Summary
Sonic the Hedgehogfranchise boss Takashi Iizuka expressed his desire to make aSonic-themed RPG sometime before he retires from the series. While theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise is typically a platformer focused on going fast and clearing stages as quickly as possible, Sonic Team and Sega have woven the iconic hedgehog into different gaming genres. These spin-off games are incredibly varied, including racing, party, sports, and pinball games, just to name a few. However, the devs haven’t yet tackled the RPG genre themselves.
Sonichas appeared in one RPG as a collaboration between Bioware and Sega inSonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodfor the Nintendo DS. It was a turn-based RPG that featured a brand-new threat, the Nocturnus Clan. Due to BioWare’s history of making beloved Western RPGs likeMass EffectandDragon Age, it seemed like a good way to try and expand the franchise’s lore. Unfortunately, the game received mixed reviews. Furthermore, a plagiarism lawsuit seemingly removed the games lore from canon, and plans for a sequel also fell through. Regardless of the first attempt, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka wants to do a properSonicRPG.
This idea was expressed in an interview with Good Vibes Gaming that took place during Summer Game Fest, in response to a community question about how Sega has some of the best RPG development studios under its wing, including Atlus and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Eager to answer whethertheSonicfranchise would ever tackle the RPG genre again, Iizuka happily expressed interest in the idea, as he is a big fan of role-playing games and their format. He expressed shock that during his time at Sonic Team, they hadn’t developed aSonicRPG.
Sonic’s Past Attempt At An RPG Was Dark Brotherhood By BioWare
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodwas outsourced to BioWareand wasn’t developed in-house by Sega, meaning that Takashi Iizuka and Sonic Team have not actually worked on an RPG of their own. However, Iizuka notes that a game isn’t currently in the works, and it’s just something he’d like to do before he retires. “I’d like to hopefully work on aSonicRPG at some point before I retire from Sega,” said Iizuka. “But you know, that’s just a dream right now. There are no concrete plans at this point.”
I’d like to hopefully work on a Sonic RPG at some point before I retire from Sega. But you know, that’s just a dream right now. There are no concrete plans at this point.
Manyfans want theSonicfranchise to try the RPG formula, as it has a full ensemble cast of characters that could support it. An RPG would not only be able to give powerful abilities to characters like Sonic, Knuckles, and Shadow, but also give the chance for characters like Silver and Blaze, who have had less time in the spotlight, a chance to shine with their unique abilities. An RPG starring the extended cast could also be a great gateway for characters from the IDW Comics like Tangle, Whisper, and Surge to make an appearance in the games themselves. However, as Iizuka stated, this is currently just a dream, and nothing official has been announced.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.
