Many years ago, mascot rivalry was a huge deal. Everyone was on the mascot bandwagon, but no one seemed to be able to overcome the looming tower named Mario. In 1991, Sega brought a brash blue hedgehog with an attitude to the table, and Mario finally got a run for his money. The competition never looked more aggressive. I took my side back then. I didn’t hate Mario, but Sonic was just all the edge and speed a little one could ask for. So if you told me back then that in 2010 the new Sonic game, Sonic Colors would be a Nintendo-exclusive, that may have upset me greatly.

Sonic has come a long way over the past 19 years, and it hasn’t been a road paved in gold for him either. He has hit plenty of rough spots. But now we are faced with a whole new Sonic game offering much more promise. So how does this game fair?

Sonic Colors takes place on planets in space ... cough ... that’s an idea that’s never been done ... cough. This game takes place at a resort in space that has five planets chained to it that offer a different variety or amusement at each planet. This five-planet amusement park was built by Eggman as an apology for all the numerous times he tried to take over the world, but of course, this is just a cover up, and Eggman is capturing alien species called Wisps from the planet and using their powers to build a mind control machine to — you guessed it — take over the world.

The game plays in two different parts. There are 3-D moments in which you barrel forward and dodge enemies and obstacles, and then there are 2-D moments, which consist of a lot of classic Sonic platforming. Both work excellently, and they change frequently during the level very successfully, and you don’t ever feel either one is forced on you. My one complaint with this would be the 3-D, though. Sonic moves so fast, and at times, he feels a little unresponsive. As you barrel forward, the controls don’t seem to be tight enough, and you have a hard time as Sonic bounces side-to-side as you try to stay in a straight motion to collect rows of rings. But it really doesn’t keep you from the fun; I just feel it should have been more responsive.

Casts of aliens called Wisps are the newest addition to the game. For the most part, they are not essential to beating a level. They are more a gimmick that extends the gameplay or replay value. There are eight different colored Wisps, and by collecting these, they give you a power-up, which can range from an orange Wisp that lets you drill underground or a green Wisp that lets you hover and follow trails of rings.

Each planet has six levels and a boss, and then the final boss has two extra levels. The game does feature a world map and minimaps for each world, so you can select the level or replay a level after you unlock new Wisps. Replay helps you aim for higher scores or collect all the red rings, which in return can be used to unlock a two-player mode in which you can play as a mutated Mii-Sonic or Sonic and have a friend get frustrated with you, because you guys can’t keep up with each other. The two-player is similar to that of Sonic 2 on Genesis, in which a friend could pick up a second controller and play as Tails, but poor Tails could never keep up or stay on the screen.

I really enjoyed Sonic Colors, and I feel it is the Sonic game we have all waited for. One thing that comes along with it being a Nintendo-exclusive title is that it is tailored to a younger audience. I don’t mean the gameplay has been simplified — it’s still a challenging and fun game for all ages — I just mean the story and dialogue at times can be a bit corny or ... well, childish. The story feels like a Saturday morning cartoon, and it reminded me of the old ABC cartoon or Sonic X. Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal, but some people may cringe at some of the jokes.

Another thing I want to talk about with my experience is the musical score. A lot of people complained about the theme song due to its poppy upbeat tune, but the music for the levels is well-done! For me, it was just excellent, catchy and something you’ll tap your feet to. The final thing that has always been an issue for Sonic fans is the drama over voice actors. After the war that was raged over Jason or Ryan being a better fit, SEGA replaced the Sonic cast once more. After adapting to the last actor, this one really worried me at first. I really didn’t see this actor as the voice of Sonic, but as time passed and the game progressed, I felt the new cast did an excellent job. (Side note: Eggman’s actor is the same.)

Overall, Sonic Colors is a beautiful game in which even small details got a lot of attention. It’s one of the best-looking Wii titles I have played, and fans of the series will have a blast. This is a game to add to the Sonic collection and be proud of. Even people unfamiliar with the franchise or younger children will really enjoy this title. I would definitely go pick up a copy if you own a Wii or DS, or at least give it a rent.