Sonic Colors (Wii)

Sonic Colors
Also known as: Sonic Colours (EU) Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega Platform: Wii Released in JP: November 18, 2010 Released in US: November 16, 2010 Released in EU: November 12, 2010 This game has unused animations. This game has unused areas. This game has unused enemies. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused models. This game has unused sounds. This game has regional differences.

Sonic Colors is the game that ended the so-called "Sonic cycle" by actually being decent, taking the daytime gameplay of Sonic Unleashed and placing a higher emphasis on 2D platforming and accessibility. The result is a brisk, colorful romp filled to the brim with unique stages.

A remaster in the form of Sonic Colors: Ultimate was released on September 3rd, 2021 for early access, with a wide release on September 7th, 2021.

To do: Check files related to the Wisps, they seem to have early names for each of them. (Phantoms?) In "actstgmission.lua" each world seems to use a placeholder name. Some of the unused content in Ultimate may also be present in the Wii version.

Unused Audio

To do: Include them into the article There's an unused version of the final boss theme. TDRR on the Sonic Retro Discord has confirmed it's in the game in sonic2010_0.cpk/sound/Synth/bgm_boss_lastboss2_fx_wav.aax. The Starlight Carnival and Asteroid Coaster lines are used in Ultimate. Find a way to specify this.

in both se_voice_sonic_action_e.csb,se_voice_sonic_action_j.csb and se_voice_sonic_areamap_e.csb,se_voice_sonic_areamap_j.csb contain loads of unused voice clips for sonic including unused variants of used clips or completely original and unused clips entirely

There are unused tracks in the game's Synth folder of Sonic taunting bosses in both English and Japanese, as well as banter between Sonic and Dr. Eggman during the final boss. However, in the actual fights, Sonic is silent, and Eggman only has one line in the final battle. In Sonic Colors: Ultimate, these voice lines were re-used in their respective bosses.

English Audio	Japanese Audio	Transcript	Boss
		Sonic: Aww, couldn't keep up? ソニック：最初の威勢はどこにいったんだが	General
		Sonic: That was pretty fun! ソニック：なかなか楽しかったぜ
		Sonic: That beats riding a slowpoke ferris wheel any day! ソニック：のんびりできない観覧車なんてジョウダンじゃないぜ！	Rotatatron
		Sonic: A little rough, but that was my kind of ride! ソニック：こんなアトラクションも嫌いじゃないぜ
		Sonic: Now it's a shipWRECK adventure ride! ソニック：悪いな！沈没船にしちまって	Captain Jelly
		Sonic: You can't beat quality with quantity! ソニック：何人集まってもザコはザコさ
		Sonic: Sorry, I got bored and broke your robot! ソニック：悪いね、タイクツだったんで壊しちゃったぜ	Frigate Orcan
		Sonic: Did I go a little too far this time? ソニック：さすがにやりすぎちゃったか？
		Sonic: And somehow, it always ends like this. ソニック：やれやれ、結局こうなるワケだ	Refreshinator
		Sonic: And I was really hoping for some decent rides in this place. ソニック：もっとマシなアトラクションを用意しておいてくれよな
		Sonic: What, it's over? That was fast. ソニック：これで終わり？あっけないね	Admiral Jelly
		Sonic: Done and done. ソニック：いっちょあがりってね
		Sonic: That should put a stop to this wisp-draining insanity! ソニック：ウィスプ改造なんてバカなマネもこれでおしまいだな	Frigate Skullian
		Sonic: That takes care of this place. ソニック：これでこの施設もおしまいだ
		Sonic: Thanks for the laid-back spacewalk, Eggman! ソニック：宇宙さんぽにはちょうどよかったぜ、エッグマン	Nega-Wisp Armor
		Sonic: Your little party with other people's planets is over! ソニック：よそ様の星を巻き込んだパーティーもこれでおわりだ
		Eggman: That's not... but they're even more powerful than the Chaos Emeralds! No! エッグマン：バカな！カオスエメラルドをも上回るというのに！バカなああああ！！
		Eggman: But... but how? This should be just a fraction of the Nega Wisp power! エッグマン：な、なぜじゃ！？ダークウィップの力はこんなものではないはずじゃ！
		Sonic: Maybe the Nega Wisps don't like you either, Eggman! Looks like I win this round! ソニック：そのダークウィップにすら嫌われたんだろ？今度という今度はオレの勝ちだな！
		Sonic: Sorry Eggman, it looks like the Wisps have sided with me on this one! ソニック：残念だったな。ウィスプたちはオレに力をかしてくれたみたいだぜ
		Eggman: But that's... my Nega Wisp was to be perfect! GRAAAH! エッグマン：バカな！ワシのダークウィップは完璧なはずじゃああああ！！

Early Levels

actstgmission.lua

This file contains developer notes to identify each level layout.

Tropical Resort

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	旧ＡＣＴ１の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT1
ACT02	旧ＡＣＴ１の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT1
ACT03	旧ＡＣＴ２	Old ACT2
ACT04	ジュゲム	Jugemu
ACT05	レーザー＋マト	Laser + Targets
ACT06	回転足場＋スパイク	Rotating platforms + Spikes

(Jugemu is the japanese name of Super Mario's "Lakitu" enemy)

Sweet Mountain

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	旧ＡＣＴ１の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT1
ACT02	旧ＡＣＴ１の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT1
ACT03	旧ＡＣＴ２の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT2
ACT04	ファイアバー	Firebar
ACT05	旧ＡＣＴ２の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT2
ACT06	再生ブロック	Play block

Starlight Carnival

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	ＡＣＴ１	Act 1
ACT02	パズル＋爆弾ブロック	Puzzle + Bomb Block
ACT03	移動３連バネ	Moving triple spring
ACT04	プラズマ砲台	Plasma turret
ACT05	旧ＡＣＴ２	Old ACT2
ACT06	アストロノーツ＋マト＋ファイアバー	Astronauts + Targets + Firebar

Planet Wisp

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	旧ＡＣＴ１の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT1
ACT02	足場＋ジュゲム	Platforms + Jugemu
ACT03	チェイサー	Chaser
ACT04	旧ＡＣＴ１の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT1
ACT05	再生ブロック	Play block
ACT06	旧ＡＣＴ２	Old ACT2

Aquarium Park

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	旧ＡＣＴ１の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT1
ACT02	回転足場	Rotating platforms
ACT03	スクリュー	Screw
ACT04	旧ＡＣＴ１の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT1
ACT05	移動３連バネ	Moving triple spring
ACT06	旧ＡＣＴ２	Old ACT2

Asteroid Coaster

Act	Identifier	Translation
ACT01	旧ＡＣＴ１の前半部分	The first half of the old ACT1
ACT02	旧ＡＣＴ１の後半部分	The second half of the old ACT1
ACT03	回転足場＋重力反転	Rotating platforms + gravity reversal
ACT04	土星サーキット＋ロデオ	Saturn circuit + rodeo
ACT05	ファイアバー	Firebar
ACT06	旧ＡＣＴ２	Old ACT2

Game Land

Act	Identifier	Translation
１－１	ＭＤ１	MD1
１－２	リゾート面ＡＣＴ１後半	Resort level ACT1 second half
１－３	ＭＤ４アレンジ	MD4 arrangement
２－１	ＭＤ２	MD2
２－２	リゾート面ＡＣＴ２	Resort level ACT2
２－３	水族館面ＡＣＴ２	Aquarium level ACT2
３－１	ＳＷＡ・アフリカ	SWA · Africa
３－２	ＭＤ６：スクラップブレイン	MD6: Scrap Brain
３－３	プロトタイプ	Prototype
４－１	ＭＤ３：スプリングヤード	MD3: Spring Yard
４－２	ＳＷＡ・ＮＹチェイサー	SWA · NY Chaser
４－３	ウィスプ面ＡＣＴ２前半アレンジ２	Wisp level ACT2 first half arrangement 2
５－１	ＭＤ４：ラビリンス	MD4: Labyrinth
５－２	リゾート面ＡＣＴ１前半	Resort level ACT1 first half
５－３	ウィスプ面ＡＣＴ２前半アレンジ	Wisp level ACT2 first half arrangement
６－１	ＳＷＡ・ＮＹサイドビュー	SWA · NY side view
６－２	ＭＤII９：スカイチェイス	MDII9: Sky Chase
６－３	ＭＤII９：スカイチェイス改造	MDII9: Sky Chase Remodeling
７－１	ＭＤ５：スターライト	MD5: Starlight
７－２	ウィスプ面ＡＣＴ２前半	Wisp level ACT2 first half
７－３	お菓子面ＡＣＴ１前半	Sweets level ACT1 first half

This reveals that many of Game Land's acts are based on levels from Sonic 1,2, Unleashed and the main game.

Thanks to Windii for translation help.

Internal Level Structure

The previous file reveals that Sonic Colors was originally going to follow the same level structure as previous Sonic games like Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Sonic Advance 2, and Sonic Unleashed: two main Acts followed by a boss. The other Acts would have been optional side-missions, which explains why they all reuse level geometry from other levels. In most cases, the two main Acts were split into separate Acts. The original act format was, as follows:

• Tropical Resort Act 1 was split into Acts 1 and 2, while Act 2 became Act 3.
• Sweet Mountain Act 1 was split into Acts 1 and 2. Act 2 was split into Acts 3 and 5.
• Planet Wisp Act 1 was split into Acts 1 and 4, while Act 2 became Act 6.
• Aquarium Park Act 1 was split into Acts 1 and 4, while Act 2 became Act 6.
• Asteroid Coaster Act 1 was split into Acts 1 and 2, while Act 2 became Act 6.

Starlight Carnival and Terminal Velocity did not see any Acts split, though the former's Act 2 became Act 5 and the latter's files indicate that an Act 3 was cut. Additionally, although the Acts were split, the geometry for what would have remained of the levels (excluding objects and enemies) is still loaded in and can be accessed through glitches or hacking. It's unclear why these changes were made, though it is presumed they were done to pad out the game's length.

Note that the DS version of Sonic Colors is structured almost identically to this; every area has 2 acts, a boss, and 3 side missions.

(Source: SKmaric)

Unused Sonic Simulator Levels

To do: Get videos of these up. These screenshots are from the US version of the game, are they any different in other releases?

There is data for 6 unused Sonic Simulator levels, in varying degrees of completeness.

• stgA20 is probably the most complete of the group, with only one small camera bug remaining. This stage makes use of the Spikes powerup inside a large maze-like structure.
• stgC20 seems more like a rough draft, having obvious misalignments and lacking smooth camera triggers. This stage provides the Drill powerup to speed through some dirt.
• stgC30 is an easier stage, with one small Spikes powerup climb section.
• stgE10 contains a rail section, Rocket powerup sections, and a quick step section.
• stgF10 starts with a bare quick step road, then transitions to a water area. The largest water zone contains a bug that doesn't allow the player to use the drill wisp.
• stgF20 is probably the largest of the group, but improper camera triggering in water makes it nearly impossible to complete. The laser robot chase exists as the final section.

• 

  stgA20

• 

  stgC20

• 

  stgC30

• 

  stgE10

• 

  stgF10

• 

  stgF20 camera bug

• 

  stgF20 chase

Unused Graphics

Early Textures

An unused archive called obj_drill has copies of many of the regular objects found in common_object, with a few differences and a handful of textures. The most interesting piece is an early design of the Yellow Wisp, in image form. It is named cmn_obj_pixy_spn_SD and uses three textures, two of which are not in the archive. The textures are cmn_obj_pixyspn_dif_SD, cmn_obj_pixyspn_halo_dif_SD, and cmn_obj_pixyspn_strp_dif_SD. An earlier design for metal boxes can be found as well, with metal corners instead of the glowing corners used in the final design. There is also an unused version of the ramp object named cmn_obj_trickpanel30L_SD. It is 217% the size of the standard ramp.

• 

  The Millennium Drill

• 

  Metal box sans glowing tips.

• 

  It was a lot shinier, too.

Coming soon

Stored in the archives of the game over screen are graphics from the E3 Demo and the PAX Demo

• 
• 
• 

Unfinished Texture

An unused shadow map file for the boss act of Tropical Resort. The image is divided up into "Area B" and "Area D".

Cutscene leftovers

Level entries

In actstgmisson.lua there are unused entries referencing cutscenes

   -- ev(イベント専用ステージ)
   {
	  missions = {

		 -- ev110,130,410,450（リゾート面Act2ゴール周辺）
		 {
			name		= "stg010",
			data		= "stg010",
			player_pos	= { 16850.0, -1931.77, -9420.0 },
			player_dir	= 90.0,
		 },

		 -- ev140,170（リゾート面Act1後半建物エリア周辺）
		 {
			name		= "stg011",
			data		= "stg010",
			player_pos	= { -2300.0, -259.25, 0.0 },
			player_dir	= 90.0,
		 },

		 -- ev310（ウィスプ面Act2ゴールエリア周辺）
		 {
			name		= "stg041",
			data		= "stg041",
			player_pos	= { -1100.0, 3500.0, -10400.0 },
			player_dir	= 180.0,
		 },

	  },
   },

}

Leftover Cutscene Room

To do: Screenshots or videos showing it.

An early version of the room created to render the cutscene before the Planet Wisp boss still remains on the disc, in the stg490 directory. It uses the filename stg490_02 and references textures that weren't put on the disc (listed below). The textures have the letter code "evn" (likely for "event") and were used to texture the generator platform and the tractor beam chain.

• evn_o_tb1_bcs01 - evn_o_tb1_bcs07
• evn_o_tb1_black
• evn_o_tb1_parts01 - evn_o_tb1_parts03
• evn_o_tb1_stairs
• evn_p_tb1_ant

some meshes have their normals swapped the generator is unfinished because the skull pattern is not modeled as is in the final and the top is not slanted at the front. Additionally, a copy of part of Tropical Resort's boss ring (of which the Planet Wisp boss is a copy) exists in the same folder, with the name stg490_04.

Unused Models

Ferris Wheel Missiles

To do: GIFs of the animations.

The infamous Ferris wheel boss Rotatatron and his upgrade, Refreshinator, both have an unused missile attack. Both bosses have a unique missile model loaded with them, which each have their own unique textures. Unlike most models in the game, these textures have the shadows baked into the texture. Both bosses have an animation of moving the cylinders on their back, referred to as shot_loop which would have been used to launch the missiles. (Ever wonder what those tube things were for? Now you know.) Refreshinator never uses this animation, but Rotatatron uses it when launching the glowing pink ninja stars from his face.

• 

  Rotatatron's Missile

• 

  Refreshinator's Missile

• 

  Size comparison

• 

  Missile Texture

• 

  Yes, it is a recolor.

• 

  The specular maps used are identical, too.

Motobug Cannon

Inside the common Motobug enemy model is a pair of tube-shaped weapons that match up with the top-most spots on the body. Each tube has a glowing spot on the front and a square hole on the back. They are rigged to bones called PartsL and PartsR, aligned in such a way that the cylinders can easily move out from the position of the spot. Each one also has a bone named WeaponSpot aligned with the glowing spot on each cylinder. The larger Motobug enemy has the same bones but does not have the hidden weapons. None of the model's animations use any of the weapons' bones.

This feature appears in the game's concept art, which depicts a spherical object of some kind being ejected from the hole on the back of the tube. Since the holes face backward, it is likely that Motobugs would use these weapons while driving ahead of Sonic.

Unused Animations

Terminal Velocity Egg Pawn

To do: Add GIFs showing the animations.

Despite only being seen flailing around in space, this fancy version of the normal Egg Pawn has a set of standard animations, including a unique "found you" animation. Unlike the other Egg Pawn models, it does not rely on the default version for its animations and body, though nearly half of its animations are copied from the regular version.

Unleashed Animations

To do: The rigging might be shared. Need to fact check this. Generations also had unused kick animations alongside their functionality. Must check if there's code related to these actions.

The crawl and foot sweep moves from Sonic Unleashed. These are likely straight ports from that game; the Sonic model used in Sonic Colors share the same skeleton structure, textures, Uvs and most animations besides those for running. However, their presence indicates that these moves were initially planned. They were likely cut due to a lack of buttons available on the sideways Wii Remote.

Oddities

Filename extension

Many, MANY models and textures have _SD at the end of their filenames. This could be a leftover of a rumoured Sonic Generations Wii version, as that game uses _HD at the end of the filenames too. That'd also explain the returning badniks and the shared unused animation for the Unleashed crawl move between both games.

'Wisp Use' Sound

The sound when using Wisps are actually two separate clips that play together in-game, this possibly indicates that they were planned to alter when they were played.

Actual Audio	In-game and later games

Terminal Velocity Texture Design

At some point, this texture was changed. However, they forgot to swap out the modified specular map for it. As a result, lighting effects on this texture will look odd. None of the other textures resemble this modified design.

elv_o_ty1_mecha01	elv_o_ty1_mecha01_spc

Regional Differences

The game is known as Sonic Colours for the European release (also used in Australia in this case), as the word "color" is spelt with a "u" in those regions. Canada also uses the "u" spelling, but as per usual, it shares a version with North American so that isn't reflected here. There is an ESRB notice above the copyright notice ("©SEGA") in the North American version.

Japanese	USA	European