Games that take a bunch of franchise characters and cram them into one title are typically hit or miss. What is interesting about them, though, is characters that are thought to be long forgotten can make an appearance and give fans hope that a revival game is right around the corner.

Sega is teasing fans of Shenmue this time around by including Ryo Hazuki, the main character from the Japanese fighting/adventure epic, in the upcoming Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. The Shenmue series, which hasn’t had a game released since the second title on the original Xbox failed to meet sales expectations, is in high demand for a sequel, with fans sometimes taking things to drastic measures.

While Ryo’s appearance in the upcoming racer doesn’t necessarily mean anything in the way of Shenmue III being announced anytime soon, Konami’s inclusion of Sparkster into New International Track & Field for the DS last year did provide some foreshadowing for the upcoming Rocket Knight Adventures revival. While I wouldn’t bank on seeing Ryo’s story getting closure in a full game anytime soon, it will be nice to take a trip down memory lane (in a forklift no less) one more time.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing will have engines revving in early 2010 for the PS3, 360, Wii, DS, and PC.