Frustrated that Mega Drive era Sonic the Hedgehog titles had yet to permeate the library of every single console released in the last 15 years, Sega are set to publish the Sonic Classic Collection for the Nintendo DS. Wikipedia lists a comprehensive log of previous addresses for Sega’s emergency phone call, reading like a definitive, modern console timeline. Without official announcement, it was the unlikely heroes at the BBFC that let slip details of the handheld collection’s release.
Fans of the series may remember how unpleasant the vertically crushed versus mode featured in Sonic’s second outing was to play after its initial split-screen novelty wore off. Thanks to the Nintendo DS’ hopelessly low-resolution screens, gamers can look forward to replaying Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles as well as the awkwardly titled compound entries Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in the same, glorious squat-o-vision.
Included in the BBFC’s classification are length specific references to video footage of Sonic Chronicles – The Dark Brotherhood and the excitingly titled, The History of Sonic. The former’s 45 second duration suggests a trailer for the Bioware-developed action-RPG, while we can speculate that the three minute documentary will include compressed gameplay footage and startlingly dull talking-head footage, as per Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection. Informed cynics can expect the DS’ usual artefact-happy presentation from the collection’s drab FMV. While the handful of R4 owners, who claim to use the cartridge only for the console’s “stellar” homebrew and media capabilities, can optimistically expect 25fps, blisteringly smooth audiovisual content.
In the absence of an official release date, given its recent content review it seems likely that the compilation will appear in time for Christmas or early next year. However, if the wait is too much to bare you could always bust out your Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, Gamecube, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, iPhone, iPod, Symbian enabled handset, PSP, Wii or Gameboy Advance for a quick blast through Emerald Hill Zone.
Via: Joystiq
Considering how far Sega has attempted to ride the corpse of their faded mascot star, its a wonder they haven’t made a zombie Sonic game.