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Well, before the Donkey Kong returns on Sunday, I thought I'd give Sonic Colors a shot since I had finished off Kirby. I'm not a Sonic diehard, I've always skewed to Mario and Donkey Kong when it comes to platformers and after having what I liked about Sonic destroyed by Sonic Adventure and all the subsequent 3D games, I was a little skeptical about Sonic Colors. Then I saw some trailers and got some hope. This is usually the start of the Sonic Cycle for most people
I'm part way into the fourth world, which is saying a lot because I pretty much gave up on Sonic 4 once I tried out Lost Labyrinth and Mad Gears, which were utter shit. For me Sonic isn't so much about speed as it is momentum. Once that momentum is halted, Sonic stops being Sonic.
In Sonic Colors, there always seems to be momentum in some fashion. While its not always speeding left to right you will be running, bounding off spring boards, sliding, rail-grinding, zapping around, rocketing upward, skydiving downward, drilling your way underground and more. And this is mostly through the power of Wisps, various little colored aliens that give Sonic different powers.
Basically, imagine the first few levels of any other 3D sonic before they crap it up with some gimmick or "adventure" element. That's what's going on here, except its all just Sonic, only Sonic and nothing but Sonic through all the levels. Tails is there for moral support, that's pretty much it.
The story is strictly kid's stuff but unlike in the past, the acting is actually bearable. Eggman/Robotnik builts a space theme park as if to atone for his past misdeeds, but naturally he's doing something evil. There's some laughs to be had here, mostly with the evil henchmen and side characters, but whenever Sonic and Tails do the jokes they seem to fall flat. There is a Japanese language option, too, if you must have that sort of thing.
So far I've only had one level that gave me trouble and its a level where you have this bouncing platform that scrolls along with you on a pre-determined path all through the level. And naturally, one screw-up and you fall to your death, so they made sure to put a lot of tempting rings, 1-ups and red rings all over that level to kill you. Collect all red rings on each level and you unlock new levels in Eggman's "Sonic Simulator."
The simulator levels attempt to "go retro" but they're painfully boring even by Genesis Sonic standards. The Co-up element, which was supposed to make this mode appealing, works against Sonic Simulator. Put it this way, you know how Super Mario Bros Wii was fun because there was co-up followed up by backstabbing (kinda in the same way people play Uno), well this is just having two characters and once constantly holding the other back. There's no fun in it - 0ts just too hard to do Sonic-style platforming with two people on the screen at the same time.
The main levels, however, have been a real treat both visually and in that much-needed gameplay momentum. You'll never find yourself coming to a complete grinding halt, though you may find yourself plummeting to your doom, but every Sonic has that.
And as you meet new Wisp and complete the initial level you meet them, they'll migrate to other levels they were not previously available in. Considering each level is multi-tiered even without them, this gives you reason to go back and better your rank, get all the red rings and see just how much was packed into each level.
The Mario Galaxy-esque 2D-to-3D shift also keeps things nice and varied, you'll find many levels where the camera pulls back to give a nice wide 2D perspective and I haven't found one moment where that shift leads to a cheap death. In fact for the most part, the game has been fair in what punishments it doles out, though I hear pitfalls become of bit more prevalent in the endgame.
I will admit some disappointment in the 30 FPS, but there is so much going on visually (its like one big epilepsy factory in some levels) that something had to give. Its actually impressive the game doesn't stutter from the 30 FPS considering all that's going on.
One piece of advice I will give is make sure you have the Classic Controller Pro or a Gamecube controller on hand, as the Wiimote just isn't helping the game.
Overall, I've found Sonic Colors to deliver and then some where Sonic 4 has disappointed. Kinda funny considering its usually the 3D ones that are bad. Its the first step in the right direction for 3D Sonic and with next year being the 20th Anniversary, here's hoping the lessons learned here carry over into the multiplatform title they already have planned.
I'm part way into the fourth world, which is saying a lot because I pretty much gave up on Sonic 4 once I tried out Lost Labyrinth and Mad Gears, which were utter shit. For me Sonic isn't so much about speed as it is momentum. Once that momentum is halted, Sonic stops being Sonic.
In Sonic Colors, there always seems to be momentum in some fashion. While its not always speeding left to right you will be running, bounding off spring boards, sliding, rail-grinding, zapping around, rocketing upward, skydiving downward, drilling your way underground and more. And this is mostly through the power of Wisps, various little colored aliens that give Sonic different powers.
Basically, imagine the first few levels of any other 3D sonic before they crap it up with some gimmick or "adventure" element. That's what's going on here, except its all just Sonic, only Sonic and nothing but Sonic through all the levels. Tails is there for moral support, that's pretty much it.
The story is strictly kid's stuff but unlike in the past, the acting is actually bearable. Eggman/Robotnik builts a space theme park as if to atone for his past misdeeds, but naturally he's doing something evil. There's some laughs to be had here, mostly with the evil henchmen and side characters, but whenever Sonic and Tails do the jokes they seem to fall flat. There is a Japanese language option, too, if you must have that sort of thing.
So far I've only had one level that gave me trouble and its a level where you have this bouncing platform that scrolls along with you on a pre-determined path all through the level. And naturally, one screw-up and you fall to your death, so they made sure to put a lot of tempting rings, 1-ups and red rings all over that level to kill you. Collect all red rings on each level and you unlock new levels in Eggman's "Sonic Simulator."
The simulator levels attempt to "go retro" but they're painfully boring even by Genesis Sonic standards. The Co-up element, which was supposed to make this mode appealing, works against Sonic Simulator. Put it this way, you know how Super Mario Bros Wii was fun because there was co-up followed up by backstabbing (kinda in the same way people play Uno), well this is just having two characters and once constantly holding the other back. There's no fun in it - 0ts just too hard to do Sonic-style platforming with two people on the screen at the same time.
The main levels, however, have been a real treat both visually and in that much-needed gameplay momentum. You'll never find yourself coming to a complete grinding halt, though you may find yourself plummeting to your doom, but every Sonic has that.
And as you meet new Wisp and complete the initial level you meet them, they'll migrate to other levels they were not previously available in. Considering each level is multi-tiered even without them, this gives you reason to go back and better your rank, get all the red rings and see just how much was packed into each level.
The Mario Galaxy-esque 2D-to-3D shift also keeps things nice and varied, you'll find many levels where the camera pulls back to give a nice wide 2D perspective and I haven't found one moment where that shift leads to a cheap death. In fact for the most part, the game has been fair in what punishments it doles out, though I hear pitfalls become of bit more prevalent in the endgame.
I will admit some disappointment in the 30 FPS, but there is so much going on visually (its like one big epilepsy factory in some levels) that something had to give. Its actually impressive the game doesn't stutter from the 30 FPS considering all that's going on.
One piece of advice I will give is make sure you have the Classic Controller Pro or a Gamecube controller on hand, as the Wiimote just isn't helping the game.
Overall, I've found Sonic Colors to deliver and then some where Sonic 4 has disappointed. Kinda funny considering its usually the 3D ones that are bad. Its the first step in the right direction for 3D Sonic and with next year being the 20th Anniversary, here's hoping the lessons learned here carry over into the multiplatform title they already have planned.
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