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Here's the first look at Sonic the Hedgehog's new running game

Michael McWhertor is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment.

Sonic Team's next Sonic the Hedgehog game is coming to mobile platforms, Sega announced earlier this month. It's called Sonic Runners, and it's a free-to-play side-scrolling game meant to hearken back to the original Sonic games.

Sega released the first gameplay video of Sonic Runners this week, showing Sonic, Tails and Knuckles in action, collecting rings and gems, battling with Dr. Robotnik. The Android and iOS game looks to be mechanically pretty simple — Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka says the game can be played with one hand — since Sonic and friends run automatically.

Each playable character has their own strengths, according to the game's website: Sonic is focused on speed, Tails on flying and Knuckles on power. They're described as "hero" type characters and Sega teases that more of Sonic's co-stars, like Amy and Shadow, will be added as playable characters.

Sonic Runners will also include assist characters, like a Chao and Caliburn, the sword from Sonic and the Black Knight. Equippable items, like color-based powers from Sonic Colors, will also be in the game.

Sonic Runners is slated to come to Japan sometime this spring.

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