>>718846781 (OP)
Unleashed is a pretty good game and I'm tired of pretending it isn't.
>b-but the werehog
Buy food for XP from vendors in the hub worlds. Dump XP into strength and health. Learn a couple of effective combos, spam them. Use the QTEs.
>b-but the levels are TOO LONG
They can be completed in under 10 minutes if you're not a bumbling retard.
>the medals though
Literally the only actual indefensible issue with Unleashed, yes. Just be diligent when playing night stages, most medals are not hard to find. You might have to revisit a few stages, but it really doesn't take that long, and guides have existed since the game came out. You're right, it sucks, but it's not the hours of backtracking that people make it out to be.
>boostshit sucks
I don't care for it either. I don't like the way Sonic handles in 3D in Unleashed. His turning is too wide and slippery. But it plays well enough, is entertaining the first time you play the game, isn't full of dumb gimmicks to distract from the core gameplay, and has a scoring system that encourages repeat playthroughs. I can understand why people enjoy it for what it is, even if it isn't ideal.
>Eggmanland
git gud
Unleashed is a game that is the sum of its parts. It's full of charm, gorgeous art direction that some would say has still not been surpassed to this day, high production values, amazing music, lots of collectables, and a story with actual heart, with serious moments that aren't overbearing dramatic nonsense. And I think when you add it all up, it's a pretty good game. 7/10 at absolute worst. I 100%'d it earlier this year using the Recomp on PC, and I'd highly recommend it. If any of the shit I listed above is just a total deal breaker, use mods to tailor it to your liking. There's a gorillian of them by now. This is NOT a Sonic '06 situation. Unleashed actually deserves a second look, and I will continue to give credit where it is due, even if most of the people who made it are long gone from Sonic Team.