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Gaming Thursday, January 24th 2013 at 7:15 pm

Gotta Go Fast: New Sonic the Hedgehog Game Rumored to Be Unveiled in February

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It’s becoming more and more readily apparent that a year can’t go by without Sega releasing a new game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, with 2013 possibly maintaining this perennial trend. Rumors have been circulating that the game developer and publisher is planning to unveil Sonic’s latest adventure in mid-February with a potential release date set either for the fall or winter of this year. Presently, there are no specifics regarding the game’s overall story, but a number of dubious details have been reported.

GoNintendo gave the rundown — said to have been gathered from someone on the inside at Sega — of what we can expect from the latest installment in the Sonic series, showing that while it may, in a fashion, be sticking to the formula of recent games such as Sonic Generations, new features will be thrown in to enhance the experience. While you would start the game initially as Sonic, players will supposedly be able to unlock even more characters as they go along, each with an exclusive skill that can be used to circumvent a particular obstacle that would otherwise hinder the progress of any other.

The game is also rumored to have at least 20 different stages, not including boss battles. In addition, these courses won’t be following a linear path as seen in previous iterations. Split into multiple paths, players can choose their own method of reaching the end goal, with their decision influencing later stages. Whatever path is chosen, however, they all ultimately lead to the same final boss battle, though courses can be replayed to discover all the possible ways to navigate them.

This mysterious Sonic the Hedgehog game is suggested to be released for nearly all current consoles and handhelds, as well as those of the next generation. Seeing a release on systems such as Wii U and Xbox 360 is plausible, but the vague mention of the PlayStation 4 and the new Xbox system seems highly unlikely at this time given Sony and Microsoft’s remaining mum on the topic. As per the course, such hearsay should be taken with a large grain of salt.

(GoNintendo via Digital Spy, image courtesy of Sega)

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  • Johnny Boy

    Games gonna suck.

  • Anonymous

    Yay… Because we all know how much quality you can expect from the Sonic franchise over the past ten years.

  • herewego

    Yeah! Because the game hasn’t been confimed or even teased and we hate it! And knowing SEGA, they haven’t made a good Sonic game since Sonic Adventure 2! It’s not like Colours, Generations or the All-Star Racing series has been good, because we hate Sonic for a game released 6 years ago!!!!!
    In all seriousness however, the Sonic games have been heaps better since Sonic ’06 and Colours and Generations were great. I have faith that SEGA can make a game like what’s being rumored thanks to their recent return to form. I can say that if a game like this were announced, I will be extreamly excited.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jordan.simal Jordan Simal

    finally sonic adventure 3 or sonic heroes 2? SONIC ADVENTURE 3 PLEASE?

  • SpeedyHedgehog89

    Hope its finally Sonic Adventure 3!

  • fred

    Sounds to me a lot like Sonic Adventure 3! Please!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Paulo-Panganiban/100001117858073 Paulo Panganiban

    Here’s hoping that the Vita version statement isn’t a hearsay rumor.

  • HyperSonikku456

    It seems like that to me as well, since there is a petition about SA3 to take place, it may be possible :D Imagine a Sonic Adventure title without glitches or bad graphics.. (SA2 was awesome, not saying it’s bad or anything XD) But I can’t wait though! :DDD

  • gohan fair

    if Big or any other lame character is playable in the game then i’m already not looking forward too it,exept for the part that there are 20 different stages

  • Darrell Coasey

    all i heard was knux climbing and im interested….but i wont get my hopes up b/c i thot ’06 would be sonics comeback………..

  • UYesZd

    Start with Sonic, then initially unlock new characters as the game goes on, and the levels you move onto are different depending on which route you take to finish the level? Sounds like a mix of Sonic Adventure and Shadiw the Hedgehog, but with Sonic Generations graphics.

  • http://www.facebook.com/emily.dembs Emily Dembs

    Omg i liked Sonic 06… Once I figured out how to get past the glitches it was actually fun.

  • The Effect

    Please… Please, just be a proper Sonic game, fit for this day and age. Actually, forget that, we’ll get to that later. Just make it something that isn’t aimed at toddlers.

    *Give it a proper storyline, set on Earth. Not comic world, or where ever…

    *Include humans. Sonic doesn’t have to kiss them, but he can interact with them.

    *Give it a decent-sized cast, but no Sonic Heroes.

    *Don’t go back to the old anime voices, but stop forcing such terrible jokes in.

    *Put it in full 3D.

    *Let there be HUBs, with a map and radar system.

    *Let the side missions be INTERESTING things relevant to the plot.

    *Put 2 or 3 playable characters, but don’t just make it Tails and Knuckles.

    *Let all the characters move at the same speed (purely for gameplay purposes).

    *No guns, Werehogs, or swords, but not everyone should play exactly the same.

    *Build a properly-sized world for a game this day and age. rather than the prettied-up hallways.

    *Let the camera be player-controlled, but also intelligent.

    *Don’t use oversensitive controls, but tighten them up… a LOT.

    *Include a thought-out progression and upgrade system for all characters.

    *Chao Garden would be nice (although is not required).

    *Use high-production music, including rock, but also piano, orchestra, etc.

    *No photo-realism, but NO LESS realistic than Sonic Unleashed EVER again – and even that was still embarrassing

    Come on, people at SEGA. Not even kids like overly kiddy games. This series isn’t made for nostalgic 30-year-olds (or kids who agree with them because they think it makes them look older, smarter, cooler, and more mature). Time to put your foot down about a few things, here. You’ve thrown a couple bones to them, now time to move on. These are simple, obvious things that most games have waaay mastered, by now. Time to join the rest of the world.

  • Taylor Forzano

    Are you kidding me!!! A new Sonic game!!! What’s it’s name, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • sfnhsd

    Sonic Adventure 3 anyone??

  • http://twitter.com/Masterman64 Jacob Douglas Jones

    Maybe they’ll use nazo in it (released to be a single image but lead to many theories on what he would be)

  • Sonurtoichi

    There are a lot of things wrong with your list….

    ~ Currently Sonic’s “world” is Earth. The Sonic comics have NEVER been made into a video game.

    ~ I don’t see the big deal about humans (other than Elise), but I would prefer Sonic Unleashed styled humans please.

    ~ It sounds like ten characters will be the max.

    ~ Sonic’s jokes aren’t terrible its just the light humor in Sonic games. Sonic tells bad jokes anyway -_-
    But if you really wanna crack down on the jokes call the writer of Happy Tree Friends he writes the script for Sonic games.

    ~ It is in 3D! The 2.5D is a blessing on today’s Sonic games.

    ~ An Adventure field would be great. A radar isn’t necessary though, it’s Sonic not COD.

    ~ Side missions are called side missions for a reason. They are EXTRA things to do in the game.

    ~ Tails and Knuckles are the only characters that were playable in the classics. So they got first dibs on being playable.

    ~ So you want Amy to go the same speed as Sonic?? But seriously that just sounds dumb! All characters should have their own skill set including their own level of speed. They don’t call him the fastest thing alive for nothing!

    ~ I’m pretty sure all of those things weren’t planned to be in this game in the first place. Even so references to these events would be funny. XD

    ~ What do you expect Sega to do? They’re low on money, have a tight budget, and a limited amount of time. Making it pretty is what Sega does best.

    ~ The Camera was fine in Sonic Generations?

    ~ Meh as long as the controls aren’t as floaty as Sonic Colors I could care less.

    ~ The other characters themselves are unlockables (other than Sonic). So an upgrade system would feel very unnecessary.

    ~ The return of Chao Gardens would be awesome! Though very unlikely so just buy SA2 on XBLA or PSN.

    ~ Has Sonic EVER let us down with music in his games?!

    ~ Like I said earlier Sonic Unleashed styled humans would be preferred because they look less realistic, which is the point of Sonic games mind you.

    Sega has tried to put it’s foot down before and look what that got us —> Sonic 06
    Believe it or not Sonic is pretty darn lucky he has such a dedicated fan base cause if it wasn’t for us he’d be dead. Just get off Sega’s back and let them work, unless you want a spiritual sequel to Sonic 06.
    :P