One thing I'll give UnWiished over the HD version is how atmospheric it is, especially in the night stages. Stages like Cool Edge, Arid Sands and Jungle Joyride have more emphasis on treading through abandoned rural locations on your own, and the game is great at capturing that creepy vibe of walking through the unknown, not knowing what's going to come out of the shadows. Even Frontiers didn't capture this mysterious vibe as much as UnWiished did.

This was the version of sonic unleashed I grew up with, I have so many memories of trying to S rank all the stages and bosses, everything in eggmanland taking me forever. But when I finally managed to do it, the 10 year old me screamed at the top of his lungs.

Holy crap, this feels like a symphony of the night upside down castle situation. There being a whole other half to the daytime stages is mindblowing I gotta play this game again.

As someone who didn't like the joke, I have to admit it's always a small adventure to find out what he comes up with this episode so he doesn't have to call the collectibles Halos like a normal person.

That part where you said there are quite a bit of Sonic games left, a lot of people love to claim that there wasn't a lot for the 2010s era, but my God, 2010 alone had like 5 different Sonic games, it's crazy.

23:40 I’m majoring in game design and no joke I just had a lecture on Thursday that mentioned that having cutscenes be unskippable is a non-service to the player and should be avoided. That’s pretty funny (at least to me)

24:20 A few months ago, actually i heard an interview to an cutscene director and teacher now, and apparently skipping cutscenes is one of the hardest thing to do, especially if you have in the middle of the level or world map. It's a whole mess that doesn't just involve the cutscene but also a whole other bunch of stuff of other aspects of the game, it actually made me appreciate more the games that have it, and understand more the once that don't... Doesn't mean it's good to not have skippable cutscenes, but i get now why certain game don't have then.

The gameplay and the level design in this version of the game (in the 3D daytime parts) weirdly reminds me of Sonic R, it's a somewhat similar execution of mixing Sonic gameplay with racing game style gameplay This game also makes use of banked geometry a lot more than any other 3D Sonic I've ever seen on the 3D runways, also similar to Sonic R, weird

Im actually happy that you're gonna cover the "ports" too, they have a lot of interesting concepts and diferenças

Ok, now Sonic Unleashed on java phones

In your review of the primary versions of Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360, PS3) you mentioned that you didn’t really feel like the argument that everything in a 3D Sonic game had to be playable in full 3D held much water for various reasons. And while I get where you were coming from in that video, I think the Wii version of Unleashed kinda just reinforces why I and many others have been making such a big fuss about it: It serves to highlight not only how unnecessary a large chunk of the 2D sections are in the later games (most of what you’re doing in those 2D sections could just as easily be done in full 3D), but it also reinforces the idea that SEGA and Sonic Team are constantly trying to find ways to sidestep the task of creating engaging/fun Sonic levels that are playable in full 3D, often leaning on 2D levels/level sections as a crutch (similar to how the Werehog is viewed now). And what makes it even more pronounced is that the Boss Battles in UnWiished (specifically the Daytime Eggman battles in Spagonia and Adabat) showcase how SEGA and Sonic Team could’ve very easily gotten the best of both worlds by utilizing a top-down camera view instead of a left-to-right/profile camera view.

Steering is definitionally the one physics opportunity 3D Sonic has over the 2D games, and we get a demake of a more influential Sonic release and a couple of racing spin offs to show for it. Oh and Spark 3. That's game's so good.

Bless this game because it gave us the music of the Gaia Gates rooms.

I owned the Wii version before the HD version, though I played the HD version on my cousin's Xbox 360 before that. At the time Heroes was the newest game I had access too because my family only had an original Xbox and a PS1 for the longest, so I was blown away by both games, but I definitely felt Unwiished was more accessible and taught me the fundamentals of the boost formula that helped me out when I finally got the HD version and Generations down the line. Love this game

FINALLY, someone has pointed out the extra daytime acts 👍

Really enjoy the daytime levels of this game and thought for a while that they're strangely overlooked. Also really like the boost management in it that's far more engaging than just plowing through everything by holding a button. I will say though that I like how frontiers cut out the boost hitting enemies. I hope that sticks around while still keeping a satisfying sense of speed. Just never made sense to me that we have enemies as just fodder to effectively walk through when they could be minor obstacles in your ability to effectively speedrun levels.

the version I had as a kid. I was less than happy when I found out about all the content missing from the Wii version, lol.

Finding out that there are more levels in the game I grew up with is mind shattering.

The versions were advertised as being the same game. Having both a 360 & a Wii, I picked up the Wii version. I didn't know they were different until about a year ago probably. If I knew at the time, I'd've gotten the 360 version, but they're not different enough to play it as well at this point.

Thank you, sincerely. I was one of the people who got UnWiished but for the PS2 as a kid, and it was what made me a Sonic fan. I've been playing this game ever since and I absolutely love it. It's even better in some aspects than the 7th Gen version (no Medal requirements, shorter Night stages, better Ranking System, no filler). This was a really well made video and I am glad people are taking this version of Unleashed seriously nowadays.

Technically not related but I just wanna say I started playing Sonic Adventure DX (after beating Generations a couple of days ago) yesterday and I love it a lot can't believe it took me so long to get into Sonic

Wait, didn't you forget to talk about the weird spindash thing you can do at the beginning of the level that gives you a free boost? When I discovered it as a kid I couldn't figure out what was triggering it without falling over.

whenever you post i have such a big physical reaction

you should have covered the tiger electronic handheld version of sonic unleashed instead. It has a better story than the actual sonic unleashed.

The 60fps code makes this game feel so much better! Hopefully the code gets improved someday. You can't even lift a door as the Werehog at 60fps.

UnWiished's daytime levels is literally the PERFECT Sonic gameplay (at least imo). Minimal 2d platforming sections, very well designed levels, gameplay that rewards smart thinking, with a better boost system that doesn't just require holding down the button. Unfortunately the Werehog is horrible, which is the only thing keeping this from being the perfect Sonic game.

I think the side missions having full levels is to make them feel like actual rewards when you unlock them. Like the Spagonia one that takes you into the sewer, or the Adabat one that's just one huge branch

I really enjoyed Unwiished. It was the first version of the game I played. As for the extra levels... I actually did know about them. In fact, I remember back then people would act like the HD version was so much better because it had more daytime levels and I would bring up the extra levels as a counter argument. It never changed anyone's mind or anything but I do feel like Unwiished was superior in many ways. Especially when I'd see people complaining about finding Sun and Moon metals and I didn't have to worry about that at all. And the temples were just plain fun to explore. Hated the werehog though. Some of the early levels were okay but as the game went on and it became more and more focused on death pits and split second timing that the game just... wouldn't let me do, I just got super frustrated with it. Daytime stages are great though, extra levels and all. Nice to see people giving this version praise nowadays because back then people mostly shit on it without even playing it.

It would be neat to see a hack that merges the side missions into proper acts and added them to the main story. Though I don't see UnWiished being a high priority for many fans

Hey, I tried to comment this on another video, but it probably got deleted for putting a link on it. So, I wanted to recommend a mod for this version for Sonic Unwiished: it's called Werehog Wiimprovement, and it's just a small mod that adds some small yet welcome changes: the Jaz music can be disabled, and be replaced with just a voiceclip, there's some custom music tracks by the creator's choice (which, I'll admit, are kinda odd to hear on Unleashed, but hey, it's the creator's mod), integrate the choice to enable the Japanese voices, and some small customization for Sonic and the Werehog. Apart from texture mods with Dolphin's texture replacement feature, I do think this one does deserve it's place. To download it, you'll have to go to the SHC 2022 page, go to the Expo, and scroll down to the last page. You'll see the instructions to install it, and it may take some time, but it is something worth checking out.

Unleashed XBOX : Quickstep Bonus Unleashed Wii : Drift Bonus

As someone who is OBSESSED with this version…I do appreciate this ❤️

You are the first person to mention those extra day acts exclusive to the optional missions and I think it's so weird that they were "scrapped' but also not scrapped at the same time!

I'm probably one of the few people that will say this, but Unwiished was how I was first exposed to Unleashed, back in 2018-ish. Back then, I didn't have a PS3 or Xbox 360, so this was my only way of experiencing it, and I loved it. The Werehog, like you said in the review isn't that great, but the day time stages are definitely the most fun part of the game. It's when I finally got a PS3 and a copy of Unleashed in 2020 that I realized how underappreciated Unwiished was. Sure, HD Unleashed has way more fun Werehog stages and combat, but imo, the day time stages were better in Unwiished, both in terms of how the boost worked and the level design and ranking system worked there. Going fast was rewarding in a way, and even if you did a mistake, like taking damage, you still had a chance of getting the S Rank, as it was time based, unlike in the HD version where doing even the slightest of mistakes meant restarting the stage to get the S Rank, because of its score based ranking. I also felt that the camera in the 2D sections was superior in Unwiished, as it zooms out so you can see what's ahead of you, whereas HD Unleashed does the opposite, making the camera WAY too close. And imo, the way you get S Ranks in HD Unleashed, like ExoParadigmGamer said it best, are like the half pipe special stages in Sonic 2: a memory game, where you have to do everything perfectly or else you might miss your chance at getting them. And let's not talk about Dark Gaia! The first phase in the HD version where you have to avoid rocks being thrown at you for what feels like an eternity and have to do a QTE segment is soooo boring! The second part of the first phase is good, as you're boosting through small levels as Sonic before the timer runs out (one of the few things Unwiished ported over), and the second phase is spectacular. Unwiished has it differently, where the first part of phase 1 is more Punch-Out inspired, where you have to avoid Dark Gaia's punches. A way more fun phase that goes by way quicker than its HD counterpart imo. The second phase isn't as good imo, lacking the spectacle of the HD version. There's one thing I have to say though. I do appreciate that Unwiished fixes a continuity error during Mazuri where Sonic saves the village and Eggman tells Sonic he should've known Sonic would've stayed alive after his fall. Since the encounter with Eggman via the Tornado Defense boss doesn't happen earlier in the game, unlike in the HD version, this actually goes in the favor of the story's coherence. If I had to conclude, I'd say that in my ideal world, I wish we had the daytime gameplay of Unwiished, mixed with the nighttime gameplay from the HD versions. Add in the first phase of Dark Gaia from Unwiished and mix it with HD Unleashed's second phase, and you probably would've had a better experience. Also, if you want to experience Unwiished in the best way possible, please do yourself a favor and don't play the PS2 version. The performance there is very poor, it has worse graphics, with Egg Pawns' models looking worse than N64 era models at times, and it has dithering so bad that it makes PS1 games with it look like they don't have any.

Sonic Unleashed for the Wii/Ps2 is One of the most Underrated Sonic games imo

I like to call the other companion versions rush colors, rush generations and lost worlds to go with the unwiished nickname so I don't have to say the name of the system every time

He’s finally reviewing the best wii sonic game

This is the version of Unleashed I played first...and also the one I prefer overall

It's good to finally see the best praise of this game on youtube so far. (not to mindlessly praise you, I've seen almost everything everyone has said on this game) If anything I feel this is the underrated version of unleashed, and if it's anywhere the boost formula still has left to go, it's with so many of the gameplay systems established in this game. As good as generations is, it's mechanical depth is lacking compared to this one, it doesn't have action chains or ring level ups, just the measly scraps of boost from it's drift bonus returning. It actually has unwiished's starting boost but it's locked behind a skill for whatever reason. I feel you missed saying how good unwiished's camera is, as I feel generations and even colors both aren't as good with how here it's set at a different angle in this game for 2d sections or being pulled back enough so there's less reliance on trial and error+memorization for the better paths, alongside you not mentioning the removal of upgrading daytime sonic here, but all in all, you god damn nailed why the daytime stages here work so well. You didn't go anywhere as deep as I wish you did for the werehog and final boss but that's no skin off my back. Good work my dude

The next game will be a weird one. Colors has 2 versions, Wii and Ultimate, and the DS version. But this also is reflected in the stories: there are two, with the Wii and the DS one. Not to mention the localization discourse of the first. Colors is a weird title.

Wow thats actually crazy that a lot of people dont know about those extra daytime stages. I was OBSESSED with this game back on PS2, I had completed and S Ranked EVERYTHING so those levels were never a secret to me. As a kid it was the werehog stages that I really liked the most the platforming, the simple beat em up gameplay and I loved getting lost just exploring the levels but now as an adult I like the daytime stages a little more. One of my favorite games of all time to this day.

brings a whole new meaning to damage boosting

This game bullied me into becoming a speed runner, I remember feeling so cool getting the S rank on holoska day after like 9 thousand times

30:40 thanks for bringing this up, not many do. I nearly 100% this game on both the ps2 and wii as a kid and I loved the challenge levels!

This is the only sonic game I enjoy time attacking and I feel you explained why quite well. Also yeah, I COMPLETELY forgot there was actual extra whole ass levels hidden somewhere and now i have to boot up my wii again. Thank god I have a completed save file. I hated the unskippable cutscenes since I too have recently first played the ps3 version as well. It's difficult to explain why but I still prefer how the wii version looks.

Sonic Unleashed Wii was my first 3D Sonic game. As a kid Eggmanland in that game taught me that sometimes, you have to actually put effort and work into a game to finish it. Honestly, I think Eggmanland in Unleashed Wii is one of the reasons why I actually like somewhat difficult games. It is not AS difficult as the ,,true" Sonic Unleashed Eggmanland, but...personally, I do prefer it due to the Werehog and the Hedgehog being split up into different levels. And for a kid which barely played any 3D games, it can be quite difficult. They knew what they were doing with this game, it's really good.

A few months ago I found a copy of this game in the back of my uncle's collection of a bajillion Wii games, probably never really used, and borrowed it from him and have been playing through it on my Wii recently for the first time, using my Gamecube controller. This is technically the first 3D Sonic game I've ever _officially_ owned and played (though I have played Project 06, and a few levels of the other GC/Wii Sonic games through...not exactly legitimate means lol), and honestly I've been having a blast so far. Even the Werehog has been quite enjoyable, my only complaint with it so far really is that it just feels like less polished and simpler Mario, and thus I wish the physics were just a little tighter and more polished, but that's basically it. Haven't finished the game yet but I certainly will.

im so glad others agree that unwiished day stages are better, but also holy shit how did i not know about the act 2 for so damn long?? thank you a lot for the 100% save file file, the only reason i dont touch unwiished is because of the unskippable cutscenes, and i wouldve had to play the game again from beginning to get to those bonus stages as well

at this point, I am *conVINCED* that sonic team wanted unleashed to be entirely about the werehog, because both games have SUCH a deep focus on him. which, duznt seem compatable with development history, or what we know uv it. also, I have a request. since you dont like most sonic bosses, execptions being perfect chaos from adventure, and rush adventure, I want to see a video about what you think would be, not the best, just GOOD bosses for this series, partly because I'm curious, but mostly because I'm surprised that you didnt notice something peculiar about sonic advance 2's boss levels, that being, the levels themselves. did you spot the elevation? the slopes? the slopes, they go up, annn' den dey go down, an' den dey go up, and then, when you run onto the downhill section, you JUMP, and rocket like a hog out of hell into eggman! and alternatively, jump on the uphill section, and you get a mile of height to dodge everything at ground level, y'know, momentum, sonic physics in a boss fight! admittedly I *am* making it sound more interesting than it is, the slopes work like slopes in sonic, woop-dee-doo, buuut I think the simple addition adds some strategy that is usually missing from the usual boss standard.

the morio kishimoto saga continues

Rupees huh didn't know we had those in sonic games

You're videos are so good I ate some candy I don't like while watching this and I liked it

Finally Pariah covering my favourite video game of all time!

As far as I’m concerned, Sonic UnWiished has higher highs and lower lows than the original release, that original release still being debatably one of the greatest Sonic games of all time. So I say Sonic UnWiished is as much a mainline game as any.

Good times with this one. It's crazy that the whole thing with the Wii remote influenced this approach to the game design.

What's absolutely ironic is that both versions of Unleashed have drifting go well with boosting, but in utterly opposite ways! The HD version has drifting which was designed first and foremost to be done while boosting and will strike an odd radius at lower speeds than that. Meanwhile, the SD version's boost severely gimps your turning radius, such that drifting becomes your only real option for turning well (though your can pull back on the thumbstick to end an SD version boost early as well, so it's more controllable than people give it credit for).

I got sonic unwiished this new years, and beat it about 5 days later. Lovely game. Unleashed 7th gen was my first game ever, 8 years ago or so, and im pleasantly surprised as to how well this holds up. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. Im at 62 moon and 86 sun medals on the wii, and ima bring my save over to dolphin and 100% it there

I'm enjoying your videos so much about Sonic the Hedgehog. I have two questions. One, eill you talk about Sonic 4 episode 1 and discuss about it's reception during it's 2010 release in the gameplay section of the video? Two, are you planning to make a video of how Sonic Forces traumatized the fanbase and how that could lead to the hype cycle that is the lead-up to Frontiers (toxic positivity and all that)?

This was the version of Unleashed I grew playing, I didn’t even know there were two versions of Unleashed at the time, so that’s interesting. The version itself is really great and it’s even more fun if you’re playing with the GameCube controller, like I do. (Especially in the Werehog stages)

really glad to see this game get some love!

So colors is next huh? Interested to see what you have to say abt that one

1:50 This has me curious as to what games you're NOT going to cover. I know you're not going to cover Free Riders, but what about other things (e.g. Kart racing games, the mobile games, Boom series)?

They're called coins for gods sake

I didn’t even know the other versions existed until last year, I assumed the wii version was the only version across all consoles and this is what I played xD

Your mention of Unleashed HD feeling like a rhythm game reminded me of a game called Mad Rat Dead, which I think you might like! It’s a 2D platformer rhythm game hybrid (with a ranking system, too). No clue if you’re open to game suggestions but I’d love to see your take on that game

Just got the CD soundtrack for this game today at 2:25p.m. and it's the Planetary Pieces Sonic World Adventure Original Soundrack CD and I'm listening to it while watching this! 7:33p.m. 6/15/2023

I straight up consider this the proper Unleashed. I’ve 100%’ed all four versions, and the progression in Wii is so much more refined than 7th Gen. Full disclosure, I grew up with the Wii version, but having played through PS3 and 360 as well as PS2, the 7th Gen versions better encapsulate “world adventure”, but 6th Gen is just a better game in my opinion. Loved this video, made some good points! I may disagree on the werehog portion as I quite enjoy those levels in Wii, but on the whole the Wii version feels like a more focused time than 7th gen. :)

Unwiished Eggmanland Day is my favorite final level in all of sonic.

okay now you need to review the phone version of Sonic Unleashed

Glad you like unleashed wii too, I preferred this version to the modern one

unrelated but I just noticed that the rush games and colors DS aren't on the spreadsheet, is it because of there not being a way to do the splitscreen thing without it being confusing on PC or something? I do think it's better to play those games on the original hardware but yeah, or alternatively on 3DS

I played the PS2/Wii version much more than the HD version (because I didn't have a PS3 or Xbox 360), but I just assumed the day levels in HD are at least as good except for the framerate. I had no idea about the potential cut 2nd acts, but the parts you've shown make me a little suspicious if that's really the case. They seem to be more linear than normally, which maybe makes more sense for side missions than the normal day levels. Maybe you are right, but I think there are other explanations.

Sorry, I'm still a bit new to this channel. Rupees? Why? I'm not even gonna "Well, actually" because no shit they're rings. But am I missing something? Why is he calling them rupees?

have you thought about doing a full review on spark the electric jester 3?

Are you playing the English track of this game?

I consider a mainline Sonic game to be a plat-former that are made by Sonic team

Yeah even as a kid I got pretty tired of the werehog stages in this version of the game, probably not helped that my save got corrupted like 3 times (might be a PS2 specific issue as that's the version I played) in the span of the week that I had this game for when all I wanted to do was complete the rest of the daytime stages. It makes me wish we could get a version of this game with the SD daytime stages and the HD nighttime ones since I really like Werehogs combat in that one, it has a surprisingly large amount of detail and enemy interaction for something that they only really used for this one game and I instantly gelled with it the first time I played. Also the PS2 versions werehog model used to scare me a lot as a kid. I don't know if it was just the jagged-ness of the model itself or how static he looks but every time a stage started I had a miniature heart attack whenever it did the close up to him xD

I just tuned him out and got hypnotized by the gameplay

Unpopular opinion (i think coz I've never seen anyone mention it): I prefer the wall jumping in the Wii because it's more challenging than just mashing jump

Somebody needs to mod the mission exclusive acts to be actual full blown 2nd acts tbh. I wouldn't mind seeing other 3D Sonic levels ported over either.

I feel like one day you'll make a thumbnail with color and I'll be terrified

I have 100% this game but never noticed they were different levels split up

My first ever game and the best version of Unleashed

I still haven't played this version of Unleashed. To be honest it always looked like the budget title that should just be it's own thing. I was also starting to worry that you skipped this version.

I know this is a weird thing to fixate on, but I'll never understand people's obsession with getting every game to run at 60fps. Maybe my eyes are just broken, but you could show me 30fps footage and 60fps footage side-by-side and I'd barely be able to tell the difference. Especially in an instance like this, where artificially upping the framerate actually causes legitimate gameplay issues, I'd just resign to sticking to the native framerate. I think it's totally acceptable for a game to run at a stable 30fps as long as there are no noticeable drops. In other words, as long as a game never reaches "Jungle Joyride Day" levels of choppy, I don't see a point in complaining.

Personally I don't consider UnWiished mainline, the same way I don't consider Generations 3DS as mainline. Great review as always

My guess as to why the 2nd acts were replaced with missions is, perhaps very late in development they realized they didn't have enough time to finish the last two zones' 2nd acts, and just scrapped them altogether because they knew that their assets would still be used in missions. You still retain extra content, but you dont make it obvious that the game ran out of time at the last second.

Unleashed on Wii is the Netflix adaptation of the HD version

what is the 60 fps code your using and how would you toggle it

I also consider this game and the other games like this colors ds, generations 3ds, and lost world 3ds are canon the levels in the other versions they are just different levels but they still happen in the context of those games. if that makes sense

Have we really never used rupee before? I thought for we did for sure long ago

Can you tell me how you got this to run on dolphin? In detail? I've tried for years to run this on dolphin and I can't figure it out. I have Wiimote controls set to none cause I only ever use an emulated GameCube controller to play my dolphin games. I currently have GameCube controls configured and I'm using my Xbox series x controller. Every other game I have on dolphin plays perfectly fine, but on Sonic Unleashed specifically, it doesn't detect any input. I can't quickly push start or A to get passed initial Wii startup screen and when the game finally show up, it indefinitely shows a Caution screen, saying "Your controller settings are for Wiimotr and Nunchuck. Please configure your settings." So, this one game isn't allowing me to play it on Dolphin where every other game works fine. Can you help me with that?

I have the game on both the Wii and Xbox 360, but I prefer the latter, but just because of the (lack of) controls. If the former controlled more similarly to Sonic Colors during the daytime stages, then I would have a different opinion.

A graphical update rerelease would be so much better than a port of the other version

Looks like it's time for Sonic Colors.

I remember playing this on ps2 as a kid and getting mad cause it wasn’t the hd version, I got stuck on the tutorial stages and gave up on the game

Would you say it's better than the HD version?

21:36 Because the big of the boost formula is, the stages are too f-ing big, and Sega was still looking for something to extend the play time, so they could sell the game at $60, without casual players coming out and saying "3/4 hours to beat a $60 game? That's too much, im not buying that". Because time as it's so important to us, it's sadly one of the ways to see if something is worth it, through in the case of videogames, i don't think it works. But then again time is not infinity, so it's more up to the person.

Pariah the real sonic lore master 💯

This is the one I grew up with (the PS2 port, to be more precise). I actually remember that, at first, I liked the Werehog better than the boost stages. Probably because my kid brain went: "Oh yeah, Sonic as a werewolf, that's so coool!!" And then after playing most of the game I just dropped it because the Werehog was too boring lol Also, holy shit, I NEVER knew there were more daytime stages. Very weird that they decided to put them as side missions. Would have improved the pacing quite a bit if they were just put alongside the main levels.