Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Preview

[GameBanshee News]

Worthplaying offers a preview of BioWare's upcoming handheld RPG, Sonic Chronicles.

The combat system is probably the most interesting part of the game; it's like the engines from Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star had a kid. Your characters' speed plays a big role in their combat ability, allowing them to land multiple hits inside a single round, which resolves itself in seconds. You can also learn a variety of combo attacks, such as Amy Rose whacking Sonic at your enemies like a golf ball of doom.

Outside of combat, you mostly control Sonic as your viewpoint character as you start on the trail of what may or may not be a new plot from Dr. Robotnik. As you might expect from a Bioware RPG, the story is told with a heavy focus on dialogue trees, allowing you to be as heroic or snarky as you want to be.

Sonic Chronicles is very much made for the fans of the character and the universe he inhabits, with enough of a game around it to intrigue casual players and RPG nuts. The stylus-based controls take a little bit of getting used to, as does exploring the overworld; it initially feels like you're playing a board game version of one of the original Genesis platformers. As with most DS titles, though, you quickly get used to it, and surprisingly, by the end of this year, you'll have a chance to do so.