Sonic Colors: Ultimate

Sonic Colors: Ultimate
Also known as: Sonic Colours: Ultimate (EU/AU) Developers: Blind Squirrel Games, Sonic Team Publisher: Sega Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna Released internationally: September 3, 2021 (Digital Deluxe/Early Access), September 7, 2021, April 12, 2022 (Luna) Released in JP: September 9, 2021 (PS4/Switch/Windows) This game has unused animations. This game has unused areas. This game has uncompiled source code. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused enemies. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused models. This game has unused sounds. This game has a bugs page

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a remaster of the Wii version of Sonic Colors, released for Sonic's 30th anniversary. It includes a few new features such as races against Metal Sonic, the Jade Wisp from Team Sonic Racing, and customization options, as well as enhanced graphics and remixed music. However, it was released in a bit of a rough state, with far more glitches present than in the original game. It also contained a metric ton of development leftovers, including original dev tools from the Wii version.

This page lists unused content exclusive to the Ultimate version. For content that appeared in the original version, see Sonic Colors (Wii).

To do: Regional differences. Specify what platform(s) are being looked at. Similar to Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, create a list detailing the key differences (lighting, object placement, new paths) between the original Wii version and the remaster. Xbox's storefront mentions a cut mode called "Ghost Racer", and there's text in sonic6.pck/sonic2010/text that explains it. sonic6.pck/sonic2010/text also contains text referring to a Metal Sonic skin for Super Sonic, a scrapped "Really Easy Difficulty", needing Park Tokens to use Sonic Simulator and Challenge Mode, unused Tails lines, and scrapped achievements. List version differences for versions 1.0.1 and 1.0.2; they were released early on, so it might be difficult to find documentation on them.

This page or section needs more audio. There's a whole lotta words here, but not enough audio. Please fix this. Specifically: Unused boss lines leftover from the Wii version, including the dubbed versions in other languages.

Sub-Pages

Bugs

Changes from the Wii Version Who turned off the lights in Tropical Resort?

Development Leftovers Metadata, headers, cache logs, project files, you name it.

Unused Assets

To do: The Mii model is still in the game. Unused model of Sonic. Unused animations of Sonic tricking "sn_trick00" "sn_trick01" "sn_trick02" "sn_trick03" "sn_trick04" "sn_trick05" "sn_trick06"

Achievements

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  Rainbow_Achievements_Trophies.tga

The sprite sheet for achievements that appear in-game have three scrapped achievements for slots 22, 34, and 37. These additionally have unused text entries in sonic6.pck\sonic2010\text\new_dynamic_text\achievement_dynamic_text.xml.

Slot	Name	Description
22	Who Ya Gonna Race?	Beat the Time of Any Ghost Racer
34	So... Metal	Beat All Metal Sonic's Rival Challenges
37	Ghost in the Machine	Upload a Ghost

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Steam Achievements

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  Steam Achievements_0099_Background.tga

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  Steam Achievement 01 Unlocked_PH.tga

A collection of placeholder achievements for a Steam version of the game. They count all the way up to 50 with the same temporary design.

Locked Achievement

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  Achievement_Locked.tga

A locked achievement icon; the game itself just shows a dim version of the achievement's icon if it's locked. This could be a leftover from Steam, as games need a locked achievement icon.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Floppy Disk Saving Icon

Default	Floppy Disk	ui_save_icon.tga

The saving icon that appears before loading screens has a hidden floppy disk icon.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

E3 Demo Leftovers

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  legal_screen.tscn

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  thanks_for_playing.tscn

A welcome and "thanks for playing" screen for an E3 version of the game. The game was never shown there, however.

(Source: PTKickass)

Early Screenshot

TEST_RR_areaMap-bg.tga	Final (Switch v1.0.3)

An early screenshot of Sweet Mountain's area map with some differences compared to the final game:

• The button icons are the same size as 1.0.0 before they made them larger in later patches.
• The Tails Save icon has a white outline.
• The Park Token icon is missing its alpha channel.
• The blue backgrounds for Tails Save and Park Tokens are shorter.
• The font used for the area name and completion is incorrect.
• The lines that connect the stages are very dark.
• The Egg Pawn closest to Sonic is missing a whisk.
• There's a "My Records" option that is missing from the final game - your records can be found in the Options Satellite.
• All acts are unlocked at 12% progress.
• Rival Rush is available, despite only having two red rings. It requires 15 red rings to unlock.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Yellow Wisp Test Screenshot

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  YellowWisp.png

A screenshot of a Yellow Wisp drilling in action, referenced in a test folder. Amusingly, the breakable boxes are edited into the screenshot.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

It might be possible that this was done as a mockup to demonstrate the yellow glow on the Chroma Cubes (breakable boxes), as it's a new feature present in Ultimate - possibly even to hint that players can destroy said Cubes using the Yellow Drill.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Cutscene Leftovers

To do: Add images of the models and videos of the cutscene animations.

All the models and animations used in the in-game pre-rendered cutscenes are present in the game's files, which is particularly odd seeing as they were pre-rendered even in the original game.

(Source: Lester LJSTAR)

Comparison Screenshot Template

Screenshot_Template.tga	Godot Scene

A template used by Blind Squirrel Games for comparing original and remastered assets.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Tails Save

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  cmn_obj_tailssave_dif_SD.tga

Tails holding a floppy disk, using promotional art from Sonic X. Curiously, the file name suggests this would've been used as the diffuse texture for an object.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Controller Diagrams

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  Settings_Controls_diagram.tga

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  PS4_full-controller_diagram.tga

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  NSwitch_NX_full-controller_diagram.tga

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  controller-diagram.tga

A collection of controller diagrams and a seemingly temporary one. The final game allows you to customise the inputs, so these were likely used before you could do that.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Test Shadow Sign

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  shadow_sign.tga

A texture likely used for testing shadow draw distance.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Wii Leftovers

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  ui_gameplay_btn_guide_2_ia8.tga

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  ui_gameplay_btn_guide_3_ia8.tga

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  ui_gameplay_btn_guide_3a_ia8.tga

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  ui_gameplay_btn_guide_8_ia8.tga

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  ui_option_4_ia4.tga

Leftover Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and Classic Controller graphics from the Wii version. Curiously, they repurpose the first texture seemingly for an Xbox button prompt.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Dolby Pro Logic II

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  dolby_p2_96x48.tga

Leftover Dolby logo from the Wii version. Dolby Pro Logic II isn't used by this remaster.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Super Sonic Fan Render

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  ui_OS_Dashboard-SuperSonic.tga

A render of Super Sonic by Nibroc-Rock, possibly intended for the Super Sonic menu in the Options Satellite.

Classic Tails Fan Render

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  TailsFlying.png

A render of Classic Tails by Mike9711, possibly another placeholder for Tails Save since Classic Tails never appears in this game.

Sonic Silhouettes

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  Sonic_idle.tga

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  Sonic_running.tga

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  Sonic_Super.tga

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  Sonic_Rival.tga

Some silhouettes of Sonic, Super Sonic, and Metal Sonic - they're referenced in the Options Satellite, but can't be seen.

Curiously, the Super silhouette appears to be based on art from the Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog series, the "idle" silhouette is based on one of the main renders used for Sonic Unleashed promotional material, while the one of Sonic running is based on a render from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I. The Metal Sonic icon is once again by Nibroc-Rock.

Early Blind Squirrel Engine Logo

xerus_engine_final.png	xerus_engine_final.tga (used)

An early version of the Blind Squirrel Engine logo, presumably before they changed the name of it from "Xerus". The final version of the logo also uses the same file name, but was originally in the TGA format.

Sonic and the Black Knight Menu Textures

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  file_select_bg.tga

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  file_select_parts01.tga

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  file_select_parts02.tga

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  file_select_parts03.tga

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  file_select_window01.tga

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  file_select_window02.tga

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  wi_fi_ranking_bg.tga

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  wi_fi_ranking_parts.tga

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  wifi_parts01.tga

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  s_keyboad_bg.tga

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  s_keyboad_parts01.tga

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  s_keyboad_parts02.tga

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  s_keyboad_parts03.tga

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  soft_keyboad_window.tga

The textures used by Sonic and the Black Knight for the file select, Wi-Fi ranking and keyboard screens are present.

Test Textures

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: These textures could be in the Wii version too, as the word "grass" in test_grass.png is written in Furigana (likely a leftover from Sonic Team). Investigate and move to that page if this is the case.

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  eff_a_ya_event_test_a_1.tga

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  eff_a_ya_event_test_a_2.tga

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  eff_a_ya_event_test_b_1.tga

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  SpriteAtlas_FireTest.tga

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  Test.png

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  test_grass.png

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  test_grass1.png

Various textures used for testing with unknown purposes, some of which have blatantly been thrown through an AI upscaler. Test.png and test_grass1.png could be for testing lighting.

Curiously, the first two textures are sprites from Pengo, which isn't the first time the red and green penguin has ended up in a Sonic game.

Placeholder Textures

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  sonic_profile_temp.tga

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  tails_profile_temp.tga

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  sonic_silhouette_temp.tga

A few placeholder textures with crudely-drawn text and art.

The third texture could be a placeholder for Sonic_running.tga in the unused silhouettes of Sonic.

Internal Project Name

According to the leftover development tools, the working title was Rainbow.

Revisional Differences

Version 1.0.0

Initial release, as well as the version released as early access for those who pre-ordered the game digitally.

Version 1.0.4

Released on September 14, 2021, with the following changes:

• Godot is now credited.
• The development tools that were accidentally left in the game are removed.
• Fixes the epileptic lights that would occur when exiting a level and entering another (also known as "Unlimited Colors") in the Nintendo Switch version.

Version 1.0.5 (Switch only)

Released towards the end of October 2021, with the following changes:

• Audio balancing has been adjusted.
• Loading times appear to have been improved.

Version 2.6/1.0.6

Released on November 22, 2021, with the following changes:

• Audio mixing was adjusted.
• The "Give Credit Where It's Due" achievement requirements have been updated, so it can now be gotten if the credits were skipped. The description was also updated to reflect this.
• The Eggman fireworks at the end of the final boss fight have been added back in. (Switch only)
• Admiral Jelly can now be damaged with the drill wisp. (PC only)
• Various bug fixes.

Version 3.0/1.0.7

Released on December 15, 2021, with the following changes:

• Cutscenes can now be played in full-screen.
• An option to toggle between the original and remixed soundtracks has been added.
• Boost blur can now be toggled on or off.
• Tais Navigation can now be enabled or disabled.
• The Cyan Wisp's trail has been made more visible.
• The Big Chaser's attack visual effects have been adjusted. (Switch only)
• Hover Wisp's ring dash mechanic has been improved.
• A "Celebration Pack" was added, including four new cosmetics:
  • Burst Gloves
  • Burst Shoes
  • Fireworks Aura
  • Fireworks Boost
• Various bug fixes.

Oddities

• Sonic Colors: Ultimate uses a mix of Godot 3 and the original game's coding, but originally there was no mention of Godot anywhere (the game supposedly runs on the "Blind Squirrel Engine", which may or may not be a violation of Godot's license agreement). Blind Squirrel acknowledged this and added Godot into the credits with the release of the v1.0.4 patch.