The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was another big hit for Nintendo, crushing at the box office and essentially printing money for the gaming company and Illumination. It seems both intend on keeping the party rolling, as rumored movie releases and a post-credit sequence hint that Star Fox has its own standalone movie on the way. With all that seemingly on the way, I'm questioning why an upcoming game in the franchise made a baffling decision regarding the character's design.

For those who don't game, Nintendo has a remake of Star Fox on the way, and rather than mimic the Dreamworks version, this new game features hyper-realistic anthromorphic versions of Fox McCloud and his team, and I'm not sure why this is happening.

Nintendo Changing Star Fox's Look Feels Like A Massive Misstep

Why Nintendo would greenlight a game to radically change the look of Star Fox right on the heels of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is beyond me. Both of these projects were in development, and Nintendo was active in both. Surely, brand synergy is important, and it's not like anyone was complaining about how Fox McCloud looked.

So then, why change things up right after the massive get of Glen Powell as the character? It's not like A-listers just pop out of the woodwork and offer to voice video game characters every day. If ever there was a time to stay the course with branding across the board, this is it.

While I doubt this is the case, I also have to wonder if this means the next time we see Star Fox in theaters, the team will look completely different. Once he returns to his dimension, could he have a completely different look? I can't help but wonder. At the risk of sounding like an outraged Nintendo fanboy, I've followed this company long enough to see it make some bafflingly odd decisions.

Nintendo Made Efforts To Change Other Nintendo Characters After The Super Mario Brothers Movie

What also makes the Star Fox decision odd is that Nintendo already transformed one of its characters to look more in line with its Illumination counterpart. Illumination added a black outline around the character's eyes, which Nintendo then added to the character in Mario Kart World as well as Donkey Kong Bananza.

He's a bit bulkier in the games, and he doesn't sound like Seth Rogen, but he looks more or less like the same character we see in The Super Mario Brothers Movie. It's understandable, especially since he's rumored to have his own spinoff on the way. I'm not sure then how things fell apart with Star Fox, and I'm hoping someone at Nintendo is asking the same questions and looking into making some changes. Let's hope we don't get another Sonic the Hedgehog situation, where a project is delayed due to backlash from visuals.

For now, we're left waiting for more details about whether a Star Fox spinoff movie is happening, and what it may focus on. Hopefully, the redesign for the game is a one-off and not a tease at what these characters will look like when a movie actually does happen.

Not too long ago, I wrote about how the Sonic movies should be studied. Do you know who I think should study the movies the most? Nintendo and Illumination. Because I'm sorry, but I thought The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was TERRIBLE.

And, before you say, well, what did you expect? Something Oscar-worthy? Of course not! I at least expected it to be as good as the first movie, which I loved, despite what the critics said. But no, all I could think about while watching this sequel was, when will this ever end?

I never once felt that way about any of the Sonic movies, though. So, here's why I wish (and hope) that future Mario movies are more like the Sonic sequels.

The Sonic Sequels Are A Lot More Focused, Plot-wise

In our review for the first movie, our very own Eric Eisenberg thought that The Super Mario Bros. Movie was pretty thin on plot, and was nothing more than Easter eggs, and…he wasn't entirely wrong. In fact, I liked that about the first movie. We got an introduction to the Mario Bros. and the Mushroom Kingdom, and I really enjoyed the Easter eggs. So, I didn't particularly agree with Eric’s feelings on that film.

However, I do agree with him in his review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, as the plot feels even more like the characters are just going from Easter egg to Easter egg, and Illumination and Nintendo really didn't put much effort into developing these characters. For example, I genuinely feel like Yoshi doesn't even need to be here, and Mario almost becomes a secondary character in his own movie!

I never felt that way about the Sonic sequels. The plots got bigger for each one, but I don't feel like the stories were ever so jam-packed that I considered them a complete mess, as I do with this Mario sequel. And, I think it's because each Sonic movie is trying to tell an individual story - as they should. This Mario sequel, however, feels like it's trying to tell like five different stories, and none of them feel focused.

Again, I turn to the Sonic sequels. Are they the deepest, most engrossing narratives ever put to screen? Of course not! I would easily put at least the first two Sonic movies in a list of the best video game movies of all time with no hesitation, as their stories work. That's not something I can say about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, though. This story is all over the place!

The Sonic Sequels Also Add In New Characters Gradually, And They Fit Into The Story

Honestly, if I feel bad for anybody when it comes to The Super Mario Galaxy film, it's Rosalina fans, because I'm sorry. Ya’ll got the shaft, because Rosalina is barely even in this film, which makes no sense! Wouldn’t you think that, since Rosalina debuted in Super Mario Galaxy, she would have a heavy presence in this movie? She doesn’t! It’s like she’s just added here for merchandise purposes, which shouldn’t be.

What about Yoshi? Why is he even here? Again, it’s likely for merchandising purposes, since the film would still work without him, which flies in the face of competent storytelling. If you’re going to introduce a new character, they should actually have a purpose for being there. In fact, do you know which character had a bigger role than Yoshi? Fox McCloud, and he’s not even IN the Super Mario universe. As I mentioned in my article about why I was disappointed with the lead-up to this film, I wish they had kept Fox’s cameo a secret. It wasn't JUST a cameo! He actually had a more important role than Yoshi. How?!

But, I digress. The Sonic sequels don’t run into this issue. The second movie added both Tails and Knuckles, and the film wouldn’t work without either of them, which is how it should be. As for the third movie, Shadow is integral to the story, and a lot of it centers around him coming to grips with his purpose in life.

So, why didn’t Illumination and Nintendo do that with this movie? Only Bowser Jr. really has a character arc, so why not just add him in this sequel? It seriously blows my mind.

The Sonic Sequels Also Feel Like They're Building Toward The Next Movie

Amy Rose is going to be in the next Sonic movie, and I’m stoked, because I LOVE Amy. So does my daughter, who literally said, “Finally!” at the post-credit scene to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. I have no worries that they’ll handle her introduction to the series well, because the third movie really built toward her introduction throughout the course of its storyline.

I really love that about the Sonic films, as each of them feels like they’re building toward the next movie. The sequels don’t just feel like cash grabs, but more like a progression of a larger narrative. I can’t say the same for these Mario movies, though, as the leap from the first film to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn’t even make logical sense. Like, shouldn’t this movie have been The Super Mario World Movie? Yoshi’s egg was introduced in the post-credit scene of the first film, and Super Mario World would have been the next natural progression.

But, no. Straight to Galaxy, which still doesn’t make any sense to me. If anything, Galaxy should have been reserved for a third movie (Sonic took it to space in the third film), as there feels like there should have been another, full adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom before jettisoning the audience to space.

Maybe then, Yoshi would have gotten more time to shine rather than feeling like an afterthought. So again, I wish Illumination + Nintendo followed in Sonic’s footsteps and made the second movie feel like a natural progression. Because what’s next now? They obviously can’t go backward.

The Sonic Sequels Also Lean Into Nostalgia, But Not THIS Much

I brought up before how Eric complained about all of the Easter eggs in the first movie, and how I actually liked them. However, they become a real nuisance in this second movie. Before, the Easter eggs were really just in the background, which is fine; in this movie, I feel like it's nothing BUT Easter eggs.

I won’t spoil the film, but one of the characters I was most looking forward to seeing was Wart, since I consider him a deep cut Mario character. That said, his actual purpose in the film felt like it was just there for you to point and say, “Hey, that’s Wart! And there’s Birdo!” rather than him really being there for anything more than nostalgia purposes, which I found to be really annoying this time around.

Once again, the Sonic sequels don’t do this. As far as Easter eggs go, I’d say they’re a lot more tasteful. For example, in a key moment in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Crush 40 song “Live and Learn” starts blasting, and it just made the moment so much cooler. In a lot of ways, that nostalgia felt EARNED.

This is why I look forward to Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and why I'm less than enthused for another Mario movie - Sonic puts story first, and nostalgia second, while this Mario sequel does the complete opposite. So, I hope the next Mario movie takes notes from the Sonic series. It’d help a lot!

This past week, fans received their first official look at Shrek 5, and their responses varied. DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures’ clip revealed the updated designs for the ogre and some of his allies. Some commenters seemed in favor of the alterations, while others voiced their assertion that the animators should’ve stuck with the OG designs. Various individuals and entities appear to be weighing in, and one of the latest is the team behind the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, which dropped an A+ response.

It goes without saying that the Sonic crew certainly knows what it’s like to receive backlash over a character design. Several years ago, Internet users didn’t mince words when the first trailer for the live-action trilogy’s first installment was released and revealed an altered look for the blue speedster. Considering that experience, the official TikTok account for the Sega-produced film franchise dropped a cheeky video. The brief clip provided a bit of advice for “green ogres." Check out the post, which includes a cheeky "take notes" caption:

As you can see, the funny video features a glimpse of the OG Sonic design, before transitioning to the altered one that was ultimately included in the finished 2020 film. I’m a person who loves the rare occasion on which a professional creative team will poke fun at a viral situation (and themselves, in the process). Kudos to whoever came up with this idea, as the video, on the surface, is relatively subtle. Yet its message and joke are certainly clear.

The backlash over Sonic’s original look was no laughing matter, at the time, though. When it came to that design, the filmmakers seemed to be going for a design that would better fit into the live-action realm. With that, the hedgehog was streamlined a bit and even given a full set of teeth. Longtime fans of the character shared visceral reactions on social media and, as a result, Paramount Pictures pushed Sonic the Hedgehog back to allow for more time to update the look. The final result was a style that was right on par with the video games.

When it comes to the upcoming Shrek 5, DreamWorks and Universal released a brief snippet, which revealed the returns of the eponymous character, Princess Fiona, their now-adolescent daughter, Felicia, and Donkey. Among the complaints were that the heads of the ogre family looked older, and many pined for the designs of the original four films. Amid the situation, a TikToker claimed to have fixed the animation, and a lot of fans seemed to love the results, based on the responses they shared on social media.

Plot details on this fifth installment in the hit franchise haven’t been revealed just yet. What is known, however, is that franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing the film. Also, franchise veterans Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy are reprising their roles as Shrek, Fiona and Donkey, respectively, with Zendaya also joining the fold as Felicia. So, at the very least, there’s certainly some creative continuity behind the scenes.

In my humble opinion, the odds of the team behind the fairy tale-centric flick are probably slim. Fans are, of course, entitled to their opinions but, at the end of the day, the filmmakers have a creative vision to execute. Plus, design changes do make sense, given that nearly 15 years have passed since the fourth film (which can be streamed with a Max subscription) hit cinemas. But, regardless of whether or not the crew heeds Team Sonic’s advice, I still appreciate the chuckle-worthy TikTok message.

Shrek 5 is slated to hit theaters on December 23, 2026. In the meantime, you can stream the original three films with a Peacock subscription and the fourth installment on the aforementioned Max.

To the surprise of no one and the delight of just about everyone, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is happening. In a couple of years, we’ll get to see the iconic and beloved “Blue Blur” and his gang of heroes take on another threat as they save Green Hills (and the rest of the world) yet again. The upcoming video game movie, which was announced right around the time Sonic the Hedgehog 3 spun into theaters and drove up box office receipts, is something we’re very excited about, as you can see.

Though we’re early in the game, so to speak, there are already a few things we know about Sonic the Hedgehog 4 that fans of the legendary video game franchise, as well as the popular video game adaptations based on Sega’s mascot, will want to know. Let’s go over everything now…

What Is The Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Release Date?

The Sonic the Hedgehog 4 release date has been set for March 19, 2027, meaning we'll have a shorter break between movies than the last time around, according to Variety.

This won’t be the first time Sonic has sprinted into theaters in the spring season, as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 opened in April 2022, a little more than two years after its predecessor came onto the scene. We should know more about a precise date for the upcoming kids movie in the coming months.

What Is Sonic The Hedgehog 4 About?

Spoiler Warning: There are some spoilers for the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ending. If you have yet to watch the movie, please skip to the next section.

With Sonic the Hedgehog 4 not coming out for a little more than two years, not much has been said about the movie’s story or which game (or games) will serve as inspiration for it. That said, the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 post-credits sequences did offer several hints about what we can expect from the next installment.

In the first post-credits scene, Sonic is attacked by an army of Metal Sonics before being saved by Amy Rose, a character longtime fans have been waiting to see for a very long time. Both characters were introduced in Sonic CD back in 1993, which used time travel as a game mechanic. If the fourth movie uses the game as a basis, we could see Sonic eating chili dogs in the past and/or future.

The second sequence showed Shadow the Hedgehog returning to Earth having seemingly survived his act of self-sacrifice when destroying the Eclipse Cannon. This could lead into the next movie, or it could kick off the spinoff series Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba have talked about.

The Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Cast

Though Paramount Pictures has not come out and said who will be returning for the sequel or who will be playing new cast additions, it would be shocking if we didn’t see the major players come back for at least one more movie. Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, and Colleen O'Shaughnessy, who voiced Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow, and Tails, respectively, are all expected to return, considering their stories aren’t yet complete.

The same goes for James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, who have played Tom and Maddie Wachowski since the franchise started five years ago. Neither actor has commented on a return, but it’d be hard to imagine them not being around. However, there is one actor who is open to the idea of returning.

In December 2024, Jim Carrey, who pulled double-duty as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Professor Gerald Robotnik in Sonic 3, told Cinema Today he was “definitely open” to returning and playing the over-the-top villain at least one more time.

Director Jeff Fowler Thinks The Franchise Is Just Hitting Its ‘Stride’

As CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes said in his Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review, the threequel pulled off the rare feat of upping the entire franchise and took it to new heights. Well, it sounded like director Jeff Fowler was looking to keep up the momentum with the upcoming fourth movie when he sat down for an interview with Variety in December 2024. In the chat, Fowler made it sound like this was just the beginning:

With Keanu Reeves’ casting as Shadow in Sonic 3 being a perfect fit for the franchise, and the same with Idris Elba as Knuckles in the second movie, we can’t wait to see what Fowler and company have in store for these characters and where the franchise will be going now that the creative team is “just hitting” their stride.

Ben Schwartz Has Teased A Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Storyline That Could Take The Movie To A ‘Whole Different Place’

Ben Schwartz loves bringing Sonic to life, and you can feel his love for the character, and franchise as a whole, in each of his performances. And so it should come as no surprise that the Parks and Recreation alum is excited for Sonic 4, and a possible storyline that could take the series to a “whole different place.” When speaking with Variety ahead of the Sonic 3 release, the comedian shed some light on what’s to come while also not giving too much away (or making any promises), stating:

The second half of Schwartz’s comments is also interesting, as each movie has felt a little different tonally while also feeling like they’re part of the same universe, which is no easy feat. Will Sonic 4 be a wild romp in the style of classic time-travel movies if those connections with Sonic CD are explored? We can only hope.

How To Watch The First Three Sonic The Hedgehog Movies

If you want to get all caught up for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 to come out in 2027, then you have plenty of time to watch the first three movies in the franchise (multiple times, even). The first two are streaming for anyone with a Paramount+ subscription, and it shouldn’t be long before Sonic 3 starts streaming on the service. But for now, the 2024 threequel is available through on-demand services like Amazon.

Stream Sonic the Hedgehog on Paramount+.

Stream Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Paramount+.

Rent/Buy Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Amazon.

Again, we are extremely early in the game when it comes to what’s known about Sonic the Hedgehog 4. While we wait for more details, now would be a good time to check in on all the exciting releases on the 2025 movie schedule.

I have to be honest. If you had told me years ago that we would have not one, but a whole trilogy of Sonic movies (And that they were good, AND starred one of my favorite actors, Jim Carrey), I would have likely rolled my eyes.

But, lo and behold, everything I just said is true, and I still, to this day, consider the first one to be the greatest video game movie of all time (yes, even more so than my beloved The Super Mario Bros. Movie).

So, being the fanboy that I am, I was, of course, stoked to see Shadow the Hedgehog in the end credits of Sonic 2, but I’m even more excited that we saw Amy Rose in the post-credits scene for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Here’s why!

Firstly, My Daughter Has Wanted Amy To Be In The Sonic Movies Ever Since The First Film, And She Finally Got Her Wish

My daughter went into Sonic the Hedgehog 3 angry. When I asked her why she had such a sour-puss face, she said, “I can’t believe they put Shadow in before Amy. They might as well put Silver in next.”

While they didn’t put Silver in Sonic 3, I could understand her angst, because up until that post-credits scene in the threequel, the Sonic movies did seem to be a bit of a boy’s club, what with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, AND Shadow.

So, my daughter was right to be upset, since she’s wanted Amy ever since the first movie. Now, while I don’t think Amy should have been in the first film, since it was really an introduction to Sonic, I did think she should have been in Sonic 2.

That’s because my daughter loves Amy, and has ever since she watched one of the best Sonic cartoons, Sonic Boom. In that show, Amy does have a crush on the main man, as that’s one of her character traits, but she is also definitively her own person. In fact, she was often presented as the sarcastic voice of reason on the show.

In that way, I’m happy that my daughter finally got her wish of Amy being in the movies. Not only that, but when a row of boys in front of us groaned when they saw Amy, my daughter stuck out her tongue, and said, “It’s about time,” underneath her breath. I wanted to tell her to “Say it louder,” but I’ll let her speak up for her favorite characters in her own time. It’s bound to happen eventually, just like with Amy Rose in these films.

Amy As A Badass Warrior Is The Right Way To Go

I’ve already talked about how I consider the first Sonic the Hedgehog to be the best video game movie ever, but if I have any complaint with the film, it’s the action, as I think it could be better.

Yes, it was suitable for Sonic, as it featured him running and zipping around, but I kind of wanted something a bit more meaty, which was why I was glad that we got Knuckles in the sequel, as he’s known for cracking heads.

Sonic 2 was pretty good, but I really wanted even more action, which was why I was happy to find Shadow in the sequel, as he’s often (comically) known for having a gun. The action was definitely better for Sonic 3, making for some heart-pumping scenes (especially if you’re a Sonic fan).

But, what I really want for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is even more action, and seeing Amy destroy so many Metal Sonics really made me say “Aw, hell yeah.”

Because I just love the idea of a cloak-wearing, badass Amy who saves Sonic’s bacon, and I think it’s the right call for the sequel. Yes, we got Krysten Ritter in Sonic 3 as a woman of authority, but as I mentioned earlier, these movies have been pretty male-centric when it comes to the cool characters. So, I’m just happy that it looks like we’re going to finally get Amy to fill in that kickass role for the next adventure.

Team Sonic Now Finally Feels Complete

Another reason why I was upset (much like my daughter) that we were getting Shadow rather than Amy first is because Amy fully compliments Team Sonic, while Shadow doesn’t. I know that’s weird to say since we’ve gotten so many extra characters in the Sonic universe, but when I wrote my article on five classic Sonic characters that I wanted to see in Sonic 2, I included Amy and not Shadow.

Because yeah, while Shadow is cool, I don’t consider him to be a “classic” Sonic character. Debuting back in Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow was a hit from the very beginning, and I liked him back then, and I still like him today (especially with the Keanu Reeves references in the movie).

That said, when I think of the OG Sonic games that I grew up with, the characters that instantly spring to mind are Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Robotnik, and yes, Amy Rose (and Metal Sonic, if you’re nasty).

So, the fact that we went almost three whole movies without Amy really felt like a crime against nature. It’s like my daughter said, they might as well just have Silver or, I don’t know, Vector the Crocodile, in the movie if they weren’t going to include Amy.

But now, with Amy’s introduction, it finally feels like things are on the right track, particularly since it now fills a hole in the movies that I think has been missing for way too long.

Amy Rose With Metal Sonic Brings In The Unused Sonic CD References That I've Been Waiting For

While my daughter waited impatiently for Amy to appear, I waited impatiently for when we were finally going to see some love for Sonic CD. An utter gem of a game, it sees our hero traveling through time, and it was also the introduction of both Amy Rose and Metal Sonic.

So, when we got a whole legion of Metal Sonics in the third movie, as well as Amy dispatching them, it felt like sweet justice. Especially because Amy was more of a damsel in distress in Sonic CD, rather than breaking them apart like she is in the post-credits scene.

But honestly, while real ones know how good that game is, I feel like the movies have glossed over it completely, which doesn’t make sense given the timeline of the games.

You see, in the second movie, we got Knuckles, but he actually appeared AFTER Amy in the Sonic universe (he debuted in 1994's Sonic the Hedgehog 3, while Amy and Metal Sonic debuted in 1993's Sonic CD).

In that way, I’m super happy that Sonic 4 looks to finally pay some respect to Sonic CD with its appearances of both Amy and Metal Sonic, which brings me to my final reason for why I’m happy Amy has now arrived.

I Don’t Know How Amy Will Play Into This Next Movie, And That's A Good Thing

Now look, I have a hunch about what Sonic 4 is going to be about, but I’m not sure, and I love that I feel the same about Amy.

She could mean a lot of things for the sequel. Will she be a love interest for Sonic, or will it be a totally platonic relationship? How will the rest of the gang gel with her? Will we see even less of the human characters in the sequel, and see more characters like Amy in a new world?

I don’t know, but as I said before, I have a hunch. You see, since Sonic CD is clearly being referenced in the post-credits scene, I have a feeling that the upcoming sequel will be a time travel adventure, since that’s what the video game is. Perhaps Sonic could go back in time with Amy, and then try to stop the death of Longclaw, only for Knuckles to tell him that he can’t change the past.

I’m not sure, but Amy entering into the story opens up so many possibilities, and I can’t wait to see what they present in the sequel.

Are you also pumped for Amy? For more news on Sonic the Hedgehog, be sure to swing by here often!

When it comes to video game characters, Sonic is probably one of the most recognizable. Now, with a successful trilogy of movies and the third Sonic the Hedgehog film earning a great review from CinemaBlend, the hedgehog voiced by Ben Schwartz is recognizable as a major movie character, too. So, when I interviewed the actor behind the speedy creature about the film's debut on the 2024 movie schedule, I asked about his favorite aspect of voicing him, and his answer was so sweet I could cry.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3, of course, featured Schwartz's blue hedgehog and his team taking on another crazy adventure together, but voicing the character isn't all the actor does. I fully realized that when I asked what his favorite thing was about voicing the hedgehog, and he responded with an answer that actually had nothing to do with making the movie:

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sprinted past all the competition at the box office during its first week of release, so it's clear that kids and their parents love these films. However, hearing about how Schwartz interacts directly with the youngsters amplifies this franchise's impact even more. Now, I'm legit about to cry because this is all so wholesome.

In a world with so many animated films out there, it's a joy to see an actor put so much passion and love into voicing a character for one. What makes all this even better is the Parks and Rec actor does the voice off the clock too for the kids because they adore Sonic so much.

On top of this sweet thing Schwartz does in character, he has really brought a lot to Sonic in general. It's clear he loves voicing the famous speedy hedgehog, and he will continue to do so as long as the movies keep going on – which, will happen since Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is already confirmed.

There's plenty to adore about the latest Sonic the Hedgehog movie, from the hilarious dancing scene with Jim Carrey to moments where certain characters might be dead or not and so much more. However, at the heart of it all, there's Sonic and his team, and behind all that, is Ben Schwartz, loving voicing the character and making kids happy everywhere.

If you had asked anyone who saw the “Ugly Sonic” trailer for the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie how they’d feel about a full trilogy of Sega adaptations, they’d have probably laughed at you. Oh how far we’ve come, in the course of four years and three chapters in director Jeff Fowler’s ongoing series of fan favorite films. It’s all flown by like a blue blur, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 shows that there’s no signs of stopping when it comes to this sci-fi action extravaganza's potential. And the best part is that this viewpoint should be openly welcomed by fans, as Sonic 3 represents the rare leveling up of a saga as it reaches trilogy status.

Taking a healthy dose of inspiration from the Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2, the world of Team Sonic is expanded with new anti-hero: Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves). Armed with a tragic backstory and the decades-long grudge that it spawned, his presence represents the greatest threat that Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba) have yet faced.

It honestly wouldn’t be a “third movie” without making that sort of promise, but where Sonic 3 truly delivers is in how it handles its elevation of stakes. The returning writing team of Pat Casey & Josh Miller, along with franchise newcomer John Whittington, show that they truly understand the difference between merely making a bigger, louder adventure and properly scaling up the thrills worthy of a second return to the movies. That sort of thinking is exhibited by this burgeoning cinematic universe, which isn’t afraid to walk a fine line between the funny and the dramatic.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is a rare example of a third entry being the best, while still showing plenty of room for growth.

As a fan who’s admired the Sonic the Hedgehog mythos since the Sega Genesis days, being able to claim the pictures inspired by those titles as fond favorites already feels like a rarity. So for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to be able to land as a third chapter that doesn’t try too hard to be an “epic conclusion” meant to attract a wider audience is practically alchemy.

There’s no ill-founded pretense of trying to even sell Sonic 3 as an “end of an era,” as there are numerous characters and storylines that can still be pulled from the extended canon for future movies. While certain aspects of this still developing series do feel like they come to a natural end, there’s an understanding that this world always has a surprise waiting.

You could even apply this lesson to the fact that not only is Jim Carrey back in the Sonic 3 cast, he’s pulling double duty as both Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald. Doubling the comedic genius’ presence is a move that, on the surface level, feels like another play from the “bigger and louder” playbook. It's the notable differences between both characters that actually leave us wanting to see them on screen together, which leaves Carrey with even more opportunities to stretch his comedic and dramatic muscles.

Keanu Reeves’ Shadow successfully helps bring the third chapter of the Sonic franchise into more mature storytelling.

I still remember the days when the Shadow the Hedgehog spin-off game had Sega fans laughing at how it was clearly obvious the series was trying to get “gritty.” Providing another benchmark for how far Sonic’s pop culture imprint has evolved, the escalation of stakes in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is not a fluke or a misunderstood opportunity like that much maligned 2005 video game. Instead, it manages to implement what so many trilogies get wrong with their capstone entries: proper storytelling that knows the lane it’s in, and never waivers.

Keanu Reeves’ Shadow is the key ingredient that allows all of this to happen, as he represents the constantly adjusted vibe of the first two Sonic movies. The fun and games, reference-filled buddy comedy aspect has died down, which has allowed characters like Shadow and Knuckles to properly be added to the fold. The tone encompassing black and red hedgehog is especially important to get right, as his tale includes a tragic death that defines his worldview – a detail that the beloved John Wick star absolutely nails in his vocal performance.

Yes, there are actual human deaths in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, including one that fans have clocked since the trailers dropped. If we were still dealing with the atmosphere of previous installments, those events would look as out of place as Shadow the Hedgehog all of a sudden being given a gun in the Sega games.

This steady progression of understanding the tone and the lore of the Sonic movies also treats us to even more dramatically nuanced performances from the returning cast. Sure, Ben Schwartz’s Sonic is still a kidder who loves a good joke. While that element doesn’t change, plot beats where the friendship at the heart of Team Sonic is fractured land as examples of natural pivots between seriously threatening moments and lighthearted action-comedy.

Director Jeff Fowler’s visual eye, paired with Tom Holkenborg’s energetic score, allow Sonic The Hedgehog 3 to look and sound like a proper video game experience.

It’s fitting that director Jeff Fowler has been allowed to make the best Sonic movie of the series with Shadow the Hedgehog: a character he directed in the aforementioned spinoff game everyone looked down on. Like a gleaming golden ring, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 brings Fowler, and the fans, full circle in the most beautiful way possible.

Matching his efforts every step of the way is composer Tom Holkenborg, who once again writes a score that sounds like you’ve just pressed start on something big. Sonic 3 allows him some extra time to shine, as he works in even more of the most beloved musical signatures from Sega’s library into this three-quel’s auditory landscape.

Frankly, that same praise could be offered for any one who’s returned to the Sonic movies. The love that’s shown by the creative talents and the cast is so readily apparent, it sells this world of wonder all the better. With the big emotional and dramatic swings that are taken here, that would have been a requirement no matter who was involved. Even in something as small as the hysterical cameos from Shemar Moore and Natasha Rothwell, you can tell that they were more than happy to keep playing this rather enjoyable game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 isn’t just a fantastic video game sequel, it’s a lesson in how to continually reward a loyal fan base. Which, again, makes thinking back to the “Ugly Sonic” debacle all the more laughable. For as much as all invested wanted a good time out of the Sonic movies, no one could have predicted they’d be this good.

I do hope that this is merely the beginning of a larger and wider world for these Sega icons, but at the same time, the same patient pacing and craftwork that’s gone into everything we’ve seen thus far needs to be present. If Sonic the Hedgehog 4 does everything in its power to continue this upward trajectory of invested storytelling and heartfelt integration of canon, I’ll continue to speed into the theater to enjoy it all.

It’s that time: Christmas time is here! And supposedly everybody knows that there’s no better time of year; at least that’s what the opening song to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation would tell us. While the 2024 movie schedule isn’t the home of that Chevy Chase classic, the latest poster for the upcoming sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an A+ parody of that very film -- and now it’s left me wanting a holiday special focused on Jim Carrey’s Robotnik family. Are you listening, Paramount?

Thanks to the folks at Paramount Pictures, we now have our hands on this beautiful comedy masterpiece you could hang on your wall…if it was being sold to the public, that is. No, this image is heading to the internet, as part of the “12 Hours of Sonic” promotion that’s highlighting the Ben Schwartz/Keanu Reeves starring three-quel. CinemaBlend got the Exclusive on this one. Ho-ho-holy moly, are we lucky!

If I wasn’t already sold on this movie by personal fandom, as well as that first Sonic 3 trailer, this would probably be the icing on the cake for me. And if I'm being honest, this is in light of the fact that I'm not exactly a fan of Christmas Vacation.

Which doesn't really color my view on this promo art any differently, as I can still get a laugh out of the well tuned homage to the poster from that 1988 comedy. Shown below, you can see how the look, feel, and even the tagline of that beloved Chevy Chase staple were all ripe for a Robotnik flavored revamp:

However, I will admit to being both a fan of the best Jim Carrey movies, as well as the man’s career in general. And while the folks at Paramount might think I'm asking for a lot here, I'm going to pitch my holiday special anyway. Perhaps Sonic franchise director Jeff Fowler, and writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, will back what I'm about to say as a viable option.

Why We Need A Robotnik Holiday Special In The Sonic Universe

We’ve already got a taste of what a Robotnik family holiday would look like, thanks to a more recent look at Sonic the Hedgehog 3 showing grandpa Gerald surprising his grandson Ivo as Santa. But if you look at the pedigree of several of the parties involved in these movies, they’re all holiday entertainment veterans.

Obviously Jim Carrey was The Grinch in Ron Howard’s live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. As someone who still defends that film, and vehemently disagrees the case that Illumination’s The Grinch is somehow better, that’s the first win notched in the column.

The second win comes from the fact that Sonic movie writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller are the credited team behind 2022’s action-comedy Violent Night. But a third unexpected win happened to arrive while I was putting together my case for A Very Robotnik Christmas to exist. And you can watch it for yourself, as Paramount's gift to us all:

So if I’m presented with the option to watch a Sonic the Hedgehog holiday special, starring one of my favorite Grinches and written by the people who cemented David Harbour as one of the best modern Santas, then you can bet that I’m going to push for it! Especially because as we saw with this year’s Knuckles spin-off series, this universe is one that’s easily expandable.

And when there's already a mini-Christmas special in existence, it's harder to deny this project's potential. Not to mention, it would kind of make up for A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All somehow not being streamable on Paramount+. Putting that point aside, I welcome the fact that some will say that the idea of A Robotnik Family Christmas, complete with Jim Carrey playing the entire family, is absurd.

That’s ok, as we’re supposed to come together despite our differences at this time of year. However you can’t disagree with the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be in theaters on December 20th. Nor can you speak against how both previous Sonic movies are available to watch through a Paramount+ subscription. I do love a good debate, but those are all stone cold facts.

While historically video game movies have failed to impress, the subgenre has been doing quite well in recent years. A few hits have arrived including Sonic the Hedgehog, which is one of the best video game movies in recent memory. It's since grown into a full-blown franchise, including the Knuckles series which as released for those with a Paramount+ subscription. The next upcoming video game movie is Sonic 3, and director Jeff Fowler had a very specific Keanu Reeves character in mind when he cast the action star to play Shadow.

What we know about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is limited, but fans are excited that the villainous Shadow will be joining the fray in the blockbuster. Sonic 3's cast list is buoyed by the inclusion of Keanu, and it turns out that his role was influenced by one of Reeves' most iconic roles: John Wick. As director Jeff Fowler revealed in an upcoming issue of SFX Magazine:

Honestly, can you blame him? John Wick is one of the most badass characters in film history, one that Keanu Reeves has become synonymous with in the years since he debuted that killer title character. And since Shadow is a bit of a brooding bad boy himself, the correlation makes a great deal of sense. Although now I really wish Sonic 3 had arrived already.

The John Wick franchise is kickstarted by the title character's dog being killed, which ends up inspiring Keanu Reeves' character to return to his life as a brutal hitman. So despite how many people he kills through the franchise, the audience is still very much on his side.

While Shadow's backstory in the forthcoming threequel hasn't been confirmed, the trailers for Sonic 3 seem to hint that his origin from the video games is being faithfully adapted for film. In the games, his companion Maria is killed before his eyes, inspiring him to take up villainy. Fans are def hyped about this potentially being brought to life in film, even though it means the Sonic movie will kill off a kid.

Luckily the wait is nearly over. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will hit theaters on December 20, 2024. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Fans of Sega's original flagship series mascot are buzzing with excitement as the release date for the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog 3 approaches its 2024 movie schedule debut. But this week an unexpected reveal from Regal Movies has fans theorizing about what surprises the third installment has in store. Alongside the announcement of the exclusive Popcorn bucket and Funko Pop collectibles tied to the movie, eagle-eyed fans noticed a character that was not officially announced: Cream the Rabbit. Did marketing reveal just spoil a new video game character’s entrance on the big screen?

For those who missed it, Regal took to their X (formerly Twitter) account recently, unveiling a themed popcorn bucket as well as a collection of Funko Pop figures for the upcoming video game movie, coinciding with their promotional efforts for the movie's December 20 release. The lineup, featuring Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow the Hedgehog, is already a treat for fans. However, nestled among the main characters is Cream the Rabbit, along with her loyal companion, Cheese the Chao. For longtime fans of the blue anthropomorphic erinaceidae family member, this is a huge deal. Cream and Cheese are iconic video game characters, first introduced in Sonic Advance 2 for the Game Boy Advance, but they’ve rarely appeared outside of the video game universe—until now, it would seem.

What does Cream’s inclusion in this promotional lineup mean for Sonic 3? Could this adorable duo be making their cinematic debut in the upcoming movie? It would appear that way.

First, it’s important to note that movie tie-in merchandise has spoiled movies before. Often, these toy releases hold clues about significant plot points. In recent years, fans have cracked major cinematic surprises based on toys and promotional items—think LEGO sets spoiling pivotal moments in upcoming Marvel movies and Star Wars films. The sudden inclusion of Cream the Rabbit in Sonic 3's merchandise lineup raises eyebrows, as the franchise has been tight-lipped about its plot details beyond Shadow the Hedgehog’s confirmed role–voiced to perfection by Keanu Reeves.

Cream’s addition could signal that the character plays a small, perhaps cameo-level role in Sonic 3. Alternatively, her presence might simply be a nod to Sonic’s wider universe, ensuring fan-favorite characters receive recognition in some form. After all, the Sonic franchise is expansive, with a cast of characters that spans decades. Including Cream in merchandise might be Sega and Paramount’s way of acknowledging her fanbase, even if she doesn’t have a pivotal role in the film.

It’s no secret that the Sonic franchise is gearing up to expand its character roster beyond Shadow the Hedgehog, but it’s too early to confirm anything for sure. We do know the end credits scene of the first Sonic movie introduced Tails, with the sequel featuring Knuckles, who got his own TV show, so the inclusion of Cream the Rabbit wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. And the Funko Pop lineup has certainly sparked speculation. Whether her presence points to a brief cameo, a larger role, or simply serves as a delightful Easter egg for longtime fans, it’s clear that the filmmakers are leaning into the series’s rich lore.

Fans won’t have to wait too long, with the movie just weeks away, to see if Cream hops onto the big screen. Until then, let the theorizing continue! To hold you over, perhaps check out the first two Sonic movies and Knuckles, the series with a Paramount+ subscription.

It seems like history may be repeating itself in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and not for a good reason. Based on the Sega franchise, the brand-new video game-to-TV adaptation of Knuckles just dropped all six episodes (which you can stream with a Paramount+ subscription), and fans are already complaining about the amount of screen time the CGI character actually gets. 

The miniseries takes place between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the third Sonic film that is set to hit theaters later this year as part of Paramount’s 2024 movie schedule. Idris Elba reprised his role as the hot-headed red echidna, and this time he takes the lead as Knuckles tries to adapt to life on Earth. He ends up taking on an “apprentice” in the hopes of training the deputy sheriff in the way of the “Echnida warrior.” 

Despite a promising premise, fans are not happy with the execution. In fact, many were quick to take to X (formally Twitter) this morning to share their outrage over the lack of Knuckles in the show. Like @AwestruckVox who shared a clip from the finale episode along with the following comment:

After watching the clip for myself, it’s definitely weird that the focus was on the aggressor instead of the lead character of the show! Even when Knuckles did make an appearance in the clip, it was short-lived. 

Now, one might give the show the benefit of the doubt by saying maybe it was too much money to animate a full fight sequence in the final episode of the series. Unlikely, but it could be said. Unfortunately, that argument fails to account for the lack of the titular character in the entirety of the series. As one X user pointed out, there is one episode where it felt like the red echidna only had a single minute of screen time. 

A minute of screen time in a 23-minute show for the lead character has to be some kind of record. Perhaps, naming the show off the CGI creature wasn’t the best idea if he was going to be absent for a huge chunk of time.  As this fan pointed out:

While it’s easy to focus on the negative comments that seem to be flooding social media, there are some fans who are showering the show with praise. One of the biggest wins for it seems to be getting to see beloved Sonic characters interacting with each other: 

Fan reactions like those seem to be more in line with the positive critic reviews Knuckles received during early access. However, they just represent the extremes on the opposite side of the spectrum. It seems that most fans fall somewhere in the middle, viewing the miniseries as an average installment in the expanding Sonic the Hedgehog universe. 

It seems like the only thing the Sega franchise is incredibly successful at these days, is getting fans all riled up with their opinions. I mean, who can forget when clips of the 2020 movie were released and fans were so upset over Sonic’s design that the studio had to spend even more money redesigning him? 

Regardless of what everyone is saying online, if you’re a fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, Knuckles is definitely a show you should check out. 

For the most part, audiences know Ben Schwartz as a comedic relief or a heroic smart ass. Considering his roles in series like Parks and Recreation and Space Force, as well as his status as the lead of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, the comedian’s resume has scored him a lot of laughs. Schwartz continues to do so in the 2023 new movie release Renfield although, this time out, he exudes more of a villainous presence when he’s not freaking out over Nicolas Cage’s Dracula. It’s an experience that, through some creative casting in Sonic 3, could see Schwartz starting "the villainous stage" of his career. 

Thanks to the Universal press day for Renfield, I had the privilege of sitting down with Mr. Schwartz to discuss his role as the vibrantly evil Teddy Lobo. The son of crime lord Bella (Shoreh Aghdashloo), Teddy gets up to the usual mischief you’d expect from someone so tied to the criminal underworld. And by mischief, I mean wielding twin pistols and a colorful wardrobe a la Castor Troy from Face/Off while engaging in various activities involving the distribution of cocaine.

It’s a performance that, frankly, got both of us thinking that if Sonic 3 wants to cash in on this mayhem, the powers that be may have found its Shadow the Hedgehog. Don’t take my word for it,, though, as Ben Schwartz shared these devious thoughts with CinemaBlend:

Potentially casting him as the anti-heroic Shadow the Hedgehog isn’t due to a lack of good candidates. With Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s cast having offered some fantastic A-list picks upon the picture’s release in 2022, a lot of different names are in the mix.

And yet, there’s a lot of potential for the man behind the Blue Blur himself to get really nasty in the role the iconic character revealed as a sequel tease during Sonic 2’s ending. Of course, on that note, fans are wondering if there are any updates regarding what’s happening with Paramount’s Sega-produced threequel.

Unfortunately, even with the next film being planned for a Christmas 2024 release, there’s not much to report, at least on Ben Schwartz’s end. But as you’ll see below, he’s anxious to get the ball rolling on the beloved video game characters next big-s outing:

There is a silver lining though, and it comes from a more recent status update. Ahead of Sonic 3, the Knuckles spin-off series -- which was announced last year -- has just gone into production. So there’s news to be reported, it’s just not directly connected to Ben Schwartz just yet; though one could assume we’ll see his character appear at some point in that streaming narrative. At least, that's what a true hero would do when building their own franchise.

Should Sonic the Hedgehog 3 choose to go with another voice of villainy in Shadow the Hedgehog’s casting, there’s always the chance that Ben Schwartz could maybe return to the role of Teddy Lobo. If Renfield’s ending is compelling enough to build strong word of mouth for the horror/comedy, then there could be some sequel potential in the air. 

Whatever the case, he's ready to become a big screen force for evil and, after watching him begin to experiment with that sort of role, it feels like that villain era he wants to launch could become a reality. While we wait for these next moves to become clearer, you can catch all things Sonic the Hedgehog by streaming them with a Paramount+ subscription.

That’s where you’ll be able to find those first two films, and the eventual Knuckles series spin-off at some point in the near future. But if you want to see Ben Schwartz acting like a menace to society and hurling cocaine bricks at Awkwafina, then you’re going to have to head to the movies and see Renfield now.

Some of the older heads I like to talk to say, "I was there, man," when referencing Woodstock. They'll have this distant look in their eyes as if they can see a band right in front of them on the stage, and I can do the same. But, instead of Woodstock, it's Sonic the Hedgehog, since "I was there, man," when the blue blur first debuted back in 1991 on the Sega Genesis. (With its blast processing!) Sonic's come a long way, and he even has a new Netflix show titled Sonic Prime, that recently debuted on the streaming platform.

In fact, being there from the beginning, I've seen some rough years for Sonic, both in video games and on TV shows, as Sonic has been a TV star almost as long as he's been a video game star. And quite recently, he's even become a movie star (I actually now consider the first Sonic movie to be the best video game movie ever), making Sonic more popular than ever these days.   

So, I'd like to take a trip down Green Hill Zone lane, and think back to all the Sonic shows that have aired, including the most recent cartoon, Sonic Prime. But, I won't take too much of your time, because, you know. Gotta go fast. So, here are all of the Sonic cartoons, ranked.  

6. Sonic Underground (1999) 

If any Sonic cartoon feels like fanfiction, it's this one. Sonic Underground's story is like a fever dream. In this one, Sonic is a prince who comes from a royal bloodline. He also has a brother and a sister, named Manic and Sonia, respectively. And, get this, all of them are voiced by Steve Urkel himself, Jaleel White. They were all separated at birth due to a prophecy involving Dr. Robotnik, and they have come together to stop him. A great deal of the plot concerns medallions that turn into instrument weapons, and it's just as bonkers as it sounds.    

Unfortunately, it's not bonkers in a fun way. Do you want to hear Sonic sing? No? Then this isn't the show for you. Sonic Underground feels and somehow looks the cheapest out of all of the Sonic cartoons, even though it came out in 1999. I've never met a single person who has liked this show, and it sits beneath every other Sonic cartoon. Sonic Underground, indeed.  

5. The Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog (1993) 

The OG Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon, this show left much to be desired, even back then. Jaleel White voiced the titular Hedgehog (this was his first gig as Sonic), while Christopher Welch voiced his buddy, Tails. The show basically featured a number of adventures, hence the title, where Robotnik would come up with some scatterbrained plot, and Sonic would trounce him in every episode. Wash, rinse, and repeat. At the end, Sonic would have a segment titled Sonic Sez (I'm sorry, "Says") where he would offer some kind of PSA. These were often the best part of the entire episode!  

Which is kind of the reason this show is so low on the list. The first Sonic show was the only Sega-related cartoon in town at the time, putting it in direct competition with some of the Nintendo cartoons of the era. But, there was nothing really impressive or interesting about The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog other than the fact that it had Sonic and Tails in it. The stories were bland, the voice acting was pretty cringe, and the plots were predictable and kind of lame. So, it was slightly better than Sonic Underground, but not by much.   

4. Sonic X (2003-2005) 

The fourth Sonic cartoon, Sonic X was actually an import from Japan, as it was an anime. The story concerned Sonic getting teleported to Earth after a scuffle with Dr. Eggman, and he meets a boy named Chris Thorndyke who helps him along the way. Most of the stories involve the chaos emeralds, and pretty much all of the major Sonic characters, including Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, make appearances, but some pretty obscure ones are also here, like Cream the Rabbit, Rouge the Bat, and Espio the Chameleon. It's…good. 

For some, Sonic X is their favorite Sonic cartoon, and I get it. It's definitely heavy on the fan-service, and it's action-packed. It's also probably the best-looking Sonic cartoon with its anime style. But, I really think it all depends on when you grew up with Sonic. 

If you grew up with him in the early '90s, then this version may be a bit too frenetic for you, and the fan-service doesn't hit nearly as hard. It also contains a few too many human characters. But, if you grew up with Sonic Adventure as your first Sonic game, then I get why you would love this one so much. I mean, the first shot is of Big the Cat. So, it already has that going for it, right?  

3. Sonic Prime (2022)

As the latest (and only second computer animated) Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon, Sonic Prime has a lot to live up to, especially since we’re now in an era where we have not one, but TWO successful Sonic the Hedgehog movies. And, for the most part, I think Sonic Prime succeeds as a Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon for the current generation. 

By that, I mean it’s as frenetic, fast-paced, and all-over-the-place as this current cell phone generation is accustomed to. This time around, Sonic is now traveling through different dimensions called Shatterspaces, where he meets up with alternate versions of Sonic mainstays like Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and even deep cut Sonic characters like Big the Cat, (Yes!), Shadow the Hedgehog, and Rouge the Bat. We even have multiple versions of Dr. Eggman. 

The animation is pretty good, and the Resistance narrative tucked away in this story is reminiscent of some previous Sonic cartoons, but the way the season kind of ends  – there are presently eight episodes, and according to Deadline a total of 24 episodes have been ordered, so we might get two more seasons, or just a continuation of this one with 16 more episodes – and the way the humor doesn’t always hit the right notes puts it at number 3 on this list.

2. Sonic Boom (2014-2017) 

Okay, so your mileage may vary with Sonic Boom if you don't like your Sonic funny. But I do, which is why this lands so high on the list. Remember how I mentioned that Sonic has seen some rough patches when it comes to his games? Well, the actual Sonic Boom video game is a testament to that statement. But, the Sonic Boom tie-in cartoon was the best thing to come out of that miserable situation.  

Every episode is its own separate storyline, sans a few, and it all plays out more like a sitcom than anything else. The characters are great, including Tails, voiced by the amazing Colleen O'Shaughnessy, but especially Dr. Eggman, voiced by Mike Pollock. He's the funniest character on the show! Again, if you want something with more action, then Sonic X is your show. But, I liken Sonic Boom to the 2012 Ninja Turtles series, which I think is one of the best Ninja Turtles animated TV shows ever. It's the characters, silly! They're all so good on Sonic Boom!    

1. Sonic The Hedgehog (1993-1994)

It's bizarre to think that Sonic the Hedgehog came out the same year as the vastly inferior The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, but it did, and it's wonderful. Instead of being all cheery like TAOSTH, this version features a hellscape where Doctor Robotnik is probably the most sinister he's ever been (Jim Carrey being a complete weirdo, he's not). Sonic, again voiced by Jaleel White, is joined with other freedom fighters who have to liberate the other animals, whom Robotnik wishes to enslave and rule over with an iron fist.  

Sonic the Hedgehog is the best Sonic cartoon because the show told engaging stories, and each episode felt like an event. The freedom fighters, including Tails, Princess Sally, Rotor the Walrus, Antoine Depardieu, Bunnie Rabbot (who's an actual cyborg!), and Dulcy the Dragon are all fantastic characters with distinct personalities. And again, Doctor Robotnik is actually menacing in this series, giving off serious Dr. Claw vibes from Inspector Gadget fame. No question, Sonic the Hedgehog is the best Sonic cartoon, and it's not even close. 

From 1991 to now, Sonic the Hedgehog doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, if anything, he seems to be going fast (He’s gotta go fast!) right into the hearts and minds of millions of new Sonic fans around the world with Sonic Prime. But, what are your thoughts? Do you think Sonic Prime should have been higher on this list? For more news on all things Sonic, make sure to spin dash here often. 

Before it even set foot into theaters, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was a film that made history in a very unique way. The sequel to 2020’s surprise box office hit became only the third sequel that actor Jim Carrey has participated in, specifically when it comes to franchises he helped originate. Clearly there was something special about Paramount’s adaptation of the bestselling Sega video game, and for Carrey, his return to the world of Sonic was all about joy and "innocence."

That’s not being flowery with language either, as I got to speak with Jim Carrey during the press day for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which will hit the 2022 movie release schedule this weekend. As one of the many kids who grew up hoping that someday there’d be The Mask 2, to have the chance to ask why this sequel was so special was too good to pass up. In fact, Carrey told CinemaBlend that in his mind, Sonic 2 represented the following opportunity: 

In the past, Jim Carrey has gone on record about sequels, saying that sequels were “a function of commerce, for the most part.” Out of his entire filmography of memorable roles, Jim Carrey has only previously returned to two of those iconic characters he made famous. 1995’s Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and 2014’s Dumb and Dumber To hold those historic places on the Canadian-American actor’s resume, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 making for the third sequel he's agreed to.

That makes Jim Carrey’s reteaming with director Jeff Fowler even more impressive, as the gap between those other sequels spanned 19 years; as opposed to the two-year gap in the Sonic franchise. Another interesting coincidence comes from the fact that Carrey praised the “innocence” of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Representing the polar opposite of that very virtue, our latest encounter with Dr. Ivo Robotnik sees Sonic’s bitter nemesis even saltier this time around. 

Banished to the mushroom planet in the ending to 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog, this mad scientist has been talking to a stone replica of his associate Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) and trying to make the most drinkable mushroom drink possible. Don’t worry if your memory is a bit fuzzy on the previous installment, as Paramount+ subscribers can refresh themselves by streaming Sonic the Hedgehog on that platform.

Playing the embodiment of comedic evil further helped Sonic the Hedgehog 2 separate itself from the standard sequel. In Jim Carrey’s viewpoint, playing a baddie is just as important as having a hero as cool as Ben Schwartz’s Sonic in the mix. Here’s how Carrey sees Dr. Robotnik's role in Sonic 2, and why he feels it only enhances the film’s innocence: 

The mindful nature of Jim Carrey’s current era career was ever present when getting to speak with him. Without any spoilers, it’s pretty safe to assume that the currently in development Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will have a spot for Dr. Robotnik to return. Unfortunately, Carrey’s announcement of his potential retirement leaves that prospect in question, which means that the bubble gum will have to be even sweeter if we want to see more of his villainy. 

Should Jim Carrey's Robotnik not be present for another round of adventure and mischief, the actor’s imprint on the Sonic movie franchise will always be a memorable experience that gives fans their fill of his classic comedic spark. If there is a need to recast the role, let's simply hope the franchise goes in another direction with its villians. The Sonic world has plenty to choose from, after all. 

Let’s not think too far into the future, as we have Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to enjoy in the present. The film opens in theaters this weekend, and is already playing in several territories internationally, so it won’t be too long before you can dash to your local multiplex and enjoy some of that cinematic bubble gum. 

Sonic the Hedgehog finally brought the furry, blue speedster to life, and the result was a success. Because of this, many fans are already clamoring for a sequel that would expand on the classic video game character and his world. This would also include introducing some of his old friends from the Green Hill Zone. While a sequel has yet to be officially announced, it would appear the film’s director has some ideas.

Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler is not only hoping to tell more stories about the titular hedgehog, but he’s also aiming to incorporate more classic characters. With so many potential players on the roster, he would love to use them to expand the Sonic franchise:

Jeff Fowler was incredibly enthusiastic when speaking to USA Today about the possibility of introducing more familiar faces on the big screen. He went on to explain that he and his team got plenty of questions regarding cameos from the likes of Tails and Knuckles. Luckily, the former ended up making a cameo in the movie, as Fowler knew he couldn’t end things without giving fans a tease of the potential future.

In Sonic the Hedgehog, Jeff Fowler and company probably felt the most pressure to get Sonic and Dr. Robotnik right. Sonic’s initial look did stir up some controversy among fans, but his redesign quickly became a hit. There were also positive feelings about Robotnik, whose characterization was propelled by Jim Carrey’s performance.

Longtime SEGA devotees no doubt know that Sonic has a pretty extensive supporting cast. Most casual gamers at least familiar with Tails and Knuckles, but mainly die-hard fans know about Amy Rose, Blaze the Cat and Shadow the Hedgehog. There are also alternate versions of Sonic to consider, mainly Super Sonic – who the writers are well aware of.

If Jeff Fowler proved anything with Sonic the Hedgehog, it’s that he has a firm love and understanding of the character. He, along with voice actor Ben Schwartz, were able to capture the impatient, humorous and heroic aspects of the character. Given this, one can imagine that Fowler knows exactly how he would like to handle any other characters in a future installment.

Of course, this is all depends on whether or not Paramount Pictures decides to move forward with another Sonic movie. But the mostly positive reception to the film bodes well for its chances, meaning that we could be seeing more of Sonic’s friends in the near future.

Sonic the Hedgehog is now available on Digital HD, and will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on May 19.

The latest footage from Sonic Forces has hit the internet, showing off the titular hedgehog in all of his 2D platforming glory. And you know what? The gameplay continues to impress us.

Sonic Forces is what we would call a risky project, but the latest videos from Sega sure make it seem like one they've taken on with great care. Most of the recent Sonic games have been rather poorly received and, yeah, that might be putting it kinda lightly. Whether the Sega mascot is cruising around in the second or third dimension, many hold that the Dreamcast Sonic Adventure games from over a decade ago were the last truly classic entries to the long-running series.

The thing about Sonic Forces is that it's looking to blend both 2D and 3D gameplay. Rather than focusing on just one of those options and trying to nail the formula, the developers have instead decided to tackle both at once.

We were skeptical at first but, now that we've seen both versions of gameplay in action, we're slowly but surely starting to let our guard down. The 3D footage released last month looked like it took the best parts of Sonic Adventure and plugged them into a modern, highly detailed world. Now we've got the above 2D gameplay to gawk at and, again, it looks like things are coming along quite nicely.

The footage went live this morning on the Sega Europe Youtube page. Other than mentioning the game's name, Sonic Forces, the title is pretty straightforward: Classic Sonic -- Green Hill Zone. And the footage certainly lives up to that name, featuring that "classic" Sonic gameplay with a slick new coat of paint and a few interesting twists.

Like all of the best 2D sonic levels, the one on display here is clearly built for both types of fans; those who like to take their time and explore and those who prefer to rocket through the level as quickly as possible. The blue blur shoots past all sorts of platforming zones and collectibles while speeding along, so we imagine these types of levels were built with multiple trips through in mind.

It wasn't until about halfway through that I realized why I found this footage to be particularly encouraging: the camera is pulled back a bit further than in most 2D Sonic games. While memory will still serve you very well on those speedy runs, a wider point of view means that reflexes and planning will also come into play more than in classic Sonic games.

So, readers, what do you think? Let us know your take on the new gameplay footage for Sonic Forces in the comments below.

Sonic sure is staying busy these days, what with two brand new games speeding through development. Yes, that's right, I said "two." On top of the upcoming, classic-themed Sonic Mania, Sega earlier today revealed a more modern take on the blue bolt's adventures, Sonic Forces. What's crazy is that both games look rad as hell.

Before we dive too deep into conversation and speculation, let's just get straight to the footage the Sonic team revealed today, showing off Sonic Forces in action.

The trailer is only 40 seconds long, but, in that time, it does exactly what it needs to do in order to get us excited for yet another Sonic game. Being a huge fan of the Sonic Adventures games on the Dreamcast, Sonic Forces looks like a proper follow-up to those 3D romps, only without weird hedgehog/human relationships or, well, any number of things that have ruined other Sonic games in the past decade or so.

That's not to say there haven't been good Sonic games in all of that time, just that we feel like we've been burned more often than not. That's why we're so surprised to see that Sega has two new Sonic games heading our way, both of which look like a return to form for the series.

But, while fans with a case of nostalgia have Sonic Mania to look forward to, those who prefer a more next-gen take on going fast and grabbing gold rings will likely enjoy what Sonic Forces has to offer so far.

We don't want to get too hyperbolic here, but Sonic Forces looks fantastic in this reveal trailer. While the titular hedgehog dashes down the street, occasionally launching forward to destroy enemies and swinging from left to right to pick up rings, the city is being torn apart around him. Explosions are going off, rocks are flying into buildings and massive robots are tearing the place apart in the distance. There's so much going on that I had to watch it several times over just to soak in all of the details. Again, we've been disappointed by Sonic games that looked rad in the past, but I'm cautiously optimistic about this one.

All we know at this point is that it'll be coming to four platforms during the 2017 holiday season, including the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. And you know what? It's great finally getting to include the Switch in those platform lineups.

Since this latest Sonic game is being teased here in March, we wouldn't be surprised to see it get lots of attention during E3 2017. Here's hoping it's worth the wait.

Sonic Boom wasn't the most well received Sonic game in the history of the franchise. It's been pelted left and right for its poor gameplay and throwaway story. Well, Sega and Sonic Team want to mix things up with Fire and Ice, giving gamers something different to latch onto compared to previous games.

Gamespot is reporting that Sega is taking a different approach to the way the gameplay in Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice will play out. For one, they want to make the gameplay balanced based around fun, exciting challenges that mix up the ice and fire mechanics. The article describes situations where Sonic will need to use the ice power to freeze liquids or create platforms to access new areas. They also describe using the fire to melt ice, to create new passageways and to solve some puzzles.

Knuckles, Amy, Sticks and Tails will also be playable and there will be segments in some stages designed specifically to be accessed by certain characters, similar to the older Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles games back on the Genesis.

Nothing they describe seems to say that the game will be better than the last outing for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Sonic Boom looked promising on paper but the execution was awful, very much like Sonic: Lost World, which should have been a much better game than what it turned out to be. The title was basically Sonic's take on the Super Mario Galaxy formula, but Sega managed to bungle the whole thing by making the platforming convoluted and the stages poorly designed, which ended up breaking the flow of the pace and speed of the game.

In Sonic Boom there was the issue of glitches inhibiting players from progressing through the game effectively, and there was also the issue of uninspired level designs that left gamers feeling as if they were playing a game simply made to service the brand name of Sonic, as opposed to playing a game that was designed to further the legacy of Sonic The Hedgehog.

The poorly made games in the Sonic franchise over the past decade -- with the exceptions of Sonic Generations and Sonic Colors -- have left gamers wondering if the blue hedgehog can ever properly recover. A lot of gamers are also wondering why Sega can't seem to make a game as humorous and as captivating as the Sonic Twitter account.

In some ways, Sega will attempt to bring the humor and characterization from the Sonic Boom television show to the upcoming Fire and Ice outing by having the cartoon's voice actors provide the voices for the game characters as well. Whether or not they phone in their performances is a whole other story, but at least Sega is putting some effort into the continuity of the game and the cartoon's crossover appeal.

The Gamespot article also notes that there will be an endless runner mode featured in this upcoming Sonic Boom game, similar to the likes of Sonic Dash. They don't go in depth about the endless running feature but it just might be the saving grace of the game if the rest of it doesn't turn out to be so hot.

Sonic Boom: Ice and Fire is due for release at the end of September for the Nintendo 3DS.

Video game adaptations have had a difficult time on the big screen. When the highlight of the genre is the Resident Evil franchise you don’t exactly have a lot to hang your hat on. That hasn’t stopped numerous game studios from licensing their properties to try and become that first breakout hit. Now Sega has announced that their most famous creation will be getting his own feature film. Sonic the Hedgehog is coming to the big screen.

1991 alongside their Genesis game console Sega introduced Sonic the Hedgehog as their fast talking, and even faster moving, mascot to compete with Mario and Nintendo. While initially a hit with gamers, the character has had trouble finding his footing since games transitioned to the third dimension. Games have continued to be developed, though many have fallen flat in recent years as Sega implemented numerous new mechanics that players don't want. Regardless, 2016 is Sonic’s 25th Anniversary, and Gamespot is reporting that part of the celebration will include beginning development on a combination animation/live action feature film in conjunction with Sony Pictures. The movie is being planned for a 2018 release.

The last time that a major video game mascot got his own movie it did not go well. The Super Mario Bros. movie is generally regarded as one of the lowest points in game to movie adaptation. That doesn’t mean that Sonic is automatically going to be subjected to the same fate, but the odds are stacked against them.

The major thing that’s slightly concerning about this plan is the idea that the film will combine both live action and animation. Hopefully, when they say "live action," they mean some sort of motion capture type technology, like something out of Avatar, and not that Sonic will be interacting with actual people. Ignoring entirely the dive into the uncanny valley that such a thing would entail, they tried that in 2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog game where the hedgehog has a relationship with a human woman. The results were...awkward.

While Sonic has had a difficult time of late the character still remains ridiculously popular among a core group of fans, so there are many who will be thrilled to know that the blue bomber will be coming to the big screen one day. We’ll remain cautiously optimistic. Unless it turns out there are werehogs involved. If that happens we’re out.

Arcane Kids is a small group of fringe developers who make interesting, quirky and disturbing games. Their latest creation is called Sonic Dreams Collection. It's a compilation that's more about short interactive experiences rather than being full fledged games.

Kotaku did an overview of each of the games within the collection. There are four mini-games of sorts, the first is called Make My Sonic, which lets users create their own custom Sonic character and name them. The second one is Eggman Origin; this title requires a lot of hoop-jumping to get it to work and some network configuring. The third one is Sonic Movie Maker, which is fairly self explanatory. The fourth one is My Roommate Sonic, which is supposed to be a VR experience.

YouTuber Optimism Vaccine did a playthrough of the collection and it's bizarre to say the least. Check it out below.

According to Arcane Kids, these are asserted to be long lost "prototypes" from Sega that ended up being canned. Each game was prototyped as a potential new title for the Sega Dreamcast, dating as far back as 1996.

Supposedly Sega saw the horrific potential of these concepts and canned each one. It's easy to see why the Make My Sonic wouldn't be anything more than a novelty, but it could have been a cool addition in a game like Sonic Adventure, having a custom Sonic to play around with in the free roam mode.

The rest just act like out-of-the-blue concepts, especially My Roommate Sonic. There's no viable application for it and I tend to doubt Sega was really heavy into exploring VR... then again, they had all sorts of crazy prototypes that never saw the light of day, from the Sega Mars to the Sega Neptune and a bunch of other projects in between.

The most disturbing of the Sonic Dreams Collection is easily the Sonic Movie Maker. It's a seedy, creepy experience about filming the Sonic characters in various degrees of odd situations. Things start off with Sonic at a beat-up looking house and then it moves to a dark, prom night event where some characters are making out on the floor. Things escalate from there to an orgy in a hotel room where the characters ragdoll around on the bed.

A SAW-esque situation transpires from then on with Sonic on an operating table who is force-fed and has his stomach deforming and growing larger. This is offset with Sonic having bowling balls dropped on his stomach in an operating room where he gives “birth” to various objects and Tails. Another disturbing scene involves crawling around in Sonic's insides before landing in a crib. Things eventually finish off with the characters burning on a roof.

Yes, if that sounds like something you would find in the dank part of YouTube with SFM short-films, then you're thinking on the right track. This is the sort of stuff that gets shoved to the very back of the Steam Workshop for Garry's Mod or Team Fortress 2.

There are a lot of comments going around saying that it's likely that Sega will have Arcane Kids pull the game from the net, but given how Sega has been running things lately I have no idea what they'll do. It's already been more than a day and the Sonic Dreams Collection is still available for PC and Mac.

Some are saying this is probably the best kind of revitalization for Sonic since Sonic Generations.

Gamers have been begging Sega for a return to the early, side-scrolling Sonic: The Hedgehog games, but one special effects guru is showing gamers how Sonic might look with a mix of 2D and 3D effects.

YouTuber PipocaVFX rolled out a minute-and-a-half long trailer, showcasing what the original Sonic: The Hedgehog would look like with a mix of 3D stages and sprite characters overlaying 3D actors. Check it out below.

PipocaVFX is the brainchild of Spanish special effects artist Flipe B. Costa. He runs a YouTube channel and funds his creative work through Patreon.

Here's how Costa describes the project on his Patreon page:

The video's rehabilitation of Sonic: The Hedgehog is definitely entertaining. It's a 3D remake of Green Hill Zone from the first game. However, the video depicts Sonic as a 2D sprite moving on a 2D plane, but the world is built in three dimensions.

Sonic is still able to move fast, bouncing off the heads of enemies and overcoming obstacles with simple directional jumps. All of the complexity and wonky controls attached to the 3D Sonic titles (like Sonic Heroes, Sonic Boom and Sonic 2006) are done away with for something that hearkens back to the old days.

Unfortunately, the Sonic concept above is just that... a concept.

A couple of people in the comment section pointed out that Sonic's physics aren't entirely accurate to the old 16-bit games, but that's because 3D games have different physics than 2D games. It's impressive that Costa was able to replicate the original Genesis title in the way that he did, as all it does is make fans of the brand wish Sega would finally make a good Sonic title again. The last noteworthy Sonic game was Sonic Generations from back in 2011. Since then Sega has been on a downward spiral with the blue hedgehog. The latest game, Sonic Boom, caused Sega to scale back on its console software offerings.

If Costa could get a few people to help with the level design and he managed to iron out the physics for playability purposes in something like Unity 5, maybe Sega could be convinced to let the community keep making Sonic titles that actually appeal to the fans. At the moment, Sega seems intent on just trying to cash in on the blue animal in any way that they can, including with small mobile outings like Sonic Runners.

It would be nice, however, to see a full-fledged Sonic: The Hedgehog game made from start to finish in the way that Costa envisioned it in his concept above.

If gamers started embracing a bit of fear over the future of the Sonic franchise due to Sega's move away from console-based titles and their focus on free-to-play mobile games and online PC games. Well, the lead designer from Sonic Team has stepped forward to calm fears and assuage the panic that some Sonic fans may have taken up after Sega's recent announcement.

Tzzsznews is reporting that in a recent interview with 4Gamer head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka commented about the state of Sonic's future and whether or not we would ever see the blue hedgehog on home consoles again. According to Iizuka...

That's a great way to approach the situation.

Sonic Runners is Sega's latest effort to monetize the Sonic franchise after a abysmal sales from Sonic Boom on both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The game helped contribute to a very poor third quarter for Sega. They ended up announcing that they were shifting their studio out of San Francisco and force-retiring 300 of their employees.

A lot of fans saw it as Sega completely abandoning the hardcore market. They did mention that they would be focusing more-so on mobile titles and online PC titles. This kind of left a bit of a question mark for franchises like Football Manager, which have historically been quite popular with a certain demographic, as well as the Total War franchise from Creative Assembly. The series received a recent release called Total War: Attila. I haven't been keeping track of what people have been saying about the game but there haven't been any big campaigns that I've come across recently about the game failing to live up to its promised potential.

Sega also had quite a few other missteps with other games like Aliens: Colonial Marines not only tarnishing the publisher's name but also working a real number on the reputation of Gearbox Software.

Sega was able to recover some of their rep with Alien: Isolation, a sort of midquel between the first Alien movie and James Cameron's Aliens. The game garnered some pretty big positive feedback from gamers and critics alike. The sales of the game were pretty decent, too. However, Alien: Isolation couldn't subsidize the piss-poor sales of Sonic Boom, which was laden with bugs, glitches and poorly constructed gameplay mechanics. The sales of the game fell so far below expectations that the whole thing just had to be chucked up as a massive loss.

Despite Sonic Runners being designed for mobile titles, I actually have to admit that the game looks like a really fun title. It appears to hearken back to the day when Sonic games were all about having fun and moving fast.

Hopefully Iizuka holds to his word and we get to see more Sonic titles for the home consoles some time in the future. And hopefully the games will focus on more of the fun and immersion that the team managed to capture in titles like Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations.

If you thought that the current crop of Sonic games were a real chore to play through, you haven't played Sonic on Project Spark. The community toolset was used to recreate the iconic blue hedgehog in a 3D platformer that will either have you clapping or tearing out your hair.

Hardcore Gamer spotted a new video that's been circulating around over on the Xbox game clips page for user Nightmare22m.

The video features a playthrough of a level for a 3D Sonic game called Sonic Unleashed v0.5. Obviously the 0.5 indicates that it's a work-in-progress and the author has a lot of fixing, tweaking, editing and bug-testing to do.

If you have five minutes to spare and a penchant for masochistic platforming, you'll most certainly love what happens in this worthwhile video.

So yeah... what did you think of the bug-eyed Sonic? How about his lanky track-and-field body? A bit of a departure from his previous incarnations, eh?

I think one of the more interesting things about it is that if Sonic didn't look so... deformed... the rest of the level actually could pass for something out of a Sonic game. It's a nice testament to the creative possibilities housed within Project Spark. There were even previous attempts to recreate Mario and even Dragon Ball Z.

This Sonic Unleashed was very ambitious even though most would see it for the most obvious of flaws, including falling through the floor or not being able to get out of the war in that one particular segment.

I'm not really sure where the whole Super Sonic thing came from near the end, but it at least shows that the creators have some interesting mechanical ideas to explore, if they choose to move forward with the project.

I think right now Project Spark still kind of lacks the cohesive bonding with the projects and games to make it seem worthwhile to casual audiences. It's not quite as “broadly appealing” as LittleBigPlanet, but it does offer up some opportunities and tools to expand beyond what's possible in Sony's exclusive platforming series.

Nevertheless, we've seen some fairly unique titles crop up out of the deep recesses of the creative minds utilizing Project Spark, giving the general public some interesting little games that range from Tetris and Marble Madness, to Fable-esque RPGs and racing games.

While this Sonic Unleashed still has a long ways to go before it draws gamers away from Sega's own Sonic titles (which aren't very far off from this user-made gem when it comes to glitches and shoddy camera work), it sets a nice groundswell for potential projects to follow in its footsteps or advance on the formulas introduced in the video above. I guess we'll just have to see what else the Project Spark community comes up with next.

It’s a relatively decent week on the Nintendo virtual storefront, primarily for those who own a Wii U as a couple of big downloadable titles finally make their way to the eShop and Virtual Console.

While Nintendo’s downloadable offerings typically pale in comparison to other platforms, every now and again they manage to pull off a solid week of new games. Sorry if that sounds a little bitter, but when you think about the weekly dose of virtual content arriving on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, and then think about the games we could be playing on the 3DS or Wii U, it gets a little frustrating.

First up this week is Summer Carnival ’92 RECCA, which will be made available on the Virtual Console for 3DS. This odd little number was actually developed for a unique gaming competition held back in the early 90’s. A classic style, tough-as-nails top-down shooter, this will actually be Summer Carnival ’92 RECCA’s first appearance in the United States. You’ll fight wave after wave of baddies before taking on each level’s boss, giving lovers of bullet hell and shooting something to sink their teeth into.

The 3DS eShop will have a decent selection of offerings this week, too, beginning with Sonic Generations. You’ll play as old school Sonic and modern Sonic in this love letter to series fans full of worlds to explore, rings to collect and robotic baddies to destroy.

Darts Up 3D will also be available on the 3DS eShop this week, alongside Boulder Dash-XL 3D and DSiWare title, Jewel Adventures.

Kicking things off are a pair of eShop/Virtual Console ditties known as Spot the Differences: Party! and the classic RPG, Breath of Fire II. Nintendo didn’t give BoFII much play in their weekly announcement for new releases which, honestly, only furthers my bewilderment concerning the publisher. Not only do they bring out Virtual Console games at a pace three degrees slower than the average snail, but when they do get a big game on the virtual distribution service, they barely spare three words to mention it. If you don’t have a bang-up roster of hot new AAA games to your consoles, Nintendo, maybe beef up your virtual catalog with the literally hundreds of older games your customers are willing to pay a few bucks to experience anew or for the first time.

Finally, a pair of big virtual releases are finally making their way to the Wii U eShop, including Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara and Gina Sisters: Twisted Dreams. Both of these games have already launched on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, but that doesn’t make their arrival on the Wii U any less exciting.

Giana Sisters is the beautiful re-launch of a classic platforming series featuring one girl with two very different sides to her personality. Players can swap the game world (and thus Giana herself) between dream and nightmare versions of each world, granting unique abilities and different obstacles to overcome.

D&D, on the other hand, is the console port of arcade brawlers Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara. This new version includes HD visuals, four-player online coop, customizable house rules and leaderboards.

You may be surprised to learn that the original Sonic the Hedgehog is not, in fact, available on every platform in existence just yet. But the game is certainly moving one step closer to reaching that goal as Sega today announced the release of its classic platformer for the Android market.

Originally released on the Sega Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog starred a blue hedgehog named (stick with me here) Sonic. The lil guy quickly became the publisher's mega mascot, spin-dashing his way into the hearts of millions with core games and spinoffs invading pretty much every gaming device known to man...Except maybe the R-Zone.

For your $2.99, the Android version of the game is optimized with widescreen support and a new update that allows players to unlock Tails and Knuckles as playable characters. Sonic purists may be having a mental meltdown right about now, but folks who just like to have as many playable characters in their games as humanly possible will likely enjoy the additional company. In case you're already playing Sonic on iOS and feeling left out, however, you'll be happy to know that the Tails and Knuckles characters will be added to your version of the game as a free update.

Being a modern mobile game, you can also expect the usual roster of upgrades, including a remastered soundtrack, leaderboards, achievements and an all-new Time Attack mode.

If you're looking to take Sonic for a spin on yet another platform and happen to have an Android phone in your pocket, then you can grab the game now for three bucks on the Google Play Store.

Sega's prime-time racing game for the home consoles and PC has just gone portable. The company announced today that the tri-vehicle racing game has officially launched for Nintendo's 3DS, bringing with it all the fun-filled antics and multiplayer mayhem that made the bigger versions so much fun.

John Cheng, President and COO, SEGA of America commented in the press release about the game's release on Nintendo's portable handheld, saying...

In addition to Panica Patrick and Wreck-It Ralph, Sega has also tossed in the bonus Metal Sonic character as a playable racer in the game, specifically just for Nintendo 3DS gamers. An extra bonus track from the game Outrun has also been included along with bonus time trials, challenges and stickers to add to your in-game drivers license.

You can grab a copy of the game from your local retailer while supplies last. I imagine the game may be made available digitally at some point, but there's no word on that just yet. For more information on the game feel free to pay a visit to the Official Website.

Sonic has confirmed that there are several brand new Sonic games is in the works to coincide with a launch of a new toy line in 2013. The Japanese publishing giant will be unleashing several new digital-only titles as well as a boxed retail game starring everyone's favorite blue hedgehog.

The news comes courtesy of an interview that Toys 'n' Playthings conducted with Sega's European head of brand licensing Sissel Henno [via Videogamer]. Henno stated that...

Videogamer speculates that the next big boxed version of Sonic won't be Sonic Generations 2, mainly because Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka hinted that the original Sonic Generations was a “one-off” to celebrate the years of service the big blue hedgehog has put into making gaming much better place for everyone.

Is it possible that maybe there could be a Sonic Colors 2? Perhaps Sega will release digital titles of Sonic games for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and then unleash a next-gen Sonic title for the Wii U, Xbox 720 or PS4? With rampant speculation that either Microsoft or Sony will launch their new console in 2013, it's not too far fetched to assume that Sega would want to be on the software forefront of next-gen adopters, enabling them to take some early third-party market share value right out of the gate.

Sega released a new trailer for the upcoming multiplayer racing title, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed, featuring the new hotness that is dubstep as well as a smorgasbord of awesome gameplay fetaures that come jam-packed in Sonic's latest racing title.

While a lot of Sonic's games in recent years haven't really been doing the blue hedgehog quite the right amount of justice that his legacy deserves, Sega has managed to make a few good hits with noteworthy games like Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations and of course, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. The sequel to the go-kart-esque racing title puts players into some wacky environments including outer-space racing, as well as introducing all sorts of crazy weapons, power-ups and multiplayer hijinks all set to the tune of some delicious dubstep.

You can check out some of the new features of Sega's new racing title with the trailer below.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed is set for release in mid-November for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSV and Nintendo 3DS. The multiplayer racing title will also arrive with a limited edition that includes an exclusive track, a new character and a vehicle transforming and mod pack.

You can learn more about Sumo Digital and Sega's Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed by paying a visit to the Official Website.

A new gameplay trailer has been released for Sega's upcoming multi-vehicle, transforming racing game featuring their mildly lovable blue mascot, Sonic. The new trailer is is filled to the brim with dubstep and actually does a fine job of showcasing the game's rich visual tapestry as well as the dynamic and fluid transitions going from land to sea to air.

I'm not a terribly big fan of dubstep unless it truly suits the mood. I think it's the sort of music that fits in better with products that are kind of visually trippy or have a a culturally edge to them, stuff like FreeJack or Borderlands. Attaching dubstep to Sonic still seems odd to me. Anyway, the trailer is quite snazzy and does a nice job of showcasing the visually stimulating race tracks. Now if you're keen on some multiplayer racing action to tide you over until Nintendo's always-reliable release of a Mario Kart game for the new home console, then it looks like Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed might not be a bad alternative.

The original Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing was a fairly decent game, and offered players a nice selection of tracks and vehicles to race in ranging from Sega's illustrious career of colorful characters and franchises.

With the sequel, the additional transformation option kind of hearkens back to the Diddy Kong Racing schtick from the N64 era. Sega's upcoming title is scheduled for release later this year on November 20th for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo 3DS. For more information be sure to pay a visit to the Official Sega Website.

Sega really is pulling out all the stops for the upcoming 20th anniversary game featuring the fast-as-lightning blue hedgehog, Sonic. On the road to the game’s release, Sega unleashed a brand new epic boss trailer featuring a few new faces as well as many of the classic bosses that helped shape Sonic’s legacy over the years.

The new trailer is composed of many quick snippets of different bosses and a few of their special moves, including Shadow, Eggman’s mech, Silver as well as the evil robot Sonic to name a few.

The game doesn’t just look like it’s shaping up to be a fun ride through some classic stages, it looks like it’ll provide all the challenge and thrills that made the original three games on the Sega Genesis timeless classics.

For those of you who don’t know, the game features two different modes of play with two different Sonics. The Classic Sonic will battle through each of his stages in 2D while the Modern Sonic will face all of his challenges in the third-person 3D view, giving gamers the best of both worlds.

You can look for Sonic Generations to land on the Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo 3DS and PC for Steamworks this November. Need more info? Feel free to drop by the Official Website.

With all the stages from previous Sonic games being re-envisioned for the current generation of gaming, gamers will be able to play old stages in new ways, including all the levels from the Sonic games that were on the Dreamcast.

The trailer features many of the fun stages from the various Dreamcast Sonic games, now playable as they were on the Dreamcast in 3D and the way they could have been done in 2D on the Sega Genesis. Check out the trailer below.

Sonic Generations is really looking better by the trailer. I’m also hoping the game sells well enough to give Sega the hint that maybe this is the direction future Sonic games should head in. With HD graphics, two different Sonics and enough fast-paced, lightning-quick stages to run through, Sonic Generations will be the platform game worth playing this holiday season.

You can learn more about the game by visiting the Official Website.

Have you ever wondered what some of those 2D stages in Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles would look like in full 3D? Well, Sega is turning that “wonder” into a reality in Sonic Generations, as a new trailer was released showing off many of the beloved, old-school side-scrolling levels in high-definition 3D environments.

The video is short and sweet and doesn’t bother wasting time with nonsensical matters but instead focuses entirely on the gameplay and giving gamers a reason to root for Sonic again. You can check out the new trailer below and then we can discuss the trailer a little bit more after that.

I don’t know about anyone else but I really am pumped for this game. I’m hoping this game sells well enough to give Sega the incentive to keep Sonic in this kind of direction…offering side-scrolling and 3D type environments in future Sonic games, in order to give gamers the best of both worlds.

If you’re as excited as I am for Sonic Generations you can look for the game to hit shelves for the Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and PS3 this November. For more information on the game feel free to visit the Official Website.

I didn’t know you could get milk from hedgehogs, but Sega seems to have proven that you can milk a hedgehog for millions. The latest Sonic game is called Sonic Colors and it features Sonic racing through theme-park inspired levels as he seeks to save a race from the clutches of the evil Dr. Eggman.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the premise of this game sound like an episode from the Saturday morning cartoon? Anyway, Sonic has to visit a floating theme park in order to save the colorful race called the Wisps, as it’s feared they’re being held captive against their will. Of course, speed-based adventuring ensues.

Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing, SEGA commented in the press release, saying…

So it’s Sonic in a Saturday morning cartoon themed game with power-ups equivalent to Super Mario Galaxy? Well, I don’t think you can go wrong with that combination.

You can look for Sonic Colors to land on the Wii and DS during the holiday season of 2010. For more info be sure to visit the Official Sega Website.

Those of you that have been clamoring for a new 2D Sonic title, just might be in luck. Sega of America’s brand manager, Ken Balough confirmed recently that the developer is currently working on a new blue hedgehog title operating under the name “Project Needlemouse.”

Balough stated that the game will indeed be a 2D platformer with complete HD graphics:

The project is slated for a 2010 release but there has been no official word for which platforms it will release on. I would assume that HD means no Nintendo Wii. Bummer. The teaser trailer is through the link.

Title: Sonic Unleashed

Players: 1

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2

Developer: Sonic Team

Publisher: Sega

Price: $59.99

Release Date: Nov. 8th, 2008

Website:www2.sega.com

Those of us who haven’t given up on Sonic still feel as if that poor, old, haggard blue hedgehog still has some life left in him to be redeemed. And trust me, there’s not much of Sonic that doesn’t need to be redeemed. So on the plus side Sega has decided to take a new turn on the Sonic franchise by bringing back some of the old elements that made the speedy blue meeny so popular back in the nineties. I didn’t think I would be saying this, but it’s good that Sega is finally bringing back some of the 2D side-scrolling elements that made Sonic fun in the first place. There’s also a new character transition for Sonic and a revamped behind-the-back camera for the 3D platforming. But that’s just part of what Sega is doing to unleash Sonic this fall.

Running on the new Hedgehog engine and featuring a new development team at the helm, Sonic Unleashed is a traditional action-adventure title with a good dose of platform hopping, wall-running and bad-guy bopping. Even with the new engine, physics-based gameplay still plays a role in the way Sonic interacts with environments and clashes with enemies. But the one of the biggest things to change in this iteration of Sonic is the inclusion of night stages that dramatically alter the gameplay by turning Sonic into a werehog (yes, it is a ridiculous sounding feature.) However, the addition of the werehog coheres to the story in a way that seems passable enough in the Sonic universe. The cool part about it is that Sonic has a series of combos that can be used with up to four buttons. And while werehog Sonic lacks the speed and quick maneuvers of the regular Sonic, he makes up for it with his ability to take on multiple opponents and use his stretchy arms to battle tough foes. I’m not sure how well this feature will go over with gamers, but it can’t be any more sappy than Shadow’s run-and-gun, motorcycle-riding antics.

Now as many Sonic fans know, one of the biggest complaints for many of Sonic’s recent games have been with the ill-responsive controls and the wonky 3D camera angles. So instead, things have been simplified to bring gamers back to the basics – the basics that made Sonic popular on the Genesis. This means that maps now have multiple routes with easy-to-navigate linearity. The view will also automatically switch between a behind-the-back camera angle and a classic 2D view depending on what part of the stage players will be running through. So gamers will be able to speedily traverse through the maps without the painstaking difficulty found in other 3D Sonic games.

While we’re on the subject of maps and travel, I must admit that the development team has done a wonderful job with the detail embedded within some of the stages from Sonic Unleashed. The team seems to have gone out on a ledge to make sure that people will no doubt remember the remarkable and exquisite locations featured in the game. But here at Blend Games, I’m just hoping that the entire gameplay experience will be worth remembering.

Teaser trailers are supposed titillate the fan’s senses. Get you revved up with the knowledge of your favorite blue hedgehog returning to consoles. Perhaps this time things will be different. But with the gameplay footage leak of Sonic Unleashed, the new teaser trailer is deflated. It is also helped quite a bit.

On it’s own the trailer goes from nostalgia to abysmal. Classic Sonic flipping a ring, whistling a jaunty old tune is a fantastic way to reintroduce the character. Then the grunting and zombie moans start up and we get a glimpse of Sonic the Werehog. It’s a disappointing end, and while we’re sure the convoluted story will explain why Sonic changes into a beast, it’ll still be ridiculous anime weirdness. Let’s hope he doesn’t find any human girls to copulate with. Sonic is a “Mature” rating away from tentacle porn at this point.

But the gameplay footage that’s been leaked gives me the glimmer of hope I’ll hold on to. Yes, I know that other recent Sonic games looked to have potential. And I was burned then, and I’m wary now. There’s that little boy way deep inside that just wants one more glorious adventure with Sonic. Is that too much to ask?

Now that Sega has let some images and video out on the next Sonic game that is not a BioWare RPG we can begin to assess whether its time to let the blue speedster go. For the past 10-15 years Sonic has made appearances in mediocre title after mediocre title. It’s been enough to make me question whether those old Sonic we actually any fun. Perhaps I am a victim of nostalgia, and I remember the games fondly when I should not.

But I’ve played those classic 2D platformers in recent times, and they are still fantastic. So it was with trepidation that I watched the video below. When would I see Sonic twirling laser blasters? Perhaps he’ll have a “cool” new super power like turning into a mauve version of himself that has the power to spit sunflower seeds at that nogoodnik Dr. Robotnik? What is actually there is a relief.

The video showcases gameplay footage, and there’s a large chunk that is shown from the 2D perspective. That is the way Sega needs to do a Sonic game. Bring back the classic sounds, music, bumpers and speed. Take us on a thrill ride through the levels in a 2D platformer with epic speed. Rather than force a 3D adventure on the masses, let the camera roam throughout the environment while I control Sonic as I remember.

Just one niggling question. What the hell is up with the picture to the right?

We've all read or heard stories about how the game market is changing. Many of those stories focus on the shift in the marketplace to more casual, short session games bringing our girlfriends and wives into the media room. Whether it's been Super Mario Galaxy or MySims, the DS and Wii have successfully brought couples together around the television to enjoy a hobby that both could take interest. How this will affect the game industry in the long run is still a mystery. The current flood of titles for both devices are lacking in substance and many of us fear that this shoveling of cookie-cutter game mechanics will wind up hurting the industry as they invest in casual titles that new gamers will grow tired of due to their limited depth. I have recently reevaluated the situation, taking example from my own home, and I now think this trend might be long lasting, and not as terrible as previously conceived.

My wife has never been a big gamer. Yeah, when she was younger she used to play Sonic the Hedgehog on her brother’s Sega Genesis, but like most of the women I've met, she didn't get sucked into the addictive nature an interactive world creates. Throughout our relationship, she has stood idly by as I conquered many villains, and she would lend a helping hand in solving puzzles I struggled with in Legend of Zelda or Shadow of the Colossus. Most of the time I felt that she was assisting in the quests to spend time with me rather than to see a game's finish. She sat in multiple lines with me in order to snag the newest console, even inviting her friends to wait it out with us. When the Nintendo DS launched, we actually waited it out. We didn't pick up the dual screened portable until the blue version was released. At this point, I bought one for her (It was really for me, but blue was her favorite color, so I got to swing it that way).

My wife fell in love with Polarium. I don't mean she kinda played around with it while laying in bed at night, I mean she would play so much I thought we'd be buying new stylus packs every month. Sure, we picked up other games for me, but when Polarium entered our home, the atmosphere in the place changed. Then came the mini-games. A full-length game is nice, but if it came packaged with a collection of mini-games, we clocked in numerous hours challenging each other to high scores. No longer was the DS a gift that both of us could use. It was hers. That is, until the DS Lite was released.

Now she has her own, glossy white game device. We would challenge each other into the wee hours of the morning, playing whatever game had multi-player support. We'd Pictochat each other from across the house, drawing hearts and little romantic scenarios and beaming them to the other. It was cute. The DS also made a few things easier in my life, such as picking out gifts. My wife doesn't wear jewelry, so I couldn't take the easy way out when holidays came around. Now it's much easier. Cooking Mama, Rub Rabbits, Puyo Puyo Pop... the list goes on and on.

Then it was time for the Wii to be released. Already, a new market had been created. The DS was expected to be clobbered by the PSP, yet managed to carve a name for itself and become a money generating machine. It was a pretty big shock to most of the industry, and most of us did not expect Nintendo to do it twice. Yet, here they were, doing what Nintendo does best, ignoring their customers and instead telling the consumer what they want. We said we wanted bigger, faster, stronger, and they told us we wanted smaller, cheaper, and playful.

So we waited in line for a Wii. Actually, we camped out to pick up one Wii, and then the next day went and got a pre-ordered Wii (which we sold to an online friend). Here we seem to be doing it all over again. Wii Sports, the pack-in with the console, had my wife hooked. Hooked, I tell you. We played so much tennis and bowling, my arm would need icing down before I could go to sleep. I've been playing video games for years, and here I have to tell this woman that has played little more than puzzle and mini-games over the last two years to stop, put the Wii Remote down, and let's go to sleep. Although most of her gaming activities circle around these types of games, I still play good old-fashioned games for gamers. So when Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles was released, it was a must buy for me. After all, it's a throwback to a time when arcade shooters were popular, and I wanted to reminisce.

As per usual, my wife was sitting in the room, prepared to watch me play through a new game. I offered to let her in on the action, and she accepted. Boy did she accept. We've played through every mission the game provides, and have played each on numerous times. This woman whom I've adored for years, is now forcing me to play a zombie killer each night before bed. We'll be driving down the road, and she'll tell me she was just thinking about shooting the streetlights so she can get a higher score for 'objects destroyed'. She's upgraded most of her weapons, but intentionally left a few standard, so as to make the game more difficult. Just like with Wii Sports, we can't go to sleep at night without playing a few zombie killing rounds in RE:UC. I'm starting to think it was a bad idea selling that extra Wii. I'm rarely getting any time to play the games I want.

Maybe the industry isn't going to suffer as bad as I thought. Maybe developers will be able to court these new gamers, but need to find the proper formula to bring them across that line dividing cheap entertainment from engrossing experiences. I still think many developers are hurting the potential for growth, and that companies like Capcom have a good reason to be upset with their performance on the Wii. Trying to get your game noticed has always been difficult, but battling for shelf space amongst titles that will sell just because they have colorful cartoons ups that challenge. After all, many of these casual gamers are stuck wondering if the only options for them are shallow games that mimic each other, or fully immersed games that are too frustrating for someone of their caliber to jump into. If my personal experience is any indication, it's completely possible to transfer the casual gamer from a short-term consumer, to a return customer with brand loyalty. "It might not happen, but it's totally possible."

Players: 1-4

Price:$49.99

Platform(s): Wii (PS2)

Developer: Sonic Team

Publisher: SEGA

ESRB: Everyone

Website: Zero Gravity

Rating:

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity causes a bit of a quandary as you consider whether it’s more ridiculous for a blue hedgehog to be wearing shoes or for him to be using a hoverboard. Aside from that bit of mind melting puzzle, there is little else to enjoy in the game. And even if there were you’d only have a couple hours of playtime before it was through. A ridiculous plot and boring racing combine to present the ultimate mediocre moment of the year so far.

You should never pay attention to story in a Sonic game. They’re mindless and intended only to drive you to play more. Unfortunately Zero Gravity is so remarkable that you can’t help but be enthralled by the train wreck. Taking a cue from the old cartoon show, Zero Gravity has a Cyber Punk vibe that is most unwelcome. Everything is post-apocalyptic and there are things going on that make little sense. The game opens with an I, Robot attack that even Will Smith couldn’t laugh off. A magical ring is found by Sonic, and then the race ensues. Or something. I honestly stopped paying attention to the cut scenes after the third or fourth race.

Since this is a racing game on the Wii you just know there are tilt controls. You’d be right, and they are imprecise at best. Actually, that’s being kind. The controls do not work right. You’ll be all over the road trying to navigate straightaways, and if you want to go faster you’ll have to tilt the Remote forward. This makes it awkward to press the buttons you’ll need to dash or perform the slingshot turn. You can – and should – use the D-pad to control your rider. But be forewarned that the tilt controls can’t be turned off, so you’ll still find yourself sliding all over the road.

To make sharp turns Zero Gravity offers an interesting mechanic, and is the main reason gravity is mentioned at all. Pressing a button has your character slow down Matrix style, but you can still freely rotate. Set your character along the new path and let go of the button to get a burst of speed. It was thrilling to do this the first time. But most corners, even the tight ones, don’t require you to use the mechanic. Not to mention it is just as imprecise as the other tilt controls. If you shoot yourself towards a wall, and you will, there’s no way to correct it on the fly. For a single level the zero gravity turn is indispensable, other than that it’s a novelty.

There just isn’t enough content or polish in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity to warrant your hard earned cash. At times the game feels speedy, like a Sonic game should. But the ludicrous power ups and alternate hover boards do little to extend the life of the game. You’ll be frustrated and bored before you ever catch up to one of the birds on the opposing team. Yes, I just said you are racing against birds. And no, I have no idea why birds have formed a hoverboard gang.

Over the years Mario has been shoveled out in random other games, he’s been put on toys, and even put in other unrelated titles like Metal Gear. Sonic, on the other hand, has remained relatively quiet. SEGA’s mascot has never gotten the marketing treatment of Nintendo’s plumber. All of that is changing this year with Mario and Sonic at the Olympics and the revelation of Sonic’s involvement with Brawl. SEGA has announced that the beloved, and cult, characters of its franchises will be appearing in their own version of Mario Tennis, aptly titled SEGA Superstars Tennis.

SEGA Superstars Tennis will contain over 15 SEGA characters including Sonic, AiAi (Super Monkey Ball), Ulala (Space Channel 5) and Amigo (Samba De Amigo). The game will have arcade style controls, with special abilities from each character being featured. We imagine that there will be some sort of online play as the game is coming to all major consoles, including the 360 and PS3. But those details will be forthcoming in the months leading up to the game’s release.

While there’s nothing new about an arcade sports title with gaming mascots, it’s nice to see some of those forgotten – or at least overlooked – SEGA characters getting their time to shine on the tennis court. SEGA Superstars Tennis is set to release in early 2008, and when we have more info on what you can expect that’ll be passed along. Because we think you’re swell.

We continue our coverage of the characters in Mario & Sonic at the Olympics with the ne’er do well Shadow and flatulence fan Wario. The two are juxtapositions of the main heroes in the respective worlds. SEGA has passed along some new screenshots featuring these two battling it out in various Olympic events. Also included for your enjoyment is a new gameplay video.

The latest video showcases the trampoline event, which I didn’t even realize was a real event in the Olympics. I used to jump on a trampoline for hours as a kid, and not once did I get a medal. I did other things on the trampoline later, and even though you’d expect some sort of reward I still had no shiny object to place around my neck. The video showcases how you’ll have to use the Wii Remote to pull off tricks while in the air, and then make that perfect landing. Or dismount…or whatever it is they call it.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympics is scheduled to release on November 6th for the Nintendo Wii, and in early 2008 for the DS.

SEGA has launched a new viral video for Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, and it’s…well, kind of odd. If you’ve watched any videos from YouTube users you have surely come across some weird cosplay bits. I still want the time back from watching the retarded Smash Bros Brawl fan video featuring a fat dude as Kirby. This new video for Mario & Sonic is in the same vein, except it’s good. Relatively speaking, at least. The video shows nothing about the game, but I’m all for new ways to advertise. At least SEGA actually is advertising, because Nintendo doesn’t seem to feel it’s necessary.

The video, which you can watch below, is a local news interview with a large headed Mario. During the interview Sonic shows up and causes some problems. The rivalry between the two mascots is getting heated as the competition prepares to launch in November. There isn’t much else to say, because I’m a bit speechless about the video. It’s not particularly funny, but I’m certainly not offended by the childlike humor (which was funnier the first time I saw it on Kids In The Hall). The game isn’t necessarily targeted at me anyways.

Watch the latest video for Mario & Sonic at the Olympics below.

Earlier this year it was announced that two of the biggest icons in gaming would be coming together for the first time to compete mano y hedgehog at the…Olympics. Since then it’s been difficult to muster up any significant appreciation for the game. Feelings on the first teaming of Mario and Sonic has left us on a bare simmer, at best. We now have the latest trailer for Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, and we’re still waiting for that rush to hit us. Ironically, the announcement of the two mascots being in a game together is more tantalizing than the game it resulted in.

Mario & Sonic is an officially licensed Olympics title, and features all the games you’d expect. You’ll sprint the 100m, leap in the high jump, and test your mettle in archery. All of this is nice, and final judgment will be made when we get to touch the game. But seriously, this is the first game for these two? It might be sour grapes that Smash Bros. isn’t our initial taste of the mustachioed hero and the blue speedster, but even so we can’t help but be slightly let down.

That’s not to say the game doesn’t look promising. The latest trailer below looks pretty nice. And no, not just for a Wii game. We happen to like the way many Wii titles look, mud tones do get old after awhile. We can only hope the game plays like a refined Wii Sports title. It could be fun to take on the role of Miles “Tails” Prower and battle it out with Yoshi in table tennis. Like it or not hardcore gamers, this title is going to sell by the bucket load.

Watch the TGS trailer below, and wonder if Sonic had to take valium in order to compete.

It is oddly exciting to think we’ll be playing a game that pits Mario Vs. Sonic in just a few short months. Of course, it’s not the game we were all hoping for. To that, I’m still holding out hope for Sonic’s appearance in Super Smash Bros.. While we wait for that news to break, there are some new screenshots of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for us to enjoy.

I know there are plenty of you reading this now that right this game off as another piece of crap for the Wii, but you might be a bit hasty in your prejudgment. It’s not what Mario, or Sonic, fans were envisioning when Miyamoto talked of Sonic’s possible joining of forces with Mario around this time last year. But damn it, this thing looks fun. The main concern is that the Sonic Team at Sega is working on the game, and lately they’ve been all miss with titles. Hopefully, Nintendo is heavily influencing development to protect their titular plumber. In any case, you can check out the latest screenshots for the game below.

For more information on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games go here.