Sonic the Werehog

"So when the sun goes down, I turn into...this?!"

- Sonic

Sonic the Werehog (Japanese: ソニック・ザ・ウェアホッグ Sonikku za Ueahoggu, is Sonic's bestial werewolf-like form in the game Sonic Unleashed. Sonic the Hedgehog was transformed when Dr. Eggman used a machine to painfully suck out the power of the Chaos Emeralds in its entirety from Super Sonic, with which Eggman would fire a specialized laser weapon at the planet, releasing and awakening the creature known as Dark Gaia from the core of the planet and in the process, a small amount of Dark Gaia infected him. It is stated in-game that it is Dark Gaia's power that causes Sonic's nightly transformation into this form. Sonic only transforms at night because that is the only time of day when Dark Gaia can move about and affect people, making night the only time when Dark Gaia can also affect Sonic.

Sonic transforms into a monster at night, which makes his quest more complicated. When transforming into the Werehog (or transforming back to normal), a light and a cloud of purple smoke envelops him. Sonic the Werehog also features a different gameplay than Sonic. He attacks with his arms and fists, which can stretch out and punch his foes. Rather than using a counted number of rings, Sonic uses a health bar, collecting rings refills the bar. Aside from the usual ability of Sonic being able to race down ramps throughout the levels, in Werehog form you must get across gaps in a tightrope walking fashion.

Sonic appears to retain most of his normal abilities in this form as well as the ability to speak, though with more of a growl than normal. Therefore, it can basically just be considered a darker, feral form of Sonic's rather than as a split-personality monster like other interpretations of werewolves. Sonic the Werehog still has Sonic the Hedgehog's good heart, even though he is in a wolf-like form. This is primarily due to his will; it's too strong for Dark Gaia to affect.

Before the battle with Dark Gaia, Dark Gaia re-absorbed its remaining power that Sonic had incidentally taken at the start of the game, returning Sonic to his default form.

Early Concept & Design
Early art of the Werehog was made by a SEGA member name Tanahashi. He wanted to make Werehog to look wolf-like, so he removed Sonic's gloves so that his claws can be visible. He also said that he can't remove Sonic's iconic shoes. He first made the Werehog with chains.

He also said that he wanted to make Sonic look very strong, so he changed his general form. The shoulder and the head are connected by a single line, and his chest is much more broad, giving his body the appearance of an inverse triangle.

This one, he commented was a silly design, this was made when he was getting started with the Werehog. He said not to blame him, because he tried to come up with all of the designs he could come up with.

Abilities
Extendable arms: Werehog Sonic can stretch his arms over long distances, aiding him in fighting enemies and traversing the world. This ability was discovered accidentally when an ice cream cone was dropped.

Increased strength: Sonic is notably stronger in Werehog form, allowing him to lift open closed doors and effortlessly pick up, carry and throw crates and enemies.

Beat Down (ウェアビート Were-Beat): Allows Sonic to swing and smash a grabbed enemy

Unleashed Mode (アンリーシュトモード): Sonic can enter this form with enough power in the Unleashed Gauge. This doubles the damage dealt and halves the damage taken (in the latter's case, it makes Sonic invincible instead in the X360 version of Sonic Unleashed).

Were-Hammer (ウェアハンマー): Sonic preforms an uppercut and slams into ground that creates a shock wave that damages and pushes back enemies

Were-Claw (ウェアクロウ): Sonic slashes enemies while dashing. Enemies hit will become stunned.

Were-Wallop (ウェアシュート Were-Shoot): Sonic slashed with both claws in an uppercut fashion and sends enemies in the air.

Earthshaker (ガイアシェイク Gaia-Shake): Sonic pounds the ground with both fists, creating a close-range earthquake. Can be controlled to catch more enemies.

Weaknesses
In this form, Sonic is slower compared to his normal form. When in water he instantly drowns, like his normal form.

Memorable Quotes
"Oh yeah! That's right baby!" Sonic after getting an "S" rank in the 360/PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed

"How do you like that, huh?" Sonic after getting an "S" rank in the Wii/PS2 version of Sonic Unleashed

"You've really...gone and done it this time, Eggman!" Sonic after being transformed into a Werehog.

"I know little girls that are better with a hammer than you! Well one, anyway." Sonic after defeating the boss in Shamar in the 360/PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed.

"G-geez, Eggman! Simmer down!" Sonic falling midway through fighting the Egg Dragoon.

"Wow! I rule!" Sonic after getting a "B" rank in the 360/PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed and after getting an "A" rank in the Wii/PS2 version of Sonic Unleashed.

"Do I need a reason to want to help out a friend?" Sonic after Chip recovers his memory and tries to leave to fight Dark Gaia on his own.

"Strike three monster, that's enough out of you!" Sonic after defeating the Dark Gaia Phoenix in the 360/PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed.

"I'm fine. I just gotta be careful about who sees me like this!" the second time Sonic turns into a werehog.

"Uh oh! Did I fall on him?" Sonic believing he fell on Chip, causing him to lose his memory.

"Mister Monster Guy?! Looks like things have gotten pretty ugly." After Chip called him "Mister Monster Guy".

"Aww, can I start over?" After getting a B on the Wii/PS2 version of Sonic Unleashed.

Friends
Since Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Werehog are the same character, they share the same friends, naturally. Some notable characters he interacted with in this form only include:
 * Miles "Tails" Prower (Best Friend)
 * Amy Rose (Claims herself his Girlfriend)
 * Chip/Light Gaia (Good friend that has memory loss)
 * Professor Pickle

Foes

 * Eggman
 * Dark Gaia
 * The photographer ghosts (Sonic: Night of the Werehog)

Trivia

 * Sonic's gloves got torn apart during the first transformation. But, suspiciously, his hands are not shown when his gloves tear apart, but when he is a werehog he has light blue hands and long nails.
 * Since Sonic's gloves were teared during transformation, Sonic the Werehog is one of the few characters to not wear gloves. Oddly, when he turns back into normal Sonic, his gloves magically repair themselves.
 * The term "Werehog" is derived from the words "werewolf" and "hedgehog." However, some have declared it a misnomer, considering that the "were" in "werewolf" derives from the Old English "wer", meaning "man".
 * When Sonic transforms into the Werehog, his shoes become cleats, which is how he is able to walk normally in the Holoska Night Stages without slipping.
 * Sonic the Werehog is the second of Sonic's transformations to have a profile on Sonic Channel, the first one being Super Sonic.
 * In the Xbox 360/PS3 version of Sonic Unleashed, if a player would press the A/X button right after pressing B/Square before the Werehog reaches a cliff, the Werehog would perform a spin jump similar to Sonic's.
 * Sonic the Werehog could be considered by some to be Power Formation, for his slower speed, but great amount of power.
 * Sonic is more violent in this form. As a Hedgehog, Sonic only fights when he has to, but as a Werehog, Sonic is more open to a fight and beat his enemies down with great power.
 * Sonic the Werehog is not the first character created by Sega to have elastic/streachy arms: Ristar, another character conceived around the time of Sonic the Hedgehog, was the first in his 1996 debut Ristar the Shooting Star.