Sonic Colors: Ultimate took me on a joyride down memory lane – a lightning fast, endlessly colorful rollercoaster I never wanted to get off. Playing the game for the first time in a decade felt like stepping onto a Disney World ride that zipped through multiple stages packed with fascinating themes and iconic characters, all presented in dizzying ways for the enjoyment of riders of all ages.
Right from the start, I was hooked. The title screen teems with color and noise as Sonic and his band of Wisps race from side to side, perfectly capturing the speed and clamor this series is so beloved for.. In another blast from the (even further) past, it felt just as silly as distorting Mario’s floating face in Super Mario 64. But I digress.
Related: Sonic The Hedgehog Has Its Knuckles, So Who Should Voice Shadow?
Let’s dive into the game’s story. The nefarious Dr. Eggman creates the theme park to end all theme parks, dubbed Dr. Eggman’s Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park. Here guests can enjoy all the rides and attractions at all five planets for the price of one – now you see why all that talk of rollercoasters and Disney World was in the intro, eh? Pretty clever. This Walt Disney-wannabe scientist is powering the park with the energy of an alien race called Wisps, whom he captured from Planet Wisp – very creative naming. Sonic and Tails sneak into the park via an unattended shuttle with the keys left inside, and discover that the captured aliens are capable of sharing their abilities with someone they trust. Since Sonic is rescuing them, he gains their powers in order to work his way through obstacles, beat Eggman’s robots, and reach his goals quicker.
The Jade Wisp is a new addition to Ultimate that gives Sonic ghost powers, helping him get Red Star Rings, Park Tokens, and other coveted items in areas he wouldn’t normally reach. The Ghost Wisp may look adorable and turn the Blue Blur into Danny Phantom (sort of), but its powers are not always perfect, as it doesn’t get through every single barrier. In Act 2 of Planet Wisp, for example, I couldn’t get through the tower of steel boxes to reach the target on the other side. It doesn't feel like steel should stop a ghost, but perhaps the steel is ghost-proof for security purposes.
While the original Sonic Colors was made for the Wii to further experiment with fitting motion controls to Sonic, Ultimate is out for PS4 (the version I reviewed), Xbox One, and PC – which don't allow for this level of motion control – as well as the Nintendo Switch, which does. On PS4, the controls for Sonic’s movements and Wisp power-ups operate with high precision, giving you greater influence over which movements you want to make. Using the Cyan Laser Wisp, which slingshots Sonic in laser form to a specific target, I was able to pinpoint exactly where I wanted to hit without the dotted line slipping sideways or downward, making for a much improved experience from the overly fiddly original. It always goes straight through the air towards the prisms or the robots, or zips in a perfect zig-zag if I’m going up the walls.
The Tails Save mechanic, newly introduced in Ultimate, proves to be very useful if your Wisp power-up misfires or you jump at the wrong time and fall to your death. When either of those missteps take place, Tails swoops right in to save Sonic, placing him back where he was before he fell with all of your Rings, Red Star Rings, and Park Tokens intact. When the Tails Saves run out, you end up right back at the last checkpoint with all your Rings gone and Red Star Ring and Park Token counts reduced. It stings, but it’s a great challenge.
Meanwhile, Rival Rush mode feels like a throwback to Stardust Speedway in Sonic CD, with the race between the live organic Sonic and Metal Sonic played out in 3D for the first time since Sonic Generations. Rival Rush races pop up every time you collect enough Red Star Rings to add more levels to the Sonic Simulator, and they can only be played on one level per planet. In Tropical Resort, you can race against Metal Sonic in Act 3, while the race is held in Act 1 on Planet Wisp, to name a few examples.
The new customization features – another improvement not present in the original version – are where my fashion imagination truly went wild. I spent hours – and most of my Park Tokens – picking out some of the wackiest designs for Sonic's gloves and shoes, as well as his aura. Any designs you pick for Sonic – in my case, I went for Cosmic Gloves, Tie-Dye Shoes, and the sparkling aura – only appear during gameplay, not in cutscenes, which is a bit of a disappointment when the game gives you so many options. Still, being able to have a proper impact on how one of my favorite video game characters of all time looks as he gotta goes fast around all-new versions of beloved stages adds a whole new layer to what makes Colors special for me.
Sega aims to please Sonic fans during the Blue Blur's 30th anniversary, trying to learn from the mistakes of Sonic games that launched this past decade and improve on them. From the enhanced graphics and extra customization, to the addition of the Tails Save mechanic, Rival Rush, and a brand new and elusive Wisp, Sonic Colors: Ultimate has proven to be the most colorful remaster in Sonic's history.It may be a rehash of a decade-old game instead of an entirely new one, but Sonic Colors: Ultimate still manages to pass the test with flying colors.
Score: 4.5/5. Sonic Colors: Ultimate is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Epic Games Store. A PS4 review code was provided by the publisher.
Next: Sonic Colors: Ultimate Interview – How The Tails Save Renders The Life System Obsolete
