Sonic Colors: Ultimate Reviews
Sonic Colors Ultimate takes one of the best 3D Sonic games from the past and brings it to platforms it has never reached before, all in a fairly-priced, nicely done Ultimate package. It’s easy to recommend to any fan of Sonic games, including those like myself that never got around to playing the original in the last decade.
Sonic Colours: Ultimate serves as a sad reminder that even the 3D Sonic games that are ‘one of the good ones’ don’t hold up very well. The updated visuals, soundtrack, and gameplay tweaks at least make it a better experience than the original, and some quality of life upgrades make the worst parts marginally less painful. Sonic fans nostalgic for this game will likely still value having this remaster in their collection, but the new customisable options and Rival Rush Mode are simply not enough to make up for what Sonic Colours lacks.
When comparing it to other 3D Sonic titles, Sonic Colours is easily one of the better entries in the storied annals of the spiny speedster. It's an audiovisual delight, and more often than not, calls upon the spirit of speed that made this a household name. Unfortunately, it still carries plenty of the baggage from older 3D Sonic games in terms of unnecessary difficulty spikes, and inconsistent switching between 3D and 2.5D.
Sonic Colors' vibrant colors, inventive level design and fast gameplay made it a hit back in 2010.
Refined controls, a revamped soundtrack, and some new features still make Sonic Colors: Ultimate a game that fans of the franchise will surely enjoy.
In many ways, Sonic Colors: Ultimate represents the unhindered high points of the 3D Sonic games. It's Sonic as a single playable character, so there are no werehogs, gameplay changes, or an adorable pudgy younger version of himself. It's the "run incredibly fast through loops" gameplay boiled down to its essentials, and it works really well. Even a decade out from its initial release, it's still a darn fun game, and Colors Ultimate definitely captures the feel. It won't change your mind if you never liked the 3D style of gameplay, but if you did, Colors is arguably the best of the lot. It might not have the highs of Unleashed or Generations, but it also is a far more focused affair.
Sonic Colors Ultimate is well-executed revisit of a high point in Sonic's long career. Most of the quality here stems from the content of the original, rather than the new additions and tweaks for this re-release. Things like the Jade Ghost and extra customization options are welcome, but not game changing, and the musical and graphical improvements are minimal. At the end of the day, though, this is still a well-performing, portable version of a classic and that's arguably all that it needs to be. We'd give this one a recommendation, then, to anyone who has yet to experience Sonic Colors, as this is certainly the best and easiest way to try it out. If you're a fan of the original, we'd still say it's worth a punt - you'll still love the game on Switch. Just be aware that this isn't a massive overhaul of what came before.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate provides a good time from start to finish. It's as true as a modern Sonic game can be.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate is the best version of an okay game. It's certainly among the hedgehog's better outings since his Genesis heyday, but it suffers from typically frustrating controls and level design. The Wisps provide variety and replay value, and the remaster adds some fun new features in addition to the visual enhancements. This 11-year-old Sonic title is one worth experiencing, but just be aware of its rough edges before you spin dash into the action.
While it might be a hard sell for those that have already experienced the intergalactic highs of the original, Sonic Colours: Ultimate is packed with value and tweaks that make it well worth your time if you haven't jumped into it before. It sports a simple yet entertaining narrative, great gameplay and a visual facelift that unleashes the potential of its namesake. All of this combines to further cement Sonic Colours as one of the best entries in modern Sonic.
Let's face it: you have no excuses anymore for not playing this little gem.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The new content introduced in Sonic Colors: Ultimate is unremarkable, but the base game still remains one of the best examples of how a modern Sonic game should be, even nearly 11 years later.
When Sonic malfunctions, it works very badly. But when the magic happens, the blue hedgehog makes you feel a feeling of class that is unique to it and without real equivalent in the video game. Sonic Colors is in the second category and shows the best sonic in 3D can offer.
Review in French | Read full review
Sonic Colours: Ultimate improves on the fine game released many years ago on Wii, but after all this time it was fair to expect something more, especially for the hedgehog's 30th birthday.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sonic Colours Ultimate, the beloved return colored and brightest than ever, with improvements and a new mode called 'Rival Rush' to test your skills against Metal Sonic. Did you think Sonic Colours radiated with so much power that it was already phenomenal? SEGA has taken one step further and delivered even more hours of fun with this remaster.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sonic Colours: Ultimate varies the traditional gameplay with new mechanics that will delight younger players. The new mechanics and a few moments make it an interesting but somewhat accessible Sonic for veterans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A good remaster for one of the most appreciated 3D chapters of the franchise.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sonic Colors Ultimate is the definitive edition of the famous game that made it big on Wii. To the visual and performance improvements we must add the amount of extras and new features added to make it even more enjoyable. An edition that no fan of the blue hedgehog should miss if he wants to remember one of the best games of the character.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sonic Colors: Ultimate brings new visuals and some new bits and bobs from the original release, but it lacks the punch of some other entries to the series.
Great Sonic games are a rare breed. At least from a gameplay perspective, it’s tough to nail that balance between blistering speed and precise controls. While Colors: Ultimate never reaches that platonic ideal, it gets pretty close! Really, it’s hard to ask for much more than that. Plus, the writing is snappy, the graphics are vibrant, the soundtrack is amped up, and the difficulty scales up nicely. You can glimpse the plateau of mastery on the horizon, and it feels attainable. As far as remasters go, everything looks and feels great. There’s not a ton of new content, but the original release is still very strong. If you’ve been searching for the elusive ‘good’ Sonic game, then Sonic Colors: Ultimate will easily scratch that itch.