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Sonic Unleashed (XBOX 360/PS3)

From Sonic Retro

SCHG:Sonic Unleashed (XBOX 360/PS3)
Main Article
How-To
Import Levels (360)

This is the Sonic Community Hacking Guide for Sonic Unleashed.

Extracting/Opening Unleashed ar.?? files

Extracting or opening ar files from Sonic Unleashed normally like you would in Sonic Generations with Generations Archive Editor will give you an error. This is because the files are compressed to conserve disk space. In order to be able to open Unleashed ar files, you will need to decompress them before attempting to open them with Generations Archive Editor. To do this use QuickBMS and the Xcompress script for the Xbox 360 version or the Segs script for the PS3 version found on the QuickBMS homepage to decompress the files. Once done you'll be able to open the decompressed ar.?? files using Generations Archive Editor.

Music

Music is stored in CPK files (CRI Middleware proprietary package format), along with a list of files in the CSB files, music is in ADX/AAX format, Sonic 4 for PS3 also uses this format for its music, and both are compatible, and interchangeable. CSB uses UTF8 for encoding, CPK uses UTF8 internally, also contains a TOC for files inside CPK. Use CRI Filesystem Tools or CRI FileMajic SDK to repack. Replacing FX AAX file appears to break sound entirely, be careful!

Level loading

Level loading involves loading the .arl file for the act (in the demo MykonosAct2) from <cdvd>/<bindir>/ which on PS3 is /dev_bdvd/PS3_GAME/USRDIR. This contains a listing of files in the .ar archive for the act. SEGA uses zlib for compression, on failure on PS3, error output for Zlib is sent to SPU STDERR, and will end up crashing the game and/or Lv-2 and/or SPURS Engine. PFD file is in Packed directory and contains level geometry, you can change it, but if it's too large, you'll crash the game.

More coming soon as I continue to look at Sonic Unleashed.

References


Sonic Community Hacking Guide
General
SonED2 Manual | Subroutine Equivalency List
Game-Specific
Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) | Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit) | Sonic CD (prototype 510) | Sonic CD | Sonic CD (PC) | Sonic CD (2011) | Sonic 2 (Simon Wai prototype) | Sonic 2 (16-bit) | Sonic 2 (Master System) | Sonic 3 | Sonic 3 & Knuckles | Chaotix | Sonic Jam | Sonic Jam 6 | Sonic Adventure | Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut | Sonic Adventure DX: PC | Sonic Adventure (2010) | Sonic Adventure 2 | Sonic Adventure 2: Battle | Sonic Adventure 2 (PC) | Sonic Heroes | Sonic Riders | Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing | Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360/PS3) | Sonic Colours | Sonic Generations | Sonic Forces
Technical information
Sonic Eraser | Sonic 2 (Nick Arcade prototype) | Sonic CD (prototype; 1992-12-04) | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Triple Trouble | Tails Adventures | Sonic Crackers | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island | Sonic & Knuckles Collection | Sonic R | Sonic Shuffle | Sonic Advance | Sonic Advance 3 | Sonic Battle | Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic Rush | Sonic Classic Collection | Sonic Free Riders | Sonic Lost World
Legacy Guides
The Nemesis Hacking Guides The Esrael Hacking Guides
ROM: Sonic 1 | Sonic 2 | Sonic 2 Beta | Sonic 3

Savestate: Sonic 1 | Sonic 2 Beta/Final | Sonic 3

Sonic 1 (English / Portuguese) | Sonic 2 Beta (English / Portuguese) | Sonic 2 and Knuckles (English / Portuguese)
Move to Sega Retro
Number Systems (or scrap) | Assembly Hacking Guide | 68000 Instruction Set | 68000 ASM-to-Hex Code Reference | SMPS Music Hacking Guide | Mega Drive technical information