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It seems Eggman has changed his ways and instead of concocting his next evil plan he has decided to open up an amusement park for all to enjoy. Ha! Unlikely. Sonic and Tails remain suspicious and decide to make their way into the heart of the extravagant structure only to find themselves amidst what is essentially a prison camp for aliens. Being the noble hero Sonic is he then sees it as up to him and his double tailed friend to free the Wisps (aliens) and take down the amusement park once and for all. The story is silly, the voice acting over the top and you know what... it isn’t actually too bad.
Exclusively for the Wii, Sonic Colours is all about getting from A to B blending 2D gameplay with the occasional behind the back 3D moments while also introducing an assortment of unique and fun power ups (but more on those later) If you ever played the daytime stages in Sonic Unleashed then you’ll know what to expect here with speed and timing often being key. Taking place mostly from a side on view, this finally allows Sonic to move with precision rather than jolty movements as seen in his Adventure series, Heroes and so on. These are easily the most fun bits and feel far more entertaining than even the retro throwback Sonic 4. While the behind the shoulders view is either on rails or restricts you severely in terms of freedom, it won’t matter as these moments are few and far between and a pure joy to watch as Sonic zips through loops in space or is being chased by a whole army of enemy robots.
Controls consist of either the remote on its side, classic controller or remote and nunchuck combo, the latter being the one to go for. The analogue is better to manoeuvre Sonic than the twitchy classic controller while the D-pad on the remote alone doesn’t give enough accuracy especially in the 3D sections. The buttons are kept simple and the shaking is used just for activating a Wisp power. Overall it’s easily accessible and feels totally right.
As you progress through the game you will come across Wisps or aliens as Sonic so rightfully calls them. These are almost like Mario’s power suits in that they offer a brief ability to the blue hedgehog that can aid him in finding hidden shortcuts and collectible red coins. A quick shake of the remote and before you know it Sonic will rocket to the sky or float in the air like a balloon or even drill through the planet itself. While mixing up the gameplay these powers also give the player a nice break from the quick pace, allowing you to explore your surroundings at will. Should you hate the idea of Sonic becoming a transforming superhero though, you can play through the whole game without using any Wisps and instead rely on his platforming skills alone.
As you play through the game’s six planets you discover newer powers and even crazier level design whilst having the time of your life. And yet you’re still left wondering (like in so many Sonic titles as of late) where the game crushing additions are. We’ve had werehogs, guns, Silver the Hedgehog and so many more fun destroying “innovations” that have taken away from what made Sonic so great. Simple, accessible, speedy gameplay. To mine and perhaps everyone’s surprise though you never find any. Even the added power-ups of Wisps add to the enjoyment of this adventure rather than ruin it.
If a great single player wasn’t enough there is a decent co-op mode thrown in for good measure too. Taking the form of a Sonic simulator, complete with robot hedgehogs here you and a friend will find twenty one stages split into seven coloured worlds each offering a short dose of frantic fun. In a similar vein to New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns the two players share the screen and must make it to the end as a team. It works fairly well but the speed can be a little too much at times with sheer drops coming at you thick and fast. You’ll also spend a fair bit of time waiting for one another on the tougher sections so patience is key. Overall though it’s a nice addition and one I hope is explored and refined in future Sonic games.
The Wii isn’t known for its cutting edge visuals, but Sonic Colours proves it can still put up a fight when it wants to. The bright colours and attention to detail are truly impressive. However it has to be said that it’s the music that really does steal the show. Rather than going with the cheesy rock the tunes here feel more in vein with the older Mega Drive titles boasting truly memorable beats that suit the colourful environments you’ll find yourself speeding through. A nice little touch that hasn’t been seen since Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the remixes of songs in the same zone. Playing through the Sweet Mountain planet for example you’ll come across three brilliant remixes of the same song. It’s a small touch but one that really makes a difference.
The game is full of unlockables and stages to explore offering a good seven hours on your first playthrough. Speed runs and finding everything will take double that with a wonderful reward for a hundred percenting the game. It really is worth it!
Lately the Wii has been swamped with platformers both revised classics and brand new adventures, all of which have been great fun. So where does Sonic Colours fit in then? Definitely near the top of the pile that’s for sure. While a good Sonic game would have been enough to rave about in itself, getting one as brilliantly crafted as this is an absolute shocker. The beautiful visuals, excellent soundtrack and (most importantly) thoroughly entertaining gameplay keep Sonic speeding ahead of the pack. Definitely one to look out for.
9/10
Great review GK, fully agree, Sonic Colours is a real return to form.
It seems Eggman has changed his ways and instead of concocting his next evil plan he has decided to open up an amusement park for all to enjoy. Ha! Unlikely. Sonic and Tails remain suspicious and decide to make their way into the heart of the extravagant structure only to find themselves amidst what is essentially a prison camp for aliens. Being the noble hero Sonic is he then sees it as up to him and his double tailed friend to free the Wisps (aliens) and take down the amusement park once and for all. The story is silly, the voice acting over the top and you know what... it isn’t actually too bad.
Exclusively for the Wii, Sonic Colours is all about getting from A to B blending 2D gameplay with the occasional behind the back 3D moments while also introducing an assortment of unique and fun power ups (but more on those later) If you ever played the daytime stages in Sonic Unleashed then you’ll know what to expect here with speed and timing often being key. Taking place mostly from a side on view, this finally allows Sonic to move with precision rather than jolty movements as seen in his Adventure series, Heroes and so on. These are easily the most fun bits and feel far more entertaining than even the retro throwback Sonic 4. While the behind the shoulders view is either on rails or restricts you severely in terms of freedom, it won’t matter as these moments are few and far between and a pure joy to watch as Sonic zips through loops in space or is being chased by a whole army of enemy robots.
Controls consist of either the remote on its side, classic controller or remote and nunchuck combo, the latter being the one to go for. The analogue is better to manoeuvre Sonic than the twitchy classic controller while the D-pad on the remote alone doesn’t give enough accuracy especially in the 3D sections. The buttons are kept simple and the shaking is used just for activating a Wisp power. Overall it’s easily accessible and feels totally right.
As you progress through the game you will come across Wisps or aliens as Sonic so rightfully calls them. These are almost like Mario’s power suits in that they offer a brief ability to the blue hedgehog that can aid him in finding hidden shortcuts and collectible red coins. A quick shake of the remote and before you know it Sonic will rocket to the sky or float in the air like a balloon or even drill through the planet itself. While mixing up the gameplay these powers also give the player a nice break from the quick pace, allowing you to explore your surroundings at will. Should you hate the idea of Sonic becoming a transforming superhero though, you can play through the whole game without using any Wisps and instead rely on his platforming skills alone.
As you play through the game’s six planets you discover newer powers and even crazier level design whilst having the time of your life. And yet you’re still left wondering (like in so many Sonic titles as of late) where the game crushing additions are. We’ve had werehogs, guns, Silver the Hedgehog and so many more fun destroying “innovations” that have taken away from what made Sonic so great. Simple, accessible, speedy gameplay. To mine and perhaps everyone’s surprise though you never find any. Even the added power-ups of Wisps add to the enjoyment of this adventure rather than ruin it.
If a great single player wasn’t enough there is a decent co-op mode thrown in for good measure too. Taking the form of a Sonic simulator, complete with robot hedgehogs here you and a friend will find twenty one stages split into seven coloured worlds each offering a short dose of frantic fun. In a similar vein to New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns the two players share the screen and must make it to the end as a team. It works fairly well but the speed can be a little too much at times with sheer drops coming at you thick and fast. You’ll also spend a fair bit of time waiting for one another on the tougher sections so patience is key. Overall though it’s a nice addition and one I hope is explored and refined in future Sonic games.
The Wii isn’t known for its cutting edge visuals, but Sonic Colours proves it can still put up a fight when it wants to. The bright colours and attention to detail are truly impressive. However it has to be said that it’s the music that really does steal the show. Rather than going with the cheesy rock the tunes here feel more in vein with the older Mega Drive titles boasting truly memorable beats that suit the colourful environments you’ll find yourself speeding through. A nice little touch that hasn’t been seen since Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the remixes of songs in the same zone. Playing through the Sweet Mountain planet for example you’ll come across three brilliant remixes of the same song. It’s a small touch but one that really makes a difference.
The game is full of unlockables and stages to explore offering a good seven hours on your first playthrough. Speed runs and finding everything will take double that with a wonderful reward for a hundred percenting the game. It really is worth it!
Lately the Wii has been swamped with platformers both revised classics and brand new adventures, all of which have been great fun. So where does Sonic Colours fit in then? Definitely near the top of the pile that’s for sure. While a good Sonic game would have been enough to rave about in itself, getting one as brilliantly crafted as this is an absolute shocker. The beautiful visuals, excellent soundtrack and (most importantly) thoroughly entertaining gameplay keep Sonic speeding ahead of the pack. Definitely one to look out for.
9/10