Sonic Chronicles looks like a blast

by JC Fletcher { Feb 17th 2008 at 12:00PM }

We're not quite ready to start feasting on crow yet, but we're going to say that Sonic Chronicles looks a few orders of magnitude better than we imagined. Despite Bioware's obvious RPG competence, an RPG about Sonic and his awful friends sounded like sheer torture. IGN's interview with Bioware's Mark Darrah describes a Sonic adventure in a post-Eggman world, which is kind of interesting. Of course, Sonic's pals still manage to come along: Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Rouge the Bat, and even Big the Cat are confirmed as playable characters so far. We'll try not to think about that part as we gaze at the amazing backgrounds in the new screens.

In combat, players control four characters in a turn-based system with a few timing-based elements. In Darrah's words, the timing involves "on screen elements that keep the player engaged by having them click, drag and smash various icons." Kind of a touchscreen Super Mario RPG kind of thing, it seems.

Gallery: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

Tags: bioware, rpg, sega, sonic, sonic-chronicles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John B. @ Feb 17th 2008 12:18PM

I don't get why theres no love for this game. Bioware can do no wrong in my eyes, having been a big fan of KotOR (who wasn't?) and a couple of their other titles.

I've held the Sonic franchise very highly since I was a child (again, who hasn't), and all I see when I look at this game is a talented studio breathing life into a character which has starred in nothing but mediocre games for years now. I'm very excited for this game.

velocitystrike @ Feb 17th 2008 2:34PM

"and all I see when I look at this game is a talented studio breathing life into a character which has starred in nothing but mediocre games for years now"

Uhh, Brawl?

John B. @ Feb 17th 2008 4:21PM

You have a point, but I don't know...something about Brawl just leads me to believe it doesn't actually star Sonic...he isn't on the box art, he has to be unlocked, hes in the game with over 20 other characters...I'm beginning to think Brawl may not be the "Sonic Adventure 3" I was hoping for.

Drago Dracini @ Feb 17th 2008 12:59PM

I'm definatly looking forward to this, once I find a gameplay video I may even reserve it, just for the hell of it. Cause that's how I roll. ;p

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 17th 2008 8:37PM

oh my, that's so gangster!

Roto13 @ Feb 17th 2008 1:15PM

I don't see why a Sonic RPG by Bioware would be any worse of an idea than a Mario RPG by Squaresoft.

hvnlysoldr @ Feb 17th 2008 1:47PM

Back then people thought that was a bad idea too.

Roto13 @ Feb 17th 2008 2:01PM

And they couldn't have been more wrong. :P

Nigeria @ Feb 17th 2008 2:22PM

Are these the first screenshots released?

They give off a Sonic Rush vibe. Which is good. This game is now my most anticipated...I lost my thought for the sentence. What I'm saying is: I'm excited. Genuinely, which isn't that easy for a game to do these days.

I hope Sonic doesn't talk.

Mr Khan @ Feb 17th 2008 3:35PM

Probably not. They couldn't pack in audio for StarFox Command, so they probably won't be able to with this

ArmiMaan @ Feb 17th 2008 2:29PM

I was interested in it right up until I rad the bit about timing-based elements. Why do developers feel the need to shoe-horn timing/action/mini-game elements into turn-based games? Call me old-fashioned, but I like my turn-based games exclusively turn-based. When I want my reflexes tested, I'll pop in an action game, thank you very much.

Gerwurztraminer @ Feb 17th 2008 5:18PM

The Mario RPGs have turned out pretty good, despite the inclusion of timed hits. Although the final battle on the GBA Mario & Luigi game still leaves a sour taste in my mouth for how difficult it could be. Timed hits should be a bonus, not a necessity. I hope Bioware agrees.

Ben @ Feb 17th 2008 3:40PM

I think it looks like a good game and I love the graphical style of the world, I just can't stand the bloody Sonic characters. They're awful.

Mr Khan @ Feb 17th 2008 4:16PM

"Horrible Friends?"

I'll grant most of them, but Knuckles is better than Sonic himself. Knuckles should have been the protagonist from the start, and then Sonic would've been introduced later to sit in the shadow of his awesome.

Nigeria @ Feb 17th 2008 4:41PM

Knuckles is awesome.

I remember first switching on Sonic & Knuckles and seeing the title screen: Knuckles dreads(???) were awesome. Especially with that pseudo-shine they used on the characters surfaces.

They should really make a sequel to that game.

Sonic Chronicles looks like a blast

Gallery: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood