Sonic Colors Ultimate (PlayStation 4)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): September 7, 2021
- Publisher: SEGA
- Developer: Sonic Team
- Genres: Platformer
- Also For: Computer, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Game Features:
There's something very special about the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. It's been 30 years since the first Sonic game, and in that span of time, there's been everything from instant-classics to absolute failures. Despite having been a massive fan of the series ever since playing my very first video game, Sonic 2 on the SEGA Genesis, I've found that I dislike a majority of Sonic games, especially after having gone back and replayed many of them for the 30th anniversary. The 2000s especially tend to feature the worst the series has to offer, with the latter half of the aughts having some of the most downright awful, clunky, and infuriating Sonic entries, from Shadow the Hedgehog to Sonic and the Black Knight.
2010, however, marked an important moment for the series--a bit of hope that SEGA could finally pull it together and actually make a good 3D Sonic game again. Sonic Colors was that game. Originally released for the Wii, it was incredibly well-received back in its day, not only managing to have gameplay that people could enjoy, but also breathing new life into the characters with a new voice cast, who retain their roles to this current day. While Sonic Unleashed may have been the start of the "boost" era titles, it was Colors that made it a beloved gameplay element. The real question is, were fans just willing to grab onto and lavish praise on the first decent Sonic game in years, or has Colors managed to actually hold up in the decade since its launch?
Level design is of paramount importance to a platformer, and Sonic Colors does not disappoint. Not only are the themes of each Zone unique and colorful, but the actual layouts are great as well. There are varying paths that make replaying the levels interesting and fresh, especially with the five Red Rings that are hidden within each stage. It's especially a lovely change of pace compared to more recent games like Forces, which felt annoyingly on-rails at times, with highly automated levels. If you try to boost to win in Colors, the game will punish you; there are plenty of platforming elements, which while not especially challenging, are engaging and enjoyable.
Even though SEGA has had a full decade to learn and grow from Sonic Colors, this game proves that it's the best of the "boost" era titles by a good margin. Revisiting this made me realize that Colors is very rarely in 3D, with a vast majority of the stages only having a small window of high-octane, speedy gameplay. And honestly, I'm okay with that; Generations might have succeeded in having more full-on 3D sections, but in doing so, feels too restrictive with player input. Colors has the best blend of gameplay and cool automation, and it's a joy to return to after all these years.
Played entirely on a PlayStation 5, this PlayStation 4 game performs wonderfully. The framerate was rock-solid, and while the visuals won't blow you away, it is nice to see Sonic Colors in HD for the first time, at least, officially. Where the original version maxed out at 30FPS, Sonic Colors Ultimate manages to hit 60FPS, and it's the best the game has ever felt. 3D sections especially benefit from the increased framerate. Beyond playing Sonic Colors on a modern system with modern visuals and performance, though, the port itself can feel a little lacking.
Ultimate doesn't try to do anything to make this feel like an ultimate edition; there are some cosmetic items you can customize Sonic's appearance with, unlocked by earning newly-placed medals in stages which serve as a mild novelty at best, and a remixed soundtrack that you can't toggle between the original with. Sound mixing in general was also awkward, as the levels themselves would be fine, only for cutscenes to only play out of the right side of my headphones/speakers. The Nintendo Switch version of the game also appears to be rife with bugs, bad load times, and other issues that SEGA has promised they'll be fixing...eventually.
That means if you're looking for a mind-blowing remaster on the same feature-packed level as the Taxman classic Sonic ones, you'll be disappointed, doubly so if you were expecting anything exciting for the series' 30th anniversary. However, at the end of the day, my main draw to this game was just having a way to be able to replay Sonic Colors at 60FPS on a modern console, and that's exactly what Sonic Colors Ultimate can provide--a simple port for a great game that definitely deserved a re-release.
Verdict
- 60FPS
- Cool level designs and worlds
- Doesn't rely too much on the boost to win gameplay
- The Wisps add some fun elements to the platforming
- Cutscenes don't look all that remastered
- Not so "ultimate" for an ultimate edition in terms of content
