Despite trying to be innovative, it failed.
Let's start with the tutorial;
For starters, each tutorial has it's own load screen e.g. first tutorial how to jump, then it loads. How hard is it to include everything in one tutorial?
After completing all of the tuts, we get to try out our newly found skills, and what an improvement from previous games. You actually get a feel for how fast Sonic can travel, now with the ability to drift corners.
After going through the fist stages, we move onto *shudders* the 'Werehog' Stages. Sonic suddenly loses his Fluffy blue coat for a black one with white tips (and all of a sudden is Dhalsim from Street Fighter). This feature is something the developers used to try and make the game different, but let me tell you, it let it down. In a nutshell here are the faults with the 'Werehog';
-The pace set from the 'Day' stages are suddenly slowed right down.
- The fight music is something from 'The Incredibles', the enemies don't pose a threat, and the only ones that do are the flying enemies, (only because you can't hit them)
- MORE LENGTHY TUTORIALS, and you better get used to the Werehog because there are a lot of stages.
Now when you explore villages as Sonic,, everyone knows who you are and see's you as a good guy. Now as the 'Werehog' people still somehow know it's sonic, and aren't afraid of him, Are you kidding me?! If i saw that at the end of my bed i'd **** myself. (Also i want say who but there's one character who doesn't know that your sonic, although he/she may as well)
Overall i find the guy quite lack luster, although the fighting is ok (for about the first stage) and Speed stages are great. The overall combination is poor.