40 replies to this topic

[JezMM]

Before I start, I'll just clarify: I love this game. They did so many things right, it's beautifully constructed and fun from start to finish.



But - honestly - slightly, just slightly, I prefer Sonic Unleashed (consider me to be talking about the HD version as a rule of thumb).


So hear me out:

Yes, Unleashed was dampened by the Werehog interrupting the daytime gameplay - this is the main complaint many had with the game. However, what this meant was that the daytime gameplay was pure uninterrupted Sonic platforming.

While it's great they've finally ditched alternative playstyles, I find myself slightly reminded of Heroes and Shadow with this game, in the fact that every now and then I just wanted to push the wisps aside. Yes guys, it's lovely I can float around and eat stuff up and drill through the ground - it's all very very fun, but... it's not really Sonic. Unleashed may have had the Werehog, but when he wasn't around, it was Sonic doing exactly what he's known for.


This, coupled with the far less epic story (the cut-scenes are perfectly constructed, but in terms of making us care about the plot I think they went TOO far down the lighthearted spectrum with this one) and the ridiculous amounts of 2D sections (which I feel Sonic Team used FAR too much as a crutch - half the Wisps only work in 2D, and one of the biggest things I was looking forward to, a 3D Sonic with the classic underwater levels of old - also are strictly prohibited from indulging in the Z axis).


And, you'll have to forgive me for sounding a bit elitist here (huge fan of the Unleashed DLC, maybe I'm a masochist), but I actually found the simplification and general castration of the 3D sections to be almost patronising. The only bits I recall offering any challenge were a few of the patented Unleashed chase sequences, particularly Terminal Velocity, and while inoffensive, they were hardly the most fun parts of Unleashed to carry over.


If you viewed this topic JUST as it was created, you may have missed this paragraph I quickly added after posting:
The other criticism of Unleashed, Werehog aside was that the controls weren't tight enough to allow complex platforming, but frankly they fixed that in Colours, if nothing else with the double jump to help correct your landings, so I don't think that would have been an issue.

Oh, something else I forgot to mention too, big spoilers about an unlockable that most people prolly know about by now:

Spoiler

I've heard Super Sonic gameplay does away with the Wisps, though yet to unlock so I can't comment on that yet.

I don't know, basically this is a topic of curiosity whether any Unleashed fans, the few among us who loved the daytime gameplay and didn't find it broken at all, got a similar vibe from Colours' level design.




TL;DR
Unleashed's daytime gameplay was pure Sonic.
While Colours' gimmicks are most definitely fun, they tend to interrupt what was great about Unleashed.
Putting all the challenging platforming into the 2D sections and simplifying the 3D sections feels like a cheap way to fix what many didn't like about Unleashed.

Edited by JezMM, 13 November 2010 - 03:51 AM.

[Agent York]

My personal take on it is that Sonic Unleashed is more dynamic and epic, it did a good job at capturing the spirit of a world adventure. In my opinion though it had flaws with some pacing, too much of some stuff, unneeded collecting missions, frustrating and unfun bitsand it switched from be an AMAZING game to a boring, frustrating, and repetitive one. Was a lot more fun to replay once you could select what you actually wanted to do.

I agree that I think the 3D sections need more fleshing out, BUT I disagree with Colors interrupting what was great about Unleashed. In my opinion I feel that Colors managed to make it's own greatness and fit together a lot better than Unleashed ever did. This is all opinion, and I think Colors could of been more dynamic like Unleashed and the 3D sections could of been more molded and varied at times and not split and there should of been more than it, but I overall think Colors is the better game.

Then again I love exploration and platforming and Colors has a lot more of both than Unleashed did. Colors platforming is also leagues better than Werehog's platforming.

[JezMM]

I can agree with that, Colours is very well put together as a whole, I agree it feels like much more of a solid game than Unleashed did.

I just felt Unleashed felt more like I was controlling Sonic doing what he does in the cut-scenes and stuff, whereas Colours feels more like... well, a game. Probably doesn't help that I loved Unleashed's envioronments. I think I far more enjoy seeing Sonic blast through familiar settings that I can relate to (with a surreal twist of course for the sake of level design).

Not that Colours didn't have some jaw-dropping set pieces... my favourites are probably Starlight Carnival and Planet Wisp's massive silo-like structure you climb around (too bad there was no awesome rush back down it again - I loved that kinda stuff in Unleashed like Spagonia's Clock Tower).



Exploration-wise as well, I felt a bit more boxed in with Colours really. I don't feel like I'm exploring, more of, spotting and completing extra bonus puzzles along the way. Unleashed still had a fair few invisible walls blocking off scenery Sonic could easily walk up to and check out, but not as much as Colours does. Drives me nuts how often Colours doesn't even let you backtrack due to invisible walls spawning in when you pass over certain thresholds - even in 2D where there isn't the camera to hide the fact that you're being inexplicably blocked from backtracking by nothing.

Like, in Tropical Paradise, there are tons of little side areas you can see but can't enter. Unleashed was by no means perfect, but it did let you explore these places a little sometimes. Apotos and Spagonia were probably the best for letting you poke around in the details of the level pointlessly (or sometimes pointfully, with some of the more diabolical medals).

[Djawed]

In my opinion sonic colors does EVERYTHING better than unleashed apart from it's hardware limitation preventing the visuals of unleashed.

tl;dr Sonic colors>unleashed in everyway possible except visuals

The wisps are an awesome adition as well, would have easily missed them but having them there does only add replayability.

[Crow the BOOLET]

At least Unleashed didn't had Roger as Sonic. Unleashed was an epic game. And I didn't had much of a problem with the Werehog at all. In fact I believe Unleashed is a great game on its own it just needed some polish on the Wii version since it lacked Empire City.

I actually haven't touched Sonic Colors or seen much of the game itself but I believe this game is going to be another great game from the hedgehog. I just don't like Roger's Sonic but I'll probably get used it.

Edited by Crow the BOOLET, 13 November 2010 - 04:07 AM.

[Gabz Girl]

After playing Sonic Colours, I can say that I find it a lot better than Unleashed, the Wii version anyway. I really don't know if you can compare an HD game to a..well, not HD game. >.>

Mmm, although, what I didn't like about Sonic Unleashed was pretty much the same things Dusk listed. Werehog was annoying and his stages were a chore to play, the town missions were useless...on the other hand the graphics were lovely and the day stages were awesome.

Sonic Colours has great graphics (for a Wii game, and much better than Unleashed Wii!), awesome stages, a cute plot (ok it's not deep but it's nothing like Sonic Heroes), REALLY nice cutscenes and great music! The only downside I can think of right now is that some of the bosses are too easy and the story mode itself is very short. But hey, Kirby Epic Yarn can be beaten in a day and that game is brilliant!

So yeah, IMO SEGA improved on alot of things from Unleashed and have finally made the right Sonic game, that perfect Sonic game. I applaud their effort. <3

Btw, I like the Wisps and I think they give the gameplay a nice twist. And they're cute!

Edited by Gabz Girl, 13 November 2010 - 04:16 AM.

[Voyant]

I said it once and I will say it again...

Unleashed style is the way of success of the franchise. Its an simple yet complicated to master, thrilling, Epic, Fast formula that can deliver on all fronts while still giving challange and platforming. Colors is the closet the 3D Sonic's have been to the classics....and while not excally the same as before it evloves the classics by doing things its own way WITHOUT taking away its Sonic feel. It has its own way of doing "momentum".

Colors was a test run from SEGA I assure you. Wisp powers can easily be manipulated by OTHER characters without braking the flow of the actual core gameplay. We are looking at maybe the next Sonic 3&K of 3D Sonic's if SEGA pulls this off.

EX:

Knuckles - Drill and SPIKES
Tails = Hover & Cube
ECT ECT ECT.... XD

[Octarine]

Tails = Hover & Cube

Hover and... Cube?

That's sort of an interesting idea, actually... I can think of a few ways the power could be explained in the lore (for lack of a better word), but I'm curious to hear what you had in mind. If I were dividing up the powers, my first instinct would probably be to give the Cube power to Shadow along with the Laser, since moving around boxes could be explained away pretty neatly by Chaos Control. Hover and Cube could result in some great platforming combinations, though. Hmm.

[-Mark-]

I sort of see what you mean, I did find it slightly cheeky that more than half of the game was in 2D.

I think Unleashed (both versions, but I'm talking about the HD version) had far too many bottomless pits though. I mean, in almost any level except Apotos and Spagonia, the slightest slip would kill you. End of. There were so many times playing Colours yesterday, where I fell and thought "If this was Unleashed, I'd have died just then". Except since it's not Unleashed, there was actually more level down there! =D

I also found the levels in Unleashed a bit too long, myself. Maybe not so much the first couple, but when you have stages that take 8-10 minutes or so even when you know what you're doing is a bit much. That said, I did find that Colours didn't really have any "Oh my God epic", jaw-to-the-floor set-piece moments like HD Unleashed did.

I think the natural progression from here would be to make a hybrid of the Unleashed day stages and Colours. Preferably in some more Sonicy environments, because that was one thought I had whilst playing it. I mean, Unleashed had super-realistic levels that looked like crazy twists on real-life places, then Colours goes for totally surreal, out-there kind of stages. Would be kind of nice to see them go back to more typical Sonic stages. We haven't really seen those since Heroes, and that was basically the only time they ever tried to recreate the classic level visual style in 3D anyway.

[Agent York]

I sort of see what you mean, I did find it slightly cheeky that more than half of the game was in 2D.

I think Unleashed (both versions, but I'm talking about the HD version) had far too many bottomless pits though. I mean, in almost any level except Apotos and Spagonia, the slightest slip would kill you. End of. There were so many times playing Colours yesterday, where I fell and thought "If this was Unleashed, I'd have died just then". Except since it's not Unleashed, there was actually more level down there! =D

I also found the levels in Unleashed a bit too long, myself. Maybe not so much the first couple, but when you have stages that take 8-10 minutes or so even when you know what you're doing is a bit much. That said, I did find that Colours didn't really have any "Oh my God epic", jaw-to-the-floor set-piece moments like HD Unleashed did.

I think the natural progression from here would be to make a hybrid of the Unleashed day stages and Colours. Preferably in some more Sonicy environments, because that was one thought I had whilst playing it. I mean, Unleashed had super-realistic levels that looked like crazy twists on real-life places, then Colours goes for totally surreal, out-there kind of stages. Would be kind of nice to see them go back to more typical Sonic stages. We haven't really seen those since Heroes, and that was basically the only time they ever tried to recreate the classic level visual style in 3D anyway.

If Sonic Anniversary word from a little bit ago is true, it may be more likely than you think. ;D

[Kyoryu Aqua]

If you seriously have a problem with the wisps, take the time to get all of the red rings, and then come back. No seriously, I honestly want to hear how you feel about the game after doing that.

[Barry the Nomad]

From what I've seen in playthroughs, Colors looks to have improved on Unleashed in nearly every respect except for graphics and the pre-end credits scene. Of course those two have nothing to do with gameplay, so consider them to be minor niggles.

Spoiler

I thought Unleashed ending with Sonic running and the Tails in the Tornado flying above him to be a much more epic and classic conclusion than simply Sonic and Tails looking up at the sky.

Edited by Barry the Nomad, 13 November 2010 - 01:07 PM.

[speedduelist]

Unleashed was Really Lacking (in both night time and day time stages),
in Unleashed, you find your Self boosting in the Most part, it was seriously lacking creativity, no exploring and barley platforming and limited path ways and limited actions to do.

Sonic colors Has 8 Diffrent wisps to use to Explore and has more focuse on platforming,
Even thought thje 3D Parts are 40% of the game, they are not like Unleashed ones,
They aren't automated and their is a lot to do in them, their are tons of stages gimmicks (Example asteroid coaster), I Never felt in my entire play through that sonic colors was playing its self.


That is said, i defintly wished their would be more 3d, but at the last bits of the game the game gives you that. and they don't play them self at all.
Sonic colors is so much better than unleashed in every way and any sonic game released after sonic 3&k.

Spoiler

Edited by speedduelist, 13 November 2010 - 03:12 PM.

[JezMM]

@Voyant, that's an idea I like the sound of I must say. I certainly hope this is "an experiment" as you say, because I feel it's a successful one.



@Aquaslash, I'm working on it, lol. =D I'm very excited myself to see how it turns out. I will be sure to post with my thoughts when the time comes.

Unleashed was Really Lacking (in both night time and day time stages),
in Unleashed, you find your Self boosting in the Most part, it was seriously lacking creativity, no exploring and barley platforming and limited path ways and limited actions to do.

Did you play the WiiS2 or PS360 version? Because the PS360 version had plenty of platforming and exploring (even if people didn't like that the exploring was mandatory).

Sonic colors Has 8 Diffrent wisps to use to Explore and has more focuse on platforming,
Even thought thje 3D Parts are 40% of the game, they are not like Unleashed ones,
They aren't automated and their is a lot to do in them, their are tons of stages gimmicks (Example asteroid coaster), I Never felt in my entire play through that sonic colors was playing its self.

I actually found the 3D in Colours felt very automated at times, mainly because they split it up into sections where you can only quick step here, can only drift here, etc etc. That kind of annoyed me because I'd rather the rules, and my abilities be consistent throughout. I want to play my way. When you reshuffle the controls to suit the envioronment like that, it makes the 3D sections just feel like a series of short reaction test minigames rather than a platformer. I have nothing against the reaction tests, I just want the platforming too.

The Wisps were fun, their exploration was fun, and their platforming was fun... but I don't want to have the gameplay change, is what I mean. I just want more (better designed of course) levels to play with my Unleashed Sonic in.

Edited by JezMM, 13 November 2010 - 03:52 PM.

[speedduelist]

Did you play the WiiS2 or PS360 version? Because the PS360 version had plenty of platforming and exploring (even if people didn't like that the exploring was mandatory).

PS360. their is a mandatory explorations, but it isn't slow either.
you just have to finish the level while not boosting to get to the mandatory medals.
while sonic colors allows you solve puzzles and enter lots of multiple paths to obtain optional 5 red rings.

I actually found the 3D in Colours felt very automated at times, mainly because they split it up into sections where you can only quick step here, can only drift here, etc etc. That kind of annoyed me because I'd rather the rules, and my abilities be consistent throughout. I want to play my way. When you reshuffle the controls to suit the envioronment like that, it makes the 3D sections just feel like a series of short reaction test minigames rather than a platformer. I have nothing against the reaction tests, I just want the platforming too.

Platforming is much better in 2.5D, Due to many Varieties in game play as you can see a lot of things at once in the screen.
the 3d sections of colors don't play them self at all from what i have played, their were a lot of them although not near as much as 2d parts.

[The Wisps were fun, their exploration was fun, and their platforming was fun... but I don't want to have the gameplay change, is what I mean. I just want more (better designed of course) levels to play with my Unleashed Sonic in.

I prefer puzzling Explorations and platforming and game play variety than just boosting and Quick Stepping and drifting and QTES in Unleashed.

that is just me,
Puzzling platforming and explorations is much better than Boost and quick step and drift.
I would like they keep that unleashed type of game play to the 3D Parts.

[Voyant]

This might sound like asking alot, but the next game should provide the thrill that you get in Unleashed and still Provide the aspects that makes Colors awesome as well.

Like I said the next game could utilize sonic "friends" for this. While you get you speed running thrill from playing Sonic, you can get your exploration and platforming fix with knuckles or Tails. Certainly isn't an impossible feet it just be a lot of work on the level design.

[JezMM]

Yeah, Voyant is basically saying exactly what I was hoping for with Colours. Colours is great at what it does, but I just felt it sacrificed Sonic's "gameplay personality" to do it at times - most notable being the "thrill" feeling.

There were a couple of thrilling moments in Colours, but not one in like, every single level like there was in Unleashed (at times, multiple ones even).

Edited by JezMM, 13 November 2010 - 05:56 PM.

[Mega]

Like I said the next game could utilize sonic "friends" for this. While you get you speed running thrill from playing Sonic, you can get your exploration and platforming fix with knuckles or Tails. Certainly isn't an impossible feet it just be a lot of work on the level design.

Eh. I'd rather not sacrifice platforming for MORE SPEED, though. Just because Sonic's quick doesn't mean he can't platform, so I'd rather have him keep platforming segments than have them go to other characters. x(

[speedduelist]

in sonic colors : their is a lot of variety of color powers to use in sonic colors and the 3d parts of colors doesn't feel automated at all, and their is tons of platforming in sonic colors and their is explorations.
basically every thing i loved about sonic 3&k exists in sonic colors, and each act and/or zone has its own gimmick to look different than the other like the classics.

in Unleashed : it is just mashing different buttons while running straight to avoid dying and stages doesn't have their own gimmicks, they all look the same, some times they look automated. they all have a limited action, their isn't much platforming, the exploration isn't their. the careful platforming isn't even their in the 1-2 stages which has platforming.

[Voyant]

^

Some people enjoy that though.

I think the best way to describe the contrast of Sonic Unleashed vs Sonic Colors is like comparing Advance 2 to Sonic Advance 3 ....actually that's the best way to put it XD