I have trouble imagining a role-playing game based off of Sonic the Hedgehog - a super-sonic, blue hedgehog just seems like a hard fit for a story and character-driven game. However, BioWare's released a new gameplay video for their upcoming Nintendo DS title Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for your and my disbelieving eyes.

The video shows off the console RPG-style, turn-based combat system for Brotherhood. Tapping the stylus on the screen in particular rhythms will unleash special attacks. Depending on which of the eleven characters are in your party, you'll be able to perform different combination abilities as well. The impression I get from the video is that when you try to run away from an encounter, you'll have to have to go through a sort of minigame that involves jumping over obstacles - a bit of a nod to Sonic's platforming roots.

I still think it's weird to see Sonic in an RPG, especially one with an ominous subtitle like "The Dark Brotherhood." However, if Squaresoft managed to make a decent RPG based off a franchise as strange as Mario, it's conceivable BioWare will be able to craft a worthy role-playing game for Sega's mascot. Sonic Chronicles will hit stores in North America on September 30th.