Sega to re-release Sonic on DS, lack of new ideas evident

David Swan
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:25

Your IT - Entertainment

Sega have announced a "new" Sonic compilation, titled Sonic Classic Collection. The collection follows similar re-releases for iPhone, home consoles, and about a million other devices. What's next, playing Sonic on your toaster..?

The package comes with Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles. These games were originally released on the Sega Mega Drive in the early 90's. There hasn't been a 'good' original Sonic title for about 8 years, since 2001's Sonic Adventure 2. The series is in decline, and has been for at least ten years, so what better than to re-release a set of the 'classics'?

The game will apparently be "optimised for the Nintendo DS", although at this stage it appears this only means players will be able to save at any point of the game. Expect possibly some sort of touch screen functionality, although it is hardly likely that the games will be substantially reworked in any way.

Expect the games to be similar to the iPhone's Sonic games, available for $8 a pop and in widescreen presentation, but plagued with dodgy controls. The DS versions will benefit from the system's physical buttons, but the addition of another screen will make things slightly interesting.

The Sonic Classic Collection will be available in March next year. Get excited... or perhaps not.