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, known by some fans as "Werewolf Sonic", "Nightmare Sonic", or "WereSonic") 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.

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 slams the ground and 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.

"Mr- Monster Guy? Looks like things have gotten pretty ugly." Sonic after Chip calls him "Mr. Monster Guy".

"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

"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 gotta be careful about who sees me like this." the second time Sonic turns into a werehog.

"Things have gotten pretty ugly." When Sonic first realizes that he has transformed.

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
 * Chip/Light Gaia (Good friend)
 * Professor Pickle

Foes

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

Trivia

 * Tails is the only one who could recognize Sonic in this form (without being told later).
 * One can say that the transformation in itself, especially with the full moon, is similar to the Oozaru from Dragon Ball Z, although that in itself seems to base itself off the generic werewolf transformation trope in that both require a full moon to be present, whereas Sonic the Werehog only requires it to be night.
 * It may also be a reference to Wolf Link from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (albeit unintentionally), Twilight energy transforms the hero into a beast.


 * This is the first forced transformation in the games, unless one counts Darkspine Sonic as a forced transformation.
 * Sonic the Werehog is the third Sonic character to get a Sonic Channel wallpaper after his first appearance, the other two being Silver the Hedgehog and Chip.
 * SEGA has officially announced that fans have not seen the last of the Werehog, implying he will appear later on. This is much to peoples dismay as the Werehog is disliked among fans.
 * His voice resembles both Jet the Hawk and Shadow the Hedgehog, as they're all played by the same voice actor.
 * Sonic's gloves got torn apart during the first transformation. During this, his hands could briefly be seen furless and blue. It is not clear if they are always blue under the gloves, though the coloration may have been part of the transformation.
 * Even though he is a Werehog, no-one mentions the word or name Werehog in the game in dubbed dialogue. Other media, such as Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 193 had Sonic state "Why am I this Werehog?" in the Sonic Unleashed tie-in comic. Also, after a certain number of times you feed Chip, he will eventually say "Werehog or not, I'm still your friend".
 * The only other time in Sonic Unleashed the word "Werehog" is mentioned is in the video gallery, for example with the titles "The Werehog's Fall," "Divine Beast vs. Werehog," etc.
 * The Werehog has canine teeth, as fangs are visible in cut-scenes and pictures. Until Sonic received his Werehog transformation, he did not have canine teeth. It may have been added to strengthen the 'werewolf' effect.
 * While both Sonic in his normal and werehog forms are voiced by Jason Griffith in the English version, the Japanese version has the Werehog voiced by a different actor. While normal Sonic is voiced by Junichi Kanemaru (His current Japanese voice actor), the werehog's Japanese voice is instead provided by Tomokazu Seki.
 * 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".
 * Sonic's strength as a Werehog may come from the fact that the werewolf's strength and power comes from a supernatural source. One of the scenes before the final battle hinted at that, when Dark Gaia absorbed the Werehog powers into itself.
 * Since Sonic's gloves were ripped apart 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.
 * 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's eye's, while he is in the Gaia Gates, changes from his normal emerald green eye's to dark red.
 * 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.
 * Ironically, despite supposedly being stronger while as a Werehog, Sonic can destroy Eggman's robots in one shot(something the Werehog can't do) as a Hedgehog. This is a error by gameplay-design.
 * Sonic the Werehog is one of the two transformations in any media to have a character burst out of their gloves due to their immense size, the other being Titan Tails.
 * Sonic is clearly 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.
 * Originally the werehog wasn't going to be called werehog; but the fans began to call him this so the developers changed its original name.
 * Sonic appears upset when Amy doesn't recognize him in the werehog form. This could mean that Sonic really does have feelings for Amy, he just doesn't want to tell her.