I think I deserve my on-the-fence feelings when in regards to Sonic Unleashed; I mean, Sega hasn't really confirmed or denied anything (or at least not yet). If this were really just hoax someone or some group of people are trying to pull off to tug at our heart strings, it's disgusting. But if it wasn't...well, I'd like to say we're looking at an entirely new direction for Sonic, but it frankly strikes me as a Sonic Rivals-esque revision, minus the rivals.

I'm the kind of person who really gets excited about these kind of things; and more often than not, I'm disappointed -- my expectations were downright destroyed since I'd set them so high. But in a peculiar twist, this time around I'm not as boasting towards Sonic Unleashed as I thought I would be. Normally I'd throw all my highest hopes in there, and say 'it will be great, you'll see' -- but they weren't great. Not since Sonic Adventure have I seen something comparable in quality.



That's where the Sonic Rivals gameplay frightens me...It's a broadly known FACT that Sonic Team have been substantially off their game (figuratively speaking) for the past six or seven years. I don't know if they're being lazy, if they're becoming old and senile, or if they're genuinely trying to make quality games that just can't seem to hit the target near enough to please all us nostalgic-driven Sonic fans. With all this said, either their laziness, their age, or their inability to craft a proper, high quality Sonic experience translates to Sonic Rivals. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it was a necessarily bad game, by any means, but it just wasn't lived up to my high expectations. Sonic Advance was a glorious achievement because it wasn't just throwing some Sonic at you with whatever they can plant their hands on; it was a good, effort-filled production worthy of the Sonic name.



What I felt with Sonic Rivals wasn't what I felt with Sonic Advance. It all just seemed like a simple train of thought: "This is the PSP, so let's make it a 2.5D game, with speed, and a couple of stages, a two-on-two race gimmick and profit!" Sure, it was okay, but there wasn't nearly enough there. It was saddening to say the least. I would hate to let people have their hopes up so high when it seems that Sega is actually getting it right for once (if it is, in fact, real) and then realize it wasn't all that great, it was just a 2.5D, press button and win experience with a blue hedgehog and some loops.

So finally, having all this digested, the question still remains: Will this really be an entire Sonic experience deserving of the Sonic name? Will it be able to pull itself back up from its already, deep and dirty pit that's been dug for itself? I haven't the slightest clue -- I just know I shall reserve all judgment until I play it for myself. Though, know this...my hopes for this fast blue hedgehog will always be there. I don't know why, but I know I'll just never be able to cease believing in him. Until the day he dies, in all entirety, hope will be there -- not as high as it used to be, but it will be there.

What do you guys think? I'm interested in your thoughts. If this isn't a hoax; do you think the game is heading for the right direction? Do you think it just looks pleasing but when it comes down to it, it's not all it's cracked up to be? Et cetera, et cetera...