Sonic Team Unveils NiGHTS Beater

Sega have announced a new platform game from Sonic Team called "Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg". Details and first screens inside.

This morning, Sega announced Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, a new platform game exclusively for GameCube, in development under the direction of Yuji Naka. The official announcement of this game suggests that everything else on the recently leaked Sega document is completely true, since it listed a game called "Giant Egg".

The first all-new platform game and character from Yuji Naka since NiGHTS, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg is the story of a young boy who must save a once magical kingdom from the clutches an evil King who threatens to rule with an everlasting night. Gamers must learn to use the powers of a legendary suit and control magical eggs to restore light to the kingdom.

A vibrant, lightning-fast 3-D platformer, the game challenges gamers to hatch dozens of magical creatures from special eggs as they explore themed, carnival-esque environments on their quest to save the kingdom. Playing as Billy Hatcher, players will roll the eggs though the world, using them to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and even ultimately hatch magical creatures that enhance their abilities, adding a unique strategic twist to the fast action.

Sega of America's Mike Fischer says this game is pure Sonic Team magic, and "a dizzying blend of fast action, hypnotic gameplay and one-of-a-kind characters."

Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg seems certain to be the next big thing from the Sonic Team - perhaps not in Sonic's league, but with the potential to rival the much loved NiGHTS - and is slated for release around October 2003. We'll have more on Giant Egg at E3, or possibly before.

Adam Doree
Billy Hatcher? Giant Egg? Sounds mixed up to us!