcade style and overhead view modes. The Marge levels feature a view that reminds me of the old Simpsons arcade game.
In the Wii version, I did find a couple of glitches, one of which is in the video below.