BioWare makes Sonic boom

Canadian developer reveals its secret RPG for Nintendo's handheld will star Sega's iconic hedgehog.

Today, Sega's push to ally with Western developers took an unexpected left turn. That's when the Japanese publisher announced a new role-playing game starring its iconic blue hedgehog, Sonic.

Although the notion of a new Sonic game isn't surprising, Sega caused more than a few morning latte spit-takes when it named its developer. The title is being worked on at Canadian powerhouse BioWare, acclaimed maker of such RPGs as Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, and the forthcoming Mass Effect. The still-untitled game is due out sometime next year.

Today's announcement also identified one of BioWare's mystery projects. Last September, the developer announced it was working on a DS title, its first for Nintendo's handheld. The company has at least two other untitled games in development, one of which is a massively multiplayer online role-playing offering from its Austin studio.

The Sonic RPG will be the second role-playing game Sega has commissioned from a US developer in the past six months. In December 2006, the publisher announced a deal with Obsidian Entertainment to make an RPG based on the Aliens film franchise. Coincidentally (or not), the two titles Obsidian has developed since it was founded in 2003 have been sequels to BioWare games Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

222 Comments

  • mario11guy

    Posted Mar 24, 2008 9:51 pm PT

    Give me the game...my PRECIOUS....why must I wait for it??? I NEED IT. lol

  • DarkspineSonic0

    Posted Mar 24, 2008 1:21 am PT

    danwarecritic is right. If Sonic can't run, Sonic can't have an adventure, and if Sonic can't have an adventure, then what's the point of the super sonic speed hedgehog, the blue blur, the animal speedster, the mutated hegehog from another dimension, our favourite blue hero Sonic?

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 11:15 am PT

    I don't know about you but Sonic doesn't really fit as an RPG. Seriously! It sounds like it'll ruin Sonic but I'll rent it first because it isn't smart to give a bad opinoin for a game before you play it. Sonic is about speed. Take that out and there isn't much for him to work with. Game over for him if that happens.

  • BloodWerewolf

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 11:37 am PT

    Sonic does move quickly. He can attack twice in one round. From everything that I have seen, this will be a great game.

  • argonianfreak2

    Posted Jan 16, 2008 11:58 am PT

    There are many types of RPG's so they might make it more like Elder Scrolls RPG, like a hack and slash, which is similar to the newer Sonic games but instead of levels the game would be open ended. Just the idea of a turn-based Sonic game sounds wrong, I mean what's the point of Sonic if you can't go fast?

  • ZerotheUltimate

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    i have a question to ask,what is RPG mean and y is it such a big deal.even if its a RPG(if this makes a difference)i'll play it till i beat it(that should take a day or 2.

  • starcutter20000

    Posted Dec 1, 2007 4:42 pm PT

    hope they listen to the fan base ignore what the japanese have done and make it around the old tv show and make it in a way adults can enjoy it.

  • megaoverlord12

    Posted Nov 30, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    I really do hope this will be a good game or else,sonic's already terrible reputation will go down even more and then nobody will like sonic

  • Sonic1015

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 10:35 pm PT

    sounds good but sense most sonic games got bad grades hope this at least is a 7 or over =)

  • jack_sparrow_28

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 1:52 am PT

    BioWare is insanely awesome. Sonic is insanely awesome. Put it together and you have something which could be a classic, or smush Sonic into a small blue blob on thw ground, twitching slightly. Good thing I'm optomistic.

  • stublue

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 1:48 am PT

    i like the idea. let's see how it turns out

  • whacker40

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 5:25 pm PT

    a sonic rpg? sounds like it's a bit out of character for sonic. i hope that they put in some bits where you can still run fast.

  • Yoshilila

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:20 am PT

    OK now everyone (or at least most people) knows Bioware and how good the rpg's are that they've made so far. That means if they ruin this sonic game (which i dont really care cause i really love everyone sonic game since i am a sonic fanatic), Bioware's image would probably go down a bit and i guess they don't want that^^! So they will (for sure) make a good, no lets say awesome sonic rpg^^

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Aug 14, 2007 9:49 pm PT

    forgot to mention something, remember how i said that xbox magazine said KOTOR and WoW was comin to the 360 in 2008, there where 3 others.........including the confirmed Hellgate: London under the title '5 games 'The Man' doesn't want you to know yet. which means they at least have a chance. (the other 2 where Duke Nukem Forever and Crimson Skies 2, but i don't know why i took up a post's spot for this, sorry everyone.)

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Aug 14, 2007 9:43 pm PT

    if it is a rpg, i most likely will like it (not hard to please),
    however, if they do this, who knows what will happen next, i already hear from Xbox magazine that WoW was comin to the 360 alongside KOTOR in 2008, only thing to make this wackier is a Halo RPG or Bleach RPG! (that would be awsome either way!!!)

  • JohnGrave

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 1:27 am PT

    the idea is just fantastic, i hope they re not going to ruin it.

  • galduke

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 9:30 pm PT

    As soon as I heard this I let out an unholy roar of unrestrained rage, bit my neighbor's cat, and took some kid's shoes off, tied the laces, then proceeded to throw them up onto some telephone pole wires. Since the death of the Dreamcast, the number of good Sonic games released can be counted on one hand! Now, I'm not saying that Bioware can't pull off a decent game, but they could've made a GODLY one with another franchise, like Phantasy Star or something... Come to think of it, the good Sonic games I mentioned were all on Nintendo hand-held systems, weird.

  • consolemaster98

    Posted Jul 22, 2007 10:41 pm PT

    Bioware should be able to make a good Sonic game. Turning it into an RPG could work if done right (their expertise).

  • DoctorEggman

    Posted Jul 2, 2007 11:51 am PT

    Woah.

  • ultimaxer

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 11:37 pm PT

    Sounds okay, but 1. it depends on what kind of RPG it is and 2. that would have to take away sonic's biggest trademark.

  • Trukero08

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 11:21 am PT

    Well, at this stage all we can do is wait. Let's hope Bioware delivers well and makes Sonic look good, his image needs to progress now that he's had some success with recent titles (except StH).

  • Sonic_Fan_PT

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 5:16 pm PT

    I would REALY REALY LOVE if this game has the battle mechanism of sonic battle. Sonic battle also add rpg elements and was GREAT. Just imagine playing a new and improved sonic battle with new characters like chaotix and silver, and new moves and bosses. I really hope that this game can make a spin (for the best) on the sonic franchise.

  • GamerGirl4685

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 10:28 am PT

    *taking quote from MrSickVisionz*
    A SEGA themed Kingdom Hearts...featuring Chris Thorndyke & Princess Elise! *shudder* I hope not. I haven't played a BioWare RPG that has stunk so far...let's hope this one doesn't disappoint too badly.

  • Pebo1

    Posted Jun 25, 2007 7:33 pm PT

    I am intrigued. Tell us more.

  • hitomo

    Posted Jun 25, 2007 3:19 am PT

    they should start to make Shenmue III instead... but sounds not bad at all

  • Andonio

    Posted Jun 25, 2007 12:57 am PT

    Sonic + RPG? This I've gotta see.

  • gam3r3OOO

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 10:03 pm PT

    Bioware + Sega = ???
    I don't know what to expect. Either it will be really great or really awful.

  • everccr

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    spoiler tails dies

  • helium_flash

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    Eh... Sonic... not too excited.

  • batosaisilver

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 9:29 am PT

    AWSOME!

  • TQ_NintyNoE

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 6:47 am PT

    Looking forward to it! Sonic Battle conatined elements of an RPG, and it was fantastic. I'm into the Pokemon games at this moment in time (playing them all again). A Sonic RPG would be a dream! Especially if the Minigames revolved around going into proper Sonic levels and collecting Rings, facing Bosses etc. Remember the Mario RPG? that sounded awesome too, let's hope this is just a good!!

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 3:06 am PT

    If recent history has taught us anything, it's this:

    Sega's the ONLY developer who cannot create a universally accepted Sonic title anymore. The fact that Bioware's doing the crafting this time is only gravy.

  • ChitoKiryoku

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 2:36 am PT

    No, sega, no. Sonic is not an rpg and shouldn't be one either. Don't start on mario, I don't want to see Sonic staring in a football or tennis game either, just the olympics game is almost too much.

  • Juno2_17

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 9:34 pm PT

    BIOWARE?!?!

    HOLY [BLEEP!] !!!

    This can't fail. I have never played a Bioware rpg that sucked. Let's hope they can revitalize the sonic franchise.

  • MrSickVisionz

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 4:17 pm PT

    What if Sonic RPG turns out to be a Sega themed "Kingdom Hearts"?

  • gohantech00

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 1:48 pm PT

    *gasp* Automatically going in my "Tracked Games" list.....

  • ivan_the_one

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 12:02 pm PT

    sounds promising.

  • darkchaostitan

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 10:26 am PT

    A misdirection of resources if you ask me I have enjoyed biowares games, but I wish they or someone like obisidon would finally get back to the KORTOR series. Instead of leaving it scrapped for games like this. Don't get me wrong I like sonic just as much as the next guy, but I think that this path is just out of style for Bioware

  • carddude

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 7:03 am PT

    "Look at the Paper Mario franchise. It may have that turn-based feel, but playing it still had that Mario touch. So I think Sonic being an RPG may be just what the doctor ordered. And it is being developed by Bioware, so there isn't anything to be worried about, I hope.........."

    Yeah, dont tell me that its gonna be like mario. I bet you havent even played the last sonic title! Lets just say that the suicides jumped in the world by 5% from the horrible camera controll. So I'm not sure if I can trust the sonic franchise is they can't get camera controll down! And it wasn't like this just in the last game! It started right when they made shadow the hedgehog! So eventhough this game might be good (Bioware better do a better job than sonic team), I'm never going to play this franchise again! Good Day!

  • andytabor99

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 5:49 am PT

    if bioware get this right it could be awesome

  • cherryclan

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 3:37 am PT

    Some givens about the new game's plotline...

    Act 1: Sonic awakens in Green Hill Village -- a small rural township where he's lived all his life as an orphan with his orphan friend Tails, raised by his secretive-but-skillful-caretaker-with-a-mysterious-past (probably a platypus) -- to find that he can't remember who he is, and that his caretaker has been murdered by an enigmatic figure named Dr. Kintobor who has ties to a sinister ring smuggling syndicate.

    Act 2: Sonic must choose either the path of the protruding quill or the path of the curled ball.

    Act 3: Sonic realizes in a moment of epiphany that he has actually been Knuckles all along. Tails betrays him, but it's kind of out of left field.

  • SaitouZero

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 2:46 am PT

    ronnet~ I think we should just wait and see, because when Nintendo announced Super Mario RPG for SNES I thought the exact same thing to myself: "A Mario RPG? What were they thinking? Not even Squaresoft can save this one". But as it turns out Square did a great job and Super Mario RPG was one of my favorite SNES games.

  • slayersdeath200

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 12:56 am PT

    sounds interesting but may be a bit iffy

  • ronnet

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 12:11 am PT

    Bioware announced that they were making an DS RPG and I had high hopes for it. But a sonic rpg? Bioware is good but not even they can save Sonic. Perhaps they are just doing it to show that they are the best RPG makers ever and that they can even make a sonic rpg. I definatly won't buy this one but it's great that a new audience can see how awesome Bioware is. Now I'm just hoping that their next console rpg won't be a Mario RPG. But their busy with a three part xbox RPG series so their busy for a while.

  • Louis_Armstrong

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 11:23 pm PT

    This reminds me of Super Mario RPG. That was a great game.

  • Merl57

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 11:13 pm PT

    UHHH sonic RPG? um oh my god no. sonic was destroyed by the crappy crap hes been in recently he was best on genesis.

  • Shishio817

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 10:42 pm PT

    Sonic RPG? Awesome! I mean, if they could do it with Mario (Super Mario RPG, anyone?), then they can do it with Sonic.

  • kappareign

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    a sonic rpg, developed by an experienced company? sounds like a winnar

  • jack_sparrow_28

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 8:12 pm PT

    Wow. A Sonic RPG. Sounds Like An Awesome Idea. But Sonic On Net-Gen Sounded Like An Awesome Idea Too...

  • blitzvvolf

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    I still live in the past. A little bitty part of me hopes that they'll be basing it off the SatAM cartoon. That's about the only spin-off that has the depth to be put into RPG form.

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