Sonic Colors: Is Sonic Back?!

[henryii]

hmm...well it definitely reminds me of AoStH. I'm kind of torn. Personally, I think it's too silly, although not as bad as AoStH. At least the robots are less annoying, not that that's hard. But I really really hate AoStH and don't really want to be reminded of it that much in a game.
And I really dislike the sound Sonic's voice; something about it really grates on me and I have a hard time listening without cringing. Dialog's funny though, and Sonic's more expressive and sarcastic, which I like, so definitely credit to the new VA for that. And Tails has personality! And a great interaction with Sonic! Yay!

Based on the cut-scenes, this game feels like a Sonic game, which is a MAJOR improvement and I'm really glad to see that. It's apparently just not based on the aspects of Sonic I've ever personally liked. *sigh*

You pretty much summed up my opinions on the game Elisto

Sonic works best when it takes itself seriously. This to me is a step backwards and not a tone like that of the Genesis.

[Gojira007]

Well, I've only seen the cutscene with Sonic, Tails, and the translator. I'm saving anything else for when I actually own the game (which should be around Christmas ;3).

That said, as someone with a soft spot for AoStH, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with what we've gotten so far. The writing is lightweight to be sure, but it is also genuinely funny from what I've seen, and easily preferrable to the overwrought dramatics of games like "Shadow the Hedgehog" or "Sonic the Hedgehog 2006"; ditto the competent but entirely flat (and more than a touch rehashed) story for "Sonic Unleashed". I do sorta wish we could have something a bit more SatAM-like in tone and structure, but for what it is, "Colors"' script is above-par for recent Sonic titles.

As for the new voice actors, I love 'em. Big time. After half-a-decade of putting up with Jason Griffin's one-tone-of-voice-suits-all voice, Roger Craig Smith is a godsend. He has a lot of Jaleel White's enjoyable irreverence, and overall his vitality is quite impressive. It is clear he's new to the role overall, admittedly, but I think he'll grow into it nicely with time. Pretty much all that goes for our new Tails, too, though the improvement overall is less significant; of all the characters, Tails has probably suffered the least from voice actor changes, if only because the scripts haven't called for him to do much of great importance since "Sonic Adventure 2" and "sound like a kid" is not that difficult to do inoffensively.

I think it's a bit premature to say that Sonic is "back" on these cutscenes alone, or even "Colors" alone, but I do think it's a positive sign that SEGA is finally learning from the mistakes of the last decade and, slowly but surely, taking real steps to fix them.

[henryii]

Well, I've only seen the cutscene with Sonic, Tails, and the translator. I'm saving anything else for when I actually own the game (which should be around Christmas ;3).

That said, as someone with a soft spot for AoStH, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with what we've gotten so far. The writing is lightweight to be sure, but it is also genuinely funny from what I've seen, and easily preferrable to the overwrought dramatics of games like "Shadow the Hedgehog" or "Sonic the Hedgehog 2006"; ditto the competent but entirely flat (and more than a touch rehashed) story for "Sonic Unleashed". I do sorta wish we could have something a bit more SatAM-like in tone and structure, but for what it is, "Colors"' script is above-par for recent Sonic titles.

As for the new voice actors, I love 'em. Big time. After half-a-decade of putting up with Jason Griffin's one-tone-of-voice-suits-all voice, Roger Craig Smith is a godsend. He has a lot of Jaleel White's enjoyable irreverence, and overall his vitality is quite impressive. It is clear he's new to the role overall, admittedly, but I think he'll grow into it nicely with time. Pretty much all that goes for our new Tails, too, though the improvement overall is less significant; of all the characters, Tails has probably suffered the least from voice actor changes, if only because the scripts haven't called for him to do much of great importance since "Sonic Adventure 2" and "sound like a kid" is not that difficult to do inoffensively.

I think it's a bit premature to say that Sonic is "back" on these cutscenes alone, or even "Colors" alone, but I do think it's a positive sign that SEGA is finally learning from the mistakes of the last decade and, slowly but surely, taking real steps to fix them.

I too like AoStH, but in a charming Sliver Age kinda way and not a direction the comics or games should take.

[Gojira007]

I too like AoStH, but in a charming Sliver Age kinda way and not a direction the comics or games should take.

That's your perogative, I suppose, but I'll take "Silver Age" over Todd MacFarlane's leftovers any day of the week.

[Ariakai]

Sonic works best when it takes itself seriously. This to me is a step backwards and not a tone like that of the Genesis.

Thirded, this is why I'm an SatAM/Archie fan in the first place, because sillyness and childishness makes me sick to my stomach, but Sonic's and Tails' personalities are at least better than they were in the games or Sonic X.

[Vulpes bicaudata]

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said that seriousness is the refuge of the shallow...

Anyway, I find it ironic that the game that came outta nowhere, and which didn't especially try to appease fans, is the one winning the acclaim.

You know, it seems like Sonic doesn't work anywhere anymore except on Nintendo consoles...

[pacmancdi]

I'm not too fond of aosth either but it could be much worse. I've downloaded the demo of the ds version and i've played it a ton. It just feels right this time. The levels flow nicely and the power ups are a nice touch.

[PorpoiseMuffins]

Love the commercial:

[Saber16]

Proving my nerdiness, I not only pre-ordered the game, and not only did I show up at the mid night launch, but I got the free Sonic hat and wore it all the way back to my friends waiting in the car. Assassin's Creed buyers watched in awe: A true Sonic nerd... Or an attention whore. I dunno, I got the thing, might as well wear it.

ANYWAY:

Just played the thing for an hour, beat the first world with horrible scores and played the first level of another stage.

I'm really digging it.
The game play is fun, the levels are bright and beautifully detailed, the music is great, and the story has a "So bad it's good" vibe going for it. I'll get a review on the FUS site some time down the road.

Just thought I would share my first impressions... because you guys OBVIOUSLY care what I think

... Oh, one last thing:

Game trailers can take that "Controls like a bag of cement" comment and shove it.

[Gojira007]

... Oh, one last thing:

Game trailers can take that "Controls like a bag of cement" comment and shove it.

I am normally not inclined to believe the little conspiracies people come up with to explain away bad reviews of games they like, but given the circumstances, the rumors that Gametrailers.com may have received a bad review copy of the game seem increasingly likely to me. I normally find GT's reviews to be exceptionally even-handed and accurate, so the disparity between their opinion and that of nearly everyone else who's played the game strikes me as peculiar indeed.

[Ariakai]

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said that seriousness is the refuge of the shallow...

That doesn't make very much sense to me at all.

Anyway, I find it ironic that the game that came outta nowhere, and which didn't especially try to appease fans, is the one winning the acclaim.

Probably because it wasn't hyped to death like everything else. I think most of it is just he fans giving up on anything truly spectacular and accepting the quality if games Sega want to make now, especially since almost nothing is as bad as what happened in 2006.

This is coming from the only person in the known universe that facepalmed when Colors was revealed though.

[PorpoiseMuffins]

This is coming from the only person in the known universe that facepalmed when Colors was revealed though.

I facepalmed. But then it started looking better and better, instead of worse and worse like usually happens.

[Elisto Dragonwings]

Sonic works best when it takes itself seriously. This to me is a step backwards and not a tone like that of the Genesis.

Thirded, this is why I'm an SatAM/Archie fan in the first place, because sillyness and childishness makes me sick to my stomach, but Sonic's and Tails' personalities are at least better than they were in the games or Sonic X.

I didn't say that

[Vulpes bicaudata]

Quote pyramid mishap. That happens.

[Truro]

I got the DS version tonight and I'm loving it. The plot does seem very AoSTH-ish, but then again, I actually like Aosth, so, yeah.