Review: Mazuri Adventure Pack
Ryan Bloom | April 30, 2009
Oh, what a difference a month makes
It was sort of weird, when you think about it. I’m the kind of guy who defaults all his games to “easy mode”, and yet, here I was, starting to really enjoy the Sonic Unleashed DLC in spite of the fact it was basically a glorified “Hard Mode” for the game. It’s been a full month since the last batch of Sonic Unleashed DLC, and being away for awhile has reminded me why this DLC isn’t really all its cracked up to be.
Maybe it’s just because I’ve played so many of the DLC packs previously, but the Mazuri Adventure Pack seems to be the easiest of the bunch yet. In previous DLC packs, it was common to drop nearly 20+ lives trying to complete all of the levels – and yet, in the Mazuri Adventure Pack, I actually ended up gaining 20 lives back. That’s not to say these levels are walks in the park, though – but on average, the number of instant deaths seem to have been dramatically reduced. Thankfully, the teeth-grindingly-frustrating Savannah Citadel Act 2 Day avoids getting the “Hard Mode” make-over, as it was a drifting-centric obstacle course in similar fashion to Cool Edge Act 3 from the Holoska Adventure Pack DLC. Savannah Citadel Act 2 Day was already hard enough by itself! Instead, Savannah Citadel Act 3 Day receives the “Hard Mode” make-over, tasking you with collecting 300 rings before time runs out. Enemies are almost non-existent in this level and it’s basically impossible to fall in to a bottomless pit – it’s simply a race against time. Once you know where all the largest caches of rings are, this level becomes a cakewalk. Act 4 is basically a wall-kicking gauntlet (with some particularly nice giraffe textures on grind rails), that, like Act 3-2, gets considerably easier once you “figure it out”. The daytime DLC levels end at Act 5, which can be S-Ranked simply by finishing the level without dying (not a very difficult feat).
Savannah Citadel Act 3 Night isn’t really very interesting. It’s simply a handful of long hallways where you’re forced to swing over bottomless pits until you reach the end of the level. The real meat for the night levels comes in Savannah Citadel Act 4 Night. Act 4 is special, because back in March 2008, when the first screenshots of Sonic Unleashed were leaked to the public, screenshots of this level were included with them. That suggests that this level may have actually been the original Savannah Citadel Act 1 – and now, here it is, included as DLC. Following that same train of thought, it’s not very difficult to imagine why, exactly, this level might have been scrapped. It’s not terrible, by any means, and the change of scenery compared to other levels set in Savannah Citadel at night are certainly nice, but it just feels very… rough around the edges. The way the camera positions itself and follows the player can lead to some frustrating moments, and an annoying, close-quarters encounter with a Dark Gaia Titan makes me wonder if maybe the difficulty level of this stage was dialed up a few notches for the sake of the DLC.
But I have to wonder what all of this is for, really. Sure, there are people out there who say they enjoy the additional challenge the Sonic Unleashed DLC provides, but when you really get down to brass tacks, isn’t this all a bit useless? When you really think about all of the time and effort wasted on these DLC packs, wouldn’t you much rather have that same effort be put towards something better, like original levels? Do we really need an extra set of levels set in existing locations? Sonic Unleashed is already difficult and long enough. I would trade all four of the existing Sonic Unleashed DLC releases for just one “Classic Levels” pack that recreated locations like Green Hill Zone for Sonic Unleashed, or better yet, entirely new levels set in totally original locales. Do we really need more of what we already have? I don’t think we do, especially not at $3 a pop. To date, that’s a total of $12 spent on content the game doesn’t really need more of.
Still, if you’re still curious about the DLC, we here at TSSZ have you covered with video of every level:
(Can’t see the above video? Click here!)
Filed Under Microsoft, Review Slew, Sega, Sonic Unleashed, Sony
Wow platforming galore in the DLC :shocked:
I like these level packs simply because they offer more to the game. Sure, they reuse levels and locales, but honestly this is still more then I expected out of Sonic Team and Sega to begin with. It adds a fun diversion at the very least. Although I haven’t played each level so far, Act 4 as the Werehog frustrated me because of the camera, Act 1-2 as Sonic was easier then expected, and Act 4 was pretty fun (A wall jumping level. Pretty original). I see where you are coming from though. As far as the levels go, instead of the format we are getting now, I would rather see 1 new full length act for Sonic and wereSonic and one of those mini acts for Sonic in the same locales. Fuck hard mode.
I totally agree with you on the classic level remakes though, but not GHZ, I’m sick of that level popping up in different places.
I agree.
It’s just a waste, instead of making 4 DLC packs that seems really similar to the defaults level (even if half of them are brand new), I’d rather see ONE brand new continent (hub, 2/3 day stage and one night stage).
BTW, I don’t gen why these DLC are so big in MB.
They reuse all presets, models, texture that are in dvd, and they are still 600MB.
The Sonic Unleashed demo is only 200Mb, something is not right…
I like challengin stuff like this. So when I’ve got the PS3 version(Lol, I change my mind whole the time.XD) I’ll download Mazuri….I think the PS3 will get it too.
But Mazuri is my favorite, even if In haven’t played the PS3 version. but I love the music and everything.
I think this looks more fun than the other DCL´s.
@City Hunter: The demo was just one level. These DLC packs contain six levels. Assuming there’s ONLY level data in this DLC, that’s 100mb per map, which isn’t a stretch – A properly constructed Unreal Tournament 3 map with custom textures is easily 60-80mb.
Perhaps Sonic Unleashed’s map format means they have to re-package textures/etc. even if they’re already present on the disc. Or maybe it’s just the huge, ultra-detailed lightmaps. I dunno.
Green Hill Zone, sega for once do what the fans ask and just recreate the damn thing so people will stop whinning. I would love to see it in tried and true 3D HD, .
@Crysore:
Sure, let them do something just so people stop complaining. If SEGA did what fans wanted, we’d have all the horrible fan characters and re-colors you see on deviantART, and stupid romances.
How would you like to see Mephiles x Professor Pickle?
Yes, I’m overreacting, but that’s how I am with the stupid fan-base.
Entirely new levels? You guys must be desperate!
Though I am all for new levels, and I wouldn’t mind another Green Hill Zone remake. However, my senses tell me that if we do get entirely new levels that are not part of those countries we already have, we may most likely get such levels after DLC for all of the countries have come out.
I wouldn’t say it’s a waste… but I actually said this in my last post around here: couldn’t Sega have made the original levels glorified enough?
A green hill zone remake…a hill top remake! Wow chemical plant remake…Sega could just use all these levels, 2.5D-ify them, stick an ‘interesting plot’ into the mix and they’re home free…hopefully. lol
I wonder how Empire City Adventure pack would play like?
(EDIT – Completely irrelevant to the topic at hand.)
-T
YAY FINALLY the mazuri’s pack =D!!!
the act 4 DAY… uhmm i see the screenshot in US official page of Unleashed
DLC is an easy way to make extra money for Sega. That’s all really.
Mazuri is an awesome level! I have never played it, but it gives me memories from when I first saw that awesome trailer for Sonic Unleashed!
Awwww my comment was deleted… I was refering to the comment above me about a 2D sonic game, but w/e, I hope the next DLC has much longer levels, I found the night levels in this one to be particularly short.
@Keydown! Platforming!?! Awsome
! Im buying this tommorow! hey! Who thinks sega will make downloadable charicters playable? Tails and Knucks anyone?
anybets (this school has blocked this vid so..) It looks like those old beta levels! Each of the DLC so far has sorta.. like chun-nan night!
@Tails: that is what i have always wanted sega to make! A 2.5D remake of the old classic 4 titles! Or aleast Sonic 1 and 2!
blueblur: They made one with Green Hill zone in SA2 and Sonic Battle.
Why do you want to see the same stupid thing again? You know it’s 2009 not 1991.
It would be cool but I think it’s better if they make new cool levels insted of reamakes of the old ones.
Anyway, it looks like it’s more platforming than fighting in the werehog levels. I like that. I love platforming like that.
Werehog: Yeah, I think the same. It reminds me of that!
@ Osnic-san: Very well said.
@Osnic: I do want to see a retro remake, but not GHZ again. Fuck that level. I want to see Marble Garden or Carnival Night, and if they are doing something original instead, try to keep it retro… or make a Vegas level.
I thought this DLC Pack was pretty good. It offered lots of platforming sections!
I want to see a remake of Green hill zone. That would be cool with the hedgehog engine!
@ Werehog: That’s not surprising, coming from you. -_-;
Haha! Do you know me that well!?
You can say so, right?
@BlackHawkOmega (aka GENERALZERO)
Leave teh Werehog be, he has a right to want Green-Hill as do I. xD It’s a classic, benchmark for Sonic, plus it’s landscape is beautiful ~ I too, think the Hedgehog Engine could show that.
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