Godzilla: Unleashed
Encyclopedia
Godzilla: Unleashed, abbreviated as G3 or GU, is a 3D
fighting
video game based on the Godzilla
film franchise for the Wii
and PlayStation 2
, developed by Pipeworks
and published by Atari
. The PS2 version was released on November 20 and the Wii version on December 5, 2007 in North America
and both versions on February 29, 2008 in Europe
. There are currently no plans yet to release Godzilla: Unleashed in Japan.
The game is set during a series of unnatural disasters across Planet Earth
due to unexplained appearances of large crystals, where the Vortaak alien race are invading once again. The game features over 20 Kaiju
and Mechas from all three Godzilla
eras; Shōwa
, Heisei
and Millennium
, as well as two newly created Toho approved creations; Krystalak and Obsidius.
Like its predecessors Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
and Godzilla: Save the Earth
, Unleashed plays as a 3D fighting game
with the option to play with two to four monsters at a time, with or without teams. While the PS2 version involves button pressing for attacks and combos, the Wii version, along with button pressing implements its motion sensing control via the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk. Basics punch
and kick
attacks are through the A and B buttons while more powerful and aggressive strikes require swinging of the remote up, down or side to side while pressing A and/or B. Movement is done by the analog stick on the Nunchuk and by shaking it allows players to jump, where combined with shaking of the remote allows nearby opponents or objects like small buildings and boulders to be lifted and thrown by shaking the Remote or pressing the A button. Weapon/beam attacks also return but are less powerful and accurate, but also can be sustained for a longer period of time. Rage Mode from the previous games is absent but in its place is "Critical Mass" where through destruction of energy crystals found in arenas monsters temporarily glow red (similar looking to Godzilla's out of control radioactivity in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
) and increase in size, boosting damage and endurance, but decreasing defense.
Monsters can also use one of seven "Power Surges", which are temporary abilities that can be used only once per battle, per monster. Surges increase certain traits, like for example the Fire Surge increases damage dealt and Speed Surge increases speed. They can also decrease abilities like Shield Surge, which increases defense while slowing movement. Others can improve and damage others like Radiation Surge that improves health regeneration while impairing that of nearby monsters. Before the Surge is over, monsters can induce a powerful shockwave attack. In the single player Story Mode, multiple Power Surges can be collected through defeating an enemy monster afflicted with the Surge. In multiplayer mode, the Surges are obtained by destroying Surge Crystals that pop up in the environment.
Along with destructible environments, Earth's Military or the Vortaak's Forces are present, depending on the arena/city. Both will attack certain monsters each time, while others can still get caught in the crossfire. Monsters are attacked on differing circumstances. For example Global Defense Force monsters will be attacked by humans if they go out their way to destroy human buildings and military units being on the same side. The same goes for Alien monsters and the Vortaak. Destruction of crystals and use of Power Surges and Critical Mass can also affect military attitude towards certain monsters. In Story Mode, the Atragon
appears multiple times throughout but due to the personal attitude of its Admiral, it will attack regardless of actions or faction.
, begins with a meteor shower colliding with the Earth's surface, causing climate shifts and earthquakes. There are also crystals with power surges causing monsters to go berserk with strange powers they absorbed. Four opposing factions arise from the chaos of the scramble for control of the planet; Earth Defenders, Global Defense Force, Aliens and Mutants. Depending on the player's whims, alliances can be forged and enemies made depending on his or her actions during game.
General: Admiral Gyozen, captain of the Atrogon is out to destroy any monster in his way. He is considered to be a boss. Gyozen is encountered 3 times. The first time, he is just an obstacle between the player and the foe. The second time he is a boss in New York. He retreats when half his health is gone. In Osaka, he fails after he is defeated. GDF mechas do not fight Gyozen. There are also three crystal towers in a mission the player must destroy no matter which faction the player is controlling (the mission is only mandatory for the Earth Defenders). There are also hidden/unlockable monsters such as Biollante and Varan whereas the player must do certain things such as destroying crystals.
The Vortaak, led by their queen Vorticia, seek revenge on planet Earth and "their mutated monstrosities" by preparing a full-scale invasion, but are stopped cold by the approaching asteroid. After repairing their ship, they assault Earth with their own monsters, eventually arriving in the atmosphere over San Francisco. Fortunately, they are brought down by the Earth Defenders, or the GDF (an Alien can also bring it down) and their crashed ship awakens Varan
.
Though it is not revealed in-game, the new monsters Krystalak and Obsidius were created due to the effects of the crystal energies on Earth. Krystalak is born from a giant "egg" in New York City
, and is a result of monster DNA combining with the crystal energies. The Vortaak, on their last legs, try to take the crystal egg's energies, but wind up releasing Krystalak instead. Obsidius, conversely, arose from the deep continental plates where crystal energies affected the magma deep within the planet. While trying to destroy the crystals turning Seattle into a volcanic wasteland, the GDF accidentally awaken the monster.
. They see the crystals and Vortaak as threats and go out their way to destroy them, even if it means destruction of human cities. Earth Defenders ally themselves with monsters that destroy crystals but because of this, they will attack those who use them to attain Critical Mass. The Earth Defenders are:
interview with Pipeworks states that the title is completely new and is specifically designed with the Wii Remote
in mind. There were also plans to use WiiConnect24
support for downloading purposes, but they seemed to never have happened. IGN has a development blog running, but it is updated irregularly. The Wii version of the game, while much more developed than the PS2 version, has been criticized in early reviews for somewhat unresponsive controls.
The Wii
, PlayStation 2
and PlayStation Portable
versions of Unleashed are in development by Pipeworks Software
. The PlayStation 2 version has two exclusive characters unavailable to any other console apart from Double Smash. The PlayStation 2 version has 20 monsters, including the two exclusive characters. While the game was in early development, a screenshot was also shown with the press release on some websites, but it was revealed to be a falsely edited from screenshots of Unleashed and Godzilla: Save the Earth
.
On September 14, 2007, two screenshots from an early build of the PS2 version of the game were released, revealing Godzilla
2000 and Anguirus
with similar models to their Save the Earth designs, and crystals on a Monster Island arena. It has been speculated that the gameplay would be a rebuild of the Save the Earth mechanics.
On September 27, 2007, IGN
posted a new PS2 video showing Godzilla
2000, Destoroyah
, Orga
, Anguirus
, SpaceGodzilla
, Moguera
, Fire Rodan
, Megalon, King Ghidorah
, Baragon
, Jet Jaguar
, Mechagodzilla
2, Mecha-King Ghidorah
, Megaguirus
and Showa Gigan
. This left five monsters to go. It also furthered the idea that it is a rebuild of Save the Earth as several characters are completely unchanged, including King Ghidorah
, Megaguirus and Gigan
, who were revamped for the Wii version. On the following day, Tohokingdom.com posted an area for PS2 holders to watch. They have placed a character confirmed list on it, which shows all of the characters that were seen in the PS2 video.
On October 10, 2007, it was announced that summonable monsters would not reappear, according to an interview. Two days later, IGN's development blog has revealed that Heavy Melody created the soundtrack for the game and that every monster has a unique theme song that ties to the overall feeling of their faction for the Wii version.
On October 19, 2007, IGN stated that the PSP version of Godzilla: Unleashed was canceled; however, if the Wii version of the game sells well there could be a PSP version coming out in 2008.
Atari stated that the Wii version of Godzilla: Unleashed would be released on November 20, 2007, the same day as the Nintendo DS version. Atari later stated that the PS2 version of Godzilla: Unleashed would be released on November 20, 2007, along with the Nintendo DS and Wii version.
On November 9, 2007, GameSpot posted its sixth and final designer diary with Simon Strange talking about the factions' importance.
On November 19, 2007, GameSpot put up a Monster Battles feature to have people vote for which monsters they want to face off. Also, Battra
was revealed to be in the game, as he is one of the monsters in the character pool.
The PS2 version of Godzilla: Unleashed has 20 monsters. Beyond Battra
(exclusive to the system) and Obsidius, the roster is completely lifted from Save the Earth, featuring none of the other new characters in the Wii version. The PS2 version is a modified version of Save the Earth only with Battra
and Obsidius. However, Battra
is just a clone of Mothra
and Obsidius is just a clone of Orga
.
On November 30, 2007, Atari put up a contest for the upcoming Wii version. The contest was a trivia game. If the players guessed the answers correctly, they would have a chance to win a poster of Godzilla: Unleashed, 10% off digital downloads at Atari, or Atari T-shirts. Also on the same day, all of the "monster cards" on the official website were revealed.
On December 16, 2007, King Caesar
won the GameSpot Monster battles while Baragon
was in 2nd place. Obsidius got the least amount of votes (9380 votes).
On December 23, 2007, Tohokingdom.com came out with the Godzilla: Unleashed Soundtrack.
It was revealed in an interview with one of the producers of the game that there are no plans for a PSP version.
Obsidius was selected from a roster of 4 original monsters created by Pipeworks. Under the working names Magmouth, Firelion, the Visitor, and Lightning Bug, IGN
ran a poll for viewers to vote on which monster would be developed as a fighter. After attracting 6,000 voters, Magmouth was the winner. Later, second poll selected "Obsidius" as the chosen monster's new name while beating out alternatives "Dotoryo", "Kazango", "Pyrodorah", and "Volcanis". Obsidius was not seen on any official gameplay until September 12, 2007. He was briefly seen on the extended trailer for the game being attacked by King Ghidorah
. Obsidius's official biography and character model was revealed on September 21, 2007 in an animatic along with Megaguirus and Mecha-King Ghidorah
on IGN
. There is also a video of Obsidius fighting Kiryu
at Gameradar that was revealed on October 9, 2007.
called it "among the best fighters for the system" while GameSpot
stated " Unleashed is the worst thing to happen to Godzilla since getting killed by Mothra's babies."
GameSpy
praised the large lineup of playable kaiju as "ample fan service" while showing disappointment over the new original kaiju, Obsidius and Krystalak, being "a shame that these guys make the cut while classic foes like Hedorah
and Battra
are MIA (or confined to the PS2 version in Battra's case)".
The controls were criticized the most by critics, reportedly being unresponsive at times. Nintendo Power
said that "though Godzilla Unleashed is fairly accessible, even casual gamers may wonder why their creatures don't always do what they want" while IGN
experienced "a good deal of lag between when you swing the Wiimote and when your monster attacks". Game Informer
, however more bluntly called them a "complete slop".
The visuals were also criticized with Game Trailers stating that "the films are often seen as classics because of their low production values and hokey monster designs. Still, Godzilla Unleashed is simply unattractive with its low-res textures and washed-out color palette",
Player reactions to both versions of game have been much more positive. The game received praise for inclusion of fan favorites like Biollante, and Godzilla 1954 in the Wii version, as well as the custom mode, which allows the player to tweak the gameplay to their liking. Several negative reviews still conclude that the game is great for Godzilla fans. The PlayStation 2 version, sometimes jokingly referred to as "Save the Earth 1.5" in the fandom, is unpopular, however. It is cited as a minor update to the previous game, particularly due to the lack of new monsters as Battra and Obsidius possess almost identical movesets to Mothra and Orga respectively.
version of Unleashed is an update of Godzilla: Save the Earth
.
Movement returns to a traditional control scheme, instead of the motion controls found in the Wii
version. Furthermore, a number of playable monsters are missing such as Varan, Titanosaurus, King Caesar, and Biollante (though Battra is present as a PS2 exclusive playable monster). The PS2 version of the game adopts few of the mechanical changes from the Wii version, and instead retains those found in Save the Earth. However, it does incorporate most of the music and stages from the Wii version.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
fighting
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
video game based on the Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
film franchise for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, developed by Pipeworks
Pipeworks Software
-History:Part of Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest independent game developer in North America, Pipeworks Software, Inc. began life as an independent studio with senior artists, designers, and programmers from such titles as Tribes, Pro Pilot, Populous, Aces, 3D Ultra, Front Page Sports, and...
and published by Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
. The PS2 version was released on November 20 and the Wii version on December 5, 2007 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and both versions on February 29, 2008 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. There are currently no plans yet to release Godzilla: Unleashed in Japan.
The game is set during a series of unnatural disasters across Planet Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
due to unexplained appearances of large crystals, where the Vortaak alien race are invading once again. The game features over 20 Kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
and Mechas from all three Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
eras; Shōwa
Showa era (daikaiju eiga)
In the terminology of daikaiju eiga the Shōwa Era refers not to the actual reign of the Shōwa emperor but to all daikaiju eiga made between 1954 and 1980...
, Heisei
Heisei era (daikaiju eiga)
In the context of Japanese monster cinema the Heisei Era refers not to the current era in Japan but to all kaiju eiga made between 1984 and 1999...
and Millennium
Mireniamu era (daikaiju eiga)
In the terminology of daikaiju eiga the Millennium Era refers not to the third millennium but to all daikaiju eiga made since 1999, beginning with Toho's Godzilla 2000, which was jump-started in response to the America Godzilla film. The most recent film of the era is Daiei's Gamera the Brave...
, as well as two newly created Toho approved creations; Krystalak and Obsidius.
Gameplay
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee is a fighting video game produced by Pipeworks Software, Inc. and released for the Nintendo GameCube on October 8, 2002. The game was later released for the Xbox in North America on April 16, 2003...
and Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fighting game released on November 2, 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles based on characters and situations from the Godzilla film series. The game is itself the sequel to the 2002 game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee which was released for the...
, Unleashed plays as a 3D fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
with the option to play with two to four monsters at a time, with or without teams. While the PS2 version involves button pressing for attacks and combos, the Wii version, along with button pressing implements its motion sensing control via the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk. Basics punch
Punch (strike)
A punch is a striking blow with the fist. It is the most commonly used attack in hand to hand combat. It is used in some martial arts and combat sports, most notably boxing where it is the only type of technique allowed...
and kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
attacks are through the A and B buttons while more powerful and aggressive strikes require swinging of the remote up, down or side to side while pressing A and/or B. Movement is done by the analog stick on the Nunchuk and by shaking it allows players to jump, where combined with shaking of the remote allows nearby opponents or objects like small buildings and boulders to be lifted and thrown by shaking the Remote or pressing the A button. Weapon/beam attacks also return but are less powerful and accurate, but also can be sustained for a longer period of time. Rage Mode from the previous games is absent but in its place is "Critical Mass" where through destruction of energy crystals found in arenas monsters temporarily glow red (similar looking to Godzilla's out of control radioactivity in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
) and increase in size, boosting damage and endurance, but decreasing defense.
Monsters can also use one of seven "Power Surges", which are temporary abilities that can be used only once per battle, per monster. Surges increase certain traits, like for example the Fire Surge increases damage dealt and Speed Surge increases speed. They can also decrease abilities like Shield Surge, which increases defense while slowing movement. Others can improve and damage others like Radiation Surge that improves health regeneration while impairing that of nearby monsters. Before the Surge is over, monsters can induce a powerful shockwave attack. In the single player Story Mode, multiple Power Surges can be collected through defeating an enemy monster afflicted with the Surge. In multiplayer mode, the Surges are obtained by destroying Surge Crystals that pop up in the environment.
Along with destructible environments, Earth's Military or the Vortaak's Forces are present, depending on the arena/city. Both will attack certain monsters each time, while others can still get caught in the crossfire. Monsters are attacked on differing circumstances. For example Global Defense Force monsters will be attacked by humans if they go out their way to destroy human buildings and military units being on the same side. The same goes for Alien monsters and the Vortaak. Destruction of crystals and use of Power Surges and Critical Mass can also affect military attitude towards certain monsters. In Story Mode, the Atragon
Atragon
Atragon, released in Japan as , is a 1963 Toho tokusatsu film based on a series of juvenile adventure novels under the banner Kaitei Gunkan by Shunrō Oshikawa and the illustrated story Kaitei Okoku by illustrator Shigeru Komatsuzaki, serialized in a monthly magazine for boys...
appears multiple times throughout but due to the personal attitude of its Admiral, it will attack regardless of actions or faction.
Story
Plot
The story of Unleashed, taking place 20 years after Godzilla: Save the EarthGodzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fighting game released on November 2, 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles based on characters and situations from the Godzilla film series. The game is itself the sequel to the 2002 game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee which was released for the...
, begins with a meteor shower colliding with the Earth's surface, causing climate shifts and earthquakes. There are also crystals with power surges causing monsters to go berserk with strange powers they absorbed. Four opposing factions arise from the chaos of the scramble for control of the planet; Earth Defenders, Global Defense Force, Aliens and Mutants. Depending on the player's whims, alliances can be forged and enemies made depending on his or her actions during game.
General: Admiral Gyozen, captain of the Atrogon is out to destroy any monster in his way. He is considered to be a boss. Gyozen is encountered 3 times. The first time, he is just an obstacle between the player and the foe. The second time he is a boss in New York. He retreats when half his health is gone. In Osaka, he fails after he is defeated. GDF mechas do not fight Gyozen. There are also three crystal towers in a mission the player must destroy no matter which faction the player is controlling (the mission is only mandatory for the Earth Defenders). There are also hidden/unlockable monsters such as Biollante and Varan whereas the player must do certain things such as destroying crystals.
The Vortaak, led by their queen Vorticia, seek revenge on planet Earth and "their mutated monstrosities" by preparing a full-scale invasion, but are stopped cold by the approaching asteroid. After repairing their ship, they assault Earth with their own monsters, eventually arriving in the atmosphere over San Francisco. Fortunately, they are brought down by the Earth Defenders, or the GDF (an Alien can also bring it down) and their crashed ship awakens Varan
Varan
is a kaiju that first appeared in Varan the Unbelievable . Physically, Varan resembles a giant reptile with skin membranes between his arms and legs, allowing him to glide much like a flying dragon or flying squirrel; he also has a horned head....
.
Though it is not revealed in-game, the new monsters Krystalak and Obsidius were created due to the effects of the crystal energies on Earth. Krystalak is born from a giant "egg" in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is a result of monster DNA combining with the crystal energies. The Vortaak, on their last legs, try to take the crystal egg's energies, but wind up releasing Krystalak instead. Obsidius, conversely, arose from the deep continental plates where crystal energies affected the magma deep within the planet. While trying to destroy the crystals turning Seattle into a volcanic wasteland, the GDF accidentally awaken the monster.
Endings
There are endings in Unleashed for all four factions, depending on how you play.- Aliens/Conquer Earth: If you happen to control an Alien Monster and defeat Spacegodzilla at the Finale mission, Earth has lost hope with Vorticia laughing in victory.
- Earth Defenders and Global Defence Force or Aliens and Mutants/Save Earth: If you defeat Spacegodzilla as an Earth Defender or part of the GDF, the humans will put their thanks to the player for saving humanity and all other life on Earth. (Both are the same.) Like Earth Defender and Global Defence Force, Alien and Mutant defeat SpaceGodzilla then save the earth.
- Mutant Tyrant: If one wins as a mutant or acquires all the power surges, the crystals spread at a cancerous rate and SpaceGodzilla wins with a roar.
- Power Surge Tyrant: If you play as any of the Earth Defenders or GDF monsters, acquire all of the seven Power Surges. You will receive the "Tyrant" ending (instead of the "Hero" ending) upon completing Story mode.
Human characters
- Base Commander Tagaki: The base commander is the man in charge when it comes to evaluating situations and ordering GDF's mecha forces into action. He's the cool head in chaotic situations—always keeping his emotions in check. Commander Tagaki began his illustrious military career as a young, hotshot G-Force pilot assigned to "Project-M" (MechagodzillaMechagodzillais a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
). His mettle was put to the test during the Vortaak invasion of 2004 while piloting MechagodzillaMechagodzillais a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
2 into battle against the alien threat. It was then, in the heat of battle, that Tagaki witnessed firsthand how Earth's monsters seemed to join forces against the aliens to protect the planet. The experience changed his personal views on Earth's monsters being a threat to humanity. His name is never said mentioned during the game.
- Specialist Kenji Miku: Miku is one of many GDF technicians who monitor the global defense grid and all monster activities. She reports directly to her superior, Commander Tagaki. Miku has been fascinated by monsters since childhood and has devoted her life to the study of them. Because of her knowledge and expertise, Miku has become the commander's top consultant and right hand in all monster-related matters. A mutual respect exists between the two. Miku is among those who believe that Earth's monsters are noble defenders of the planet who rage only when their fragile world is threatened by human arrogance or extraterrestrial forces.
- Admiral Gyozen: The admiral is a semi-retired, hardcore military man who serves as military advisor on the GDF council. But he is a bitter man, having fought and lost many battles with GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
and having the scars to show for it. The admiral lost command of the battleship AtragonAtragonAtragon, released in Japan as , is a 1963 Toho tokusatsu film based on a series of juvenile adventure novels under the banner Kaitei Gunkan by Shunrō Oshikawa and the illustrated story Kaitei Okoku by illustrator Shigeru Komatsuzaki, serialized in a monthly magazine for boys...
after a particularly humiliating defeat that resulted in the death of his crew. As a result, he harbors a deep-seated hatred toward all monsters. He is the main human antagonist in the game. Though no longer in active command, the admiral has considerable sway within the council with his bombastic, overbearing nature. He is driven insane by his own hatred, which is amplified by the crystals brought onboard the AtragonAtragonAtragon, released in Japan as , is a 1963 Toho tokusatsu film based on a series of juvenile adventure novels under the banner Kaitei Gunkan by Shunrō Oshikawa and the illustrated story Kaitei Okoku by illustrator Shigeru Komatsuzaki, serialized in a monthly magazine for boys...
to power a "Crystal Cannon" weapon, he was defeated during the fight in the AtragonAtragonAtragon, released in Japan as , is a 1963 Toho tokusatsu film based on a series of juvenile adventure novels under the banner Kaitei Gunkan by Shunrō Oshikawa and the illustrated story Kaitei Okoku by illustrator Shigeru Komatsuzaki, serialized in a monthly magazine for boys...
while fighting a the player's selected monster.
- Dr. Shiragami: A GDF scientist and the world's leading expert on giant monsters, Dr. Shiragami makes some "fascinating" discoveries regarding the properties of the crystal formations and the alien radiation they produce. He accidentally makes a second BiollanteBiollanteis a daikaiju from the Godzilla film series. She made her first appearance in the 1989 feature Godzilla vs. Biollante. She was never put into any other Godzilla movies, although she is featured as a secret character in Godzilla: Unleashed on the Nintendo Wii.-Origin:After Godzilla's return in...
while experimenting with combinations of G-cells (GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
's DNA), crystal radiation, and a bioagent designed to eat G-cells. Later, he presents his findings on the crystals & "Critical Mass" (similar to Godzilla's Burning Form from Godzilla vs. DestoroyahGodzilla vs. Destoroyah, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
). Shiragami first appeared in Godzilla vs. BiollanteGodzilla vs. Biollanteis a 1989 science fiction kaiju film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori. It was the seventeenth film to be released in the Godzilla franchise and the second in terms of the franchise's Heisei period...
, where he created Biollante almost in the same way, but with the DNA of his deceased daughter, Erika.
- Vorticia: 20 years after being defeated by Earth's monsters and Mecha units, the Queen of the Vortaak returns to Earth to "reclaim her prize". She leads the Alien monsters and commands the Vortaak forces into battle against the GDF, Mutants, and Earth Defenders. She is a secondary antagonist in this game. Her Mothership is damaged early on by a meteor, delaying the invasion, and Vorticia has suspicion about "someone or something is after her prize". Crystals appear, and Vorticia sends her monsters to steal them. Repairs on the Mothership are eventually completed, and the invasion is launched. The Mothership is brought down, however, by one of the monsters (generally, the player). Vorticia then utilizes the crystals to make King GhidorahKing Ghidorahis a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
enter enhanced Critical Mass, unleashing him in Seattle, but he is eventually defeated. The fights still go on, and in the end, it is discovered that SpaceGodzillaSpaceGodzilla, is a modified clone of Godzilla featured in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla . SpaceGodzilla is the main antagonist of the film. It was originally planned for use in the Showa era of films but dropped, and its physical appearance is nearly identical to Super Godzilla, a variant...
, a former ally to the Vortaak, was also trying to conquer Earth. Her fate is unknown, but she is presumed dead as the mothership was her only way of getting home.
Playable monsters
In Godzilla: Unleashed, there are 26 playable monsters in the Wii version, and 20 playable monsters in the PS2 version. Monsters are divided up into 4 factions: Earth Defenders, Global Defense Force, Aliens & Mutants. In Story Mode, monsters of particular factions have different goals and so take a different order of missions. Each Faction also has different styles of play and what they consider friend or foe. Some choose to use the crystals while others intend to destroy them and so will reflect this depending on how the player chooses to act throughout. The total number and look of playable monsters differs between the Wii and PS2 versions. While you gain points with some factions for obtaining Power Surges, obtaining all seven Power Surges will null any allegiances the player has and unlock a secret level called "Tyrant", in which the player's chosen monster is given unlimited Critical Mass but is forced to brawl against several monsters which may or may not have been former allies. The "Tyrant" level is the default ending level for all Mutants, though you do not loose your Mutant alliances if you didn't accumulate every Power Surge.Earth Defenders
These are natural monsters that are very instinctive and protective of their territory, Planet EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. They see the crystals and Vortaak as threats and go out their way to destroy them, even if it means destruction of human cities. Earth Defenders ally themselves with monsters that destroy crystals but because of this, they will attack those who use them to attain Critical Mass. The Earth Defenders are:
- AnguirusAnguirusis the second Kaiju to appear in the Toho franchise. Anguirus appeared only a year after Godzilla in the 1955 Toho film Godzilla Raids Again...
(Showa/Millennium hybrid) - An ankylosaurusAnkylosaurusAnkylosaurus is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur, containing one species, A. magniventris...
who somehow survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. - BaragonBaragonis a fictional Kaiju that was first featured in the 1965 Toho-produced film, Frankenstein Conquers the World. Baragon is a four-legged dinosaur with a horn on his head and large ears. His main weapon is a heat ray that he can fire from his mouth...
(Showa/Millenium hybrid) - A small, red fire-breathing dinosaur who can burrow underground. - Fire RodanRodanis a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company responsible for the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile...
- An irradiated pterodactyl. - GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
2000 - The titular character. - King CaesarKing Caesaris a fictional Kaiju from the Toho produced Godzilla series. King Caesar's appearance was inspired by the Shisa, a beast that looks like a combination between a dog and a lion. It first appeared in the 1974 Showa film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla...
(Showa/Millennium hybrid) - A lion-like deity who represents a royal family. - MothraMothrais a kaiju, a type of fictional monster who first appeared in the serialized novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Takehiko Fukunaga, Shinichiro Nakamura, and Yoshie Hotta...
(Heisei/Millennium hybrid) - A divine moth deity who protects the Earth from threats like other monsters. - VaranVaranis a kaiju that first appeared in Varan the Unbelievable . Physically, Varan resembles a giant reptile with skin membranes between his arms and legs, allowing him to glide much like a flying dragon or flying squirrel; he also has a horned head....
- A giant lizard-like creature. - GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
1990's - The Heisei incarnation of the character (Unavaible in Story or Training mode on the Wii Version). - GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
1954 - The Original incarnation of the character (Unavaible in Story or Training mode).
Global Defense Force
Human engineered Mechas, built to protect humanity from other monsters, the Vortaak and the crystals. They usually ally themselves with monsters that don't destroy a sufficient amount of human structures and those who fight Alien forces, and fight those that do the opposite. Due to their autonomous minds, Global Defense Forces mechas can fall victim to and become corrupted by the crystals energy. The Global Defense Force mechas are:- Jet JaguarJet Jaguaris a fictional character who appears in the Godzilla film Godzilla vs. Megalon .-History:In Godzilla vs. Megalon, Jet Jaguar is a robot created by the protagonist, Goro Ibuki. He is initially depicted as a mindless automaton, and is controlled by the evil Seatopians for most of the film...
- A humanoid fighting robot that can change size at will. - KiryuMechagodzillais a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
- A cyborg built using the bones of the original 1954 Godzilla. - Mechagodzilla 2Mechagodzillais a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
- A robotic replica of Godzilla built using the technology from Mecha-King Ghidorah. - Mecha-King GhidorahKing Ghidorahis a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
- King Ghidorah resurrected as a cyborg from the future. - MOGUERAMoguerais a Kaiju featured in two of Toho's science fiction films. The name is derived from the Japanese word for mole.-Showa:...
(Heisei) - A Pigeon -like battle robot equipped with numerous plasma based weaponry.
Aliens
The Alien faction is made up of monsters that have allied themselves with the Vortaak invaders and thus their prime goal is to destroy the humans and conquer Earth. Alien monsters are driven by power surges and so attack monsters that destroy Surge (or regular) crystals or Vortaak forces and buildings. They will on the other hand ally themselves with those who preserve crystals or destroy human forces. The Alien monsters are:- GiganGiganis a kaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. Gigan. Gigan is a cybernetic monster sporting a buzzsaw weapon in its frontal abdominal region and large metallic hooks for hands. Gigan is considered Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponent, alongside Destroyah,...
- A cyborg creature with bladed arms and a buzz saw in its chest. The Showa version is exclusive to the PS2, while the Millennium version is exclusive to the Wii. - King GhidorahKing Ghidorahis a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
- An extraterrestrial three-headed hydra. - MechagodzillaMechagodzillais a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
- A robotic replica of Godzilla constructed by an alien race. - Megalon - A subterranean creature resembling a beetle with drills for hands.
- OrgaOrgais the main antagonist in Godzilla 2000.Before becoming Orga, the Millennian dwelt within its spaceship, awakened from its slumber at the bottom of the ocean by searchlights...
- A bio-mechanical creature created from the DNA of Godzilla and an extinct alien race.
Mutants
Monsters from the mutant faction are driven by lust for power more than anything else. Because of this they are drawn to crystals and so will destroy all in their path to get such power; monsters, humans and even Vortaak, and so Mutants will ally themselves with others monsters that do just this and attain Critical Mass. They will fight monsters that do not do enough destruction. The Mutant monsters are:- BattraBattrais a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
- An evil divine moth. - BiollanteBiollanteis a daikaiju from the Godzilla film series. She made her first appearance in the 1989 feature Godzilla vs. Biollante. She was never put into any other Godzilla movies, although she is featured as a secret character in Godzilla: Unleashed on the Nintendo Wii.-Origin:After Godzilla's return in...
- A hulking plant-like beast that carries some of Godzilla's DNA. - DestoroyahDestoroyah, alternatively Destroyah, or Destroyer, is a fictional Japanese monster from the Godzilla Franchise appearing only in the 1995 film Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and in some of the Godzilla video games. He originated as a colony of Precambrian crustaceans that had been awakened and mutated when the...
- A beast composed of millions of microscopic lifeforms mutated by the weapon that was thought to have killed the original Godzilla in 1954. - Krystalak - A villainous entity born from SpaceGodzilla's crystals. Created for the game.
- MegaguirusMegaguirusare fictional characters that were Paleozoic giant insects reanimated by mining operations in Kitamatsu village, Kumamoto Prefecture, in the 1956 kaiju eiga Rodan. The Meganulon made a return in the film Godzilla vs...
- A prehistoric dragonfly. - ObsidiusObsidiusObsidius was the commander of a Frentanian troop of horse, serving under the consul Laevinus in the campaign against Pyrrhus in 280 BC. He distinguished himself in the battle fought at the river Liris in that year by the daring attempt which he made upon the king's life...
- A sentient monster made from volcanic rock that was born from SpaceGodzilla's crystals. Also created for the game. - SpaceGodzillaSpaceGodzilla, is a modified clone of Godzilla featured in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla . SpaceGodzilla is the main antagonist of the film. It was originally planned for use in the Showa era of films but dropped, and its physical appearance is nearly identical to Super Godzilla, a variant...
- A creature created when the first Biollante dissolved into space and Godzilla's DNA mutated. - TitanosaurusTitanosaurus (Godzilla)is a fictional kaiju featured in the 1975 Showa film Terror of Mechagodzilla, the fifteenth Godzilla film to be produced by Toho.-Abilities:...
- An aquatic dinosaur.
Scrapped characters
- Fire Lion: Beaten by ObsidiusObsidiusObsidius was the commander of a Frentanian troop of horse, serving under the consul Laevinus in the campaign against Pyrrhus in 280 BC. He distinguished himself in the battle fought at the river Liris in that year by the daring attempt which he made upon the king's life...
in the original monster poll. - Lightning Bug: Beaten by ObsidiusObsidiusObsidius was the commander of a Frentanian troop of horse, serving under the consul Laevinus in the campaign against Pyrrhus in 280 BC. He distinguished himself in the battle fought at the river Liris in that year by the daring attempt which he made upon the king's life...
in the original monster poll. - The Visitor: Beaten by ObsidiusObsidiusObsidius was the commander of a Frentanian troop of horse, serving under the consul Laevinus in the campaign against Pyrrhus in 280 BC. He distinguished himself in the battle fought at the river Liris in that year by the daring attempt which he made upon the king's life...
in the original monster poll. - King KongKing KongKing Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
: Due to legal problems with Universal StudiosUniversal StudiosUniversal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
(charging too much), the current producers and distributors of the Peter Jackson filmKing Kong (2005 film)King Kong is a 2005 fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name and stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. Andy Serkis, through performance capture, portrays Kong....
. - Mechani-KongMechani-Kongis a remote-controlled robot double of King Kong introduced in the 1966 animated television series The King Kong Show and featured again in the 1967 film King Kong Escapes. The robot was created by Dr...
: Was too similar to King Kong and could cause legal problems (mentioned in an interview.) - ZillaZilla, also known as the American Godzilla, is a movie monster that first appeared as the title character in the 1998 Roland Emmerich film Godzilla. The design by Patrick Tatopoulos is that of a hunched bent-over marine iguana...
: Due to his lack of popularity among fans at the time of the creation of the previous installments in the game series. - KamacurasKamacuras, is a fictional gigantic praying mantis that has appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In its first appearance, the creature was called Gimantis in the U.S. version.-Showa:...
: Was considered but eliminated in the planning stages. - KumongaKumongais a giant spider daikaiju that appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In the monster's first two appearances, it was called Spiega or Spiga. Spiga/Kumonga is the main antagonist in Son of Godzilla.-Abilities:...
: Was considered but eliminated in the planning stages. - Monster X: Due to timing, budget and lack of popularity. Its final form, Keizer Ghidorah, would also be impossible because the transformation animation would be too complex, as the game engine would be unable to support more than one person using Keizer Ghidorah at a time.
- GameraGamerais a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
: Was discussed but never a serious suggestion. He is also not a Toho monster. - HedorahHedorah, also known as the Smog Monster, is a fictional character in the 1971 film Godzilla vs. Hedorah. The monster was named for , the Japanese word for sludge, vomit, slime or chemical ooze. He is the main antagonist of the film.-Description:...
: Was considered but decided that he wouldn't work the way they wanted with current technology. The sound files and wire-frame skeleton remain in the game's files. - BaganBaganBagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
: Was considered but never seriously. - Super Mechagodzilla: Was considered early on but dropped due to the extra time that would have to be put into Garuda.
- Zone FighterZone FighterZone Fighter, known in Japan as , is a tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series. Produced by Toho Company Ltd., the show aired on Nippon Television from April 2 to September 24, 1973, with a total of 26 episodes, it was cancelled due to the oil crisis of 1973...
: Was considered but was scrapped due to the game being too far in production to include him.
Arenas
All of the arenas have been altered by the bombardment of crystals.- TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(The city is underwater after being battered by tsunamis caused by the crystals). - New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(The city lies in ruins from the meteor shower, most likely as an homage to Armageddon). - SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
(The city has gone through a lava flow). - San FranciscoSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
(The crystals cause huge earthquakes that ripped the ground apart and created waterfalls). - OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
(A chemical spill causes the city to become engulfed in a toxic gas). - LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(The crystals affect the Earth's gravitational flow, causing London to be ripped from the Earth and starting to float in an anti-gravity vortex). - Sydney (The crystals create a huge storm that freezes the ocean and causes the whole city to be buried under ice).
- Monster Island (The meteor shower has caused the force field barrier to malfunction, allowing the monsters to escape).
Secret arenas
- Mothership (Crashed on to earth's surface after being brought down by one of earth's monsters or mechas).
Scrapped
- Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
: Because there weren't many cities outside of the United States in the game, Los Angeles was replaced by Sydney.
Development
An IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
interview with Pipeworks states that the title is completely new and is specifically designed with the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
in mind. There were also plans to use WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24
WiiConnect24 is a feature of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for the Wii console. It was first announced at E3 2006 by Nintendo. It enables the user to remain connected to the Internet while the console is on standby...
support for downloading purposes, but they seemed to never have happened. IGN has a development blog running, but it is updated irregularly. The Wii version of the game, while much more developed than the PS2 version, has been criticized in early reviews for somewhat unresponsive controls.
The Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
versions of Unleashed are in development by Pipeworks Software
Pipeworks Software
-History:Part of Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest independent game developer in North America, Pipeworks Software, Inc. began life as an independent studio with senior artists, designers, and programmers from such titles as Tribes, Pro Pilot, Populous, Aces, 3D Ultra, Front Page Sports, and...
. The PlayStation 2 version has two exclusive characters unavailable to any other console apart from Double Smash. The PlayStation 2 version has 20 monsters, including the two exclusive characters. While the game was in early development, a screenshot was also shown with the press release on some websites, but it was revealed to be a falsely edited from screenshots of Unleashed and Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fighting game released on November 2, 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles based on characters and situations from the Godzilla film series. The game is itself the sequel to the 2002 game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee which was released for the...
.
On September 14, 2007, two screenshots from an early build of the PS2 version of the game were released, revealing Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
2000 and Anguirus
Anguirus
is the second Kaiju to appear in the Toho franchise. Anguirus appeared only a year after Godzilla in the 1955 Toho film Godzilla Raids Again...
with similar models to their Save the Earth designs, and crystals on a Monster Island arena. It has been speculated that the gameplay would be a rebuild of the Save the Earth mechanics.
On September 27, 2007, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
posted a new PS2 video showing Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
2000, Destoroyah
Destoroyah
, alternatively Destroyah, or Destroyer, is a fictional Japanese monster from the Godzilla Franchise appearing only in the 1995 film Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and in some of the Godzilla video games. He originated as a colony of Precambrian crustaceans that had been awakened and mutated when the...
, Orga
Orga
is the main antagonist in Godzilla 2000.Before becoming Orga, the Millennian dwelt within its spaceship, awakened from its slumber at the bottom of the ocean by searchlights...
, Anguirus
Anguirus
is the second Kaiju to appear in the Toho franchise. Anguirus appeared only a year after Godzilla in the 1955 Toho film Godzilla Raids Again...
, SpaceGodzilla
SpaceGodzilla
, is a modified clone of Godzilla featured in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla . SpaceGodzilla is the main antagonist of the film. It was originally planned for use in the Showa era of films but dropped, and its physical appearance is nearly identical to Super Godzilla, a variant...
, Moguera
Moguera
is a Kaiju featured in two of Toho's science fiction films. The name is derived from the Japanese word for mole.-Showa:...
, Fire Rodan
Rodan
is a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company responsible for the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile...
, Megalon, King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
, Baragon
Baragon
is a fictional Kaiju that was first featured in the 1965 Toho-produced film, Frankenstein Conquers the World. Baragon is a four-legged dinosaur with a horn on his head and large ears. His main weapon is a heat ray that he can fire from his mouth...
, Jet Jaguar
Jet Jaguar
is a fictional character who appears in the Godzilla film Godzilla vs. Megalon .-History:In Godzilla vs. Megalon, Jet Jaguar is a robot created by the protagonist, Goro Ibuki. He is initially depicted as a mindless automaton, and is controlled by the evil Seatopians for most of the film...
, Mechagodzilla
Mechagodzilla
is a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
2, Mecha-King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
, Megaguirus
Megaguirus
are fictional characters that were Paleozoic giant insects reanimated by mining operations in Kitamatsu village, Kumamoto Prefecture, in the 1956 kaiju eiga Rodan. The Meganulon made a return in the film Godzilla vs...
and Showa Gigan
Gigan
is a kaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. Gigan. Gigan is a cybernetic monster sporting a buzzsaw weapon in its frontal abdominal region and large metallic hooks for hands. Gigan is considered Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponent, alongside Destroyah,...
. This left five monsters to go. It also furthered the idea that it is a rebuild of Save the Earth as several characters are completely unchanged, including King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
, Megaguirus and Gigan
Gigan
is a kaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. Gigan. Gigan is a cybernetic monster sporting a buzzsaw weapon in its frontal abdominal region and large metallic hooks for hands. Gigan is considered Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponent, alongside Destroyah,...
, who were revamped for the Wii version. On the following day, Tohokingdom.com posted an area for PS2 holders to watch. They have placed a character confirmed list on it, which shows all of the characters that were seen in the PS2 video.
On October 10, 2007, it was announced that summonable monsters would not reappear, according to an interview. Two days later, IGN's development blog has revealed that Heavy Melody created the soundtrack for the game and that every monster has a unique theme song that ties to the overall feeling of their faction for the Wii version.
On October 19, 2007, IGN stated that the PSP version of Godzilla: Unleashed was canceled; however, if the Wii version of the game sells well there could be a PSP version coming out in 2008.
Atari stated that the Wii version of Godzilla: Unleashed would be released on November 20, 2007, the same day as the Nintendo DS version. Atari later stated that the PS2 version of Godzilla: Unleashed would be released on November 20, 2007, along with the Nintendo DS and Wii version.
On November 9, 2007, GameSpot posted its sixth and final designer diary with Simon Strange talking about the factions' importance.
On November 19, 2007, GameSpot put up a Monster Battles feature to have people vote for which monsters they want to face off. Also, Battra
Battra
is a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
was revealed to be in the game, as he is one of the monsters in the character pool.
The PS2 version of Godzilla: Unleashed has 20 monsters. Beyond Battra
Battra
is a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
(exclusive to the system) and Obsidius, the roster is completely lifted from Save the Earth, featuring none of the other new characters in the Wii version. The PS2 version is a modified version of Save the Earth only with Battra
Battra
is a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
and Obsidius. However, Battra
Battra
is a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
is just a clone of Mothra
Mothra
is a kaiju, a type of fictional monster who first appeared in the serialized novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Takehiko Fukunaga, Shinichiro Nakamura, and Yoshie Hotta...
and Obsidius is just a clone of Orga
Orga
is the main antagonist in Godzilla 2000.Before becoming Orga, the Millennian dwelt within its spaceship, awakened from its slumber at the bottom of the ocean by searchlights...
.
On November 30, 2007, Atari put up a contest for the upcoming Wii version. The contest was a trivia game. If the players guessed the answers correctly, they would have a chance to win a poster of Godzilla: Unleashed, 10% off digital downloads at Atari, or Atari T-shirts. Also on the same day, all of the "monster cards" on the official website were revealed.
On December 16, 2007, King Caesar
King Caesar
is a fictional Kaiju from the Toho produced Godzilla series. King Caesar's appearance was inspired by the Shisa, a beast that looks like a combination between a dog and a lion. It first appeared in the 1974 Showa film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla...
won the GameSpot Monster battles while Baragon
Baragon
is a fictional Kaiju that was first featured in the 1965 Toho-produced film, Frankenstein Conquers the World. Baragon is a four-legged dinosaur with a horn on his head and large ears. His main weapon is a heat ray that he can fire from his mouth...
was in 2nd place. Obsidius got the least amount of votes (9380 votes).
On December 23, 2007, Tohokingdom.com came out with the Godzilla: Unleashed Soundtrack.
It was revealed in an interview with one of the producers of the game that there are no plans for a PSP version.
Obsidius was selected from a roster of 4 original monsters created by Pipeworks. Under the working names Magmouth, Firelion, the Visitor, and Lightning Bug, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ran a poll for viewers to vote on which monster would be developed as a fighter. After attracting 6,000 voters, Magmouth was the winner. Later, second poll selected "Obsidius" as the chosen monster's new name while beating out alternatives "Dotoryo", "Kazango", "Pyrodorah", and "Volcanis". Obsidius was not seen on any official gameplay until September 12, 2007. He was briefly seen on the extended trailer for the game being attacked by King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
. Obsidius's official biography and character model was revealed on September 21, 2007 in an animatic along with Megaguirus and Mecha-King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
on IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
. There is also a video of Obsidius fighting Kiryu
Mechagodzilla
is a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
at Gameradar that was revealed on October 9, 2007.
Reception
Play MagazinePlay (US magazine)
Play was a U.S.-based magazine focused on video games, anime, manga, film, DVD, television, comics, music and media. Published by Fusion Publishing, Inc. since 2001, Play magazine also had a separate Internet presence on its website, Play Online...
called it "among the best fighters for the system" while GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
stated " Unleashed is the worst thing to happen to Godzilla since getting killed by Mothra's babies."
GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
praised the large lineup of playable kaiju as "ample fan service" while showing disappointment over the new original kaiju, Obsidius and Krystalak, being "a shame that these guys make the cut while classic foes like Hedorah
Hedorah
, also known as the Smog Monster, is a fictional character in the 1971 film Godzilla vs. Hedorah. The monster was named for , the Japanese word for sludge, vomit, slime or chemical ooze. He is the main antagonist of the film.-Description:...
and Battra
Battra
is a fictional kaiju appearing in the Heisei Godzilla film Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. He is the main antagonist of the film. Like Mothra, Battra has both larval and adult forms.-Biography:...
are MIA (or confined to the PS2 version in Battra's case)".
The controls were criticized the most by critics, reportedly being unresponsive at times. Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
said that "though Godzilla Unleashed is fairly accessible, even casual gamers may wonder why their creatures don't always do what they want" while IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
experienced "a good deal of lag between when you swing the Wiimote and when your monster attacks". Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
, however more bluntly called them a "complete slop".
The visuals were also criticized with Game Trailers stating that "the films are often seen as classics because of their low production values and hokey monster designs. Still, Godzilla Unleashed is simply unattractive with its low-res textures and washed-out color palette",
Player reactions to both versions of game have been much more positive. The game received praise for inclusion of fan favorites like Biollante, and Godzilla 1954 in the Wii version, as well as the custom mode, which allows the player to tweak the gameplay to their liking. Several negative reviews still conclude that the game is great for Godzilla fans. The PlayStation 2 version, sometimes jokingly referred to as "Save the Earth 1.5" in the fandom, is unpopular, however. It is cited as a minor update to the previous game, particularly due to the lack of new monsters as Battra and Obsidius possess almost identical movesets to Mothra and Orga respectively.
Playstation 2 version
The PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version of Unleashed is an update of Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth
Godzilla: Save the Earth is a fighting game released on November 2, 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles based on characters and situations from the Godzilla film series. The game is itself the sequel to the 2002 game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee which was released for the...
.
Movement returns to a traditional control scheme, instead of the motion controls found in the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version. Furthermore, a number of playable monsters are missing such as Varan, Titanosaurus, King Caesar, and Biollante (though Battra is present as a PS2 exclusive playable monster). The PS2 version of the game adopts few of the mechanical changes from the Wii version, and instead retains those found in Save the Earth. However, it does incorporate most of the music and stages from the Wii version.