Average quality game, with the day levels being out of this world and the night levels being rather a chore to complete. Long cutscenes don't help.
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Sonic: Unleashed
(2008, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E10+, Play it on: PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 10. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
The speedy blue hedgehog grows some claws.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Sonic: Unleashed was written by Chad Sapieha
Parents need to know that this game stars Sega's chipper blue hedgehog, and that he occasionally morphs into an evil looking monster with long claws, sharp teeth, and menacingly arched eyebrows. But his looks are deceiving; at heart, he's the same noble mammal gamers have loved for the last two decades. Still, he is a little more aggressive than normal while in his more intimidating form. He swipes at enemies with his fists and grabs and throws them to the ground. It's mild fantasy violence, but its pervasive and perhaps more than some people might expect from the usually tame game hero.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the game's sense of speed. Did you have a hard time controlling Sonic? If so, did the difficulty affect your enjoyment of the game? Did the game's designers do a good job of providing you with enough warning for upcoming obstacles and perils? You can also discuss Sonic's alter ego. Was he likeable even as a scary looking monster? Did you prefer playing as one of his physical forms over the other?
More on Sonic: Unleashed
What’s the Story?
SONIC: UNLEASHED opens with a lengthy and spectacular CGI movie that wouldn't be out of place in a blockbuster disaster movie. It depicts the hedgehog's arch nemesis Eggman cracking open the planet's crust from the comfort of his spaceship in hopes of remaking the world into Eggman Land. Meanwhile, he turns our loveable blue hero into a strange and menacing monster, then kicks him out of the ship and sends him hurtling down to the world's fissured surface.
So begins Sonic's adventure as a kind of werehog; a creature that exists as a super speedy hedgehog by day and as a ferocious (but in a good, evil-fighting way) monster at night. Levels are divvied up for these two personas; half take place in the sunshine and see Sonic sprinting at breakneck speeds over hills and through loops, while the other half occur in the evening, where Sonic's darker form battles evil robots and uses his stretchy arms and clawed hands to climb and swing around environments filled with treacherous crevices. Close
So begins Sonic's adventure as a kind of werehog; a creature that exists as a super speedy hedgehog by day and as a ferocious (but in a good, evil-fighting way) monster at night. Levels are divvied up for these two personas; half take place in the sunshine and see Sonic sprinting at breakneck speeds over hills and through loops, while the other half occur in the evening, where Sonic's darker form battles evil robots and uses his stretchy arms and clawed hands to climb and swing around environments filled with treacherous crevices. Close
Is It Any Good?
The levels that take place during the day recall Sonic's glory days, when the little blue furball zipped around the screen so fast that the player's greatest challenge was simply anticipating what came next and deciding whether Sonic ought to stay his course, slow down, or perhaps jump. They switch seamlessly between a rear perspective, which allows players to control Sonic's movement from left to right as he avoids various gaps and spiky perils, and a side angle that feels a lot like the perspective of Sonic games of old -- had the hedgehog been moving through them at five times the pace. It's fun, habit-forming stuff.
Unfortunately, the game drags when Sonic changes form at night. His alter ego is capable of doing pretty much the same basic things that game characters have been doing in platform games for ages, such as climbing posts, shimmying along precipices, and smacking around hordes of bad guys then collecting the bits of energy they leave behind. It's not that these traditional platform levels have been badly designed, but rather that they bring nothing new to the table. There will be times when players wish the game was composed solely of the speedier missions. Close
Unfortunately, the game drags when Sonic changes form at night. His alter ego is capable of doing pretty much the same basic things that game characters have been doing in platform games for ages, such as climbing posts, shimmying along precipices, and smacking around hordes of bad guys then collecting the bits of energy they leave behind. It's not that these traditional platform levels have been badly designed, but rather that they bring nothing new to the table. There will be times when players wish the game was composed solely of the speedier missions. Close
Publisher’s Details
Released on 11/24/2008, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E10+ (for Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence)
ESRB rating: E10+ (for Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence)
Our Members Say
See all 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- Easy to play
Best Sonic game ever
Easy controls (during day only), good plot, realistic locations, occasional comedy from Eggman, and good examples of friendship.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- Easy to play
Way awesome game; some older themes
Violence: During the day, there isn't much violence. You simply jump on enemies. At night, you beat up "nightmare" enemies with fistfights. At the end, a being called Dark Gaia spills excessive amounts of green blood. Sexy Stuff: Some of the townspeople missions have mild flirting in them. Language: In a boss fight, Sonic the Werehog (Fanged Sonic) shouts "Geez!" Consumerism: It is the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Plus in the cut-scene "Opening" and "Dark Gaia Awakens", a SEGA Dreamcast is seen in the background. Bad Messages: Dr. Eggman's robot assistant occasionally insults Eggman. Eggman destroys the planet so he can make a theme park named after and glorifying him. Bad Role Models: If Eggman loses a fight, he whines and complains Easy to play: Daytime missions are rather easy to get through, but nighttime missions are more difficult, but with practice, they are easier to get through. Good Messages: At the end, John 15:13 is reinforced: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Good Role Models: Sonic and his friends fight day and night to save the world. Overall: Excellent gift for ANY Sonic fan. Recommended for 10+.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I can't believe what happened to me...
I don't play games and stuff but my brother does. I saw him playing this game on his PS2 and I was highly into it. Now I have it installed to my PSP. I enjoy racing ...Really ....I think I am going too far as a girl in the game.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Not Violent, But Fast
This game isn't exactly violent, in fact the most violent I think I saw was explosions, but it goes at a pace that I think may be too fast for younger kids. It goes at a very fast pace and you need to act quickly in order to get stuff done. In a nutshell, don't play this game while you're sleeping!
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