Has Sonic finally returned to form? If the first review of Sonic Colors is any indication, the answer would be yes. The UK edition of NGamer has reviewed the Blue Blur’s latest outing, and gave the title an 86%. You can check out some details from the review below.
– “What if Sonic were to play Mario at his own game and gain a little ground? …the result is Sonic Colours.”
– “The Similarity to the Mario Galaxy Games is it’s abundance of ideas. This is Sonic Team in an uncharacteristically creative and generous mood. It’s one that suits them well. The addition of the power-altering wisps is what does it.”
– “These aren’t powerups, they’re toys – single-use shots of pure fun that have the happy side effect of opening up new pathways in already pleasingly labyrinthine stages.”
– “The lists of powers goes on and on, and backtracking to find new areas in which to use them is a big part of the fun.”
– “Crucially, the Wisps don’t sacrifice Sonic’s speed; they simply reveal more runways for him to work on. And that’s brilliant. Speed alone reduces gameplay to a simple progression of left to right, but moments of calm exploration add texture and a sense of adventure.”
– “The environments are every bit as playful as the new wisp powers … each of them is packed with stages large and small … some are built with one idea stretched to the limit; others are constructed solely to test just how robust the new wisp powers are.”
– “The result is a series of intricate and occasionally extremely tricky levels.”
– “Again, we’re reminded of Mario Galaxy, particularly when Sonic plummets off the bottom of the screen for the umpteenth time and we get exasperated at our own lack of skill rather than the unfairness of the game.”
– “Better yet, every stage compels you to push harder, aim higher. Maintain that speed, keep your eyes open, cross any available digits and you’ll see wonders.”
– “The world is there to be reduced to a blur or discovered; to be sped through or explored to your satisfaction for an improved rank and more hidden medals. The choice is yours.”
– “Find enough of those medals and you’ll unlock Game World, a Sonic shaped satellite that houses Eggman’s Sonic simulator.”
– “As a multiplayer game Sonic Colours is less than perfect (the speedy action often results in a game of tug of war using the screen as a rope).”
– The ability to swap Sonic for your Miis means there’s still throwaway fun to be had.” (in multiplayer)
– “If the 2D sections reconfirm Sonic as a true platforming superstar and make a virtue of his speed, the 3D sections can be more problematic. Kinetic, beautiful, and dizzying. Perhaps it’s because the sort of precision we demand just isn’t compatible with speed. To be fair, Sonic Colours does a good job of making these sections work but the result is stages that can feel on rails or, worse, railed for safety. But while still not perfect, they are definitely the best of Sonic’s career to date.”
– “Much of the game plays out in 2D.”
– “The storytelling here is *gasp* rather good. Humour is the strong point and even Tails manages to be less nauseating than usual.”
– “For the most part Sonic Colours is big on spectacle, so it’s odd that the bosses are so lightweight. What good ideas are here (sabotaging a huge battleship before taking on its clockwork captain) are repeated.”
– “Only the Starlight Carnival Boss, an immense warship, really pushed our skills by constantly switching from 2D to 3D.”
– “But these are minor niggles in an otherwise first rate package.”
– “Sonic Colours’ greatest achievement, then, is in handing back control to the player without losing that queasy feeling that you’re about to go off the rails.”
– “Sonic’s ditched the J-Rock for a full on orchestra, with impressively catchy results.”
Summary – “Colours Rockets Sonic closer to the stratospheric heights of past glories and hints at a great future. Welcome back old friend, it’s been to long.”
