Nearly sixteen years after it first hit the scene in November 2008, “Sonic Unleashed” is making waves again with a fully-realized native PC version, aptly named “Unleashed Recompiled.” This achievement is thanks to dedicated fans who developed the XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp tools. These innovative tools convert PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into x86 PC-compatible C++ and HLSL code, making it possible to enjoy the game in a modern format.
This breakthrough suggests that potentially any Xbox 360 game could now see a new life on PC, even those not included in the current Xbox Backward Compatibility program. This means that several titles might escape obscurity and thrive with new modding possibilities. Does this sound familiar? It might remind you of previous fan efforts like Zelda 64: Recompiled and N64: Recompiled, which we’ve enthusiastically explored in past reviews.
Let’s zero in on “Sonic Unleashed” and why fans felt compelled to bring it to PC before Sega did. For years, this game was a coveted gem among the Sonic modding community. The Unleashed Project and other mods worked tirelessly to integrate the game’s iconic elements — notably the adored Daytime stages — into the PC version of “Sonic Generations.” Until recently, using modded Generations PC was the only way to experience these levels at a smooth 60 FPS, as the original PS360 consoles struggled to maintain 30 FPS due to the game’s demanding graphics, including full Global Illumination effects.
More recently, strides in Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 emulation through tools like Xenia and RPCS3 provided another avenue. These allowed players to tackle the full game on PC, though often with performance drops due to emulation limitations compared to modding Generations.
Now, however, Sonic fans can finally relish “Sonic Unleashed” as it was meant to be enjoyed, thanks to “Unleashed Recompiled.” Built upon the progress of Xenia’s emulation, it has been transformed into a smoothly-running PC port. This version comes packed with all the bells and whistles you’d expect, from uncapped resolution support to customizable graphics settings. Plus, it boasts neat extras like a Music Attenuation feature, which automatically mutes in-game music when you play tunes from your music player. While there’s an option to increase the FPS cap beyond 60 FPS, I’d suggest sticking with Lossless Scaling or your GPU’s frame generation solutions to avoid physics glitches if you’re planning to go beyond 60 FPS.
Of course, if you’re eager to dive into “Unleashed Recompiled” or explore creating your own Xbox 360 recompilations, you’ll need to have legal access to the Xbox 360 versions of the games and any downloadable content. Compared to sticking with the console versions, especially since “Unleashed Recompiled” supports a range of mods like Foreign Input System and Improved Progression with the HedgeModManager, it’s clear that enjoying Xbox 360 games on PC is now the go-to choice.
Welcome to the PC realm, Sonic Unleashed — we’ve been eagerly anticipating your arrival.
