Sonic Colors

Game review by Christopher Healy, Common Sense Media
Sonic Colors Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Fast (too fast?), exciting chapter in this hedgehog story.

Nintendo Wii 2010
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 29 reviews

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  • Sonic Colors Game: Screenshot #1
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Sonic Colors is the latest in a very long line of Sonic the Hedgehog games. It's a cartoony action tale that features violence only against robots. The plot does involve a villain kidnapping cute innocent aliens, however. As is typical of Sonic games, the action moves incredibly fast as Sonic zips along, and it can actually be disorienting for some players.

Community Reviews

ChrisH.
ChrisH. Adult
November 24, 2014
age 14+

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Too much swearing
obnoxiousm
obnoxiousm Adult
May 6, 2011
age 7+

Best 3D Sonic Game; Nightmare Fuel for Adult Players

Sonic Colors is probably the best Sonic game since Sonic 3 & Knuckles. It's not my favorite, but it is the best. It has a wonderful, whimsical, hilarious plot, beautiful scenery, challenging gameplay with a steep but manageable difficulty spike, and a nuanced, subtle look at the Sonic-Tails friendship. I could tell you guys all about the gameplay, the lovely music, the beautiful scenery. You don't care about that. You care about whether it's ok for your kids. If your kids are old enough to understand what is actually happening to the wisps, it will probably frighten them on some level. I think this hits older, adult players harder. Some of the robots are so cartoony that it isn't clear they're not organic, and some of the robots have feelings. I don't think the whole "sonic smash robots, robots are safe targets" thing works for this game. It's just too ambiguous; kids younger than 6 might try to copy Sonic's moves without thinking it through, and older kids might not realize that hitting normal people is not ok, since Orbot and Cubut are both robots and speaking characters. One of the highlights of this game is Sonic and Tails. They banter, and at at least one point they bicker, but in the end their friendship and devotion to each other triumphs over their petty conflict. Yacker, too, proves a loyal friend and a wonderful roll model. The wisps in general are generous and kind, and Sonic is able to blend a sort of complete self-direction as a tourist with saving innocent people without a second thought as a hero. The perfect picture of an American hero in a Japanese game. The theme park itself is actually somewhat educational, satirizing and deconstructing the consumerism in amusement parks. It's really funny and really well-done. The game as a whole also introduces the idea of ulterior motive to very young players. Something you'll want to talk about with them. One big concern I have is that playing with the wiimote and nunchuk can be painful for people with joint problems. If you have any history of wrist or arm injuries, use the Gamecube or Classic controller, please.

This title has:

Too much violence
Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The evil Dr. Eggman seems to have changed his ways in SONIC COLORS. He's built an intergalactic amusement park to provide fun for the whole galaxy. Sonic the Hedgehog is suspicious, though, and when he visits, he discovers that the park is just a trap to help Eggman take cute little aliens captive. As Sonic races around and saves the aliens, called Wisps, they each provide him with a special power. Depending on the color of the wisp, it may give him an extra speed boost, let him fly, help him stick to walls, or even become indestructible for a brief time.

Is It Any Good?

Sonic Colors feels like one of the better entries in this long-running game series. Sure, those not used to Sonic games can get disoriented by the insane speed at which it plays (heck, even Sonic veterans can be), but that ridiculous pace has always been part of Sonic's appeal. This new game caters to both old-school and new-gen gamers, as it flips back and forth between 3-D and 2-D sidescrolling formats -- often within the same level. The new powers are fun to use when you can manage to snatch them up, and the vibrant worlds full of hidden detours are exciting to re-explore after you've completed them initially. The tutorial system certainly could have been planned out better, but beyond that, this is a solid game.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fighting action in the game. Sonic only fights robots. Is violence less impactful when it's enacted against non-human characters?

  • Would the game feel different if the bad guys were alien creatures? What if they were humans?

Game Details

Our Editors Recommend

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