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Sonic Unleashed is an action adventure game that incorporates a number of different gameplay styles. Players familiar with the Sonic franchise’s high-speed platform-jumping and ring-collecting mechanics will recognize some of the core gameplay here, but may be surprised by the prevalence of alternate concepts. The game makes use of a day and night cycle throughout, and levels attempted at night cause the hero to transform into an angry wolf-like “Werehog” causing the gameplay to become combat and puzzle focused. In these levels Sonic must defeat large numbers of bad guys by slashing at them with his claws before solving challenges presented by the environment. The Werehog is able to climb and grapple his way around the levels, and players must experiment with jumping and grabbing onto portions of the environment to successfully navigate through. There is a great deal of trial and error required in these portions, and the slow pace of these challenges starkly contrasts the frenetic, high-speed Sonic-focused levels. There are also a number of stages that break up the action with simple pattern matching “rhythm” style gameplay.

The game spends a great deal of time explaining what is required of the player, and there are “signposts” throughout the game that provide hints and tips on what to do, and how to do it. Consequently there is a lot of text to read in the game. Strangely though, there are a number of key areas where this direction is not provided, typically prior to “boss” fights and confrontations with larger enemies.

Sonic Unleashed has been rated “Everyone 10+” from the ESRB, and carries content descriptors of “Animated Blood” and “Fantasy Violence.” Both of these concern the levels in which Sonic transforms into the “Werehog” and uses his large claws to eliminate large numbers of bad guys. Though the descriptor specifically notes “blood” it should be noted that none of the creatures in the game produce anything that appears realistic. Many creatures simply burst into a shower of the Sonic franchise’s signature rings, while larger “boss” creatures spurt a green liquid when successfully hit.

The cinematic scenes that play between the game’s levels may be a little scary for some younger players (or viewers sitting with mom or dad while they play.) There are numerous scenes of Sonic being chased or shot at by robots with laser guns, and the scenes where Sonic transforms into the Werehog show his teeth and claws growing as he hunches over and hair sprouts all over his body.

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The cinematic scenes that play between the game’s levels may be a little scary for some younger players (or viewers sitting with mom or dad while they play.) There are numerous scenes of Sonic being chased or shot at by robots with laser guns, and the scenes where Sonic transforms into the Werehog show his teeth and claws growing as he hunches over and hair sprouts all over his body.