Rumors about a possible Sonic RPG for Nintendo’s successful DS handheld have come true: the latest issue of Nintendo Power confirms that SEGA’s franchise will expand into the RPG world.

The studio in charge of the DS installment is BioWare, the renowned mastermind behind KOTOR or the recently launched Xbox 360 hit Mass Effect. Dubbed Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, the game will allow you to play with no less than 11 different characters, obviously including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow, as well as Amy, Rouge, and Big the Cat. Up to three party members can join you in your quest, each possessing unique abilities that are crucial to overcoming certain challenges.

Mark Darrah, project director for The Dark Brotherhood at BioWare, speaking to Nintendo Power magazine, said that “We’ll have most of the characters that fans expect from the Sonic universe, as well as some additional characters that you might not expect”.

The plot takes place two years after the last defeat of Doctor Eggman, with Sonic finding out that Knuckles is now in the hands of an unknown group of evil men called Marauders and that six chaos emeralds have disappeared.

What has been confirmed is the touch-screen control of your character (much like in Zelda Phantom Hourglass) with the stylus, which will also be used in the interaction with certain objects in context-sensitive situations (to trigger certain responses).

Keeping its RPG status up front, BioWare also brought a couple of innovations into the Sonic realm, among which stores are more than obvious. “To bring out the traditional RPG elements we felt that you need to have currency and you need to have shops” said Darrah. “So you’ll be able to spend your rings on new items and equipment for your party.”

But the question on everybody’s lips is how on Earth do you make an RPG out of a franchise where “maximum speed” (no, I’m not talking about Crysis) is at the core?

Lead designer Miles Holmes answers: “The first thing that we have to appreciate is that, as an RPG, it’s not going to be the absolute fastest Sonic experience. There are other Sonic games that will meet that expectation for people. We’re going to incorporate those elements of speed wherever they make sense.