A bit of information has sprung up over the weekend regarding Sonic Unleashed, particularly the Wii version, whose first screens were revealed in-- you guessed it-- the new issue of Nintendo Power. (Damn, I wish mine would get here already so we could get everything out of the way at once.)

First off, we have the above scans/screenshot comparisons of the Xbox 360 and Wii versions from GoNintendo (click to enlarge). Some of those who saw previous screenshots, having played Super Mario Galaxy, were ready to easily believe that the Wii could produce those graphics, and that what we were seeing would represent the Wii's version as well.

Turns out... well, sad to say, but those who were in the "Wii won't look like that" camp would seem to be correct. While certainly not bad looking, the Wii screens certainly carry a dated feel, reminding one of the graphics found in Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast.

So far, however, it's looking like the PS2 version is taking precedence, and the Wii is subject to yet another cheap port, and this understandably upsets some people.

You can find more images here.

While all this is going on, Crispy Gamer has put together a preview with further details on all the various versions (four in total) of Unleashed, with a fair dose of good news and bad spread throughout.

Beyond the graphics, it seems that the Xbox 360/PS3 version will have a total of nine levels, while the PS2/Wii version will only have seven. While I may be able to excuse the graphics, this is a bit much.

On a more postive note, unless you're really a fan of fur, feathers, and quills, you'll be happy to know that Sonic is riding this one solo; Tails, Amy, and even Shadow are sitting this one out, save for some possible glimpses in cutscenes. Does this mean that Knuckles, Rouge, Big, and the rest of the Zoo Crew are out as well?

(I'll be honest; I love playing as Knuckles in 2D. 3D wasn't so bad, either.)

That fancy-shmancy Hedgehog Engine they've been touting? It lets Sonic move at speeds of up to 300 mph of real-world speed. And the levels are massive (well, on PS3 and 360, at least, I'm sure; no word on the gimped versions), with the smallest being six miles in length.

On another note: No interspecies romance, as even hearing a small child shout "I love you, Mickey!" at Disneyland is enough to still send some Sonic 2K6 players into a PTSD-induced state.

Finally, the homing attack remains, though you probably won't need it quite as much as in the 3D games; gameplay is about running really fast, making split-second decisions (multiple pathways, you see), and more running fast.

Crispy Gamer seems to have a positive outlook for the game in general, so that's a good sign. Now, we just hope for the best... and that maybe some sort of decision is quickly overturned about the Wii/PS2 version.