The idea of a Sonic the Hedgehog DS role-playing game from BioWare (Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) sounds like one of EGM's elaborate April Fools' jokes. But it's real, it's here...and it's awesome.
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood takes the franchise in a new and welcome direction, uprooting the titular anthropomorphic hedgehog and friends from their action-packed comfort zone and dropping them into a traditional-with-snazzy-modern-action-elements RPG environment that closely resembles -- and, really, outright apes -- Super NES classic Super Mario RPG and its handheld sequels, to great success. If you're assuming this isn't a hardcore RPG, you're correct. The chapter-based story is predictably lightweight and cartoony; things kick off with Sonic scouring Green Hill Zone and the surrounding areas for his kidnapped compatriot Knuckles, only to learn that the Chaos Emeralds -- the series' signature MacGuffins -- have gone missing. Sonic meets up with various pals along the way, and before you know it, he's got a posse of furries ready to battle the ominous Dark Brotherhood. It's as silly as it sounds, though it's never bad. Just don't expect any groundbreaking, KOTOR-ish narrative here -- this is Sonic we're talking about.
Click the image above to check out all Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood screens.
Sonic's world is bright, colorful, and cheery; events unfold from an isometric perspective as you wander about collecting rings (the game's currency, which you can spend on better gear and consumable items), chatting with nonplayer characters (most with their own conversation trees featuring smatterings of amusing -- yet never essential -- dialogue choices), and interacting with the environment. Various series regulars join up along the way, each packing their own travel power. For example, Sonic can navigate ramps, Tails flies, and Knuckles smashes stuff. These talents come in handy for solving the occasional environmental puzzle and snagging out-of-the-way rings, but they're chiefly in place to keep you out of areas you aren't supposed to be just yet. Thanks to the layered map designs (you'll run underground, jump along rooftops, and so on), it's sometimes a chore to figure out how exactly to reach a particular area, but quest objectives dot your overworld map, so you're rarely at a long-term loss for what to do next.
As you meander about and figure out how to reach your latest Point B, you'll wind up in frequent turn-based combat with the critters littering each area, but that's not so bad -- combat's a joy, and the Super Mario RPG-esque design really shines here. Signature moves augment each character's typical attack/defend options, such as Sonic's fastball attack and Tails' myriad healing and support abilities. Executing these maneuvers -- and evading certain enemy attacks -- requires timed stylus movements that coincide with an onscreen marker in a manner not unlike Elite Beat Agents. Midfight action sequences (jump over crates and collect rings while giving chase) break things up, and boss fights are tense affairs where survival's a matter of competent hand-eye coordination. The game's action elements are also engaging; you'll run into some fairly tough fights from time to time. Fortunately, your characters level up, gaining new powers and items at a decent clip.
Click the image above to check out all Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood screens.
Sonic Chronicles' light action elements provide plenty of fun puzzle-solving and exploration opportunities without cramping the fairly traditional RPG style, and even if you're not a Sonic devotee (incidentally, I'm not), you'll derive plenty of enjoyment. It's not the most serious or hardcore RPG in the world, but it's quite a lot of fun. Here's hoping the now-EA-owned BioWare can somehow keep this spin-off series going.
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So, either this game is going to get very mixed reviews or 1up or IGN will be outliers. Interesting...
