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Wisp
'Sonic the Hedgehog' character
File:Wisps in Sonic Colors.png
A variety of Wisps as shown in the intro to Sonic Colors (Wii). From left to right: Cyan, White, Blue, Pink, Sonic (not a Wisp), Purple, Orange, Tails (not a Wisp), Green (under Tails), and Yellow.
First gameSonic Colors (2010)

Wisps (ウィスプ, Uisupu) are fictional extraterrestrial creatures in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games. They debuted in the Wii/Nintendo DS game Sonic Colors in 2010, where Sonic can use them as power-ups. Over the course of the game, he rescues other Wisps from villain Doctor Eggman, who plans to use them for a mind control ray. Different forms of Wisps give Sonic different abilities, such as drilling underground, rolling along walls and ceilings, and blasting to extreme heights. The creatures originate from a planet called Planet Wisp, speak a unique language, and exhibit various personalities and powers.

Wisps were added to Sonic Colors to offer alternate gameplay styles without adding other playable characters, and to encourage players to explore levels more than once. They have since appeared in two other Sonic games and a comic book based on Colors, and Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka now considers them a staple in the series. The creatures and their integration into Sonic gameplay have received mixed reviews; generally, critics have praised the variety of gameplay styles they create but criticized some control and pacing issues.

Creation and characteristics

Types of Wisps
Introduced in Colors
  • White / Boost[1]
  • Yellow / Drill[2]
  • Cyan / Laser[3]
  • Blue / Cube[2]
  • Green / Hover[4]
  • Pink / Spikes[2]
  • Purple / Frenzy[2]
  • Orange / Rocket[2]
  • Violet / Void[5]
  • Red / Burst[6]
Introduced in Lost World
  • Indigo / Asteroid[7]
  • Crimson / Eagle[8]
  • Magenta / Rhythm[9]
  • Black / Bomb[10]
  • Ivory / Lightning[11]
  • Gray / Quake[11]

The Wisps are a race of extraterrestrial creatures who live on a grassy, lush planet called Planet Wisp.[12][13] The mother of all Wisps is a much larger, pink one named Mother Wisp.[14] She created Planet Wisp and raised all of her children.[15] Wisps speak a common language that Sonic the Hedgehog and his sidekick Tails cannot understand,[16] though Tails builds a translation device in the game Sonic Colors.[17] Their Japanese and English name comes from Tails' translation of a word in their language;[18] other characters in the game simply refer to them as "aliens".[19][20]

Wisps are composed of an energy force called "Hyper-go-ons",[21] which they can use to phase into the body of playable protagonist Sonic and give him temporary elemental powers.[12][22] They come in numerous breeds, each carrying one of many elemental powers known as "Color Powers".[12] When Sonic collects a Wisp, he can use its power once at will; however, he can only carry one at a time.[23]

Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Colors development studio Sonic Team, stated in an interview that the Wisps were added to the game to "expand and strengthen the platform action gameplay" without forcing the player to switch to other playable characters.[24] Another goal was to encourage players to revisit already-played levels; Sonic Team accomplished this by adding segments requiring certain types of Wisps to levels preceding their first appearances.[25] Sonic Team has been pleased with the Wisps' popularity in Colors,[11] and Iizuka has said that he now considers them a staple in the Sonic series.[26]

Types

There are numerous types of Wisps, each with its own special ability. Colors introduced ten types between the Wii and Nintendo DS versions of the game; some only appear in one version. For example, Purple Wisps, whose "Frenzy" ability turns Sonic into a difficult-to-control demon that can chomp through obstacles, is exclusive to the Wii version,[2] but Violet Wisps, which scale up Sonic's density to black hole-like levels and causes him to absorb enemies, obstacles, and rings, appear only in the DS version.[5] However, others appear in both versions, such as Yellow Wisps, which allow Sonic to drill underground and find otherwise inaccessible areas.[2]

Sonic Lost World, a 2013 game for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, introduced more types of Wisps while keeping some old types.[7] Among these are Magenta Wisps, which bounce Sonic across paths of musical notes by having the player tap them on the Wii U's touch screen,[9] and Black Wisps, which turn Sonic into a bomb that can roll over enemies and explode.[10] The Sonic Colors manual describes each type of Wisp as having a different power and general personality; for example, Cyan Wisps, which allow Sonic to bounce off surfaces, are scatterbrained and energetic, while Orange Wisps, which blast him rapidly into the air, have fluctuating and explosive emotions.[1]

Appearances

File:Sonic Colors Pink Wisp.jpg
Sonic uses a Pink Spikes Wisp in the Wii version of Sonic Colors to climb down a wall. The creature's remaining time for use is gauged on the bottom-left corner.

In Sonic Colors, antagonist Doctor Eggman builds an amusement park spanning the Wisps' planets under the pretense of making up for past transgressions.[13][27][28] Suspicious, Sonic and Tails investigate and rescue two Wisps from Eggman's henchmen Orbot and Cubot.[20][29][30] One of them, a talkative male White Wisp named Yacker, tags along with Sonic and Tails during the game.[31] When Tails builds a translator,[17] Yacker tells them that Eggman is capturing Wisps;[32] it turns out that he is converting them to a corrupted, purple state to fuel a mind control ray and control the universe.[33][34][35] Sonic frees Wisps from their confines in each level,[36] then uses several of them to defeat Eggman at the end of the game.[37] However, Eggman's mind control cannon malfunctions and creates a black hole, which sucks Sonic in until the Wisps combine their power to pull him out and neutralize the black hole.[38] Yacker frees the remaining Wisps, reverts them from their corrupted form, thanks Sonic and Tails,[39] and leaves.[40] The DS version features Mother Wisp as a post-game boss, as she was corrupted by the corrupted Wisps' Hyper-go-ons. When Sonic defeats her, she reverts to normal,[41] expresses gratitude to Sonic and Tails,[14] and returns to Planet Wisp with her children.[42]

Wisps have also appeared in Colors adaptations. They are usable in the level "Planet Wisp" in Sonic Generations,[43] a game that revisits past titles in Sonic series history; this stage is a remake of Colors' stage of the same name.[44] The Sonic the Hedgehog comic series had a one-off Colors adaptation, in which the Wisps were featured.[45] In Sonic Lost World, Wisps bear little impact on the game's plot but offer alternate pathways through levels.[7][46] Both versions of the game require techniques such as tilting the Wii U gamepad or 3DS and tapping and drawing shapes on the touchscreen.[7][47]

Reception

Critics have given mixed opinions toward Wisps and their integration into Sonic gameplay. IGN's Arthur Gies called them "the big addition" to Sonic Colors, outshining its polished physics and controls.[12] Dave McComb of film magazine Empire called them "cutesy" and "strange",[48] while John Meyer of Wired found them "cuddly" and Dale North of Destructoid called them "a cute little alien race".[49][50] Randy Nelson from Joystiq called them "plush" and speculated that they could easily lend their image to profitable merchandise.[51]

Positive attention has been directed at the variety of Wisps available in Sonic Colors and Lost World and at the variety of gameplay styles they brought to the titles. Gies stated that "almost all of them add interesting quirks to Sonic's basic abilities."[12] Reviewing the Nintendo DS version of Colors, Tim Turi from Game Informer stated that "each adds an interesting new gameplay mechanic" to the game, singling out Violet Wisps as his favorite. Turi also praised the ability to revisit old levels with Wisps unlocked afterwards,[5] a sentiment Gies agreed with.[12] GameSpot writer Mark Walton called them an "amusing aside" in Sonic Lost World.[8] Steven Totilo of Kotaku praised Lost World's shifting gameplay pace, citing the Wisps as something that provides this.[47] Nintendo Power's Steve Thomason identified them as "a truly interesting addition to the Sonic formula" amidst a series of missteps, and praised their "cleverly designed" variety. Thomason listed Yellow Wisps as his favorite breed and Purple Wisps as his least.[2] Taylor Cocke of IGN praised the Wisps' variety and stated that they "fit amazingly well with the levels they're designed around."[7] Computer and Video Games writer Chris Scullion described Wisps in Lost World as "familiar power-ups that emulate mechanics in Mario's Wii adventures" as part of a larger, ambivalent point about the game being derivative of Super Mario Galaxy.[52]

However, control and pacing aspects of the Wisps in general, as well as of individual types, have been criticized. Reviewing Sonic Colors for the Wii, Gies opined that "for almost every useful ability there is a complete dud" and bemoaned the controls of Pink Spikes and Purple Frenzy.[53] Likewise, Walton criticized Crimson Eagle, whose flight powers he considered imprecise.[8] Justin Speer from GameTrailers stated that the Wisps "don't really feel like they belong and often require you to figure out unintuitive motion controls."[46] Hardcore Gamer Magazine's review of Lost World stated that none of the Wisps make satisfying use of the Wii U's gamepad.[4] Chris Shilling of Eurogamer found them to "lead to clumsy touchscreen or gyro interludes that kill a level's pacing."[54] Danny Cowan of Joystiq and Joe Skrebels from Official Nintendo Magazine thought similarly, respectively singling out Magenta Rhythm and Black Bomb.[9][10] Scullion considered the Wisps to be the only "major element of Lost World that is mostly detrimental to the gameplay".[52]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sonic Colors (Wii) instruction manual, pp. 11–13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Thomason, Steve (November 2010). "True Colors". Nintendo Power (260): pp. 78–81. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ Ponce, Tony (July 17, 2013). "Sonic has eagle powers in Lost World". Destructoid. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Review: Sonic Lost World". Hardcore Gamer Magazine. October 30, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Turi, Tim (November 9, 2010). "Sonic Colors: Dimps Crafts Another Amazing 2D Sonic Game". Game Informer. Retrieved March 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails: Hmm, he's saying "Red Burst," but I don't really know what that means...
  7. ^ a b c d e Cocke, Taylor (September 23, 2013). "Sonic: Lost World: Why Slowing Down is a Good Thing". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Walton, Mark (October 18, 2013). "A lost cause". GameSpot. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Cowan, Danny (October 18, 2013). "Sonic: Lost World review: Spin cycle (Wii U)". Joystiq. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Skrebels, Joe (September 8, 2013). "Sonic Lost World preview". Official Nintendo Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b c "『ソニック ロストワールド』プロデューサーの飯塚隆氏インタビュー完全版＆最新画像を公開！" (in Japanese). Famitsu. August 10, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Gies, Arthur (November 8, 2010). "Sonic Colors Wii Review: Color us impressed". IGN. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails (translating Mother Wisp's speech): "I was so worried when our planets were pulled apart from one another."
  14. ^ a b Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails (translating Mother Wisp's speech): "Thank you for helping my children. I am Mother Wisp."
  15. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails (translating Yacker's speech): "Mama gave us life and raised us. She even made the planet we live on."
  16. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: I wish I knew what you were saying, little guy. Or gal. Or whatever you are.
  17. ^ a b Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: Oh. I was reconfiguring my hand-held into a translator so I can understand this guy.
  18. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: He's from a race of beings called "Wisps."
  19. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Sonic (to camera): I'll just stick with aliens if that's OK with everybody.
  20. ^ a b Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Level/area: Tropical Resort. Cubot: Yee-haw! Git along, li'l aliens!
  21. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: So anyway, these aliens are made up of a REALLY powerful energy source called Hyper-go-ons. It's inside of them ... It's their life source.
  22. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails: Whoa! He phased right into your body, Sonic! Are you all right?
  23. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails: He also says only one colored Wisp will fit into the gauge at once, so to use its power again, you need to free another one.
  24. ^ IGN Staff (October 10, 2010). "Sonic Team Talks Sonic Colours". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  25. ^ Gies, Arthur (June 16, 2010). "E3 2010: Sonic Colors Preview". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  26. ^ Miguel, Diogo (August 6, 2013). "Iizuka: Color Powers will be standard in future Sonic games". SegaNerds (interview with Takashi Iizuka). Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  27. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Eggman (over intercom): Welcome to Eggman's Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park, where you can enjoy five planets for the price of one!
  28. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Eggman (over intercom): This amusement park has been constructed entirely out of a sense of remorse for my past.
  29. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Sonic: Because Eggman plus secretly built amusement park equals evil plot for us to foil.
  30. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Sonic: I'm not sure what's goin' on, but I'm sure of what I'm gonna do!
  31. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: Okay, he said his name is Yacker.
  32. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: Sure, so anyway, they are either being used for their magical powers by an evil man, or to make underwear to be worn by salad.
  33. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Eggman: Me? I did nothing at all. Unless shooting him with my mind control beam that runs on alien energy counts as doing something to him.
  34. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Eggman: And then I won't just control one little punk, but the whole universe.
  35. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Sonic: Whoa. This is where he converts them into the strange... negative... aliens with the freaky energy.
  36. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Sonic: Think I'll go check them out, and maybe save some aliens.
  37. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Level/area: Cutscene after final boss. Sonic: Thanks, but I had a little help during that last part.
  38. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Level/area: Cutscene after final boss. Sonic: This might not end well.
  39. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Level/area: Cutscene after final boss. Tails: Uh, he said, "thank you for saving us."
  40. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (Wii). Sega. Tails: Oh great. He says, "goodbye, my friends. I have to go." Just when I got this thing working.
  41. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails: She's back to normal! That's great, Yacker!
  42. ^ Sonic Team (November 16, 2010). Sonic Colors (DS). Sega. Tails (translating Yacker's speech): "I won't! Mama and I will head home now. Thank you for all you've done!"
  43. ^ Scullion, Chris (November 24, 2011). "Sonic Generations Review: The game that teaches a new hog old tricks". Official Nintendo Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ Sterling, Jim (October 31, 2011). "Review: Sonic Generations". Destructoid. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  45. ^ "Sonic Colors" Sonic the Hedgehog, no. 219 (November 2010). Archie Comics.
  46. ^ a b Speer, Justin (October 18, 2013). "Sonic Lost World - Review". GameTrailers. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  47. ^ a b Totilo, Steven (October 18, 2013). "Sonic: Lost World: The Kotaku Review x2". Kotaku. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  48. ^ McComb, Dave. "Sonic Colors". Empire. Retrieved March 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ Mix Meyer, John (November 18, 2010). "Sonic Colors Review". Wired. Retrieved May 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  50. ^ North, Dale (June 15, 2010). "E3 10: Preview: Sonic Colors". Destructoid. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  51. ^ Nelson, Randy (November 10, 2010). "Sonic Colors Review". Joystiq. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  52. ^ a b Scullion, Chris (October 18, 2013). "Review: Sonic Lost World stumbles at high speed". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved May 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  53. ^ Turi, Tim (November 9, 2010). "Sonic Colors: Sonic Drops The Ball Juggling The Second And Third Dimensions". Game Informer. Retrieved March 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  54. ^ Shilling, Chris (October 18, 2013). "Sonic Lost World review". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
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