The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is an unusual spin-off of the Sonic franchise. Unlike the series' main installments, the game isn't a platformer - it's a detective visual novel. It was published by SEGA, the owners of the IP.

Plot

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is set on the Mirage Express, a train, where Amy Rose is holding her detective themed birthday party. Sonic plays the role of a murder victim, the participants being tasked with solving the mystery and figuring out the perpetrator. Soon, however, it turns out the party goes deeper than it seems, and it soon becomes unclear whether the blue hedgehog is just pretending or is actually dead.

The playable character - a new Mirage Express employee - must solve the mystery behind Sonic's murder, whether it's real or not.

Mechanics

Gameplay-wise, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog doesn't differ much from other visual novels. The player must talk to NPCs, including familiar faces such as Amy, Tails and Knuckles, as well as entirely new characters, such as the Conductor waiting for a well-deserved retirement. We question witnesses, acquire clues and evidence, gradually getting closer to cracking the case.

The game is also sprinkled with arcade mini-games, much more reminiscent of classic Sonic games; the protagonist can use a handheld console and lead the virtual hedgehog through obstacle courses.

Technical aspects

The visuals of The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog are hand-drawn, making use of a simple, colorful, cartoonish artstyle. The backgrounds are mostly static, with characters overlaid in front of them.