I’ve got a ton of respect for the guys at GameTrailers for providing great video content and in-depth, entertaining video reviews. They are also usually on the same wavelength as I am when it comes to judging a game. Their review of the upcoming Sonic Colo(u)rs is one of the first out of the gate for this hotly-anticipated, cycle-breaking game. As of today, they have placed the lowest score on the game with a 6.4/10. What?
While I think this score is a tad harsh (considering that they gave shittier 3D Sonic games better scores), GT mentions what most reviewers have thus far omitted: lingering issues 3D Sonic, which probably ruined the game for them entirely. From my brief playtime with the game, I can say that there are some frustrating design choices in Sonic Colo(u)rs that are held over from the Dreamcast era, like blind spots (resulting in sudden, unfair spikes in difficulty), inconsistent level design or SEGA’s “close, but not quite” physics. It’s a moment where you just say, “It’s 2010 and these issues still exist?” It’s kind of a turn-off and I can see where GT is coming from, even though it has yet to break the game for me.
None of this is implying, from my point of view anyway, that Colors is a bad/average game. From what I’ve played, this game is a vast improvement. SEGA’s getting there. The improvements to 3D Sonic and the game’s “no bullshit” approach have been appealing to me, coloring my impressions on the positive side. It’s just that while I was having fun, I did notice these issues and was perplexed that most reviewers passed up the opportunity to point them out for the benefit of future Sonics, especially since they’ve been around for so long.
Check back here at Retro around release time to see if we think Sonic Colo(u)rs is truly the best 3D Sonic game.
Also, lol @ everybody attacking GT for this review. “BUT EVERYBODY ELSE GAVE THIS GAME AN 8/10 WAAAAAAAH.” So, do you want all reviews to be the same? How boring. Good luck with that. Another classic is “YOU SUCK AT PLAYING THIS GAME THATS WHY WAAAAAAH.” Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for a developer to make bad choices. Some people really suck at understanding the concept of opinions.
(“Reach For the Stars” is still a horrible theme song.)
59 Comments on this post
Leave a CommentI’m not attacking GameTrailers, but I still think it’s a crappy review. I didn’t like it when IGN overstated how good Sonic 4 was anymore than I liked it when GameSpot overstated how bad it was. It’s more or less the same with Colors. I’d dispute any review that gave it a 9.5 or a 10 and glossed over its less happy-go-lucky aspects as surely as I’d dispute a review like GameTrailers.
I’m perfectly satisfied with the 7-8.5 scores the game’s been getting, unlike the whining fuckwits in certain YouTube comment boxes.
What it comes down to–in both directions, positive and negative–is that making mountains of molehills is poor form, the end. I think the mark of a good reviewer is the ability to discern the difference between how bad something actually is, and how much of your annoyance is just you being annoyed… or, how good something actually is, and how much of your epic fangasm was just you having a fangasm.
If that makes any sense.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Solaris Paradox
Do arbitrary numbers really mean that much to you?
Reply left on 11.9.2010 by slide
I admit that I feel the 6.4 score is a bit harsh for two reasons. The review states there is very little use for the Wisp powers and while I haven’t played the game myself, I have seen playthroughs that illustrate that the powers’ are skill oriented. You can’t just grab a power and use it how you want – it seems you really need to explore the levels and find each use carefully. Pair that with the fact that a lot of the game looks completely beatable without any wisp powers and I think we have a misunderstanding of design frameworks.
Secondly, the clips they showed of Sonic’s dialogue that were intended to have me writhe in pain actually had me smile, as Sonic never seemed more lively and the script is pretty funny, blatantly coming from writers of our generation who adore 4th wall-breaking humor. I am not a child and I still enjoyed the cutscenes in Colors, despite what GT says.
Otherwise, fine and exhaustive review.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Iapetus
“Reach for the Stars” sounds good in the instrumental versions, it makes the trailers super exciting.
Interesting that the review that goes through the “bad” points still gives it an ok score, I’m pretty excited for Colours, but I’ll hold out on my opinion of it until I’ve played it first hand
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Mr.Mash
:/ I like the theme with words But I gotta say Endless Possibilities was better in my opinion ....why fans complaining about the song it ain't that bad you can't always have Crush 40
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Truesonic
My problem with the review is that it’s not in-depth enough. Based on the little information I was given, it just doesn’t add up enough in my mind to justify the lower score. If you want to say something is bad, you ought to elaborate a bit on WHY… particularly if you’re going to rate the game lower than (or on par with) games which are quite obviously worse.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by ChaoticFox
I agree that the theme is shit and I personally prefered it when it was all crush 40 and guest artists like sonic adventure 2. But I did like the unleashed theme(main theme not the ending). Otherwise who cares if gametrailers rated it differently? Just use a different review as a basis for buying it.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by MetalShadowChaos
What truely bemuses me is the still present “floaty jumping”. You could say oh its just a 3D Sonic problem but its not because jumping in the 2D sections looks totally and wrong and I felt that SA2 got jumping just right.
The horribly light jumping is a problem Sonic has had since Heroes…
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by gabman
SA2's jump was pretty floaty, too, actually...
Reply left on 11.9.2010 by Solaris Paradox
you know what would be cool, if perhaps SEGA would go and ask Nintendo for some pointers, i am really curious on the outcome of a sonic game if they took advice from Nintendo
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Foxeh
Amen to that. Donkey Kong Returns should be an actual quality video game and the recent Mario games have been awesome.
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by TheBruceDickinson666
Well, that represents a problem. As right as you are, there WILL be some dumb Sonic fans saying "Oh, Sonic's copying Mario"
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Nickster99
Reviews are reviews. Other the jumping, I think Colors is awesome, but that’s me.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by sonknuck23
“Free” is also a horrible theme song and I understand you. :’(
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Floppy
The Free Riders theme?
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Truesonic
I think this review is okay, not too keen on how not very informative it is.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Stolken
This review is BS. Especially since Other reviews have given it higher scores, and plus, they’re saying SONIC ADVENTURE 1&2 is bad in the process.
That’s one way to tick off the general population.
As for the main theme… Meh, it’s passable. If you want REAL suckage, listen to the game’s ENDING theme by Cash Cash.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Kyle
I thought Sonic Adventure was pretty lame. Parts of it were funny b/c of how stupid they were I guess.
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by TheBruceDickinson666
...Crap, I just realised I'm complaining just like the article said I would. DAMN YOU PEER PRESSURE.
Reply left on 11.9.2010 by Kyle
It’s a pretty bad review, it objectively focuses mostly on flaws rather than bringing to attention to things they enjoyed.
I’ve had an absolute blast with this game so far, so bitch and moan that occasionally you might get a cheap death, you learn from it and become a better player for it.
They don’t even seem to be aware that the green wisp grants a light dash ability, they moronically collect each individual ring rather then use the ability.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by RupeeClock
Not only that, but they explained that the game had really bad controls when all you had to do was hold forward. Also the part where he said the game was trial and error, he literally jumped into an electric enemy.
Even though GT is bad at video games, they can get into detail smoothly. The problem with this video is that all they seemed to do was troll everyone instead of using detail; that really sickens me.
Reply left on 11.9.2010 by Stolken
The lyrics for Reach for the Stars are pretty bad, but not quite as bad as how “Free” come off. Nevertheless, I still find myself enjoying the extremely uplifting wavelengths of both songs. Call it a guilty pleasure, but don’t get me wrong: I’d say Crush 40 did better jobs at theme songs back in the Dreamcast days. Sonic ’06′s theme is epic but overused, and the songs in Black Knight are pretty rocking overall.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Treleus
well, i can agree with him on the voice acting…. actually no, the voice acting is great, the script is horrible…
and the theme song is lame, other than that this game looks amazing
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by supersonic196
For the record, I can agree that cheap blindspots and not-tight physics need to stop. That goes just the same for Sonic 4. And it’d be great if SEGA did something about that ubiquitous on-rails 3D gameplay necessitated by an unnecessary overabundance of bottomless pits and leading to aforementioned cheap deaths and getting blindsided. That shit gets old in any dimension.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Treleus
Im just flat out DONE with Sonic games, I still enjoy the dreamcast, A LOT, even if it hasn’t aged well, all it needed were sequels to improve on it, but instead they just kept getting worse. Now Im supposed to except this game because its okay, and that newer games will get better? I don’t think so, Ive been suckered all these years, and I thought I was done after unleashed, but they sucked me in again, but now I know better. Sonic Team will never make a good game ever again…. Now I know this is like the 3rd or 4th time, but THIS TIME! I will never be fooled again! .,………….also Sonic’s voice sucks
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Khayal1O1
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Get fooled 4 times ... well ... it's better late than never?
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by TheBruceDickinson666
Yes, too harsh. Colo(u)rs was a really big step, and It seems to be far superior than the highly hyped Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Ep I.
This is the first time I’ve see a gimmick that works well with the game, a thing that not happened with the Werehog (Unleashed), carrying a Sword (Black Knight), etc.
I will going to purchase this game, but maybe in December, since I’m going to get a Wii in that month.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by CplFoley94
I think maybe you guys should check this out here: http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=141879
I’m not sure if it’s true or not but the more I watch it the more correct it seems.
Comment left on Tuesday November 9th, 2010 by Stolken
Which is why websites shouldn't review games until they are ACTUALLY out.
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by MetaRyan
Sonic colors sucked? GODFUCKINGDAMNIT!
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by AliasL
That's right, jump to conclusions. We need more responses like that.
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Treleus
Newspaper in Sweden gave this one 9 of 10. Only issue is the easy difficulty.
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by Vem0th
Again, GT gave Modern Warfare 2 pretty much 50% of 09′s GOTY awards. I can’t take them seriously ever anymore.
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by Vaiz
Not suprised, Sonic Unleashed Daytime was crap, and this is more of that.
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by Limey
I Beg to differ :D for me Unleashed was one of the best Sonic 3D games yet of course thats just my opinion but you can't agree with GT I mean we haven't played it yet....get the game and see for yourself don't listen to the reviewers until you are certain
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Truesonic
I'd agree, but then I played the PS2 version. Seemed like the short end of the stick. The HD version looked more fun. Even the night stages.
Reply left on 11.10.2010 by Treleus
If you are unsure if you are going to buy Sonic Colors, watch this video: http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=142020 . CAUTION: MAJOR SPOILERS!
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by MetaRyan
I finished the game and yeah, the issues GT mention are in the game. But in no way do they overway the good in the game. The nasy botomless pits arent everywhere.
It’s still their opinion however
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by Jwiwo
This guy at Game Trailers freakin’ sucks as a reviewer. He just stinks at the game, and that is all.
Comment left on Wednesday November 10th, 2010 by Nickster99
“YOU SUCK AT PLAYING THIS GAME THATS WHY WAAAAAAH.”
Reply left on 11.11.2010 by Slingerland
We’re talking about the morons that gave Modern Warfare 2 over 50% of last year’s GOTY awards.
Might as well say “Fuck it” to what they think, honestly.
Comment left on Thursday November 11th, 2010 by Haru
“Hey guys Sonic is now about reflexes!”
(and the fandom rejoiced)
Ah, I’m done with Sonic Games… I can’t like “Corridors” gameplay.
Comment left on Thursday November 11th, 2010 by Quint
If the game is good or bad, its gonna be my decission, but of course im gonna rent it first before bought it, and……….. after the Modern Warfare dilemma, those guys lost my support
Comment left on Friday November 12th, 2010 by Dario
[...] has made Sonic an absolute joke is gone. While it’s good for it, Sonic Colors still decides to bring along fundamental design problems that people shouldn’t be tolerating [...]