Dark Gaia (Sonic Unleashed)

Note: This page will only talk about the fight with Dark Gaia in the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 versions.

Dark Gaia is the antagonist and boss fight in Sonic Unleashed, he is the second boss of Eggmanland and is overall the eighth boss of the game.

Why He’s Too Dark

1. In the first phase you play as Light Gaia and charge at dark Gaia while avoiding meteors and energy beams, it's tedious as Light Gaia moves too slow.
2. You can punch the meteors, but the punch has a delay that must rely on luck on when you hit it.
   • On that topic, you would have no idea that you could punch the meteors unless you experience through trial-and-error or look it up .
3. Once you do make it to Dark Gaia, you must press buttons that appear on-screen so that the Light Gaia can punch Dark Gaia, it is way too easy as the game gives you so much time in the first phase.
   • If you fail these parts, you get pushed back and must restart the whole charge sequence all over again.
4. In the segments you play as Sonic as he races in time limit while avoiding tentacle-like energy lasers, its very tedious as there are many hazards that will slow you down, and even worse is that the lasers can home in on you.
5. Hope you like doing this, because you have repeat this part three times.
   • Also every time you finish a segment you have to watch the unskippable cutscene of Dark Gaia roaring.
6. In the second phase you play as Super Sonic while avoiding lasers and attacking Perfect Dark Gaia's snake-like tentacles, its very tedious due to how the snakes have small hit boxes, meaning that you could charge into them only to potential miss them.
   • You are also in a time limit as well as both Light and Dark Gaia fight, and if Chip loses you have to restart the whole phase again.
7. During the second phase if Light Gaia has been stunned, Dark Gaia will attack you with fireballs or energy beams, and he can do that off-screen, resulting in cheap hits.
   • Also during the phase there are times when the weird snake-like tentacles will hit back in the shield, forcing you to wither wait for a few minutes or go after another snake.
8. The overall battle feels more like a level then an actual boss fight.
9. After the battle you must do a few more QTEs, including a part were you have to mash the X or Square button 60 times.
10. Wasted Potential: The idea of you battling a large giant monster with an aid of a golem taking place in the middle of a core while it's floating is great, but sadly it was poorly handled.
11. If your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 crashes or if you get a Game Over, you have to start ALL OVER AGAIN from the Egg Dragoon.

Redeeming Qualities

1. Dark Gaia's design is freaking cool.
2. Fantastic atmosphere.
3. Both themes of Dark Gaia are great.
4. You get a beautiful ending after the battle.
5. The Wii and PlayStation 2 versions of Dark Gaia are far better than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.