Putting an end to a series of sporadic teases and carefully placed hints, Sega finally lifted the final curtain on its Project Needlemouse effort late last night, unveiling the title as Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. As originally promised, it is a 2D style side-scroller backed by 3D characters models, with Sonic himself starring as the sole playable character.

In commemoration of the announcement, Sega released a retrospective trailer that pays homage to past installments in the series, viewable above. It also gives us a brief look at the new game, wrapping up with mention of a Summer 2010 release date on PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and WiiWare. Is this the Sonic fans have been clamoring for? Sure sounds like it. Speaking to GameSpot, Brand manager Ken Balough says the final product will incorporate “established 2D gameplay mechanics for the series like the spin dash and power sneakers.”

As the Episode 1 subtitle signifies, Sega has made a long-term episodic commitment to this entry, with Balough teasing that future installments are on the way. “I think it’s also safe to say that by the end of the episode one, fans will be very excited to see what’s in store for episode two,” he explained.

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