Sonic Unleashed

Sonic Unleashed was released in 2008 and represented an attempt to bring the Sonic the Hedgehog series back to its speed-focused roots after several less successful three-dimensional experiments in previous years that had met with a lukewarm reception from both fans and critics. The game combined two distinct gameplay styles: fast, adrenaline-fueled daytime stages, where Sonic races through tracks full of loops, jumps, and grinding sections at typical high speed, and slower, combat-focused nighttime segments, in which the main hero transforms into the so-called Werehog, a stronger but significantly slower form with stretching arms suited to combat and climbing.

The game also included an extensive hub world with the town of Apotos and other locations, where the player completed side quests for local residents between individual levels. The daytime levels took place on tracks inspired by real-world destinations, from snowy mountains to tropical islands, and were built on a combination of three-dimensional running from a behind-the-character perspective and two-dimensional platforming sections, creating a dynamic and frequently praised alternation of perspective and pace. The nighttime Werehog segments, by contrast, emphasized combat combos against hordes of enemies and platforming jumps at a substantially slower pace, which drew mixed reactions from some players due to the significant slowdown and extended playtime.

Reception at the time was mixed, with the daytime speed segments earning praise for returning to the traditional feel of Sonic and his iconic speed, while the nighttime Werehog segments were a frequent target of criticism for their length and repetitive combat system. Even so, the game influenced the direction of future series installments, which gradually returned to a stronger emphasis on speed. Today, Sonic Unleashed is remembered chiefly for its visually striking and exhilarating daytime levels full of adrenaline, which many fans rank among the best the series has ever offered in 3D.

Why play it: For its thrilling, speed-packed daytime levels, which many fans rank among the best 3D Sonic has ever offered, it's worth playing despite the more divisive nighttime Werehog segments.