Nintendo Wii Fanboy

In absolute defiance of the game's title, the Sonic Team has come forward to reveal some details about these so-called "rings". It seems as though Sonic is the one and only playable character, speeding through an Arabian setting in at least 70 separate missions. Despite the plethora of levels, however, the game is estimated to take only around ten hours for the average gamer to complete. Medals and unlockables will extend the playtime for those perfectionists out there, however, and no less than 30 minigames are planned to be included as well.

Also discussed is the evolution of the game. Originally, the Sonic team wanted to make the gameplay far more active than it currently is, in the traditional 3-D style utilizing the nunchuk attachment. However, the team noted that the gameplay was too "strenuous", which most likely signifies that the controls were tiring players out before long. So, the decision was made to switch to the current, on-rails version.

Sonic and the Secret Rings is currently scheduled for a March 2007 release.

The Sonic Team has come forward and announced that their flagship Wii title, Sonic Wildfire, has officially undergone a name change. The result? A slightly more dubious Sonic and the Secret Rings.

We happen to think that Wildfire is a far more attractive name, but hey, it's their game. While the title does seem to imply vague references to drug circles, we can only hope our spiky-haired hero can resist temptation and continue to fight the good fight. What do you guys think about the change?

[Thanks, UNCCShannon!]

While some of us were more fortunate than others, undoubtedly laughing themselves all the way to the bank as they watched us cry, deep in the back of a long line. That's OK, we can forgive and wait until the game is released. We'll just have to scour the internet, looking for new screenshots to sustain us, much in the way someone who might devour a world would seek out new planets teeming with life. We'll bide our time...for now.

Oh, hey, CVG posted some new screens! We'd best get to the devouring.

[Via Joystiq]

Go Nintendo has an interesting snippet taken from issue #6 of the UK Official Nintendo Magazine where Sonic Wildfire is discussed. Apparently in development for two years, the game is based off of Arabian Nights and will follow Sonic as he adventures through a book and looks to go back to the roots of the title by instilling that sense of speed once again. The game also will see the return of Dr. Robotnik Eggman and is to feature even more ways to use the Wiimote than were presented in the E3 demo.

Yojiro Ogawa also expressed some interest in bringing another franchise to the Wii in the article. Thinking that it is "fantastic hardware," he would like to bring a new franchise, completely unrelated to Sonic, to the console, utilizing the entire spectrum of capabilities the Wiimote offers.

Sega has launched a teaser site for the upcoming Sonic Wildfire which links to a short film of the blue speed demon holding a Wiimote. While the site is rather remiss to reveal anything we actually care to know about the title, it's a place holder for future information, and I guess we'll just have to accept that for now.

[Thanks Hobbes!]