Sonic Colors: Ultimate Remaster Brings the Classic to Modern Platforms

When Sonic Colors arrived in 2010, it was widely regarded as one of the strongest Sonic the Hedgehog games in several years. Its entertaining, carefully constructed stages, more precise controls than any earlier 3D Sonic game, and abilities granted by alien beings known as Wisps made for a compelling package. It also established foundations that later 3D Sonic titles would build upon. Yet its Wii-only release left the game confined to an ageing console, meaning many players never had the chance to experience it. That will change next month, when Sega, Sonic Team and developer Blind Squirrel Games bring the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate to current platforms.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate brings the Wisps' origin to modern platforms

Sega hopes the new release will give players who missed Sonic Colors originally a clearer understanding of the direction the series took in later instalments. The Wisps, for instance, returned in multi-platform sequels such as Sonic Generations, Sonic Forces and Team Sonic Racing. As well as introducing these creatures, Sonic Colors tells the story of how they first entered Sonic's world. Since the game also helped shape the future of Sonic titles, Sega felt it was a particularly suitable choice for a remaster on modern systems.

As is typical of remasters, Sonic Colors: Ultimate gives the older visuals a fresh overhaul. Since it is making the jump from the Nintendo Wii, which outputs at 480p, the improvement is considerable. Alongside upgraded lighting and extra polygons, Ultimate offers 4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second performance. "Back in 2010, this was on screens that were less pixels than your smartphone, so making that step up [...] was a huge undertaking," Sega associate producer Calvin Vu says. "We definitely want to make sure this game looks good, up to the standards of today."

I spent a little more than 30 minutes playing Sonic Colors: Ultimate. Although the demonstration was streamed virtually, so its visuals and controls were not quite as crisp as they would be when played locally, I was still impressed by how it compares with the 2010 original. The graphics, settings and character models are nowhere near the standard of a newer game such as Sonic Forces, but Sonic Colors: Ultimate looks excellent in motion for a game that began life on Wii in 2010.

Visual upgrades, remixed audio and Sonic customisation

The team has also remixed the audio, soundtrack included. Sound effects are now clearer, while the music contains new versions of familiar tracks for anyone who played the original. Many of these visual and audio enhancements would have been achievable on the considerably less powerful Wii, but the modern platforms have allowed Sega to incorporate them into this remaster.

Character customisation was another feature the Wii's technical limitations could not support. Players can now unlock cosmetic items for Sonic, including different shoes, gloves, boosts and auras. You could, for instance, give Sonic an ice boost while surrounding him with flames, along with cheetah-print gloves and shoes in another colour. It may not be Sonic's most attractive or recognisable outfit, but it is the appearance you select for him. These options are unlocked using Park Tokens found while playing.

Accessibility improvements and new Sonic Colors: Ultimate modes

A significant part of Sega and Blind Squirrel's work has involved making Colors more welcoming for new players. Ultimate introduces the Tails Save mechanic to support that aim: if Sonic falls and the player has a Tails token, his two-tailed companion will pull him back on to the ledge rather than costing the player a life. I appreciated the feature during my hands-on session, since pits appear quickly in Sonic games, and losing level progress simply because you embraced the game's defining feature - speed - is never enjoyable.

Tails Save is only one of the quality-of-life changes Sega and Blind Squirrel have made. Ultimate improves wall-jump controls and lets players remap their controllers completely, with the aim of presenting the definitive version of the game. "There's been tweaks and adjustments here and there just to make it more and more accessible," Sega producer Aaron Roseman says. "That way it's less punishing, less grueling for them and more exciting to play. At the end of the game, our goal was to maintain the fun of the original title while introducing these new features."

Gameplay also gains a new Wisp: Jade Ghost. First introduced in 2019's Team Sonic Racing, the power now joins Sonic Colors' story retroactively through Ultimate. Jade Ghost allows Sonic to move through obstacles, opening up areas that were previously out of reach. Players can also try the new Rival Rush mode, racing Metal Sonic head-to-head to earn rewards.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate launches for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC on 7 September. To watch the game in action, see our New Gameplay Today episode.