Gameplay Today - Because You're Always Gaming

Sonic has had his ups and downs in the past few years. Since the Sega Genesis, Sega has had a hard time putting that charm back into Sonic. Despite a recent offering of higher-quality Sonic games, Sonic Colors is easily the best of the bunch.

Sonic and Tails have traveled to Dr. Robotnik Dr. Eggmans’s Interstellar Amusement Park up in space with several planet-sized attractions. It may look like all fun and games but we all know that Eggman is up to no good. You meet a little alien known as a Wisp, by the name of Yacker. You soon learn that Eggman has taken over their planet and is kidnapping the Wisps for his evil scheme and it it up to Sonic and Tails to kick his butt like usual. Along with a fresh new story you’ll be happy to know that Sonic and Tails have gotten new voices. Finally a Sonic game with voice-acting you may be able to stand and enjoy without wanting to rip your hair out.

There are a total of six world attractions with six acts plus the boss in each world. Each world is very unique with different enemies. Sweet Mountain is a place filled with sweet desserts you just wish were real. Aquarium Park is a Japanese dojo with some underwater experiences and robot samurais. Sonic Colors features both 2D and 3D gameplay portions similar to Sonic Unleashed. From controlling Sonic from behind, running, dodging and hitting enemies to some amazing platforming the two balance quite well. You may use the Wii Remote sideways, Nunchuk Style, the Classis Controller or the GameCube Controller to control the game.

The Wisps play a special part in the game giving Sonic some new abilities. For instance the basic White Wisps give you a boost when you hit the B button. Orange Wisps will turn Sonic into a rocket soaring right into the sky and then Sonic floats down slowly allowing you to pick up some nice goodies. Pink Wisps transform you into a pink spike ball that can stick to walls and ceilings. I did find some control issues with a few of the Wisps. Early on you must search for the different colored Wisps (except for White Wisps) in order to adventure in areas for the acts and collecting certain items that weren’t possible in the beginning. Sonic has also been given the ability to double jump to to reach those extra hard jumps. Further into the game, I found some difficult challenges that had me wanting to quit. Spending more than two minutes in an area only to die with no checkpoint can be pretty frustrating. You’ll notice red special rings in each act that you may collect. Those rings allow you to unlock acts in Eggman’s Sonic Simulator. This introduces the two-player co-op which is simply not worth it. Sonic Colors is best played solo.

With some great up-beat, rocking’ music that gets you excited to highly detailed backgrounds with great animation, Sonic Colors is very promising. Any hardcore blue hedgehog fan will be happy and newcomers will enjoy this unique experience. Typically I don’t play Sonic, in fact I haven’t truly played a Sonic since the Sega Game Gear; but I have always been a fan of the characters. If Sega keeps this up, they’re going to have a new fan to stay.