Sonic Unleashed was released in 2008 and came out to mixed reviews, with critics having inconsistent opinions about the speed and Werehog sections. At the time, many thought this wouldn’t be a good move for Sonic, especially after the 2006 debacle that most fans hated.
It’s now 2025, and the tide has seemingly turned for Unleashed. While fans do still prefer games like Sonic X Shadow Generations, many seem to agree that Unleashed is a good title that got a bad rep. While the game is far from perfect, there’s a lot to like here, and we can only hope it will lead to a remaster.
For those unaware, Sonic Unleashed was a game that introduced the now-famous “boost” formula that focuses on Sonic’s speed. Sonic Team also added combat-oriented Werehog sections that play similarly to God of War because character action games were huge at the time.
Gamers at the time will remember how unique Sonic Unleashed's release was. Because the game came out in 2008, fans slowly moved from the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube to the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. In addition, mobile gaming was getting somewhere with Java games.
Naturally, SEGA decided to try to appeal to most of these gamers. The game was released on Java phones, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS2.
Most fans will remember the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions because they were the best-looking versions of the game. This game still looks incredible today, making fans think it was secretly a next-gen title released too early. Unfortunately, it looked so good that these consoles had really bad performance issues.
To their credit, Microsoft and SEGA released a stellar 60 FPS update for Sonic Unleashed on Xbox Series systems. Considering the lack of an official PC or current-gen port, this is the best way to play this underrated gem. It’s also a reason to buy an Xbox Series system, and we wish more games were updated like this.
Luckily, some fans have worked hard to make this game playable on PC. The Unleashed Recompiled project has made this game playable on modern gaming computers and Steam Deck, making this the unofficial best version. It’s good that SEGA isn’t Nintendo because that company would have taken this down fairly quickly.
As someone who played and enjoyed Sonic Unleashed on PS3 a few years ago, I think this title is pretty great. Collecting the Sun and Moon medals is annoying, as they require exploration, even in the boost sections. However, those levels are fantastic, and using the Werehog isn’t half bad, though the lack of enemy variety makes these sections the weaker half of this game.
Interestingly, the PS2 and Wii versions handle things a bit differently. This port still uses the boost and Werehog sections, but they’re all level-based instead of being in a hub. Sun and Moon medals were rewards for beating levels, almost making the last-gen port a better version.
Hopefully, SEGA will release a version of Sonic Unleashed that has both versions in the future. At the least, a remaster of the PS3 and Xbox 360 games should make medals a stage reward instead of something you get through exploration.