| | Sonic Power
Sonic has been around for well over a decade, first appearing on SEGA's own Genesis game console in an eponymous 1991 game. Since then, he has made his presence felt in nearly every medium, from games to television to DVDs, comics, books, clothes, music, action figures, you name it. He's also managed to penetrate cultural barriers, becoming as hot of a property in the United States and worldwide as he is in Japan. SEGA has a genuine superstar on its hands.
International superstar.
The division responsible for this little blue powerhouse is Sonic Team, a unit within SEGA that employs more than 70 people in Tokyo and San Francisco, and it is still helmed by veteran developer Yuji Naka, who created Sonic with character artist Naoto Oshima. SEGA's commitment to Sonic is readily apparent in the fairly steady stream of great games it’s generated for Sonic and friends on practically every platform since 1991. With the debut ofSonic Heroes™ on the Xbox, Sonic has now come to the greatest platform of all time, where he can really show the gaming world what he's made of.
The Sonic Universe is an amazingly complex and vibrant place, with a growing cast of characters. Tails has remained Sonic's most loyal companion, first teaming up with him in 1992's Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic's dark opposite, Shadow, was created by famous scientist Professor Gerald and can match Sonic's speed in addition to possessing the power to warp time and space with his “Chaos Control Power." Shadow was thought killed after the events of Sonic Adventure 2, but later awakened at Dr. Eggman's base with a bad case of amnesia. He's looking to find Dr. Eggman and squeeze a few answers out of him.
Gal hedgehog Amy Rose has been smitten with the little blue hero for more than 10 years, ever since the two met in Sonic CD. She'll be heading up her own team in Sonic Heroes—Team Rose—featuring her friends Big the Cat (returning from Sonic Adventure) and Cream the Rabbit (seen in Sonic Advance 2). Naturally, Cream has her pet chao, Cheese, along with her. (Cream and Cheese, get it?) But, “What's a chao?” you ask? I'm afraid that's classified … because I have no idea. It's cute, though. Cream has a talent for spinning her ears like a chopper to challenge Tails for air superiority. 
She likes Sonic, but she'll still try to kick his butt.
Produced in a partnership with Archie Comics, the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book follows his adventures throughout the world and into space. Now past its 130th issue, the series continues to be a solid piece of work, with cool stories that have expanded the Sonic Universe by leaps and bounds. Like the games, it seems to be as popular with some adults as it is with kids.
Premiering on FoxBox in September, the Sonic X animated series rapidly snapped up the veiwership and became a number one show for the network. It follows Sonic's adventures as he faces off against the evil Dr. Eggman with the help of his human pal Christopher. Not to be left out, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose are always there to lend a hand. With Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie coming out on DVD in the U.S. soon, SEGA is certainly hoping that Sonic X will pull a big enough audience to make an American-market theatrical film viable.
From Joyride Studios—the same great folks who brought you the Halo® action figures (that you should go buy right this minute)—come super-cool Sonic line character figures. Based on Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, these figures are spiffy pieces to play with, display, or glue to the dashboard of your 1967 Dodge Dart. For those among you with a darker bent (all you goth Sonic fans), there's a Shadow figure available. All the butt-kickin' hedgehog excellence in a slightly less goody-goody package. 
Evil twin with superpowers and amnesia.
There's really no end to the Sonicness available out there if you want more.
And, you know you do …
By Shawn Hart |
