In a press release sent to us by SEGA, the house of Sonic is fast preparing its offering for the E3 2005 event. Most interesting of note is that two BRAND NEW Sonic the Hedgehog games are set to be announced.
“SEGA is also fully supporting PC, handheld, and current-generation users with AAA titles like Spartan: Total Warrior (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube), Shadow The Hedgehog, Virtua Tennis: World Tour (PSP portable gaming system), and Phantasy Star Universe (PlayStation 2, PC). And on the first day of E3, SEGA will announce two new additions to the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise.“
Shadow the Hedgehog has already been mentioned on the SEGA Press Release list, so this opens up some doors. We already know that the Nintendo DS Sonic the Hedgehog game is to be revealed in a near final form, so this will no doubt be one of the two ‘new’ games announced.
If you’ve been keeping a close eye on SONIC NEWS, you would also know there are plenty of other candidates for being revealed to the public. Sonic Gems Collection was started as a rumour some time ago, claiming to be a compilation of “rare” Sonic games missed in Mega Collection, including Sonic the Fighters and SEGASonic Arcade. All the public have to go on this are sneak quotes from Sonic Team staff and a name patent taken out by SEGA.
Sonic R EXTREME has also been rumoured on the run-up to E3, when the title was exclusively reported to be included on GameCrazy release lists by SONIC NEWS. SEGA since refuted the rumours, but has since filed a patent on the name “Sonic Rush”. A PSP Sonic game has also been running the field, and Yuji Naka openly revealed to UK Nintendo Official Magazine that a brand new Gamecube Sonic game was in the works.
Here are the confirmed Sonic Team games, as handed to us by SEGA:
“Phantasy Star™ Universe (PlayStation 2, PC): This enormous game offers two complete RPG experiences – a single-player action-adventure spanning multiple planets, and a robust online multi-player component. In offline mode, this action-RPG offers more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, traditional cut scenes, and strong character development. In online mode, players are given the opportunity to travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of players, and build their unique avatars into powerful warriors.
Shadow The Hedgehog™ (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube): From his first appearance in Sonic Adventure 2™ to his most recent role in Sonic Heroes™, Shadow has emerged as one of the most popular characters in the Sonic The Hedgehog universe. And now, he is headlining his own game. Shadow The Hedgehog boldly combines the excitement of high-speed action-platformers with the intensity of third-person shooters. Hero or Villain? You decide.“
SEGA also mentioned XBOX 360 games “Full Auto” and “Condemned”, “Gunstar Super Heroes” for Game Boy Advance, “NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2005” for PC, “Shining Force Neo” for PlayStation2, “Spartan: Total Warrior” for all three major consoles, “Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006” for PC, and “Virtua Tennis: World Tour” for the PSP.
As ever, keep your goggles on SONIC NEWS for the latest and greatest E3 Sonic Team coverage.