Sonic the Hedgehog has the pull of a train wreck: no matter how tired you think you are of his lacklustre 3D adventures, you can't help but take a good long stare whenever one is announced.
Sonic Unleashed, for example, exists only as a handful of screenshots and a couple of trailers, but gamers who insist they're thoroughly tired of the hedgehog are still finding plenty to mouth off about. The August issue of Nintendo Power created a stir with some new screenshots for the Wii version of the game. When compared to the preview material for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions, Sonic Unleashed for the Wii looks very...well, last gen.
Dimps, the company responsible for modern 2D Sonic titles like Sonic Rush Adventure, will be handling the level design for the Playstation 2 and Wii adaptations of Sonic Unleashed. Dimps' track record is pretty excellent; it's co-developing Street Fighter IV and it also developed a game called Rumble Fish (I've never played it, but any reference to S.E. Hinton is a-okay by me). I don't doubt that if Sonic Unleashed turns out decent, it'll turn out decent all across the board. But going by screenshot comparisons, it looks as if Dimps is doing the usual Wii phone-in, which involves one part Playstation 2 port and one part waggle.
This is especially disappointing considering Sonic and the Secret Rings not only looked good, it was developed around the Wii, not hammered into it. The Wii might not have the power of the Playstation 3 or 360, but let's face it, Super Mario Galaxy was not a bad looking game.
Regardless, screenshots tell very little about a game these days. Something that looks unimpressive in still-frame is wholly capable of blowing away the world when in motion. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, anyone?
We'll just have to see how things go.
Related links:
Trailer Review: Sonic Unleashed
The Ten Greatest Opening Levels in Gaming History
Alternate Soundtrack: Sonic the Hedgehog vs. Ratatat