Cool Edge


 * For the Town Stage/Village on the same continent, see Holoska.

Cool Edge (クール・エッジ) is the third or fourth Action Stage in the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, and the second or third Stage in the PlayStation 2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed (depending on the order of previous stages). It is located outside of Holoska on an ice cap equivalent to the North Pole of Sonic's world, with fields of frozen ice and icebergs floating in open waters.

During the events of the game, Sonic the Hedgehog and Chip look through this area in their search for the keys needed to unlock the local Gaia Temple.

Overview
Cool Edge's setting is based off real-life polar locations, such as Greenland, Arctic, and Antarctica. The landscape is nothing more than a continent-sized ice cap with fields of thick ice covered by a layer of snow and frost. The only actual land masses here are some ice-covered undersea rock pillars that breach the sea level. Structures such as igloos and snowmen also dot the fields. Wildlife in Cool Edge include penguins and giant whales.

The sea is ever present in this stage, with the ice masses constantly coming apart over the waters. In several places, there are gorges and canyons revealing water running through them. Additionally, bays and lakes appear as the fields break into icebergs. At the coast, there is a clear view of the sea, with icebergs floating off the coast. Also, cliffs, pillars and mountains of ice rise everywhere, creating a mountainous environment. Ice formations here include bridges, canopies, breakable layers, open slides, and tunnels throughout the mountains, both on the fields and in the water. There are also large rectangular ice blocks stacked neatly in pillars all around.

Below the surface are elaborate ice cavern with paths, ravines, underground lakes and icicles hanging from the roof and rising from the floor. On the PS2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed, these caverns also have railings on the sides of the paths, torches to lit up the paths, wooden bridges and even stone building and walls.

In the daytime act, Cool Edge is brightly lit up by the sun, with only a few clouds. In the nighttime acts, Cool Edge is dominated by a dark sky with aurora borealis.

Story
When Professor Pickle pinpointed a Gaia Temple in Holoska, Sonic the Hedgehog and Chip went to Cool Edge to find the key fragments to unlock the gate to the Gaia Temple. Arriving during the day, Sonic and Chip located a key fragment. However, the temple still remained inaccessible, so they left Cool Edge to search elsewhere.

After fixing Spagonia's continent, Sonic and Chip returned to Cool Edge. Arriving at night, Sonic the Werehog and Chip recovered another key fragment. Using the key fragments, Sonic and Chip accessed the nearby area of Holoska's Gaia Temple, only to encounter Dark Moray, whom Sonic defeated. Inside the Gaia Temple, Chip activated it and Sonic placed the powerless cyan Chaos Emerald into the pedestal there, restoring the Emerald's power and bringing Holoska's continent back to its proper place.

Gameplay
In the PS3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, the daytime acts have the player run across water at high speed, or risk falling into the bottomless depths. In the PS2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed however, the daytime act and missions do not have any water skimming sections.

In both versions of Sonic Unleashed, the daytime acts feature the bobsled which the player must ride in certain sections. In the PS3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, the player faces as well obstacles like purple spikes and bombs when riding the bobsled. Both version also have falling icicles that will damage the player upon contact as environmental hazards.

In the nighttime acts, the gameplay focuses much on platforming, but with the additional hazard of the platforms, icicles and poles starting to collapse once the player touches them. In the PS2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed, the player also frequently encounters junks of ice blocking the path which must be destroyed to proceed. The nighttime act in the PS3/Xbox 360 version also introduces how the player can use the Egg Flames, Egg Blizzards and Egg Typhoons as weapons.

In the PS3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, both the daytime and nighttime acts have slippery surfaces which can cause the player to unintentionally slide off the intended path.

Head for the Goal Ring
This act includes the majority of Cool Edge, with about the first half occurring on the surface of Cool Edge, and the rest in the caves. Here, the player first travels across the snowy fields in a bobsled, before eventually entering the cavern systems below the ice where to player continues on foot. After having gone through the majority of the ice caves, the player will then enter an area of the caves where ancient ruins can be found. At the end of these ruins, the player will then find the Goal Ring.

Gather Rings at Top Speed!
This act mainly takes place around the middle section of the "Head for the Goal Ring" mission, from the spot where the player enters the caves to where the initial cave introduction ends. Here, the player has to collect 150 Rings within one minute and forty-five seconds. Once that is done, the mission is completed, and the player is rewarded with a Moon Medal.

Don't Break Anything Along the Way!
This act place inside the cavern section of the "Head for the Goal Ring" mission, somewhere around the midway through them. Here, the player has to make it to the Goal Ring within one minute and thirty seconds, without breaking any of the ice spikes that are located on the path. Once the mission is completed, the player is awarded with a Moon Medal.

Act I: The Aurora Snowfields
This act takes place on the snowfields of Cool Edge. Here, the player starts out in a small village and travels through the outskirts, ascending into the snowy hills. Towards the end of the act, the player has to make it through a section where balls of ice are constantly rolling down the hills, and which will damage the player upon contact. At the end of the act, the player then has to defeat a wave of enemies to unlock the Goal Ring.

Act II: The Ice Floe
This act takes place at the coast of Cool Edge. Here, the player has to enter and make it through a large iceberg, by crossing ice pillars over bottomless pits and ascending the iceberg through passages from within. After making it through the iceberg, the player then has to cross some more ice pillars (some which will crumble upon contact) to get to the Goal Ring.

Act III: The Temple of Ice
This act takes place in the ice caves below Cool Edge, inside an ancient temple buried beneath the ice. Here, the player must travels through the temple, where he/she will encounter unique ice-flowing valves that will freeze him/her, and unlock doors through Switches. Halfway through the act, a Dark Energy Force Field will appear and block the path. To unlock the force field, the player must collecting three Dark Energy Keys from the same room. At the end of the act, the player then has to defeat two Titans and a swarm of Spikes before gaining access to the Goal Ring.

Act 1
This act takes place across much of Cool Edge, starting from the snowy fields and going to the coast. Here, the player first starts out by running across a wide open field filled with snow, pits and water, before entering a more icy half-pipes section where it is easy for the player to unintentionally slide. The player then enters a bobsled section, which includes moving across the back of a surfacing whales, which ends at a ice tunnel that the player has to pass through, before having to cross a water section with another whale and a mountain section. The player then enters another bobsled section, which ends at the Goal. It is in this act that Sonic and Chip are looking for one of the halves of Holoska's Gaia Key.

Act 2
This act mainly takes place in one of Cool Edge's water leads, on a circular race course that stretches across the waters' surface. Here, the player has to race at high speed across the water, or risk sinking into the bottomless depths, with the objective of completing a total of three laps on this course. For each completed circuit, the course changes and becomes more difficult, receiving more hazardous obstacles such as bombs, purple spikes and falling ice pillars and additional gimmicks such as Quick Time Event cannons.

Act 1
This act takes place at the coastline of Cool Edge, and later in the caverns below the ice. Here, the player first travels across the various ice floes at the coast, using platforms and poles, before moving into the ice caverns, where he/she has to use precarious icicles and slides to proceed. At the end of the act, the player then has to defeat a wave of enemies before accessing the Goal. It is in this act that Sonic and Chip are looking for one of the halves of Holoska's Gaia Key.

Over the course of the act, the player has to use Egg Flames to melt frozen doorways in order to utilize switches.

Holoska Adventure Pack DLC
The downloadable content pack for the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, the "Holoska Adventure Pack DLC", introduced four additional daytime acts and two additional nighttime acts for Cool Edge to the game. These acts are basically extensions of the original acts in the game, but are much more difficult to complete. The pack was released on Xbox Live for $4.13 on 9 April 2009 and on the PlayStation Network for $3.00 on 23 April 2009.

Act 1-2
This act is basically the same as the daytime Act 1 in the game, expect the act has been modified to have a generally harder layout, having been given more enemies, more hazardous obstacles, such as purple spikes and bombs and has even been given large ice pillars blocking the path and ice-blowing valves that can freeze the player.

Act 2-2
This act is basically the same as the daytime Act 2 in the game, expect the act has been modified to have a generally harder layout, having been given more frequent appearing obstacles in new locations. Like in the daytime Act 2 in the game, the player's objective is to complete a total of three laps on this course and for each completed circuit changes, with each having its own theme; the first lap focuses on precise acrobatic movements with the Homing Attack, the second lap has the use the bobsled to traverse the majority and the third lap has the player run normally.

Act 3
This act takes place in the sea area of Cool Edge, on a circular race course made of ice and snow. Here, the player has to complete a total of three laps on this course within one minute and twenty seconds, or end up losing a life and having to start over. The area outside the course is bottomless waters which the player can race across by running at high speed, though it cannot be used as a shortcut. Additionally, the race course does not have any fences, meaning the player can easily walk over the edge and fall into the water, especially due to the ice covered pathway, either by accident or on purpose. The entire act is designed around the Sonic Drift maneuver, which is essential for the player to use if he/she wishes to complete the act in good time.

Act 4
This act takes place out at the sea outside of Cool Edge's coast. Here, the player is launched from platform to platform that are placed above the water, through the use of Ramps and Springs, while using Sonic's various moves, such as the Sonic Boost, the Light Speed Dash etc. to correct himself/herself in midair. At the end of the course, the player has to hit a Switch, which will make the Goal Ring appear at the beginning of the act. The player then has to play the act backwards to make it to the Goal Ring, but with the course having being altered to become more difficult, having received more daunting obstacles such as spiked balls and harder means of proceeding between the platforms.

Act 2
This act takes place on the top of the icebergs in the sea of Cold Edge. Here, the player has to travel between platforms high above bottomless pits through ledges, climbing poles and swinging poles, which are made harder to travers due to buzz saws and being covered in ice. In this act, the player has to utilize Egg Flames to ignite torch relic that, once ignited, will open up new path for the player to proceed through.

Midway through the act, the player has to defeat a Big Mother to proceed. Then, at the end of the act, the player is confronted by three Big Mothers at once, which the player must defeat to make the Goal Ring appear.

Act 3
This act takes place deep inside the icy ravines of Cool Edge. Here, the player starts out at the bottom of a ravine and has to work himself/herself up to the top of the ravine, and proceed through paths surrounding the Goal Ring, before actually gaining access to the Goal Ring. When advancing through the act, the player has to use utilize Egg Flames to ignite torch relic that will open up new path once ignited, in conjunction with Key Stones that must be placed in their appropriate pedestals, to unlock doors that are needed to proceed. When making it to a new area, the player is confronted by a wave of enemies.

Boss
The boss for Cool Edge is Dark Moray, a colossal member of Dark Gaia's Minions that resembles a snake/eel. It can be fought after unlocking the Boss Gate in Chun-nan's Entrance Stage in the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, and after unlocking the Boss Stage in Chun-nan's Gaia Gate in the PlayStation 2/Nintendo Wii version of Sonic Unleashed. For this boss battle, the player controls Sonic the Werehog.

When beginning this fight, Dark Moray will surround itself by an energy field to protect itself. On the PS3/Xbox 360 version, it will additionally try to hit the player with ice bombs while the shield is up. This also happens in the PS2/Wii version, but only in the third phase. To reach Dark Moray, the player has to lower its energy field by destroying the machines/minions at the base of Dark Moray's platform. The player then has get up close to inflict damage on Dark Moray. At this point, Dark Moray will attack by either blowing a freezing breath or swing its body around (PS3/Xbox 360 version only). Once taking enough damage, Dark Moray will repel Sonic the Werehog and reestablish its energy shield. The player then has to repeat this process two more times to defeat Dark Moray.

Collectibles
Nearly all the Acts/Missions in Cool Edge in both versions of Sonic Unleashed contain a number of collectibles the player can obtain when playing through them:

PS2/Wii

 * Secret Illustrations:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 13
 * Act III: The Temple of Ice
 * 18
 * Act II: The Ice Floe
 * 19
 * Act I: The Aurora Snowfields
 * 33
 * Head for the Goal Ring
 * 34
 * Act I: The Aurora Snowfields
 * 35
 * Act I: The Aurora Snowfields
 * 39
 * Act III: The Temple of Ice
 * 42
 * Break nothing en route to the goal!
 * 72
 * Act II: The Ice Floe
 * 73
 * Head for the Goal Ring
 * 75
 * Act II: The Ice Floe
 * 83
 * Act III: The Temple of Ice
 * }
 * Secret Soundtrack:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * 73
 * Head for the Goal Ring
 * 75
 * Act II: The Ice Floe
 * 83
 * Act III: The Temple of Ice
 * }
 * Secret Soundtrack:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * }
 * Secret Soundtrack:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 22
 * Gather Rings at top Speed
 * }
 * Secret Movies:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 8
 * Act II: The Ice Floe
 * 14
 * Act III: The Temple of Ice
 * }
 * Secret Document:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * Secret Document:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 9
 * Head for the Goal Ring
 * 11
 * Time Attack! Race for the Goal!
 * 16
 * Battle Royale! Take on all comers!
 * 21
 * Time Attack! Race for the Goal!
 * 22
 * Time Attack! Race for the Goal!
 * }
 * Time Attack! Race for the Goal!
 * 22
 * Time Attack! Race for the Goal!
 * }
 * }

PS3/Xbox 360

 * Videotapes:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 5
 * Night Act 1
 * 9
 * Day Act 1
 * 12
 * Day Act 2
 * 15
 * Night Act 1
 * 20
 * Night Act 1
 * 23
 * Night Act 1
 * }
 * Records:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * 23
 * Night Act 1
 * }
 * Records:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 7
 * Day Act 1
 * 20
 * Night Act 1
 * 21
 * Night Act 1
 * }
 * Art Books:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 * }
 * Art Books:
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!No. !Location
 * 9
 * Day Act 1
 * 10
 * Day Act 1
 * 39
 * Day Act 2
 * 63
 * Night Act 1
 * 70
 * Night Act 1
 * }
 * Night Act 1
 * 70
 * Night Act 1
 * }
 * }

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Cool Edge goes by the name Cool Edge Zone. In this media, it is a region of Sonic's World in Artika which is patrolled by the Artika Egg Army.

Trivia

 * The bobsled sections of Holoska bear resemblance to the sledding sections from the level Frozen Bell in NiGHTS into Dreams (another game developed by Sonic Team some 12 years prior).
 * The music played during the day stages in Cool Edge may be based on "The Inlet" from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). The BPM is almost the same.
 * Oddly enough, in the Wii/PS2 version of Cool Edge's daytime level, except for the bobsled part in the beginning, all of Sonic's time spent running is inside a big, icy cave. In the Xbox 360/PS3 version of the level, almost all of Sonic's time running or bobsledding is spent outside.
 * In the PS3/Xbox 360 version, Cool Edge is the first level in Sonic Unleashed in which Sonic runs on water.
 * If one looks closely at the sky of the night version of this Stage, the player can see the polar night.