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Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

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Title Screen

Sonic Unleashed

Also known as: Sonic World Adventure (JP), Sonic Unleashed: La Malédiction du Hérisson (FR)
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Released in JP: February 19, 2009 (PS3, 360)
Released in US: November 20, 2008 (360), December 12, 2008 (PS3)
Released in EU: November 28, 2008 (360), December 19, 2008 (PS3)
Released in AU: November 28, 2008 (360), December 16, 2008 (PS3)


AnimationsIcon.png This game has unused animations.
AreasIcon.png This game has unused areas.
DevTextIcon.png This game has hidden development-related text.
ObjectIcon.png This game has unused objects.
GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.
ItemsIcon.png This game has unused items.
RegionIcon.png This game has regional differences.


ProtoIcon.png This game has a prototype article
PrereleaseIcon.png This game has a prerelease article
NotesIcon.png This game has a notes page

Hmmm...
To do:
  • This game's filesystem is compressed with XCompression (Xbox 360) or SEGS (PlayStation 3) - to anyone interested in digging further, use the Sonic Unleashed Mod Toolbox
  • Other version differences; the PlayStation 3 version apparently uses higher quality assets, and there are object layout differences between the two.
  • The Japanese PS3 version allegedly shipped with the DLC on the disc; verify this. The Japanese Xbox 360 version is also dated a month after the North American/European version, so check that too for any potential differences.

Sonic Unleashed is the first 3D installment in the "boost" gameplay sub-series of Sonic titles. While it received mixed to negative reviews at the time of its release (to the point of being delisted from digital storefronts), it has since seen acclaim for being a return to form for the series after the infamous Sonic 2006, with many fans clamoring for a modern day rerelease.

In recent years, the game has become more accessible via backwards-compatibility on newer consoles.

Sub-Pages

Read about prototype versions of this game that have been released or dumped.
Prototype Info
Read about prerelease information and/or media for this game.
Prerelease Info
Miscellaneous tidbits that are interesting enough to point out here.
Notes

Resources

SU UnusedAssets SubPageIcon.png
Unused Assets
E3 Leftovers and completely unused assets.
SU Unused Areas Icon.png
Unused Areas and Layouts
Sections of the stages which were abandoned by changes in the level design.
SU UnusedAnimations SubPageIcon.png
Unused Animations
Unused animations which still remains in the game files.
SU UnusedObjects SubPageIcon.png
Unused Objects
Info on unused objects and their behavior.
SU UnusedMissions SubPageIcon.png
Unused Missions
Take a bobsled ride, then report back to Marketa.
SU UnusedAudio SubPageIcon.png
Unused Audio
Sonic 2006 leftovers, unused dialogs, etc.
SU UnusedText SubPageIcon.png
Unused Text
Go nuts, man! Time to combo those combos!

Gameplay

Unused Ring Counter

ui_gate.yncp contains an unused ring counter which would probably show the max amount of rings on a stage. Interestingly enough, a similar thing was present back in Sonic Adventure 2

Unused Trial Types

The game has 2 unused trials for Sonic and 3 trials for the Werehog. You can activate them if you get 100% Save-Data through the debug tools. Almost every trial is playable and can be finished, Except: Apotos and Eggmanland, Apotos's Score Trial just won't load, and the Eggmanland have just a placeholder trials. For example Eggmanland "Battle Trial" required to defeat 1 enemy and complete the stage, which is obviously just a placeholder.

Hedgehog Werehog
Time Trial Time Trial
Score Trial Score Trial
Battle Trial Battle Trial
Ring Trial Ring Trial
Survival Survival
Hedgehog "Score Trial" Werehog "Ring Trial"
SonicUnleashed Modern ScoreTrial Gameplay.png SonicUnleashed Werehog RingTrial Gameplay.png
Hedgehog "Trial list" Werehog "Score Trial" loading"
SonicUnleashed Modern TrialList.png SonicUnleashed Modern ScoreTrial LoadingScreen.png

Unused Items

Collectibles

Icon Name
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Black Medicine
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Brown Medicine
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Green Medicine
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Creamy Milk
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Fresh Eggs
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Bracelet
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Vintage Jerky
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder1.png
Zonshen Medicine
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder1.png
Miracle Cure
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Brand-New Recipe
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Sailor's Bag
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
CD
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Cassette Tape
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Cassette Tape
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Source Of Energy
SU Collectibles Apotos Flower.png
Apotos Flower
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Carpet by Labib
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Barrel
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Beloved Book
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Sacred Plant
SU Collectibles White Bouquet.png
White Bouquet
SU Collectibles GiftRed.png
Gift
SU Collectibles GiftBlue.png
Gift
SU Collectibles GiftGreen.png
Gift
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Ursule's Sled
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Gregorios's Specs
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Banana Peel
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Burlap Sack
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Chili Peppers
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Yasmine's Plate
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Precious Shell
SU Collectibles PlaceHolder.png
Tools of Augury

Other

Icon Name Description
SonicUnleashed item computer.png
Computer A state-of-the-art PC with a hundred megableets of RAM!

Debugging Features

The debugging features in the game are not accessed by any normal means, to find them and have them function requires files in the game being unpacked and being edited. Most of these are accessed from some of the #XX.ar.xx files that correspond to a file that is a stage, preference or character.

Hmmm...
To do:
There are a lot more of these features lying around the files of the game, they need to be found and documented. I will have a few up soon...

Collision Render

In any of the scenes in the game that also have a #XX.ar.xx file name structure, there may be a file found inside called Stage.stg.xml, this file has an option where you can have the collision rendered in the map. The option for this is the string: <IsCollisionRender>false</IsCollisionRender>. Changing it to true will enable the feature.

As an example the archive Town_Mykonos.ar.00 is the scene for the Town Apotos. This archive has a linked file called #Town_Mykonos which contains a Stage.stg.xml file.

As of enabling it, the game will use a texture and have it be shown on the collision in the map, this would have been used to check in-game for any problems with the collision.

If you have epilepsy, it is not recommended that you use this as the textures do flash when moving around or rotating the camera.

Internal Project Name

The game's internal project name is SWA, according to the Xbox 360 version's portable executable file name. It's simply the acronym of the Japanese title, Sonic World Adventure.

Version Differences

Regional Differences

International Japan
Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360)-title.png Sonic World Adventure (Xbox 360)-title.png

In Japan, the game is titled Sonic World Adventure. This was actually the working title of the game for all regions (back when it was developed as the third Adventure game) before the decision was made to rename it for international markets due to the stark change in gameplay. The different logo also necessitated a change in effects; the international versions have a strike flash every few seconds, while the Japanese version has a glowing effect for the cracked planet (and the logo as a whole having a subtle flashing animation).

Platform Differences

  • The frame rate is capped to 30 FPS on the Xbox 360, while the PlayStation 3 version runs uncapped, with certain instances of it hitting 60 FPS. Regardless, both versions struggle to maintain a consistent framerate in the same areas. However, the PS3 version is able to maintain a high framerate for the Tornado Defense levels and some areas of the daytime stages, particularly the Holoska stages. Playing the Xbox 360 version on an Xbox Series X/S allows it to run with an uncapped framerate that can consistently stay at 60 FPS.
  • Lighting is a bit different between the versions. The Xbox 360 uses brighter, more saturated settings, while the PlayStation 3 version is more life-like. This is likely due to the Xbox 360 having a darker video output, resulting in the lighting being modified to minimize the difference in brightness. The Xbox 360 version also seems to have smoother shading effects.
  • The animation for changing time is different; the Xbox 360 version features an animation of Sonic transforming into (or reverting from) the Werehog, whereas the PlayStation 3 version instead just shows the Sun/Moon medal spinning in the center of the screen.
  • Some special effects, such as the dust produced by Sonic when he runs, are more prominent on PlayStation 3.
  • Level design is slightly different between platforms. Windmill Isle 1 Day lacks a few of the windmills on PlayStation 3, while Savannah Citadel 1-2 Day uses a different variation of the spike boxes.
Hmmm...
To do:
  • Add screenshots and videos.

Revisional Differences

  • On March 12, 2009, an update was released that added support for the Chun-nan Adventure Pack DLC. The update also revised some patterns that appear in Holoska. The original texture used a depiction of a Hindu swastika, while the update replaced it with a new texture. This was likely done to prevent the game from potentially getting re-rated or banned. Ironically, internet users discovered the symbol on the German Sega website.
  • The Japanese release of the game already has update 2.0 in the executable, due to the fact that game was released in the Japan much later than in other countries

Miscellaneous

Region Names

The file names for many of the game's regions differ from the names used in the game itself - some of them are actually named after real-world locations;

In game Game's files
Adabat SouthEastAsia, Sea, Beach
Apotos Mykonos
Chun-nan China
Eggmanland EggManBase
Empire City NYCity
Holoska Snow
Mazuri Africa
Shamar Petra
Spagonia EuropeanCity, RedRoofs
(Source: Sonic Retro)

Early Boss Names

In game Game's files
Egg Devil Ray Egg Ray Fish, Egg Ray Bird
(Source: Original TCRF research)