Sonic Unleashed (HD)

Sonic Unleashed
Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega Platforms:PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Sonic Unleashed is a 2008 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The story follows Sonic as he attempts to restore the world after his nemesis Doctor Eggman shatters it with a powerful laser to unleash Dark Gaia, an ancient evil, while dealing with having become a "Werehog", a werewolf-esque transformation, which he gains after coming into contact with the energy of Dark Gaia. Gameplay features two distinct styles, with each being played either during daytime or nighttime. Daytime stages incorporate Sonic's traditional platforming and trademark speed, with a combination of behind-the-back third-person viewpoints and 2D side-scroller platforming; gameplay seamlessly transitions between these two views.

This page describes the version released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, commonly referred to as the HD version. The other versions of the game are the SD version released for the Wii and PlayStation 2, and the mobile version developed by Gameloft.

File Formats

• .arl/ar.0_ (Archives)
• .model (Models)
• .dds (Textures)
• .csb (Music and voices)

Tools

• XCompress BMS script for some .dds textures using a special Xbox compression. The XCompress utilities included in the Xbox 360 SDK work much better for several reasons, but they are copyrighted material and can't be shared here.
• Sonic Unleashed Mod Toolbox for extracting .arl/ar.0_ archives.
• ModelFBX for model conversion.

Filesystem Guide (WIP)

• Archives beginning with a # contain only game data such as collision models (.hkx) and object layouts (.xml)
• SystemCommon = Textures for Chip ("Whip"), rings, rainbow rings, sun & moon medals, some particle effects, and some placeholder textures.
• SystemCommonCore = Some HUD and UI textures.
• Town_Common = A lone se_object_town_vo_e.csb.
• Town_EuropeanCity = Many .texture, .texset, and .material files corresponding to the Spagonia hub.
• Town_EuropeanCity_Common = Amy's animations in .hkx, .texture, .texset, and .material files, .xtb files for the townspeople's dialogue.

Further Reading

• http://info.sonicretro.org/SCHG:Sonic_Unleashed_(XBOX_360/PS3)

VG Resource Pages

PlayStation 3

• The Spriters Resource

Xbox 360

• The Spriters Resource
• The Models Resource
• The Textures Resource
• The Sounds Resource