<s>
(	O
commonly	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
)	O
is	O
a	O
2006	O
platform	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
produced	O
in	O
commemoration	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
 '	O
15th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
and	O
intended	O
as	O
a	O
reboot	O
for	O
the	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
control	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
character	O
Silver	O
,	O
who	O
battle	O
Solaris	O
,	O
an	O
ancient	O
evil	O
pursued	O
by	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
in	O
2004	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
co-creator	O
Yuji	O
Naka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
sought	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
appealing	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
vein	O
of	O
superhero	O
films	O
such	O
as	O
Batman	B-Application
Begins	I-Application
,	O
hoping	O
it	O
would	O
advance	O
the	O
series	O
with	O
a	O
realistic	O
tone	O
and	O
multiple	O
gameplay	O
styles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Problems	O
developed	O
after	O
Naka	O
resigned	O
to	O
form	O
his	O
own	O
company	O
,	O
Prope	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
team	O
split	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Secret	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
rushed	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
time	O
for	O
the	O
December	O
holiday	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
November	O
2006	O
and	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
the	O
following	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Versions	O
for	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	O
were	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
featuring	O
new	O
single-player	O
modes	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
received	O
praise	O
in	O
prerelease	O
showings	O
,	O
as	O
journalists	O
believed	O
it	O
could	O
return	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
its	O
roots	O
after	O
years	O
of	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
criticized	O
its	O
loading	O
times	O
,	O
camera	O
system	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
voice	O
acting	O
,	O
glitches	O
,	O
and	O
controls	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
widely	O
considered	O
the	O
worst	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
and	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
direction	O
being	O
rethought	O
;	O
subsequent	O
games	O
ignored	O
its	O
tone	O
and	O
most	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
Sega	O
delisted	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
from	O
retailers	O
,	O
following	O
its	O
decision	O
to	O
remove	O
all	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
with	O
below-average	O
Metacritic	O
scores	O
to	O
increase	O
the	O
value	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
is	O
a	O
3D	O
platformer	O
with	O
action-adventure	O
and	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
single	O
player	O
navigates	O
through	O
open-ended	O
hub	O
worlds	O
where	O
they	O
can	O
converse	O
with	O
townspeople	O
and	O
perform	O
missions	O
to	O
advance	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
playable	O
characters	O
are	O
three	O
hedgehogs	O
:	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Silver	O
,	O
who	O
feature	O
in	O
separate	O
campaigns	O
titled	O
"	O
episodes	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
story	O
focuses	O
on	O
the	O
speed-based	O
platforming	O
seen	O
in	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
sections	O
having	O
him	O
run	O
at	O
full	O
speed	O
while	O
dodging	O
obstacles	O
or	O
riding	O
a	O
snowboard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
character	O
,	O
Princess	B-Application
Elise	I-Application
,	O
must	O
be	O
escorted	O
in	O
some	O
stages	O
,	O
and	O
she	O
can	O
use	O
a	O
special	O
barrier	O
to	O
guard	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
's	O
sections	O
are	O
similarly	O
speedy	O
,	O
albeit	O
more	O
combat-oriented	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
segments	O
having	O
him	O
ride	O
vehicles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Silver	O
each	O
assigned	O
a	O
limited	O
number	O
of	O
lives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
kidnaps	O
Princess	B-Application
Elise	I-Application
of	O
Soleanna	O
in	O
the	O
hopes	O
of	O
harnessing	O
the	O
Flames	O
of	O
Disaster	O
,	O
a	O
destructive	O
power	O
sealed	O
within	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aided	O
by	O
his	O
friends	O
Tails	O
and	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
works	O
to	O
protect	O
Elise	O
from	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
his	O
fellow	O
agent	O
Rouge	O
,	O
and	O
Eggman	O
accidentally	O
release	O
an	O
evil	O
spirit	O
,	O
Mephiles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Mephiles	O
meets	O
survivors	O
Silver	O
and	O
Blaze	O
,	O
he	O
fools	O
them	O
into	O
thinking	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
the	O
cause	O
of	O
the	O
destruction	O
and	O
sends	O
them	O
to	O
the	O
present	O
to	O
kill	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
friends	O
travel	O
between	O
the	O
past	O
,	O
present	O
,	O
and	O
future	O
in	O
their	O
efforts	O
to	O
stop	O
Mephiles	O
and	O
Iblis	O
and	O
protect	O
Elise	O
from	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
at	O
first	O
Silver	O
stalks	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
impedes	O
his	O
attempts	O
to	O
save	O
Elise	O
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
reveals	O
to	O
him	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
not	O
the	O
cause	O
of	O
his	O
world	O
's	O
suffering	O
but	O
rather	O
Mephiles	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
trying	O
to	O
change	O
the	O
past	O
for	O
his	O
own	O
evil	O
purposes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mephiles	O
eventually	O
succeeds	O
after	O
killing	O
Sonic	B-Application
to	O
make	O
Elise	O
cry	O
over	O
his	O
death	O
,	O
releasing	O
her	O
seal	O
on	O
Iblis	O
and	O
merging	O
with	O
him	O
with	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
become	O
Solaris	O
,	O
who	O
then	O
attempts	O
to	O
consume	O
time	O
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
heroes	O
collect	O
and	O
use	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
revive	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
and	O
he	O
,	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Silver	O
transform	O
into	O
their	O
super	O
forms	O
to	O
defeat	O
Solaris	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Elise	O
are	O
brought	O
to	O
the	O
past	O
and	O
extinguish	O
Solaris	O
's	O
flame	O
,	O
removing	O
the	O
god	O
from	O
existence	O
and	O
preventing	O
the	O
events	O
from	O
ever	O
occurring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Elise	O
show	O
faint	O
signs	O
of	O
recalling	O
their	O
encounter	O
afterwards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
finishing	O
Billy	B-Application
Hatcher	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Giant	I-Application
Egg	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
to	O
plan	O
its	O
next	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Sega	O
reassigned	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
start	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
they	O
decided	O
to	O
retain	O
the	O
realistic	O
approach	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
conceived	O
for	O
sixth-generation	B-Application
consoles	O
,	O
but	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
realized	O
its	O
release	O
would	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
15th	O
anniversary	O
and	O
decided	O
to	O
develop	O
it	O
for	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
such	O
as	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Series	O
co-creator	O
and	O
team	O
lead	O
Yuji	O
Naka	O
wanted	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
for	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
systems	O
to	O
reach	O
a	O
wide	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naka	O
noted	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
superhero	O
films	O
such	O
as	O
Spider-Man	B-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
and	O
Batman	B-Application
Begins	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
:	O
"	O
When	O
Marvel	O
or	O
DC	O
Comics	O
turn	O
their	O
characters	O
into	O
films	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
thinking	O
of	O
them	O
as	O
blockbusters	O
,	O
huge	O
hits	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
's	O
what	O
we	O
were	O
trying	O
to	O
emulate	O
with	O
Sonic.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Thus	O
,	O
development	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
began	O
in	O
late	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
used	O
the	O
same	O
title	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
1991	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
to	O
indicate	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
major	O
advance	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
and	O
a	O
reboot	O
that	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
roots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
engine	I-General_Concept
,	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
their	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
game	O
Astro	B-Application
Boy	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
,	O
allowed	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
create	O
expansive	O
levels	O
previously	O
impossible	O
on	O
earlier	O
sixth-generation	B-Application
consoles	O
and	O
experiment	O
with	O
multiple	O
play-styles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
the	O
engine	O
also	O
enabled	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
experiment	O
with	O
aspects	O
such	O
as	O
global	B-Algorithm
illumination	I-Algorithm
,	O
a	O
night-and-day	O
system	O
,	O
and	O
giving	O
Sonic	B-Application
new	O
abilities	O
like	O
using	O
ropes	O
to	O
leap	O
into	O
the	O
air	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
hardware	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
was	O
more	O
powerful	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
prior	O
generation	O
's	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
was	O
able	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
setting	O
than	O
those	O
of	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
were	O
redesigned	O
to	O
better	O
suit	O
this	O
updated	O
environment	O
:	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
made	O
taller	O
,	O
with	O
longer	O
quills	O
,	O
and	O
Eggman	O
was	O
made	O
slimmer	O
and	O
given	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
appearance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
one	O
point	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
considered	O
giving	O
Sonic	B-Application
realistic	O
fur	O
and	O
rubber	O
textures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
had	O
a	O
major	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
visuals	O
,	O
they	O
considered	O
their	O
primary	O
challenge	O
creating	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
was	O
as	O
appealing	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
had	O
veered	O
into	O
different	O
directions	O
and	O
wanted	O
to	O
return	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
its	O
speed-based	O
roots	O
in	O
new	O
ways	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
sought	O
to	O
"	O
aggressively	O
"	O
address	O
problems	O
with	O
the	O
virtual	O
camera	O
system	O
from	O
earlier	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
about	O
which	O
they	O
had	O
received	O
many	O
complaints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Silver	O
the	O
Hedgehog	O
's	O
gameplay	O
style	O
was	O
born	O
out	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
desire	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
's	O
realistic	O
physics	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
design	O
concept	O
for	O
Silver	O
's	O
character	O
was	O
an	O
orange	O
mink	B-Device
;	O
he	O
attained	O
his	O
final	O
hedgehog	O
look	O
after	O
over	O
50	O
design	O
iterations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
designing	O
Shadow	B-Application
's	O
gameplay	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
abandoned	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
firearms	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
combat	O
elements	O
to	O
differentiate	O
him	O
from	O
the	O
other	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
's	O
gameplay	O
was	O
further	O
fleshed	O
out	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
vehicles	O
;	O
each	O
vehicle	O
uses	O
its	O
own	O
physical	O
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Animation	O
supervisor	O
Leo	O
Santos	O
said	O
Blur	O
faced	O
challenges	O
animating	O
the	O
opening	O
scene	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
placement	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
mouth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
development	O
progressed	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
faced	O
serious	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2006	O
,	O
Naka	O
resigned	O
as	O
head	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
form	O
his	O
own	O
company	O
,	O
Prope	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naka	O
has	O
said	O
he	O
resigned	O
because	O
he	O
did	O
not	O
want	O
to	O
continue	O
making	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
and	O
instead	O
wished	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
original	O
properties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
his	O
departure	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
heart	O
and	O
soul	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
"	O
was	O
gone	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
former	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
CEO	O
Tom	O
Kalinske	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
intended	O
for	O
release	O
on	O
all	O
major	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
as	O
well	O
as	O
Windows	O
,	O
but	O
Sega	O
was	O
presented	O
with	O
development	O
kits	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
less	O
powerful	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
console	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
believed	O
porting	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
would	O
take	O
too	O
long	O
,	O
and	O
so	O
conceived	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
that	O
would	O
use	O
the	O
motion	O
detection	O
function	O
of	O
its	B-Device
controller	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Therefore	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
was	O
split	O
in	O
two	O
:	O
Nakamura	O
led	O
one	O
team	O
to	O
finish	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
while	O
producer	O
Yojiro	O
Ogawa	O
led	O
the	O
other	O
to	O
begin	O
work	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Secret	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
split	O
left	O
an	O
unusually	O
small	O
team	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
pressured	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
finish	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
time	O
for	O
the	O
2006	O
holiday	O
shopping	O
season	O
,	O
so	O
with	O
the	O
deadline	O
quickly	O
approaching	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
rushed	O
the	O
final	O
stages	O
of	O
development	O
,	O
ignoring	O
bug	B-Error_Name
reports	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
quality	O
assurance	O
department	O
and	O
control	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Not	O
only	O
was	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
release	O
imminent	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
launch	O
was	O
scheduled	O
not	O
long	O
afterwards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
English	O
cast	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
X	O
anime	O
series	O
reprised	O
their	O
voice	O
roles	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
and	O
actress	O
Lacey	O
Chabert	O
supplied	O
the	O
voice	O
of	O
series	O
newcomer	O
and	O
damsel	O
in	O
distress	O
Princess	B-Application
Elise	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
that	O
Ohtani	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
contributed	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
worked	O
on	O
as	O
sound	O
director	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crush	O
40	O
performed	O
Shadow	B-Application
's	O
theme	O
,	O
"	O
All	O
Hail	O
Shadow	B-Application
"	O
,	O
while	O
vocalist	O
Bentley	O
Jones	O
(	O
previously	O
known	O
as	O
Lee	O
Brotherton	O
)	O
sang	O
Silver	O
's	O
theme	O
,	O
"	O
Dreams	O
of	O
an	O
Absolution	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
R&B	O
artist	O
Akon	O
performed	O
a	O
remix	O
of	O
the	O
Dreams	O
Come	O
True	O
song	O
"	O
Sweet	O
Sweet	O
Sweet	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
song	O
previously	O
used	O
as	O
the	O
ending	O
theme	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1992	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
for	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
Ohtani	O
"	O
aimed	O
to	O
emphasise	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
an	O
epic	O
next-generation	O
title	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
soundtrack	O
albums	O
were	O
released	O
on	O
January	O
10	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
under	O
Sega	O
's	O
Wave	O
Master	O
label	O
:	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
Vocal	O
Traxx	O
:	O
Several	O
Wills	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
Original	O
Soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Original	O
Soundtrack	O
includes	O
all	O
93	O
tracks	O
featured	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
spanning	O
three	O
discs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
a	O
closed-doors	O
presentation	O
at	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
(	O
E3	O
)	O
in	O
May	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
demo	O
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
short	O
section	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
gameplay	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
via	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
in	O
September	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
also	O
made	O
a	O
deal	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
run	O
advertisements	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Live	I-Protocol
Messenger	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
November	O
14	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
European	O
release	O
on	O
November	O
24	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
January	O
30	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
March	O
23	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
often	O
referred	O
to	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
fans	O
with	O
colloquial	O
terms	O
that	O
reference	O
its	O
year	O
of	O
release	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
2006	I-Application
or	O
Sonic	B-Application
06	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
several	O
packages	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
that	O
added	O
features	O
to	O
single-player	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
delayed	O
to	O
allow	O
more	O
time	O
to	O
incorporate	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
thus	O
launched	O
alongside	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
digitally	O
rereleased	O
via	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
Marketplace	O
on	O
April	O
15	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
October	O
,	O
various	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
with	O
average	O
or	O
below	O
average	O
scores	O
on	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
website	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
including	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
were	O
delisted	O
from	O
retailers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
reasoned	O
this	O
was	O
to	O
avoid	O
confusing	O
customers	O
and	O
increase	O
the	O
value	O
of	O
the	O
brand	O
,	O
following	O
positive	O
prerelease	O
responses	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
4	I-Application
:	I-Application
Episode	I-Application
I	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
(	O
both	O
2010	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
relisted	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
Marketplace	O
in	O
May	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
well-received	O
during	O
prerelease	O
showings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reception	O
to	O
prior	O
games	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
had	O
been	O
mixed	O
;	O
after	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
well-received	O
showings	O
and	O
demos	O
,	O
some	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
could	O
be	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
roots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
branded	O
under	O
the	O
Platinum	B-Device
Hits	I-Device
budget	O
line	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
called	O
its	O
graphics	O
and	O
audio	O
"	O
decent	O
"	O
and	O
felt	O
its	O
interface	O
and	O
menu	O
system	O
worked	O
well	O
but	O
lacked	O
polish	O
,	O
but	O
GameSpot	O
said	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
while	O
colorful	O
,	O
were	O
bland	O
and	O
only	O
a	O
small	O
improvement	O
over	O
sixth-generation	B-Application
games	O
,	O
a	O
sentiment	O
echoed	O
by	O
1UP.com	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
also	O
criticized	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
style	O
of	O
gameplay	O
,	O
believing	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
had	O
learned	O
nothing	O
from	O
the	O
criticisms	O
of	O
past	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
singled	O
out	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
camera	O
system	O
,	O
loading	O
times	O
,	O
controls	B-Device
,	O
level	O
designs	O
,	O
and	O
glitches	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
reviewers	O
were	O
unhappy	O
that	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
not	O
spent	O
playing	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
;	O
playing	O
as	O
Tails	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
wrote	O
,	O
made	O
a	O
level	O
boring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
positive	O
side	O
,	O
1UP	O
felt	O
that	O
despite	O
the	O
control	O
and	O
level	O
design	O
problems	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
still	O
played	O
like	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
reviewers	O
unfavorably	O
compared	O
the	O
story	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
an	O
anime	O
or	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
romance	O
between	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
the	O
human	O
Princess	B-Application
Elise	I-Application
was	O
especially	O
criticized	O
;	O
for	O
GamesTM	O
,	O
it	O
marked	O
the	O
point	O
"	O
the	O
 [ Sonic ] 	O
series	O
had	O
veered	O
off	O
into	O
absolute	O
nonsense.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
This	O
...	O
is	O
a	O
mess	O
from	O
top	O
to	O
bottom	O
"	O
,	O
wrote	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
that	O
"	O
only	O
the	O
most	O
blindly	O
reverent	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
fan	O
could	O
possibly	O
squeeze	O
any	O
enjoyment	O
out	O
of	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
some	O
redeeming	O
qualities	O
,	O
with	O
brief	O
segments	O
of	O
gameplay	O
that	O
demonstrated	O
how	O
a	O
next-generation	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
could	O
work	O
,	O
but	O
found	O
it	O
"	O
rips	O
them	O
away	O
as	O
soon	O
as	O
it	O
shows	O
them	O
"	O
and	O
concluded	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
failed	O
to	O
reinvent	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
believed	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehogs	I-Application
mistakes	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
noticed	O
even	O
if	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
been	O
released	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
ambitious	O
and	O
praised	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
amount	O
of	O
content	O
,	O
and	O
replay	O
value	O
,	O
but	O
believed	O
only	O
Sonic	B-Application
fans	O
would	O
enjoy	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halverson	O
initially	O
gave	O
the	O
Xbox360	B-Operating_System
version	O
a	O
9.5/10	O
,	O
praising	O
each	O
character	O
's	O
controls	B-Device
and	O
abilities	O
and	O
calling	O
it	O
the	O
best	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
yet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
later	O
review	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
Halverson	O
was	O
frustrated	O
that	O
the	O
problems	O
had	O
still	O
not	O
been	O
corrected	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
performance	O
was	O
worse	O
despite	O
the	O
extra	O
development	O
time	O
;	O
Halverson	O
gave	O
this	O
version	O
a	O
5.5/10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameTrailers	O
and	O
GamesRadar	O
considered	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
disappointing	O
games	O
of	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesTM	O
singled	O
out	O
the	O
game	O
when	O
it	O
ranked	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
at	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
Video	O
Game	O
Franchises	O
That	O
Lost	O
Their	O
Way	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Club	O
,	O
Kotaku	O
,	O
Game	O
Informer	O
,	O
and	O
USgamer	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
the	O
worst	O
in	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
staff	O
of	O
GamesRadar	O
named	O
it	O
among	O
the	O
worst	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
Sonic	B-Application
Twitter	B-Application
account	I-Application
also	O
mocks	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
failure	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
led	O
to	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
being	O
rethought	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
main	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
2008	O
's	O
Unleashed	O
,	O
ignored	O
the	O
gritty	O
and	O
realistic	O
tone	O
of	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Unleashed	O
's	O
sequel	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
,	O
The	O
A.V.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
introduced	O
Silver	O
the	O
Hedgehog	O
,	O
Princess	B-Application
Elise	I-Application
,	O
Mephiles	O
,	O
and	O
Iblis	O
to	O
the	O
franchise	O
;	O
most	O
have	O
made	O
few	O
appearances	O
since	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Silver	O
is	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Device
Rivals	I-Device
(	O
2006	O
)	O
and	O
its	B-Application
sequel	I-Application
,	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Riders	I-Application
:	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
Gravity	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequels	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
a	O
minor	O
character	O
in	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
(	O
2017	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
appeared	O
in	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
comic	O
book	O
series	O
published	O
by	O
Archie	O
Comics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
theme	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
and	O
the	O
theme	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
"	O
His	O
World	O
"	O
,	O
was	O
sampled	O
in	O
Drake	O
's	O
2017	O
song	O
"	O
KMT	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
celebrate	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
's	O
20th	O
anniversary	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
,	O
which	O
remade	O
aspects	O
of	O
past	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
versions	O
feature	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehogs	I-Application
"	O
Crisis	O
City	O
"	O
level	O
,	O
and	O
every	O
version	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
includes	O
a	O
reimagined	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
boss	O
battle	O
with	O
Silver	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
decision	O
to	O
include	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
stages	O
and	O
bosses	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
was	O
criticized	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
;	O
Jim	O
Sterling	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
referred	O
to	O
the	O
Silver	O
boss	O
fight	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
catch	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
otherwise	O
high-quality	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
a	O
fan	O
group	O
,	O
Gistix	O
,	O
began	O
developing	O
a	O
remake	O
for	O
Windows	O
using	O
the	O
Unity	B-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
team	O
of	O
fans	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
ChaosX	O
,	O
began	O
developing	O
a	O
separate	O
PC	O
remake	O
in	O
Unity	B-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
P-06	I-Application
,	O
releasing	O
multiple	O
demos	O
from	O
2019	O
onward	O
.	O
</s>
