Trademark hunters at Sonic the Hedgehog fansite Sonic Stadium uncovered an interesting recent filing from Sega for a video game named Sonic Rush Adventure. While details are miniscule—there's nothing to go on save the game's title—I have to wonder what the game could be.

Is it simply a sequel to the Nintendo DS sidescrolling game Sega released in the fall of 2005? It could very well be. It was one of the best rated Sonic games of the past five years, performing just as well critically as Sonic's first forays into 3D gaming, Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. Sonic Rush did pretty well in the sales department, too.

Maybe Sonic Rush Adventure is a totally new title, distinct enough from its DS ancestor to warrant new branding.

Given Sega's recent comments that a "reinvention" of the series is overdue, comments made after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog for PS3 and Xbox 360 and Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new take on the Adventure series.

Will Sega keep the Sonic Rush 2D gameplay, adding more story driven elements and exploration? Could they take a Super Paper Mario approach, merging the series' 2D and 3D strengths, eliminating one of its biggest weaknesses, shoddy 3D camera control? Why wouldn't they simply name a standard Sonic Rush sequel Sonic Rush 2?

I'm just riffing here and fully aware that all this conjecture based on a simple trademark registration is mostly wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that Sonic Rush Adventure isn't just Sonic Rush 2 and will give Sonic an opportunity to shine. Michael McWhertor

New Sonic Rush game in the works? [Sonic Stadium via NeoGAF Forums]