SONIC UNLEASHED

VARIOUS, 2008

Sonic needed a new direction, and

Sonic Unleashed was the result. The new platforming template adopted the boost mechanic from Sonic Rush but transitioned between 2D sections and high-speed 3D ones. Combined with some of the best graphics the series has ever had, the game was capable of delivering some truly thrilling moments, even with some wonky controls and the abundance of bottomless pits. Things slowed down considerably due to an item-based progression system and the night-time stages starring the Werehog, a monstrous form of Sonic whose stretchy limbs were used for repetitive 3D beat-’em-up sections. Its best bits are thrilling, but it’s too uneven to achieve classic status.

» [PS3] Sonic Unleashed transitions between sidescrolling and third-person gameplay styles.