Fan-Made Sonic 2 HD Remix Coming

Super Street Fighter II Turbo isn't the only classic getting the "HD Remix" treatment, as an unofficial, fan-created remake of Sonic 2 is underway. A team of five superfans from the Sonic "community" have released some of the artwork and animation from the high-def update which can be gawked at SavyGamer. Early looks at Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik should give you a clear indication just how pretty this looks. Let's hope they finish it before the cease and desist departs Sega HQ.

Sonic 2 HD fan remake on the way [SavyGamer via UK:R]

Don't Blame Sonic For Hedgehog Violence

We have to nip this story in the bud before the mainstream media get a hold of it, though it may already be too late! There is absolutely no connection between Sonic the Hedgehog and the New Zealand man who allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old boy with a flying erinaceus europaeus.

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.

NZ man 'used hedgehog as weapon' [BBC - Ninja Girlden]

Sonic To Be Unleashed On Wii and PS2?

When we first saw screens of Sonic Unleashed, it was pretty clear that we were looking at something that was only feasible on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. No offense intended to the GameCube Turbo, but Sonic and the Secret Rings didn't look this good. Chatter about a sensible Wii version has been making the rounds since first screens and video sneaked out, but it would appear that Sega is planning to unleash more Sonic love on every viable platform.

Retailer GameStop is currently listing Sonic Unleashed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, as well as the Wii and PlayStation 2. All listings are labeled with November 4 ship dates, along with platform appropriate pricing.

Thanks for the heads up, Daniel!

Leaked Sonic Unleashed Footage

Sonic fan site Sonic Stadium writes that it may have uncovered the first shots of Sonic Unleashed, the title Sega trademarked earlier this month. According to Sonic Stadium, the screen shots, some in-game, some pre-rendered CG, were culled from one of Sega's FTP servers. They certainly look like the genuine article, giving the impression that Sonic Unleashed will be coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, hopefully with gameplay that's more Sonic and the Secret Rings than it is Sonic the Hedgehog "Next-Gen."

New Sonic Game Screenshots Discovered [Sonic Stadium - thanks, Dylan and Daniel!]

BioWare Will Make You Love Sonic's Shitty Friends

A Sonic role-playing game may seem like a real head scratcher at first, but with BioWare behind Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood it has to be good. Anything less than a stellar RPG adventure would violate some universal law, we're sure of it. The only problem? Sonic's shitty friends, the hangers-on who get way too involved, taking valuable screen time away from Sega's mascot.

MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo asked BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk about the challenge of making, say, Rouge the Bat or Big the Cat tolerable to play.

Sega Superstars Tennis Gets Chu Chu Rockety

Sega Superstars Tennis gives us the most conflicted early feelings of any game we know of in development. On the one hand, it's Sega. On the other, Sumo Digital is actually doing the work. On the original hand, it's going to prominently feature Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog. On that other hand again, it has Ulala and Gum and Beat. But back on the negative hand, this is certainly not how we expected to hear from Space Channel 5 and Jet Set Radio's main players. Returning to the positive hand, we are pleasantly surprised to see how well Chu Chu Rocket mini-gameplay seems to be integrated.

My brain is about to be ripped in half as I struggle to come to terms with Sega's answer to Mario Tennis. Do we hate it to death or smother it into oblivion? Someone! Do the thinking for us!

First 4 Figures, creators of some of the most amazing Zelda, Metroid, and Transformers collectible statues you're likely to find, have just announced an agreement with Jetix Consumer Products to produce viynl figures and statues based off of the 'classic version' of Sonic the Hedgehog. The first series of 4 to 5 inch figures is slated for July 2008 release, with the lineup - as pictured above - featuring Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Depending on where they draw the line with 'classic' Sonic, there might not be all that many more in the pipe. I mean, what's left? Robotnik? Maybe some mechanical animals? As far as I am concerned, vinyl Sonic figures are a dime a dozen anyway. I'm holding out to see what they do in the statue department.

Sonic The Hedgehog-05-FEB-2008 [First 4 Figures]

Do These Gaming Franchises Need To Retire?

Dojo Dump: Super Sonic Racing

We're going to start with the bad news. There will be no updates to the Smash Bros. Dojo next week and, in turn, no Dojo Dump next Friday. The lazy bums at Nintendo are taking a week off to rest comfortably in hammocks or possibly scrounge up fresh content from Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the official site. At least this week contains some gems, some of which we've already covered. We get a fresh look at personal favorite Wario and a healthy dose of Sonic the Hedgehog, who I wouldn't mind never hearing from again. The rest? Well, it's mostly filler. On with the Dump!

Monday: Take a look Wario's overalls. You might prefer these over his WarioWare biker duds.
Tuesday: Sonic's Final Smash makes him into a golden god. For more of the hedgehog, listen to the Angel Island Zone theme remix.
Wednesday: Collection obsessives will want to learn more about Trophy Stands and how they're used.
Thursday: Looking to earn more trophies (and stickers)? You'll have to try your luck at Coin Launcher a simple shooting game.
Friday: The Dragoon item is detailed as is info on how to Share your data with Smash Bros. Friends. Good times.

We'll see you in a fortnight!

Shadow the Hedgehog Steals Christmas

While we're not generally in the habit of posting updates on Super Smash Bros. Brawl news outside of the weekly Dojo Dump aside from new characters and the occasional costume, I thought Sonic the Hedgehog fans would get a real kick out of the Christmas reveal of his Final Smash super move. Using the power of the Chaos Emeralds combined, he is Captain Planet Super Sonic! The hedgehog transforms into a golden streak, blazing over enemies in an unblockable display of what makes Sonic the fastest game character around. This just goes to show that while Sega might have lost sight of what sonic is all about, Nintendo still has a pretty good idea. SSBB promises to be the best Sonic game in years. Sad, isn't it?

Sonic Final Smash [Smash Bros. Dojo!!]

It's the day after Christmas and, for many, a time to check out new gaming rigs.I suspect this may have been the year for many of those reluctant gamers to make the switch from old gen to current gen hardware, or for parents to take the plunge into the world of console gaming for the first time.

I know at least one of my neighbors were suspecting a Wii for Christmas and another a 360. I introduced my dad to the Wii last night and after spending a bit of time playing Carnival, Jenga, and Excite Truck I showed him how you could check news, browse the internet and get weather updates. Now he's talking about getting a Wii, or a next-gen console, when he retires in a few months.

I, of course, didn't get any new gaming hardware, because I've already got all of the systems, but my son received one of the newer iPods with a copy of Sonic installed on it. So even he get a chance to check out a new gaming platform. What about you, are you new to a gaming system today or did anyone in your family receive a new console this holiday?

Sonic Races To Your iPod

"Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters of all time," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO of SEGA of America, "And with the installed base that iPod enjoys Sonic now becomes available to a whole new group of casual and hardcore gamers just in the time for the holidays."

Caught roaming the South Hall at this weekend's E For All expo, former Sonic Team head honcho Yuji Naka spent a good portion of his time cruising the Into The Pixel exhibition, looking for something to occupy his time. If you take a look at Naka's badge, you'll see he's there as a regular Joe, not attending under the name of his development company PROPE, nor as a guest of one of the exhibitors. So, what exactly was Naka doing there? He wouldn't say, unfortunately, and kept mum on what PROPE's plans were, simply opting to enjoy the show.

Wonder if he got in some time with Sonic in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? He orbited the Nintendo booth during my eagle-eyed stalking, but never dove in. He may disapprove.

Sega, capitalizing on the two things it does best, creating original tennis games and pumping out Sonic the Hedgehog appearances, is bringing the two together with Sega Superstar Tennis. Like the PlayStation 2 EyeToy cash-in Sega Superstars, the tennis game brings together franchise leaders Sonic, Ulala from Space Channel 5 and Amigo from Samba de Amigo, puts them in various Sega themed tennis courts and lets them duke it out. Other franchises are sure to be represented in Sega Superstar Tennis, in good hands at Sumo Digital, and we have our fingers crossed for representation from House of the Dead and Altered Beast.

It's coming to everything—PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS—for maximum profit. A handful of screens await you.

Mitsubishi showed off Sonic the Hedgehog on this enormous 140 inch LED Resolia TV at CEATEC in Japan. How big is 140? That's like 11 and a half feet — aka HUGE. There's a booth companion there for handy comparison. Shame they choose the human kissing Sonic game to show off, because that's one of many things I wouldn't want to see at 140 inches.

Hit the jump for a clip of the TV.