Sonic Unleashed Member Review for the Xbox360

Sonic vs. Mario.  It's the eternal battle of videogame mascot supremecy.  But we all know what the battle compares to.  It's like (Chuck Norris/Optimus Prime/Michael Phelps/Troy Polamalu) fighting (Tom Cruise/Carebears/Jigglypuff).  Someone's going to get their ass kicked...

Let's face it.  Although Mario has made some bad stuff (Luigi's Mansion, Mario Clash, and "gasp" Hotel Mario), they were still playable.  It's like the Yankees claiming a 90-win season is a failure, it's just not up to snuff.  But Sonic has been in some serious do-do in the past... and he's becoming the new symbol for mediocracy.  Sonic R scares the holy crap out of me (The Tails doll was created by infusing the evil of the world...)  Sonic Heroes has the single worst camera ever.  Sonic 360 made my brother cry, and it probably got someone from Sonic Team executed by decimation (in the Roman Empire, they made sure you didn't run, because if you did, they killed 10% of your group by random.  Those aren't good odds...).

So, right now Sonic's on life support.  He then created Sonic Unleased in his last attempt at glory, and it's actually pretty good.  Well...

Let's see, it's a Sonic Game, and it's FAST.  Yay, speed is good in a Sonic Game... until nighttime.  And then you turn into a "werehog".  Think of a Wookie's evil twin.  This is when the game SUCKS.  The combat is like way too awkward.  We're almost bordering Primal Rage awkward (true: To do Chaos' wizzing fatality:  Hold 1+3 and move joystick down,down; then hold all buttons and move joystick left, right, left, right.)  It's like they threw it in as a little bonus.  It's the equivalent of putting hot chocolate on your steak.  Two great things don't mix.  EVER.  SONIC IS MEANT TO BE FAST, FAST, FAST.  In addition, the cutscenes, as usual, blow.

But the good news: The speed stages were REALLY fun.  I totally enjoyed them and it was such a great game.  And we don't have any more EUROPOP!!!  Yay!  Maybe they got a hint from the awesome Galaxy Soundtrack and decided to put in orchestral music in the game.

The speed stages get an A, the combat stages get an F, so I'll give it a C.  In a blog, I'll tell you about my pitch to fix the Sonic Series perfectly.  (If any SEGA executives are reading, you can email me and we'll talk buisness...)  Got to go fast, fast, faster...