Sonic the Hedgehog (also called Sonic Next-Gen or Sonic 360 to differentiate it from similarly-titled games) is the name of the next-generation video game featuring Sonic to be released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sometime in 2006. It is being developed at Sonic Team, directed by Shun Nakamura.

It was revealed during a press release on September 9, 2005; Yuji Naka hinted that this game will be a recreation or a retelling of the original Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog, using speeds "only capable on next gen systems", though his comments could equally refer to the design-process and not the storyline itself (which is radically different) returning to its roots. Its release will mark the 15th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, just as Sonic Adventure 2 marked the 10th. SEGA has said the release date for the game will be the same day the PS3 comes onto the market. This would set the U.S. release date at November 17, 2006.

Among the new innovations revealed are the incorporation of passing time, including the realistic movement of the sun, as well as highly detailed characters and landscapes (in one demo, a tree was shown in-game with mushrooms growing on it). Yuji Naka has stated that the general theme of the game will be "What if Sonic were real?".

However, Naka had recently departed from Sonic Team and Sega on May 8, 2006 to form his own studio, PROPE. It is unknown about how this Sonic game will progress without his supervision and whether Nakamura will carry on designing the game himself.

Characters

Playable

A recent trailer revealed that it is possible to play as several other characters on top of Sonic. The known cast is:

* Sonic the Hedgehog - The Hero of the Story, who, after befriending her, takes it upon himself to rescue Princess Elise. High speed, Sonic Adventure-style gameplay. Sonic also gets faster in speed the more rings he collects.

* Shadow the Hedgehog - It is currently unknown how Shadow fits in to the game's storyline. In the official E3 trailer and screenshots, Shadow is seen driving an armed four-wheeled vehicle, suggesting his gameplay may be similar to his spin-off title, Shadow the Hedgehog. According to the game's marketing director on the E3 2006 Show floor, Shadow will be able to drive vehicles to get to new areas.

* Silver the Hedgehog - Silver is a time-traveling Hedgehog who has returned to the past in order to stop Sonic from causing a global cataclysm known as the "Iblis Trigger". Silver has psychokinetic powers that allow him to pick up objects around the playing field and throw them at enemies, including projectiles like missiles. He also possesses the ability to levitate in the air for differing amounts of time (using up his energy bar), he also gains more abilities the more rings he collects.



Non-Playable

* Dr. Eggman -The main villain in the Sonic series and (presumably) this game. He appears to be after the secret called the "Flames of Disaster". Apparently only Princess Elise knows what the secret is. His appearance has also noticeably changed from the style established in Sonic Adventure.

* Princess Elise -The Princess of Soleanna, and Eggman's kidnapping victim. Having stopped the destructive "Flames of Disaster" 10 years ago, only she knows their secrets, and their relation to the Chaos Emerald.



Unknown

* Miles "Tails" Prower - It's not known yet if he'll be playable or not, but some rumours say that he may be the fourth playable character.

* Knuckles the Echidna - The role of Knuckles the echidna in the game is also unknown, but it will probably be related to the Master Emerald or the Chaos Emeralds.

* Amy Rose - The role of Amy Rose in the game is still unknown, but she will probably be looking for Sonic, like in the previous games.

* Rouge the Bat - The role of Rouge in the game is also unknown, but it will probably be related to the Chaos Emerald. She may appear just to accompany or rival Knuckles or Shadow.

* Blaze the Cat - Not much is known about Blaze's appearance, except she is somehow connected to Silver.

* Mysterious Fourth Hedgehog - Not much is known about this character, beyond the fact he or she may be Silver's mentor in the future. This character is also said to have a crystalline appearance, similar to an emerald. It's also been suggested that he/she is similar in appearance to Shadow.

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