In defense of Sonic the Werehog, one of the Blue Blur's most easily overlooked alter egos

After the, let's say, disappointment that was 2006's Sonic The Hedgehog, the Blue Blur had hit rock bottom, meaning Sonic Team could finally begin to rebuild and repair its mascot's reputation. So you have to wonder what Sega was thinking when it robbed Sonic of his signature speed. 

Slower, furrier, but not necessarily meaner, his werehog transformation is the result of exposure to Dark Gaia's energy, which only happens at night. Fortunately, the goodness of the hedgehog's heart means that despite the fearsome new look and deeper voice he is still Sonic at heart, and hasn't lost his heroic ambition to defeat Dr Eggman and repair the world, which has been split into seven pieces.

Blue moon rising

After several games in which you bounced between controlling different characters, Sonic Unleashed was the first in a while to be focussed solely on Sonic. But perhaps in order to deliver variety, in addition to the hedgehog's usual speedy running through levels, transforming into the werehog takes things down a notch, allowing more exploration and combat. 

It may not be what you'd expect from a Sonic game – indeed, you can imagine the inspiration was God Of War or even Jak And Daxter, given the literal Chip on your shoulder (he's the little guy who also offers hints). That said, it might not have felt out of place if this kind of skillset had been given to Knuckles, even if the echidna didn't have stretchy arms for reaching poles or ledges (for that matter… why does this wolfy form?). 

As Professor Pickle concludes that "darkness is a part of our world, just the same as light," so the werehog is a part of Sonic. If there's anything truly wrong, it's in the unfortunately lengthy level designs rather than the 'hog himself

This feature first appeared in PLAY magazine - Subscribe here to save on the cover price, get exclusive covers, and have it delivered to your door or device every month.