When it comes to gaming, I tend to like sequels - in fact, if I'm being honest, most sequels in gaming generally seem to be an improvement over the previous. Unlike movies, games tend to advance with each new installment; Mass Effect 2 for example is, in my eyes, far superior to the first Mass Effect, so much in fact that I gave up on the first game only a couple of hours in, whereas the sequel? I'm hooked! Of course, there are exceptions to every rule - Final Fantasy being the first one that springs to mind - but that's for another rant and review. Keep your eyes peeled for that one!
My review today is, in my opinion, one of the best examples in which you ask yourself the all-important question: is this new addition to an infamous series an all-new disappointment, or a phoenix rising from the ashes? Let's find out.
My review today is, in my opinion, one of the best examples in which you ask yourself the all-important question: is this new addition to an infamous series an all-new disappointment, or a phoenix rising from the ashes? Let's find out.
Sonic's latest attempt to reclaim his platform-jumping crown is Sonic Colours - an attempt to move far, far away from the pile of disappointing console games Sega have been 'gifting' us over the last few years. Sonic has been treated very well on the hand-held systems recently with the likes of Sonic Rush, but honestly, these days? That's about as good as you're gonna get. The bigger consoles haven't really offered a Sonic game that I've enjoyed since his debut appearance on the Dreamcast in Sonic Adventure, as well as it's sequel, Sonic Adventure 2, but it seems that after those two Sonic seemed to lose track of what he was meant to be doing in his games and the developers seemed to be just as clueless as how to handle the blue hedgehog when given a third dimension to run around in.
Disagree? Read on and see if I can change your mind.
Disagree? Read on and see if I can change your mind.
Let's be honest - it's pretty fair to say that Mario is the only one able to cope with platforming in 3D; he seemed to make the transition perfectly and is still reigning supreme in the ever-awesome Mario Galaxy games. It seems to me that Sega have been watching Mario closely - like the short Italian plumber we've all grown to know and love, Sonic seems to be doing a whole lot of planet hopping in Sonic Colours, as well as the addition of collectable power-ups very similar to those found in Mario Galaxy 1 and 2.
The basic plot of Sonic's new adventure: Dr. Eggman has built an Amusement Park in outer space by chaining six planets together.
This, of course, IS Dr. Eggman that we're talking about, so the Amusement Park is a HUGE COVER UP (bet you didn't see that coming) whilst he 'secretly' captures a unique race of aliens composed entirely of energy, using them to take over the world. Sonic, being the ridiculous hero he is, goes to investigate. Luckily for Sonic, the exact same 'energy creatures' Eggman is trying to capture can also give Sonic special abilities, ranging from turning into a laser beam (always fun) and bounce around the stage or become a rather overwhelmingly flourescent pink ball of spikes that allow him to roll up the walls and along ceilings. (If you hadn't caught on, these are the power-ups mentioned earlier.)
This, of course, IS Dr. Eggman that we're talking about, so the Amusement Park is a HUGE COVER UP (bet you didn't see that coming) whilst he 'secretly' captures a unique race of aliens composed entirely of energy, using them to take over the world. Sonic, being the ridiculous hero he is, goes to investigate. Luckily for Sonic, the exact same 'energy creatures' Eggman is trying to capture can also give Sonic special abilities, ranging from turning into a laser beam (always fun) and bounce around the stage or become a rather overwhelmingly flourescent pink ball of spikes that allow him to roll up the walls and along ceilings. (If you hadn't caught on, these are the power-ups mentioned earlier.)
A lot of people may consider these to be annoying gimmicks that will ruin the game just like the Werehog did in Sonic Unleashed, but is that the case here? In a way, if I'm honest, it can be. Some of the powers just slow the game down to a stand still; the main power that causes this is known as "Float". This power-up transforms Sonic in to a green blimp (really, I'm not kidding), allowing him to float for short periods of time. This 'floating' is incredibly slow and, in a Sonic game, slow is the last thing you want to be. Come on, it's Sonic! We want speed!
The control is hit and miss. At times you feel in perfect control of Sonic as you race through stages at high speed, knocking down enemies and jumping between walls and platforms... unfortunately, it isn't always that responsive. Occasionally, specifically when you need to be precise with your movements, Sonic can feel a bit too 'floaty', for lack of a better word. His jumps sometimes take forever to land, turning feels sluggish and navigating narrow walk ways and jumps can easily get frustrating. Having said that, it is still a huge improvement over previous 3D Sonic titles.
This game, being such an improvement on the other console titles, seems to take this 'promotion' from the new approach to the entire franchise itself. Sonic has a new voice actor - true, he still sounds like he fell out of the early 90's but hey, at least it's slightly less annoying now! The writing, too, seems to have improved - not by much, but enough that you notice the difference. Ever a risk-taker, Sonic also breaks the fourth wall from time to time by directly addressing the screen or calling bosses "boss battles". This kind of behaviour is exactly how Sonic should be acting - it's why we love him! His general attitude towards what he's doing, the enemies and, at times, the plot itself makes this game feel like a parody of itself, like it's poking fun at all of the other 3D Sonic games that preceded it. It was nice to actually enjoy a cut scene in a Sonic game for a change...
The game play looks and feels great. Graphically, it's everything that should be found in a Sonic game of this console generation, even considering it's a Nintendo Wii title and not one of the graphical power houses such as the X-Box 360 and Playstation 3. There is so much happening in the stages, so many bright and colourful backdrops that you kind of want to slow down and take them all in, take your time playing the game; thankfully, there are screen shots like the one above that really let you see the beauty of the stage designs.
Where this really shines is in the Starlight Carnival stages, which feature Sonic running along a walkway made of light - through space - as brightly-lit space cruisers fly around you. In this stage there's a particular bit I loved where Sonic is thrown upwards into space and then, as nature takes its course, begins to descend; as this happens you see starships coming out at hyper-speed and below Sonic are an armada of ships. Sonic eventually falls into one through an open hatch in it's deck and, predictably, the level continues inside of it. It's moments like this in the game that really show off what this game is capable of.
Where this really shines is in the Starlight Carnival stages, which feature Sonic running along a walkway made of light - through space - as brightly-lit space cruisers fly around you. In this stage there's a particular bit I loved where Sonic is thrown upwards into space and then, as nature takes its course, begins to descend; as this happens you see starships coming out at hyper-speed and below Sonic are an armada of ships. Sonic eventually falls into one through an open hatch in it's deck and, predictably, the level continues inside of it. It's moments like this in the game that really show off what this game is capable of.
Overall? Sonic Colours is a very good addition to the Sonic franchise. It's a fun, colourful and fast-paced platformer, which is exactly what a Sonic game should be! There are one or two control issues and I did find myself completing the game far too quickly... maybe with the addition of a better-developed multiplayer instead of the hastily put together co-op/competitive set across (very few) basic and simple stages it would have a longer play-value, but to be completely honest, once you've finished the game there's very little left to enjoy which devalues it somewhat.
It's a worthy rental and hopefully a step in the right direction for Sonic games in the future. So what are you waiting for? Go rent it!
It's a worthy rental and hopefully a step in the right direction for Sonic games in the future. So what are you waiting for? Go rent it!
Thanks For Reading
EpicFlyFire
