The expanded and optimized remaster of Sonic Colors Ultimate has finally been released for all modern systems, bringing with it additional game modes and content. With enhanced controls and a focus on keeping the experience smooth, Sonic Colors Ultimate retains its place as one of the better 3D offerings of the series. It's largely successful, with each of its 21 stages given new life with reapplied colors and a smoothed-out framerate.
Sonic the Hedgehog games aren't particularly known for their length and based on data gathered by HowLongToBeat, the original Sonic Colors was no exception. The Ultimate remaster seeks to address this with a few added features, the most notable a challenge mode that sees Sonic racing his mechanized rival Metal Sonic, but ultimately arrives with about the same amount of overall content as the original. With the potential for repeated runs as times are perfected and personal bests are beaten, Sonic Colors Ultimate can keep running well after its last chaos emerald is retrieved.
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Blurring Through Stages
It won't take the average player very long to work through Sonic Colors Ultimate, especially if the only goal is getting through each stage. The Ultimate version of the game offers 21 stages, across 7 worlds, each enhanced for the remaster with brighter, more vibrant graphics and an optimized framerate.
On the surface, some of these are just flat out the better 3D levels the Sonic franchise has available. However, there are still some 2D sections used as a way to break everything up and the reworked controls contribute to an overall smoother experience. The game places a few bosses throughout the stages but none that serve as any of the more memorable of the series and none that are particularly challenging. If rushed through, Sonic Colors Ultimate clocks in at a short but sweet 6 hours, even with the newly added content.
Perfection and Gathering Collectibles
The real-time investment in Sonic Colors Ultimate comes in the form of perfecting the 21 available stages. Each has its own secrets, hidden collectibles and customization items to be found. As is traditional, there's even a secret way to activate Super Sonic. Of course, speed is the heart of every successful Sonic the Hedgehog game, so Ultimate offers multiple challenges aimed at replaying stages and beating personal records. Each stage has its own ranking and a newly added Rival Rush mode which allows Sonic to square up against Metal Sonic after collecting enough Red Rings.
However, even with these plentiful additions, seeing everything Sonic Colors Ultimate will only take about 16 to 17 hours. Even a completionist run may come in at under 20 hours of total game time, but the reworked controls and enhanced levels are worth experiencing and the added Rival Rush is a welcome addition, as Metal Sonic often is. With the lure of perfect runs on each map, Sonic Colors Ultimate may be able to retain players even after the end of its own structured content, expanding the total gameplay beyond even hunting down every last collectible and blazing through every chapter as Super Sonic.
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