Sega announces Sonic RPG

It's a funny old world. Some 15 years pass with no sign of Sonic on a Nintendo console, and now its systems are infested with blue spikes. Similarly, where once there were few DS role-playing games of note, the drought is over and a steady flow of solid titles such as Final Fantasy III, Custom Robo Arena, Lunar Knights and Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords are making their presence felt.

Going at both trends, Sega has partnered with the Rolls Royce of RPG developers, BioWare, to create a Sonic the Hedgehog RPG exclusively for the DS.

The game is in the early stages and so far hasn't even been given a definite title. Expected to ship in 2008, it sounds as though the announcement of this partnership comes with the commencement of development.

Normally we would be wary about taking Sonic out his natural high octane platforming homeland, but games like Doom RPG have proved that even the most unlikely licences can be thoroughly enjoyable in quest form. And if anyone is capable of delivering a solid RPG it is BioWare, whose repertoire is not to be sniffed at.

Here's hoping that the recently unlucky Sonic franchise doesn't undermine BioWare's good record. Click 'Track It!' to receive updates about the fruits of this odd but potentially fantastic partnership.