How Sega can save Sonic the Hedgehog

Next-gen has arrived, but somebody forgot to tell Sonic. The spiny mammal apparently stayed in his hole with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog on both the 360 and PS3. To put it lightly, the game was referred to by some as a "debacle." It's a real stinker.

To avoid a continued down slide in quality, 1UP outlines a simple, four-step plan to help Sega get out of their funk and turn the beloved franchise around. Namely: lose the sidekicks, avoid shadow doppelgangers, embrace speed, and slow the franchise's release schedule to once every 2-3 years.

Still, hedgehogs only have a lifespan of 4-7 years, so perhaps the gravitas of years have affected Sonic's speed and ability to carry on. We shall see with the soon to-be released Sonic and the Secret Rings for Wii.