Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: Blind Squirrel Games/ Sonic Team
Full Name: Sonic Colors: Ultimate
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Released on: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
I had just wrapped up another game and noticed Sonic Colors Remastered sitting on PlayStation Plus. I remembered the praise the original had received back in the day, so I figured I’d give it a shot. Unfortunately, while the opening levels had some charm, I quickly found myself disengaged. The gameplay felt clunky, the pacing was uneven, and despite bursts of energy, it didn’t hold my attention for long. What started with some light-hearted excitement slowly turned into a game I had to push myself to finish.
Story and setting
Plot overview
Dr. Eggman has supposedly turned over a new leaf and opens a sprawling interstellar amusement park, but surprise, he’s using alien Wisps to fuel a mind-control scheme. Sonic and Tails set out to uncover the truth and stop his plan. The narrative is serviceable, with some humorous moments, but nothing that evolves or challenges expectations.
World building and immersion
Sonic and Tails remain static personalities—Sonic cracks jokes, and Tails gives tech support. There’s little character growth or real tension. Even Eggman feels more like comic relief than a credible villain.
Character development
There aren’t any major emotional beats or surprises. The tone is light and skews heavily toward younger audiences, which is fine, but it won’t resonate deeply with older players.
Emotional impact
The amusement park setting offers a unique backdrop, but it feels underused. Levels often feel stitched together without much narrative connection. The atmosphere sometimes succeeds visually but rarely draws you into its world.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story, and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 5.5
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The game features a blend of 2D and 3D sections, along with the Wisp system that gives Sonic temporary abilities like boosting, phasing, and drilling. These mechanics offer some variety, but control inconsistencies dampen the fun.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty curve feels all over the place. Some levels are painfully short or simplistic, while others introduce sudden hazards or awkward platforming. Enemy placements feel random, and challenge doesn’t always mean enjoyment.
Pacing of the game
The pace fluctuates wildly. Some acts breeze by in under a minute, while others feel padded or slow. There’s no real rhythm to the flow, which disrupts the player’s sense of progression.
Innovation and uniqueness
When it launched originally, the Wisp system was a novelty. But today, it feels limited and tacked on. The remaster doesn’t reinvent or meaningfully expand on these ideas.
Controls and user interface
Controls often feel delayed or unresponsive, especially in tight platforming sections. Menus are straightforward, but the UI lacks the polish you’d expect from a modern update.
Microtransactions
Cosmetic DLCs exist, such as extra skins, but they don’t impact gameplay. Still, it’s disappointing to see them in a remaster.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing, and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 5.8
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
Visually, the game boasts more saturated colors and some cleaner lighting effects. However, the aesthetic can come off as overly shiny, and some textures feel out of place or unfinished. The art direction has charm but the upgrade feels inconsistent.
Technical performances
On release, the remaster was riddled with bugs and issues. Although some patches have improved it, frame drops and animation glitches still occur, marring the overall polish.
Environment and design uniqueness
Some worlds, like Sweet Mountain and Aquarium Park, are visually imaginative, but others lack originality. Many stages feel formulaic, relying too much on visual gimmicks.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 6.0.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack remains a highlight. Tracks like Reach for the Stars and various zone themes carry a bouncy, uplifting tone that suits Sonic well. If nothing else, the music keeps you moving.
Sound effects quality
Functional but unremarkable. Boosts, jumps, and hits sound fine but don’t stand out.
Voice Acting
The cast does a solid job. Sonic’s voice has energy, and Eggman’s monologues are occasionally fun. Tails and supporting voices get the job done, though dialogue isn’t memorable.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 7.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The campaign is relatively short, around 6–8 hours for a basic playthrough. Trying to collect all red rings and unlock extras might stretch that by a few more hours.
Extra Content
Features like Rival Rush and time attack modes are meant to add replayability but feel more like filler than meaningful additions.
Replay value
If you’re a Sonic completionist or enjoy chasing perfect scores, there’s reason to return. Otherwise, the repetitive design and lack of variety may not justify multiple playthroughs.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Sonic Colors Ultimate with a 5.5.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Rebuild the control system from the ground up. Add more meaningful content, polish the level design, and expand on the Wisp mechanics in creative ways. A smoother difficulty curve and better enemy logic would also improve the experience.
Comparisons
Compared to Sonic Generations or Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Colors Remastered lacks momentum and modern design principles. Even earlier games like Sonic Heroes or Sonic Unleashed manage to feel more responsive and rewarding.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
I really tried to enjoy the game. I gave every world a fair shot, tried to immerse myself in its whimsical charm, but the clunky movement and uneven stage design kept pulling me out. One time, I replayed a stage five times just to collect a single red ring, but every run ended in a poorly placed death pit or janky camera shift. At that point, I had to ask myself if I was having fun or just pushing through out of stubbornness.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Sonic Colors Remastered, I give it a personal rating of 5.
Last words
Pros
- Catchy soundtrack
- Colorful environments
- Classic Sonic charm
- Quick gameplay sessions
- Voice acting is decent
- Wisp system adds variety (when it works)
Cons
- Clunky, unreliable controls
- Poor level design and pacing
- Technical glitches and bugs
- Shallow platforming mechanics
- Boring boss fights
- Inconsistent difficulty
- Cosmetic microtransactions in a remaster
- Minimal replay value
Sonic Colors: Ultimate might be a nostalgic trip for some, but for many, it will feel like a half-hearted remaster of a game that simply hasn’t aged gracefully. There are flashes of fun, but they’re buried beneath clunky execution and frustrating design. For a franchise known for speed, this one stumbles more than it sprints.
FINAL RATING
6
Please let me know what you think of Sonic Colors Remastered in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
If you liked reading this review, maybe you would like to share this review with your friends.
It seems like the clunky controls really holds this game back, wonder if they’ll ever fix it
The colors man the colors. This game will have you tripping if you high.
An amusement park setting sounds awesome but Bad controls and poor level design are double No-Gos, espeacilly for a Sonic game.
Gotta catch em all… oh em I mean: go fast
Are there any newer Sonic titles that don’t get bad ratings? Somehow I only ever hear bad things… Never played any Sonic myself though… Just not my kinda game. But it’s sad that it seems so many established franchises think they can just throw out half-baked games bc “people love the franchise, they’ll play it anyways…”… seen this mentality way to often…
Overall, doesn’t seem very enthusiastic.
Hard to believe a game that looks this bright and fun ends up being remembered for its awkward controls
It’s a shame that the reviews aren’t very good, because the atmosphere seemed nice.
Although I like the sonic franchise, I am not really a diehard fan. Clunky, unreliable controls are what I dislike most in a platform/action game. I mean, what should I do with a clunky speedster? I will put this game on a backbench.
Sounds like one of the worse Sonic games out there. XD
But it’s understandable, especially since controls are what make these games shine, and this one struggles to keep up!
1,5 players? First time seeing it. I wonder how it works. (1st pic)
Looks like lower quality game and remaster. In fact those cons you write in reviews are really imporant like control. And pros after reading full review are so so, like there are colors but graphics could be better too in remaster.
I really hate when a game has clunky controls… i think i will skip this one… but otherwise the game looks nice albeit fast haha
I can see how all of those flaws would make for a really unpleasant experience…
Still, thanks for the review! 🙂
Sad to hear that remaster didn’t improve upon the UI and the mechanics while also having DLC 🙁
I grew up on Sonic games, I remember playing the original sonic games with my brothers, and I’d play Dr Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine every night with my mom. It’s great to see Sonic still around, although it’s sad to see him in a disappointing, messy, clunky game like this 🙁
I like review and Sonic is awesome as a hero and speedrunner.
Feels weird that after so many Sonic games they still release one with clunky controls and bugs