The above image is taken from www.needlemouse.com. The website consists of that lone image, and nothing more. Taken by itself, it just looks like some old-school Sonic the Hedgehog level design. However, taken in combination with the following trailer, it means a great deal more. Especially when the announcement comes on 09/09/09, the tenth birthday of the Dreamcast.

That's right ladies and gentlemen- after years of plugging everyone's favorite hyperactive hedgehog into one shitty 3D game after another, it would appear that Sega is ready to go back to Sonic's roots and give him the retro 2D treatment. Chances are, in the wake of the success of Mega Man 9, Street Fighter IV, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on PSN and XBLA, Sega has decided to go back to the retro well to pull up some money of their own. So far there is no information about what is being called "Project Needlemouse" apart from the trailer and the above image, but those are both more than enough to get me excited for the game. We'll bring you more information on this secretive project as it comes about.