Editing Sonic Unleashed (section)

==Stages==
Nine stages exist in the game on seven continents, all of which are based on real-world locations.<ref name="gamestm">{{cite web|url=http://www.campsonic.com/gamestm-sonic-unleashed-scans|title=Sonic Unleashed|publisher=Imagine Publishing|pages=28–31|date=July 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913050633/http://www.campsonic.com/gamestm-sonic-unleashed-scans|archivedate=13 September 2008}}</ref> Each stage is placed on a different continent on [[earth]]. These locations include:

*'''[[Apotos]]'''<ref name="gsinterview"/> ([[Windmill Isle]]): This level is the first level in the game and serves as the backdrop to most of the tutorials in the game. Its architecture is influenced by Greek Mediterranean architecture, like the real Greek island of Chora, Mykonos Greece. It also looks similar to the Greek city of Santorini.
*'''[[Spagonia (Town Stage)|Spagonia]]'''<ref name="gsinterview"/> ([[Rooftop Run]]): A level influenced by western European architecture, seemingly referencing the real Italian city of Siena.
*'''[[Mazuri]]''' ([[Savannah Citadel]]): An arid savanna level based on the [[wikipedia:Sahel|Sahel]] region of northern Africa, more specifically referencing the [[wikipedia:Great Mosque of Djenné|Great Mosque of Djenné]] in Mali.<ref name="gamestm"/>
*'''[[Holoska]]''' ([[Cool Edge]]): An icy location, most likely based on Alaska (due to the name) or, broadly speaking, the indigenous cultures of far northern North America who historically have used [[wikipedia:Igloo|igloos]] for habitation.
*'''[[Chun-nan]]''' ([[Dragon Road]]): A level inspired by [[wikipedia:Imperial China|Imperial Chinese]] architecture. It includes a run along what looks like the [[wikipedia:Great Wall of China|Great Wall]].<ref name="gamestm"/>
*'''[[Shamar]]''' ([[Arid Sands]]): A stage designed to resemble a Middle Eastern desert landscape, specifically including the [[wikipedia:Petra|Petra]] monument in Jordan.
*'''[[Empire City]]'''<ref name="gamestm"/> ([[Skyscraper Scamper]]) A location based on New York City, United States, where Sonic is shown to run between skyscrapers.<ref name="punlimited">{{Cite journal|journal=Power Unlimited|publisher=HUB|volume=175|date=July 2008|language=Dutch|title=Effe langs bij Sega in Tokio|quote=Zo liet men een level in China zien waarbij de blauwe egel over een sport van Chinese muur rende, maar ook een level in New York waar. Sonic voomamelijk door de lucht ploeterde tussen wolkenkrabbers [For example, a level in China was shown where the blue hedgehog ran over a rung of the Great Wall of China, but also a level in New York where. Sonic mainly plodded through the air between skyscrapers]}}</ref>
*'''[[Adabat]]''' ([[Jungle Joyride]]): A level inspired by Angkor, Maldivian, and Southeastern Asian themes. It contains many flowing rivers and high cliffs, and architecturally references [[wikipedia:Tongkonan|Tongkonan]] houses of Indonesia.
*'''''[[Eggmanland (Town Stage)|Eggman]][[Eggmanland (stage)|land]]''''': Dr. Eggman's empire, based on an island near the fifth continent. The stage is combination of an amusement park and a factory. It resembles a fusion of [[Circus Park]], [[Lava Shelter]], [[Hot Shelter]] and [[Final Egg]].

Levels have been designed so that the two aforementioned modes of 2D and 3D gameplay will be switched between roughly every fifteen to thirty seconds.<ref name="gamestm"/> In addition, the game features a day-and-night system; some parts of the action stages have been specially built so that time will pass, and these can be played as either Sonic or his Werehog form, while others are only built for one specific form, and during these areas, time will not pass. The player is easily able to advance time manually during the areas allowing either form, should they prefer one or the other.

The game also features [[Adventure Field|Town Stages]], or "hub-worlds", that are set in the same environments as the action stages<ref name="gamestm"/> and players also are able to walk around the environment freely and speak to townspeople, even gaining items from them.<ref name="npaugust08">{{Cite journal|journal=Nintendo Power|pages=67–69|title=Sonic Unleashed|publisher=Future Publishing|date=August 2008}}</ref> However, this "overworld" can be completely ignored, should the player prefer to simply play through all the stages. Optional side-quests are also available from these stages, for instance, using Tails to fly the [[Tornado]] plane; side-quests will be the only time characters other than Sonic will be playable.