Get a better look at Sonic’s next adventure
A couple days ago, we brought you an extremely blurry look at the Sonic Colors article in this month’s issue of Nintendo Power. They were serviceable in the sense that some vague elements of the game could be made out. But let’s be honest: the quality could have been better. Thanks to a news tip from user Woun, we have been pointed in the direction of some much cleaner, much higher quality images originating from the GameFAQs forums. The images are located at the bottom of this article.
The scans provide us with some very tantalizing new information about Sonic Colors. For instance, the article mentions that the drill power-up, activated by collecting a Yellow Wisp, will allow Sonic to tunnel through the ground or “zip through the water like a torpedo”. Those who have played more recent Sonic games should note that last part: water, in most recent Sonic games, is an instant-death hazard; a stark contrast to earlier Sonic games, where water was used as a level mechanic. Sonic Colors, it would seem, returns to using water in a decidedly less deadly manner.
The rest of the article goes on to describe a game that sounds very much like Sonic Unleashed minus both the ability to boost (unless you count using a Wisp power-up) and the Werehog bits. The article even mentions discovering some sort of a “medal” hidden in one of the stages, but Sega refused to comment on its functionality – no doubt a reason to be cautious for those of you out there who thought the medal collection/unlocking system of Sonic Unleashed was a detriment to the game.
The Nintendo DS version, on the other hand, is essentially Sonic Rush 3, by the looks of things, though it obviously adopts the same Wisp power-up system. The DS version will even be receiving two exclusive Wisps, one of which will allow Sonic to boost in mid-air in any direction to, as the article states, “reach high altitudes”. Unfortunately, even these scans are incomplete – the rest of the info on the Nintendo DS version gets cut off. But, with E3 right around the corner, we’ll no doubt be inundated with all of the details soon enough.
In my opinion, Sonic Colors sounds like it might be a great time – and it makes me a little disappointed that it’s being restricted to just the Wii and DS at this point. Given the reported involvement of the “Sonic Storybook” team and the restraint being used on the game’s mechanics, Sonic Colors could be the fresh start Sega has been promising for nearly five years.
Or it could be another in a long line of flawed software. We’ll have to wait and see.
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The game itself sounds perfect; it’s the tone that’s putting me off.
I liked how Sonic took itself a little more seriously than Mario. The only reason why people hate the serious stuff is because SEGA fucked up the serious approach twice (or three times if you count SA2).
I’ll have to wait until I see some story scenes before I write the game completely.
gah will Sonic Colors be the game that make me finally get a wii? XD love what I see so far :3
and it looks like they improved some details on the Eggpawns =O
maybe it’s ust me though XP
I’m a sucker for futuristic worlds in Sonic games (Like Chrome Gadget for example), and seeing this, especially with the add on of planets and what not in the background, is a treat.
Suddenly I’m reminded of little planet in Sonic CD, as it was pretty much Robotnik’s after he meddled with it.
@Kits’Okami: I think the tone fits perfectly; too many games this gen have taken themselves far too seriously. Mario never has a problem with his tone because he doesn’t have a selective audience, unlike with SEGA and Sonic. Light-hearted fits Sonic best for now, becuase who would take a blue hedgehog seriously, anyway?
Wow this looks amazing. Anyone noticed on the space theme park level doesn’t that background of the earth look like a picture from one of the Sonic Advance levels? I think it was a final boss level. I think thats going to be my favorite stage.
I’m with the Professor on this one. With a serious tone, the Sonic games have always tried too hard to make it work, when the core subject matter itself is hard to take seriously anyway.
The fact they seem to be making a return to the colorful environments and the light-hearted story elements tells me that someone realized this at some point, and that’s good. The last major game that did this was Heroes, and, while a lot of the game was bad, I enjoyed the gameplay and the overall bright and colorful elements of the game’s design. It was a nice change from what the games at the time were starting to lean towards…
These futuristic-type worlds I’ve been seeing in screenshots and the like for this game make me smile. I hope we can see more info later on as it becomes available.
@Kits’Okami: …from the scans:
“…and what we’ve seen from the narrative is minamalistic, light-hearted, and approprietly goofy.”
Actually, scratch that. The last major game was -kind of- Unleashed. The dark, grimy elements were absent, but that still didn’t stop a world-destructive beastie from becoming a huge problem. So… I dunno, I guess it was still pretty light-hearted for the most part, so, mistaken I was there, for a second.
I bet that drill power will look SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Nice graphics. =)
Amazing graphics. As for the description, it sounds pretty awesome aside from the 70% of what we played being 2.5D… I mean, isn’t that kind of what Sonic 4 is for?
Oh,lookie here high quality screenshots the game looks really sweet.Drill prower seriously sega ripping of super mario galaxy 2 much
Meh, Wisps, Shields.
Same thing.
@Mike: Shields have meters that deplete when you use them?
It’s about time they stop making promises to people who won’t appreciate them.
…like you, for instance.
Honestly, this sounds like a far better version of Unleashed. Unleashed itself would’ve been awesome if it hadn’t been for the Werehog, boost spamming, and required medal collecting. I think that the high-speed 3D race sections of Unleashed worked real well without the boost spamming.
I still wish it had more characters, but meh… works for me. The only thing about this game I haven’t liked so far is the name.
I played Sonic Rush. I loved it. I didn’t play Sonic Rush Adventure cause my sister told me it sucks. Now this? As long as it doesn’t have a stupid RPG heading the storyline, even if the Wii version sucks, I’ll still have the inevitably incredible DS version to back it up.
Seeing that boost bar and “!” enemy made my day.
My godness, the backgrounds are very detailed. The graphics are a step up from Unleshed Wii and look somewhat better than Black Knight.
But it looks really good.
when I read there was one part that really is ironic because us sonic fans wanted to have the franchise dead after Sonic 06 came, so the part is when the yellow whisp power up ( makes sonic dig underground) expires, you apparently just dug Sonic’s grave.
I don’t see why everyone’s moaning about “Sonic Rush 3″. Wasn’t the Rush series GOOD?
@ SonikkuForever
Rush series was only really great for the story. The games were mostly fun until you realized that it was only a press right and boost fest. The original games had extreme platforming. Rush? Not so much.
Well, I’m hyped. These screeshots look pretty damn good, especially the Wii version. The game really does look and feel like Sonic Rush 3 on the DS, and at times, I really wish they branded it such. Hopefully, these new mechanics will pull through for us. Now… why isn’t the game on the PS3/360? Why did SEGA decide to leave out such a huge Sonic game on the console I OWN?! I’ll be getting the DS version, sure, but now somehow, I have to get a Wii in order to have the overall better looking version.
@Pickle: It’s the “goofy” part that worries me.
So far it looks good
I don´t like the EggPawns though
Although if the game is good, I don´t care…
@Edge
But…boost spamming in Rush & Rush Adventure will kill you, even in stage 1.
@ Skai Cyan
Tell that to my copy of Sonic Rush Adventure. I just boost spammed and now have all S ranks.
Looks like Sonic Colors/Colours = Sonic Unleashed 2
Sonic Colors looks like a disaster. I am a huge Sonic fan and want sega to release a 3D Sonic game like Adventure1/2/Heroes/Unleashed (without werehog). When will Sega release a unique Sonic game without being corny.