The gameplay may have reportedly taken a back-to-basics leap to speedy platforming action, but next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog has certainly given up nothing when it comes to visuals. Staring at these latest screens for too long is like being whacked in the face by a rampaging box of Crayola crayons...

Sonic the Hedgehog is due to hit the PS3 and Xbox 360 around Christmas time, and promises to be a super-fast, sweetly-cool, retro-inspired platforming jaunt. It's all about speed, action, battling and jaw-dropping, dream-like environments.

Peppering up the gameplay, though, is the introduction of Silver The Hedgehog, who drops in from the future with a range of cool powers, such as being able to bend scenery, control enemies with his mind, and stop bullets mid-air. It almost sounds like Sonic meets Psi-Ops or the Sonic Matrix. But isn't, really.

Should certainly be good, though. Look out for Sonic to roll in by the end of the year.

Screens Here