SEGA has finally given an official confirmation to the buzz about its Sonic Classic Collection, as well as the platform for the compilation – the Nintendo DS. The collection is likely to hit the stores in March next year.

To suit the Nintendo handheld, the compilation will include the first four Mega Drive titles in the series, namely - Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles.

In addition, some of the extras included in the package comprise video footage and collectable images of the ‘Sonic’ franchise. To facilitate the players in getting back to the game much quicker than before, the Sonic Classic Collection enables the players to save anywhere.

However, there has been no disclosure about whether the lock-on functionality, which comes with Sonic & Knuckles, is a part of the entire compilation.

The levels of the Classic Collection will include the Emerald Hill Zone, Green Hill Zone and Scrap Brain Zone. Furthermore, the compilation apparently preserves a similar aspect ratio to the Genesis counterparts, so that players do not get the ‘cramped’ feeling on the DS.

A rather unusual detail about the Sonic Classic Collection is that one of the screenshots of Sonic & Knuckles features both hedgehog and echidna together fighting Robotnik – something that has not been seen before!